The Italian ski resort Cervinia (2050 m) is located in the Aosta Valley, at the foot of the Alpine four-thousander Matterhorn. Cervinia is located on the southern slopes of the Matterhorn, and the northern slopes of the Matterhorn belong to the Swiss ski resort of Zermatt. Cervinia is a very beautiful ski resort, as it is surrounded by high Alpine mountains: Monte Rosa, Breithorn and Castor.

The Plateau Rosa glacier at an altitude of 3489 m is the maximum height of the skiing area on the Italian side. There are many trails of any difficulty, located close to each other. Snow in Cervinia does not melt from December to the end of May, there are skiers on the eternal glaciers of Plateau Rosa in summer. Thanks to the combined system of lifts of Cervinia and Swiss Zermatt, you can ski in two countries.

Tourists discovered the beauty of these places back in the 1920s, and Cervinia began to develop rapidly in the 1970s, when skiing in Europe became more widespread. One of the features of Cervinia is that its ski lifts go straight into the sky. The ski area in Cervinia is one of the highest in Europe, which means there are no problems with snow in Cervinia. In Cervinia you will see long-forgotten real winters, a large amount of white snow playing in the sun, the sun that gently warms tired skiers.

It is worth considering that Cervinia is a rather capricious resort, due to the altitude there are quite strong winds here, and some lifts may be closed, but the bad weather cannot be long, and you will definitely ski from almost a four-thousand-meter height.

The resort offers year-round skiing: despite the mild climate here, the snow on the glaciers does not melt even in summer. In winter, it is significantly colder than in the summer, but even during this period, the local temperatures are pleasant with their mildness. The romantic prospect of skiing above the clouds, rare in Europe, and then descending through them, as well as the breathtaking surroundings of four Alpine mountains exceeding 4,000 m in height, is also attractive.

The practical side is not far behind: the entire resort is divided into zones for beginners, amateurs and professionals, and the number of slopes available for skiing significantly exceeds a hundred.

How to get to the resort

Own car / hitchhiking. If you prefer to drive, then take the A5 motorway (Turin-Aosta) and drive to the entrance to Chatillon / Saint Vincent, then drive 28 km in the indicated direction to Cervinia.
Bus. A bus ride from Milan to Cervinia will cost you 11-18 euros, from Turin – 5-10, and from Chatillon station to Cervinia you can get for 3 euros (children under 12 and people over 65 can travel free of charge).
Train. Here you can not do without transfers: by train you can get to Chatillon station, and from there transfer to the appropriate bus. The cost of the train varies, for example, the price of a ticket from Milan to Châtillon is from 14.40 to 46.75 euros.
Plane. The nearest airports to Cervinia are Turin’s Caselle (118 km) and Milan’s Malpensa (160 km), Linate (180 km). You can get from the airport by renting a car in Italy, the price of a one-day rental ranges from 11 to 46 euros. Other ways – transfer (transfer price from Milan airport – 225-295 euros), taxi (from 150 euros).

Après-ski

You definitely won’t have to get bored in between skiing: the resort offers many shops, restaurants, bars, sports schools and souvenir shops where you can buy copper dishes and wooden toys created by local craftsmen.

As for the restaurants, they serve Italian and European cuisine: excellent Italian pasta, meat dishes and house wine. In addition, in Cervinia there is a pizzeria, several family cafes, grill bars. You can also try local delicacies in countless small shops, buying jam, marmalade, cheese or an unusual sauce, for example, from mushrooms.

There is a large sports complex on the territory of the village. In winter, an excellent ice rink is organized, on which both children and adults skate with pleasure. For lovers of water procedures, there is a luxurious swimming pool with warm water, a jacuzzi, a solarium, a sauna. In addition, there is an indoor tennis court, bowling, curling grounds and other types of outdoor activities.

For snowboarders, an excellent snow park has been built in the Plan Maison area, equipped in accordance with modern world standards: ski jumps, cross-country tracks, a freestyle zone.

The highest mountain museum in Europe is located on the Rosa Plateau

For children, the resort has a mini-club, where enthusiastic teachers and animators entertain the little ones, giving parents the opportunity to relax to their heart’s content. Children of all ages, and adults too, can have active fun in one of the two play parks founded by the Cervinia Ski School.

Thrill seekers can fly in a paraglider or helicopter, make a parachute jump, ride an inflatable sled or pillow, and go kitesurfing.

No opening of the season is complete without a pyrotechnic show

Excursion programs will help diversify your vacation, including a visit to the highest European museum, located on the Rosa Plateau – it contains ancient household items, as well as a rich collection of black and white photographs.

An interesting attraction is the Ice Grotto, located at the Piccolo Cervino station. In the grotto, 15 meters underground, you can see unusual ice sculptures created by nature.

At the beginning and end of the ski season, as well as on New Year’s Eve, a torchlight procession is held in Cervinia, in which ski instructors, alpine guides, and athletes participate. Guests of the holiday are treated to hot chocolate and mulled wine, and the event culminates with a pyrotechnic show.

Accommodation

There are also a significant number of accommodation options: from a comfortable mountain shelter designed for 90 people, to accommodation with the Bed & Breakfast system and elite multi-star hotels.

If you prefer the atmosphere of the refuge, then thanks to the altitude at which it is located (3480 m), you can admire beautiful sunsets and sunrises, use the public Wi-Fi, relax in the Turkish bath and try the local signature tagliatelle, ravioli and many other dishes.

The cost of accommodation, breakfast and dinner in half board is 50 euros. The average check in the local restaurant is about 10-20 euros. Numerous B & B rooms are decorated with stone and light wood, equipped with satellite TV, wireless Internet, etc. However, unlike the shelter, animals are not allowed here, and the cost of one week in such accommodation is from 340 to 445 euros.

As for hotels, there are both two-star guesthouses and luxurious five-star buildings with fireplaces and jacuzzis. A night in half-board in a local five-star hotel for one person will cost 270-820 euros (depending on the season and room class), and one night in two-star hotels costs from 36 to 46 euros. In general, the choice is wide

Slopes: detailed information

A ski resort in northwestern Italy is ideal for beginners and intermediate skiers. Gentle slopes, ski instructors in Breuil-Cervinia, and many special schools will help you quickly learn how to ski and snowboard.

The slopes of this area will delight you with gentle slopes and a variety of routes. Even seemingly difficult slopes can be easily descended. Therefore, inexperienced tourists can safely come here to start their skiing career.

Even young children are taught the basics of skiing in Cervinia. Kinderparadis Zermatt is constantly operating here, where the child will be occupied with interesting and exciting lessons.

Skiing lessons in Cervinia will not take much time. Experienced instructors and professionals are ready to put you on skis in just a couple of days and teach you to confidently descend easy slopes. In the process of improving your skills, by the end of your vacation you will be able to master the slopes of medium difficulty. Learning to ski in Cervinia can be turned into an exciting game, the results of which you will be satisfied with in any case. The main thing is to enjoy the process.

As mentioned earlier, the resort is conventionally divided into three zones. This was done so that everyone who came to Cervinia to ski could find the optimal descent for their skills.

The length of the trails for beginners is 70 km in total. For those who ski at an intermediate level, most of the local trails are provided, stretching for 188 km. Finally, for professionals, complex trails with a steep slope (56 km) were invented. In total – 313 km of trails. Let’s consider each level of difficulty separately:

Pro. Since the length of the trails for professionals (or as they are also called “black trails”) is the smallest, the choice of experienced athletes is limited. However, these roads can be called the most dynamic in the resort. An example of such a trail is Bardone, which, despite its short length, captivates almost everyone. Try to get to the difficult black runs of Zermatt by crossing the Plateau Rosa. The Cervinia GLC and the Swiss Zermatt are connected by lifts. True, the crossing is often closed due to bad weather, and if you don’t return to your side in time or the border is closed, there is a high probability of spending the night in Switzerland. The ski areas here are some of the highest in Italy. Sometimes it seems that the lifts take tourists straight to the sky. Also, due to the high location of the resort, there is an opportunity to ski on the glacier all year round. Skiing on the Swiss part is even more exciting, but it will take quite a long time to overcome the distance between the sides. Therefore, skiing here all the time, unfortunately, is not possible.

Intermediate level. The resort is, in fact, designed for skiing enthusiasts. If there are only 2 slopes for skiing masters in the Italian part, then for those who ski at an intermediate level – 21! For a leisurely and comfortable descent, the central part of Cervinia is perfect, as well as Lago Chime Bianca. If you prefer to experience medium speed, use the Bontadini track in the direction directly from Plateau Rosa. And for extreme lovers, the Ventine Ghiacciaio track, located to the left of Plateau Rosa, is as if created. On this track there is an unusual drop with beautiful snow, which provides a smooth, widest descent that will give you unforgettable impressions. The medium-level track is called “red”, and this is exactly the last section on Ventine Ghiacciaio, which leads to the exit to the city. And those who like to climb to the top and descend from there at great speed should try their hand at the fifteen-kilometer Gran Pistia and the luxurious descent into the Valtornensch valley.

Beginners. Cervinia offers an excellent pastime for this category of vacationers at the resort. The trails for beginners are considered “blue”. On the plateau, which has already been mentioned many times, almost every trail is blue. Very soft snow and new comfortable lifts contribute to a calm and safe descent. In addition to the plateau, beginners should visit Fornet 2, Rocchi Nere 1 and Plan Torretto. In general, this skiing area has quite a few easy slopes that beginners should take a look at – there are 12 of them in total in the resort.

Technical specifications and trail map

16 chairlifts with fixed / detachable clamps are designed for 2,3,4 and 6 people, in addition, there are also single moving belts, 33 tow lifts, 12 funiculars and 14 gondolas.

It is worth noting that if you manage to visit the Swiss part of Zermatt, be sure to ride the local slopes and climb the highest European pendulum lift, which will take you to a height of 4000 m.

The descent back – to a height of 2000 m – is an unforgettable pleasure!

Ski passes

Upon arrival at the resort, it is better to immediately buy a ski pass in Cervinia so as not to waste time on daily payment for the lift. Thus, you will not only save precious time, but also save yourself from the discomfort of standing in lines for the long-awaited ticket.

If you are interested in the cost of a ski pass, then it directly depends on the duration of the pass, its type and the tourist season. For example, for 3 days an adult ski pass will cost 89 EUR, a youth pass 53.5 EUR, a pensioner pass 71 EUR, and a group pass 82 EUR.

The price of a ski pass will be significantly lower if you purchase a pass for all 7 days of your stay at once. In this case, you will pay 193 EUR for an adult ski pass, 115 EUR for a youth pass, 154 EUR for a pensioner pass and 177 EUR for a group pass.

In the resort of Cervinia, you can buy a ski pass not only on site, but also in advance using various travel websites. You can also buy a ski pass separately in Cervinia. For a 6-day adult pass, you will need to pay 194 EUR in high season and 156 EUR in pre-season.

Weather

The climate in Cervinia is mountainous, but the winters are quite mild: if there is precipitation, there is a little snow, the weather in the evenings is usually from -3 to -11 degrees, in the morning the temperature fluctuates on average from -4 to -9, and during the day from -1 to -8. Storm winds are sometimes possible in the upper parts of the mountains.

In summer, the temperature in Cervinia is above zero, a lush emerald carpet begins to bloom in the valleys, but snow still lies on the peaks several thousand meters above. Due to the clean mountain air and high humidity (about 87%), the temperature seems lower than it is