Courmayeur Italy

Courmayeur ski area is located on the Italian side of Mont Blanc, just through the Mont Blanc Tunnel from Chamonix France, in the spectacular Aosta Valley of Italy.

Courmayeur is considered one of Europe’s great Alpine resorts, set in the impressively scenic upper end of north-west Italy’s historic Aosta Valley, with a charming car-free old village full of alpine character. The ski town is honestly quite ritzy with Montcler, Prada, Valentino, Colmar, Gucci and Versace boutique stores, and the 5-star Golf Hotel Courmayeur, along with upscale dining, to casual cozy pizzerias, along pedestrian zoned Via Roma.

Courmayeur is a funky big mountain which has evolved into a modern ski resort since 1908, with several aspects, and a mix of lifts – gondolas, quads and six packs. You are skiing in the shadows of mighty Mont Blanc, the highest summit in the Alps, so the scenery is spectacular.

Most of Courmayeur runs are mostly straightforward open terrain, above-tree-line in the main Checrouit sector. Big boulevards in Checroute are popular, it’s the hub for ski school and competition too, with assured snow and excellent grooming. From here, you can ascend the Youla tram to the Arp tram to the very summit.

Courmayer’s more north-west facing Val Veny ski slopes have more interesting character, narrower trails amid forest that are a bit steeper and offer spectacular views of Monte Bianco (Mont Blanc) and its glacier fields. Zerotta and Pre De Pascal slopes are worth exploring in this area, which feels very traditional, old school even.

Only experts can ski off Courmayeur’s very top at 2755-meters, reached by the gold Checrouit gondola, follwed by the Youla 20-person tram, to the rustic but reliable Arp 11-passenger lift that resembles a big beer can to the tippy top. You can ride up to this Arp summit for the amazing views on the rooftop terrace, climbing several flights in ski boots, for sensational panoramas. But the skiing is all very difficult from the top, ungroomed, mostly off-piste from 9,000′. Hire a guide to explore the freeride, off-piste terrain safely, or leave your skis at the base of the Arp tram and download.

You will find charming Italian chalets at Courmayeur, for a cappuccino, lunch or an afternoon apero – all around the ski resort. We loved Vielle Grenier near Dzeleuna and Maison Vieille, and Capitan Des Alps in Zerotta. Back at centrally located Plan Checrouit, the Super G apres ski stage bumps out loud music afternoons.

At ski day’s end, you can download from Checruoit on the Dolonne Gondola or the Courmayeur Tram back to the village. Or you can ski to the base, on a great long red run #25 Dolonne down to the gondola base station near the village, for the full 1550-meter vertical, 5085-feet. Of note, very few hotels are ski-in ski-out at Courmayeur, and the village is not slopside, it’s a short shuttle or long 10-minute walk in ski boots from the lifts.

Courmayeur is noted among Europe’s finest for off-piste. We skied the Val Veny from the Arp summit into a gorgeous valley leading to several tighter chutes, all the way to a summer camping road we traversed out on snow, back to the Zerotta lift. This spectacular Val Veny was the site of a tragic avalanche January 2026, so hire a guide, have avi gear to explore.

Courmayeur’s Skyway is a must one day. You can ski to Pre de Pascal, leave your skis, download the Val Veny tram and walk to the Sky Way. Buy your round-trip ticket in advance (inlcuded in a 3-day lift ticket), our tip is not to buy the Priority Pass or Lunch package.

The amazing Skyway (opened in 2015 at a cost of $110 million!) ascends to the mid-station Pavilion, where you should explore the cinema and the Cave of Wines, then get ont eh the next Skyway up to the summit 3486-meter Punta Helbronner. Here you have sensational views of Mont Blanc up-close-and-personal, views of the Aiguille de Midi on the Chamonix side, and access to some serious big-mountain off-piste terrain, including the famous Vallée Blanche descent to Chamonix, or down to mid station under the Skyway. While you can dine at the Helbronner summit, we found the mid-station Pavilion was preferable, better food and views, go to the prettier Mountain Bar for a sandwich and drink, instead of the upstairs pre-paid prix fixe buffet. Explore the Caves Mont Blanc before descending the Skyway – here thousands of bottles of local Aosta wine are stored at high elevation!

Courmayeur village has the alpine charm and après ski conviviality you hope for, though it’s Italian, so not wild ski boot-stomping French or Austrian party-scene. The pedestrian village is historic, charming, and inviting to stroll Via Roma after skiing, the passegiata the Italians call it! Cable Bar is the apres ski spot with music, outdoor firepits and drinks, often with ski patrol and instructors. Or you can shop the chi-chi boutiques, then settle into a scenic cafe near the cathedral in your stylish ski togs for an apertivo – an Aperol Spritz with complimentary snacks! Then save room and rest up and change for dinner later – this is Eataly! For dinners, we enjoyed Chapeau, and the more casual Padella and Tunnel.

We stayed at Courmayeur Hotel Walser, a pretty chalet hotel with a friendly staff, one of the few remaining generational inns in this now very chic ski city. Our room had a wonderful balcony looking at Mont Blanc and the ski slopes, ask for #403, though there is highway traffic noise. Walser stays include a hearty buffet breakfast, a ski and heated boot room, a shuttle to the ski slopes, and you’re an easy walk to Roma – the pedestrian zone in town.

From Courmayeur, you can take the Mont Blanc tunnel to France to ski Chamonix, Megeve, or continue to Italian ski areas La Thuile (Ski Espace San Bernardo), Pila, and others in the Aosta Valley on a ski safari.

Courmayeur Ski Resort Ski Stats:
Elevation: 1250 – 2755 M – 9,039′
Vertical Drop: 1550 M – 5,085′
Lifts: 18
Trails: 41.5 km