
Aprica: 50km slopes, Europe's longest night skiing run (5.5km), 1,162-2,270m elevation. Lombardy family resort 160km from Milan.
Aprica delivers 50 kilometres of varied skiing across a natural balcony overlooking Valtellina, with terrain spanning from 1,200 to 2,270 metres elevation. The resort combines a family-friendly atmosphere with excellent learning facilities and challenging expert runs, including the famous Pista Stelvio with its sustained 45-degree pitch over 3 kilometres.
Modern snowmaking infrastructure covers 90% of all marked runs, ensuring reliable conditions throughout winter. Aprica's wide, open slopes above the tree line contrast with beautiful forest descents, creating diverse skiing experiences across four distinct sectors: Palabione, Magnolta, Baradello, and Campetti.
Aprica spreads 20 runs across 50 km of piste of terrain. It leans beginner at 54%, with 11 beginner runs to find your feet and 3 advanced or expert runs when you want to push.
Aprica's winter season typically runs from early December through mid-April, with optimal snow conditions from January through March. The resort's favourable microclimate, created by its protected valley position, contributes to consistent conditions and approximately 4 metres of natural snowfall annually.
Comprehensive snowmaking systems ensure reliable coverage from opening day, with operations beginning on Palabione's north-facing slopes before expanding across all sectors by Christmas week. March delivers excellent spring skiing with firm morning conditions and comfortable temperatures, while special night skiing operations on Wednesdays and Saturdays extend the skiing day throughout the season.
Positioned 175 kilometres northeast of Milan at the strategic Valtellina and Val Camonica junction, Aprica occupies a natural mountain pass at 1,181 metres elevation. The compact resort village features traditional Alpine architecture with hotels and apartments predominantly offering ski-in/ski-out convenience. Unlike purpose-built resorts, Aprica evolved organically from an historic mountain community, maintaining authentic charm while developing modern visitor facilities.
The surrounding region boasts remarkable biodiversity with extensive protected forests, accessible via winter hiking trails and snowshoe routes that complement the skiing experience. Convenient road connections via the SS39 and proximity to Tirano's railway station make Aprica easily accessible despite its mountain setting.
Hotels and lodges near Aprica, powered by Stay22.

Spain's government has approved a draft tobacco law that would ban smoking across a wide range of outdoor spaces, including sports venues - a category Spanish winter sports media expect to cover ski resorts, potentially extending to slopes and lifts themselves. The rules would also apply to e-cigarettes and vaping devices, even nicotine-free ones. The bill still has to clear the Spanish parliament before any ban, signage, or fines can take effect.

South Tyrol has approved a full rebuild of the Ciampinoi cable car in Selva di Val Gardena, replacing the current 12-person gondola with a 16-person cabin and a new mountain-station restaurant. Capacity is capped at 3,200 people an hour rather than the 3,600 the operator wanted, and 250,000 euros must go toward compensatory measures. No construction or opening date has been set, though the upgrade is partly aimed at clearing bottlenecks before the 2031 Alpine Ski World Championships.

Hoshino Tomamu is the ski resort equivalent of a conference hotel that happens to have excellent powder. Built for corporate retreats and package tourists, it offers genuine Hokkaido snow on surprisingly limited terrain - 29 runs spread across 585 vertical metres.

La Thuile is spending 38.7 million US dollars on a new 10-person cable car linking Les Suches to Chaz Dura, replacing the La Combe and Chaz Dura chairlifts after nearly forty years of service. Built by Leitner, the new cable car runs 1,950 metres to a top station at 2,576 metres, carrying up to 3,000 people an hour with a six-minute ride. It also improves the connection to La Rosiere in France via the Petit-Saint-Bernard Pass, and is on track to open for the 2026/27 season.

The Remarkables is adding new inbounds terrain for winter, bringing the Scarpa Bowl - known locally as the Toilet Bowl - into its lift-accessed network after years as backcountry-only ground. The roughly 500 metre run is reached by bootpacking from the top of the Sugar Bowl chairlift, with a shuttle picking skiers up from the road at the bottom. It's a smaller, faster addition than the resort's planned Doolans expansion, though the new terrain hasn't opened yet due to a lack of snow this season.

Ski Portillo remains isolated after an extended storm buried the Chilean resort under more than 4.5 metres of snow, with both ground and air access suspended since Tuesday while crews monitor avalanche hazards and worsening weather. Resort officials say further snowfall is expected in the coming days and haven't set a timeline for reopening the mountain road. Once access resumes, the scale of the snowpack could set up a strong season at one of the Southern Hemisphere's most historic ski resorts.

Lotte Arai receives 22 metres of annual snowfall - exceptional even by Japanese standards - but its corporate ownership model and limited terrain create an unusual cost-benefit equation. Here's what the numbers actually mean on the ground.

Banff Sunshine Village sits at 1,660m base and receives 9.27m of snow annually. Inside Banff National Park, it offers a six-month season and terrain split that skews heavily advanced - though the crowds and lift infrastructure tell their own story.
Full day skiing at Aprica in Valtellina with 50km of slopes and 16 lifts. Lombardy skiing from Palabione to Magnolta areas with night skiing on Europe's longest illuminated run.
Buy passJunior daily ticket for Aprica skiing in Lombardy. Youth pricing for ages 8-17 with access to varied terrain from Baradello's modern lifts to family-friendly Campetti area.
Buy passFree skiing for children under 8 at Aprica when accompanied by paying adult. Valtellina family skiing with beginner-friendly Campetti area and magic carpets.
Buy passSenior discount lift ticket for Aprica skiing. Reduced rates for skiers 65+ with access to sunny Magnolta area and extensive groomed slopes in Lombardy.
Buy passNight skiing at Aprica on Europe's longest illuminated run. 5.5km Baradello slope lit until 11pm with spectacular starry sky skiing in the Valtellina Alps.
Buy passHalf day skiing at Aprica starting at 1:00pm. Afternoon access to 50km of Valtellina slopes with modern lift system and varied terrain for all abilities.
Buy passTwo-day lift ticket package at Aprica with savings over daily rates. Extended Valtellina skiing with Snow Train packages available from Lombardy stations.
Buy passThree-day family package at Aprica with free accommodation skipass. Includes adult and child passes with 50% discount for children when booking affiliated hotels.
Buy passUnlimited access to Aprica all season with no blackout dates. Includes discounts at local businesses and partner benefits across Valtellina ski resorts.
Buy passDay passes start from €23, with peak rates up to €52.
More Aprica intelligence: snow report, webcams, resort overview.