Courmayeur, Italy

A visit to Courmayeur is all about soaking up the local traditions of this proper Italian ski resort and mountain town. Despite the proximity of the Mont Blanc road tunnel and some modern hotels, Courmayeur has retained much of its old-world and slightly isolated feel.

There is a charming traffic free centre with cobbled streets, many attractive shops, bars, restaurants and accommodation offers a range of prices to suit all budgets. The resort centre, particularly the Via Roma, comes alive for apres ski, with people either filling up the bars or wandering in and out of the many shops.

Courmayeur town is quite large, and its huge cable car to Plan Chercrouit (the mid level station) is found on the southern edge of the resort. We recommend staying as close to the cable-car station as possible as this will make your life much easier.

Courmayeur has only one other alternative way up the mountain which is the cable car from Entreves, a short car or bus ride away. Up at Plan Chercrouit (mid station) you will find ski hire shops, ski school meeting points, the main lift hub and various bars and restaurants. We recommend leaving your skis and boots at one of the ski hire shops up here to make things a little easier while on your ski holiday in Courmayeur.

The local pistes mainly suit intermediates (experts should head off-piste) and although small by mega resort standards offer more than enough terrain to suit a long ski weekend.