Courmayeur is located in Italy, in the upper Aosta Valley, at the foot of the Italian side of Mont Blanc. The town sits at 1.224 meters: above the houses rises a massif of rock faces, spires, and glaciers, while the slopes of Chécrouit and Val Veny are just opposite. This location is one of the reasons to come here. Mont Blanc accompanies the descents, but you can also get close without skiing, by taking the Skyway cable cars up to Punta Helbronner.
Courmayeur appeals to those seeking a holiday where skiing plays a central role, without necessarily taking up every moment. There are slopes, high-mountain off-piste skiing, and mountain huts; in the valley, a pedestrian center with shops and restaurants, hotels where you can also stay for wellness, and a second valley, Val Ferret, dedicated primarily to cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. There's plenty of choice, even for couples or families, where not everyone skis.
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The center of Courmayeur and the mountain above the town
Via Roma is the main street for strolling and shopping. The pedestrian area is lined with boutiques, sports equipment stores, and shops selling Aosta Valley products: the town maintains a lively atmosphere even when skiers are at the top. Local artisan products include wooden clogs, called sabot, and tatà, the small wooden animals traditionally made in the Aosta Valley.
Outside the center, Courmayeur continues through the villages of Dolonne, La Saxe, and Entrèves. The narrow streets of La Saxe, the fountains of Entrèves, and the colorful shutters on the historic houses of Dolonne invite you to stroll among stone and wood buildings, far from the shop windows of Via Roma. These are inhabited hamlets, each with its own unique character: those dedicating part of their stay to exploring the village can reach them and stop along their streets, choosing the most accessible stretches depending on winter conditions. Entrèves is also a base near the access points to Skyway and the Val Veny cable car.
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Courmayeur's mountaineering vocation predates its skiing vocation. The Courmayeur Alpine Guides Society was founded in 1850 and still today accompanies and teaches ski mountaineering and mountaineering techniques. Those who come to tackle glaciers and off-piste descents will find professionals in town with whom they can prepare their Mont Blanc outing.
That history is explored at the Duca degli Abruzzi Alpine Museum, in the House of the Guides. Photographs of expeditions, equipment used in the mountains, and guidebooks recount the evolution of ascents and a work that has taken people from Courmayeur far beyond the Alps. The images document journeys to Alaska, India, K2, and the polar regions; part of the route recalls bivouacs, small shelters essential for spending the night at high altitude. The visit is a perfect accompaniment to a stroll downtown, especially if the panoramic ascent with the Skyway has piqued curiosity about how those mountains were tackled before the cable cars.
To reach the ski area, you can take the Courmayeur cable car, the cable car in Dolonne, a hamlet near the main town, or the Val Veny cable car. The first two lifts reach Plan Chécrouit, the 1.704-meter plateau from which many of the lifts depart. The Val Veny cable car serves the slope facing the Mont Blanc massif, arriving in the Pré de Pascal area. Parking is available at the departure points of all three lifts: choosing your accommodations based on the access you will use will avoid having to cross the entire village every morning.
Skiing between Chécrouit and Val Veny
Courmayeur offers 33 main slopes, divided into 11 blue, 17 red, and 5 black, served by 18 lifts. The groomed runs total 42,4 km; the total of approximately 100 km also includes off-piste runs. The red runs are therefore an important part of the local skiing experience, while the off-piste kilometers require different levels of skill and preparation.
Learn to ski, from the Fun Park to high-altitude lessons
The Dolonne Fun Park is a great starting point for those putting on skis for the first time: it features a beginner slope with three magic carpets, suitable for both adults and children. The same facility also features tubing, bobsleighs, and a play area with inflatables and slides. This means you can stay down in the valley, alternating lessons with games, without immediately bringing the whole family to the main ski area.
The Monte Bianco Ski School and the Courmayeur Ski and Snowboard School operate at high altitude, offering courses for children and adults, from beginners to those who want to perfect their technique. Plan Chécrouit also features a Baby Club managed by the Monte Bianco School, near the arrival point of the Courmayeur and Dolonne lifts. It offers indoor spaces, snow games, and educators to look after the children. This service is separate from lessons; age requirements and reservations must be agreed upon with the facility.
The red slopes and the most challenging descents
From Plan Chécrouit, you climb toward Col Chécrouit, at 2.256 meters, and can change sides to descend into Val Veny. Higher up, the Youla and Arp cable cars reach the highest point of the ski area, up to Cresta d'Arp, at 2.755 meters: this elevation is also the starting point for major off-piste itineraries toward Dolonne and Val Veny. The red Dolonne run allows you to return to the valley hamlet when the slopes are open.
Artificial snowmaking covers over 80% of the ski area. The new Maison Vieille gondola and the renovation of the Chécrouit gondola are planned for the 2026/27 winter season. The season is scheduled to run from November 28, 2026, to April 11, 2027, with the actual opening of individual slopes dependent on conditions.
Among the red runs are Chécrouit, Internazionale, also known as Bertolini, and Gigante. They are part of a network where experienced skiers can move from one run to the other while staying on both sides of the resort. The run named after Federica Brignone, the athlete who grew up skiing in Courmayeur, is also classified as red. Pra Neyron and Chiecco are blue runs, which should be discussed with your instructor when moving from your first lessons to more challenging runs.
For those seeking black runs, there are Rocce Bianche and Pista dell'Orso. The snowmaking network helps distinguish the characteristics of the different runs: Dolonne, Internazionale, and Gigante are served by artificial snowmaking, while Rocce Bianche and Pista dell'Orso rely on natural snow. Accessibility to these runs can therefore change throughout the season; to plan a day dedicated to black runs, it's a good idea to check which ones are open.
Snowboarding and freestyle
The snowpark is located in the Aretù area, at about 2.000 meters. The Progressive area includes rails, whoops, and funboxes, with easy and medium jumps and simpler features for beginners. The configuration of the features varies depending on the snow conditions and groomers.
Off-piste skiing and ski mountaineering on Mont Blanc
Youla and Arp are also the access points for freeriding in the upper part of the ski area. Off-piste runs include Arp–Dolonne and Arp–Val Veny, ending in Zerotta, a village on the Val Veny valley floor. The Arp–Dolonne route has a vertical drop of 1.545 meters. Choosing a route requires experience, self-rescue equipment, and an assessment of mountain conditions.
An even different environment is that of the glaciers accessible via Skyway. This is where mountaineering and off-piste itineraries begin, not marked and protected slopes. Those seeking ski mountaineering or high-altitude descents can contact the guides in Courmayeur for a program tailored to their experience; professional guidance helps manage risks, but doesn't eliminate them.
Val Ferret: cross-country skiing, walks, and snow games
The Val Ferret offers a different perspective of Mont Blanc. From the valley floor, you can see the Dent du Géant, the Grandes Jorasses, and Mont Dolent; the cross-country ski trails and winter walking path wind through snow-covered meadows and woods. The two trails have distinct uses: walkers follow the pedestrian path, leaving the trails for cross-country skiers. Restaurants in the valley offer refreshments along the way.
The cross-country skiing network extends over 20 km and allows for a combination of loops of varying lengths. You can dedicate a significant portion of your holiday to this discipline, or try it for the first time with an instructor; the Foyer de Fond and the Monte Bianco Ski School are the local references. Snowshoes are available for rental and guided excursions, with the option of choosing a route suited to the group's experience and the current snow conditions.
In Planpincieux, a town at the entrance to the valley, the Sports Club has added a bobsleigh and sled run, a beginners' area, and rentals for snowshoes, cross-country skis, and snow tires. It's an alternative for children who want to play outdoors, even when they don't have ski lessons.
In winter, car access to Val Ferret is limited, and paid parking is available in Planpincieux. When parking is full, a shuttle service is available; beyond this location, the valley is snow-covered and closed to normal traffic. Val Veny, however, is closed to winter traffic; the cable car takes you to Pré de Pascal.
Skyway Monte Bianco, even for non-skiers
Skyway is one of the reasons to choose Courmayeur even without putting on skis. The cable cars depart from an altitude of 1.300 meters and ascend first to the Pavillon intermediate station, at 2.173 meters, and then to Punta Helbronner, at 3.466 meters. The journey takes you from the valley floor to an observation point among rocks and glaciers, with a circular terrace from which to gaze out over the massif.
Punta Helbronner also features the Crystal Hall, the panoramic bistro, and Sky Vertigo, a glass-floored terrace overlooking the sheer drop below. At the Pavillon, Hangar 2173 tells the story of the cable car, and the Alpine Cinema shows films about the mountains. You can stop at the stations, tour the interiors, and enjoy lunch at the top: you don't need to embark on a snowshoe hike to experience the ascent.
For days spent in the valley, the Courmayeur Sport Center offers indoor ice skating and climbing. Along with walks in Val Ferret and time spent in town, these activities offer a variety of activities even when you prefer to stay close to your hotel.
Refuges, high-altitude dinners, and hotels for longer stays
Mountain breaks play an important role in Courmayeur: the resort boasts over 20 chalets and restaurants. At Plan Chécrouit, the day can continue with an aperitif or dinner, as the Courmayeur cable car operates until midnight. Eateries include Super G, Chiecco, and Château Branlant. It's advisable to book and arrange your evening with the restaurant, checking their opening hours. After the slopes close, the return journey is by cable car, not by skiing.
Super G is the go-to destination for those seeking après-ski with music and outdoor events, while in the center of Courmayeur, you can opt for a more intimate evening among cocktail bars and wine bars. At the table, Aosta Valley products return, from cured meats to Fontina DOP; pastry shops and cafés also offer a stop for those spending the afternoon browsing the shops.
On the Val Veny side, some refuges organize dinners with snowmobile transport, which can be arranged directly with the lodge. This is a different way to reach a cabin during the winter, when the valley road is closed to cars.
Those who want to combine a stroll through the town center with a wellness experience can look for a hotel along Via Roma: the Grand Hotel Royal e Golf has a heated outdoor pool, sauna, and Turkish bath. For families, the Hotel Courmayeur, also on Via Roma, offers rooms for two adults and two children and private parking. These options have different requirements, which should be considered along with the location relative to the facilities. The Pré-Saint-Didier spa is located in the nearby town of the same name and requires a trip from Courmayeur.
How to get there and which airports to choose
From Turin and the rest of Italy, Courmayeur can be reached via the A5 motorway or the Aosta Valley state road 26. From France, access is via the Mont Blanc Tunnel; from Switzerland, you can also reach it via the Great St. Bernard Tunnel. Before traveling through Mont Blanc, it's a good idea to check the tunnel schedule, as closures can significantly alter the route. Courmayeur is connected by bus to Aosta and Chamonix; local lines serve the village and the Val Ferret.
The airports
The nearest airports are Geneva, about 115 km from Courmayeur, Turin Caselle, about 150 km, and Milan Malpensa, about 212 km. From each airport, you can continue by rental car; arriving from Geneva, the road route usually passes through the Mont Blanc Tunnel.
A bus connection to the Aosta Valley is available from Malpensa, scheduled for operation in 2026, continuing via Aosta to Courmayeur. Alternatively, you can reach Milan or Turin and take the direct bus to the Aosta Valley, checking for connections for the final leg. Schedules and stops should be checked on the service you choose, especially if your flight arrives in the evening.
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