A white and snowy winter that lasts from October to May. An average of 320 sunny days per year. Over 100 km of ski slopes at an altitude of up to 2,900 metres. Dozens of schools for beginners, illuminated night trails, free buses to the slopes, free lift tickets at certain times. Does it sound like an alpine idyll for skiers? Yes, but Livigno has more to offer than snow-covered slopes and perfect skiing conditions. We invite you on a journey through the alpine country, where you can meet fluffy snow even in May, and where every adventurer will satisfy his fantasies.
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Livigno is colloquially called “Picccolo Tibet”, i.e Little Tibet. The town is tucked away in a charming valley between the Swiss Engadin valley and the Italian Alta Valtellina. This is a relatively new ski resort – in the 1950s it was still a small alpine village, cut off from the rest of the world for most of the year.
It was only after the construction of the famous tunnel under the Alps that Livigno began to develop dynamically. Today it is a very well-chosen ski resort by Poles and other nationalities who want to spend a pleasant winter holiday. Every season, the resort in the Italian Alps is visited by close 200,000 of our countrymen. The locals welcome us with a smile, cordiality and very often also a friendly word in Polish.
Livigno – map:
In the city you can feel isolated from the rest of the world, but everything works here from sunrise to sunset. We take the first step in the center, which is crossed by one of the main streets – Via Plan. This is where the heart of Livigno’s social and nightlife is. The atmosphere of a ski resort spreads instantly. Outdoor enthusiasts dressed head to toe in winter clothes, with sports equipment on their shoulders, walk through the city’s narrow alleys.
Livigno is located right on the border with Switzerland and is one of the most popular ski resorts in Italy. Ski and snowboard enthusiasts agree – the ski infrastructure at this location is exemplary. Both beginners and professionals will feel good here, but also those whose main goal is not to ski, but to practice other winter sports. As a high-altitude resort, Livigno is practically guaranteed snow, a the slopes are open from December to May.
The town is divided into two separate ski areas: Carosello 3000 (the mountains of Vetta Blesaccia and Costaccia) and Mottolino Fun Mountain (Mountains Monte della Neve and Monte Sponda). In total, you can enjoy 115 km of ski slopes at an altitude of 1,800 to 2,900 meters, including:
- 12 black ramps
- 37 red exits
- 29 blue descents
- 6 cable cars
- 13 chairlifts
- 11 T-bar lifts
Livigno, press material, illustrative photo
Beginners can feel looked after, because there are several ski schools in the city that associate over 150 instructors. The teachers took special courses at the Italian ski school. You can easily “hire” a Polish-speaking teacher. In addition, the schools are adapted to teach people with disabilities.
In addition, Kinder Club Lupigno is open all year round, which is literally a paradise for children. Children can use a special play area, learn to ski and participate in activities under the care of animators.
– After sunset, lovers of white madness in Livigno need not stay at home. Every Thursday at 20:30 – 22:30 at lift no. 23 you can try skiing under the stars on our illuminated piste – inform the representatives of Livigno.
It was in Livigno that it was first offered the popular Skipass Free campaign. With this offer, you can get a free lift pass when you book a specific hotel. The action takes place every year in the low season – the first three weeks of December and from April 15 to May 1. Click here to learn more about this action and to see hotels that offer free lift passes.
In addition, this season the city has prepared an interesting opportunity for families on two selected dates. The first “Family Week” lasts from 21 to 28 January 2023, during which 5 provinces in Poland have a winter holiday: Lubelskie, Łódzkie, Podkarpackie, Pomorskie and Śląskie. The second is scheduled from March 25 to April 1, 2023, when there are no more crowds and it is warmest. Details and rules are described on Livigno’s official website, here.
Characteristic yellow and orange ski buses run through the town’s streets. It is free to use them. Buses reach all ski lifts, the city center and the suburbs, stopping at the most strategic locations in Livigno. Their routes and departure schedule can be found here. Transport of skis, snowboards and other sports equipment is permitted and free of charge. This option allows you to completely cancel using the car during your holiday.
Livigno has a lot to offer, even for those who have no interest in skiing or snowboarding. In this charming Italian city, you can also try your hand at cross-country skiing, go snowshoeing, get to know “Fat Biking”, that is, riding an electric bike on snow and ice. For runners, there is a 20 km long winter snow trail.
For adrenaline junkies, a mountain wall was built on which you can climb, or Ice Driving courses, where you can drive on icy routes.
There is also an option for lovers of high planes. Livigno Feel the Sky allows you to admire the entire valley from above during scenic flights.
Something else? Absolutely yes – ice rink, sleigh ride, horse riding, go-card, pole walking, horse-drawn carriages, snowmobiles and a hit in the region – Aquagranda water parkwhere after a day of skiing you can relax in the relaxation and sauna area or get lost on the slides and swimming pools.
You really cannot be bored in this city, not even for a minute. It’s best to try different activities and see what you like best.
Read also: Skiing in Poland: unique ski slopes for a winter weekend and holiday. Which is the longest, which is the hardest, where is the most beautiful?
If you love winter sports and delicious food at the same time – we have good news: In Livigno you will feel like you are in paradise. Everyone will find something for themselves, both lovers of simple Italian cuisine, pizza and pasta, as well as demanding gourmets looking for sublime culinary experiences. When we talk about Livigno’s cuisine, it is impossible not to mention regional specialties. It belongs to such pizzoccheri – a bowl of buckwheat pasta, cabbage, garlic, potatoes and cheese.
Although Livigno boasts a duty-free resort, the prices in restaurants are not noticeably lower than in other Italian resorts. However, the culinary offer here is still much cheaper than in France or Switzerland.
The top 5 restaurants according to Tripadvisor users are (assessed in January 2023):
- Ristorante Focolare
- Mauri’s L’Hamburgheria
- Fresco Bistrot
- Valley Passero
- La Posa
In the city, the yellow drink, covered with a layer of whipped cream, catches the eye everywhere. This Bombardier. The winter cocktail was created in Livigno in the 1970s by a young man from Genoa to face the freezing temperatures in the mountains. This cocktail is served warm and consists of milk, whiskey and eggnog.
While in Livigno, don’t miss the opportunity to taste local meats and cheeses as well as excellent wine.
Read also: Bałtów: attractions for children and adults. JuraPark, skiing in Bałtów Switzerland and other ideas for the weekend. Ticket prices, accommodation, access
This fairytale resort in the Valtellina Valley is a shopaholic’s dream come true. The city’s main streets form an open-air shopping mall. We find there over 250 duty-free shops of various brands – from fashion, to accessories, sports, hobbies to hi-tech. There are also lots of shops with local goods and handicrafts in the town.
Livigno is a duty-free area. VAT and excise duty are not added to the prices of goods in the shops. We save by buying alcohol, perfume, electronics or fuel. There is a customs office at the exit from the municipality. This privilege dates back to the 16th century and was an element of encouragement for the poor to stay in a city that was difficult to access.
The dairy Latteria Livigno is worth a visit. There you will learn how local dairy products are made. Factory tours include tastings. The dairy also has a large restaurant with a terrace and a shop with regional cheeses, fresh milk, yogurt and supposedly – the best ice cream in town!
When describing Livigno, we cannot leave out the history of this place. Before the 1970s, Livigno was nothing more than a farming town on the Swiss border. This has changed thanks to two factors: tourism and the creation of a tax-free zone.
Livigno has a fascinating history, which you can learn about in the town’s ethnographic museum MUS! It is housed in a charming historic house. As you walk through the individual rooms and floors, you will learn how the inhabitants worked 100 years ago, what they ate and how they dressed.
We invite you to the photo gallery showing the attractions of Livigno. When you look through them, you will definitely want to spend a winter holiday or vacation in this extraordinary place.
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