Table of Contents:
How to get to Bormio from Milan
How to get to Bormio from Bergamo
When to travel to Bormio
Bormio is a two-in-one resort. On the one hand, the town is famous for its skiing opportunities. Various sports championships were held here and it means that ski infrastructure is developed on a high level. On the other hand, there are 9 thermal springs at the resort, which provides unlimited opportunities for relaxation in local spa and thermal complexes.
After some research, I decided to put together information I have previously found out and create a complete guide on how to organize a holiday in Bormio. I figured out how to get to the resort town, where to stay & what to do there. I really hope this detailed information will help you plan your trip to Bormio.
In this regard I can say that Bormio is all-year-round resort. During the period of November – April tourists can try skiing, snowboarding, sledding, ice-skating, cross-country skiing and other kinds of winter sport. During the period of May-October travellers can enjoy sightseeing, hiking, mountaineering, rock climbing, etc. Wherein thermal & spa complexes operate all year round. Natural landscapes of Bormio are absolutely amazing any season of the year. Snowy winters, blossoming springs, sunny summers and colorful autumns will please you with breath-taking mountain views.
How to get to Bormio
Where do you fly into to get to Bormio? Bormio is located virtually on the border with Switzerland and is part of the Alta Valtellina ski region. Let us remind you that in addition to Bormio, this region also includes ski resorts such as San Colombano, Santa Caterina and Livigno. Bormio home ski area is limited to 50 km, but with the Alta Valtellina ski pass the skiing possibilities expand significantly. Most often, tourists get to Bormio from Milan, Bergamo or Verona. You can check the flight timetable to these cities via the specialized search services such as Aviasales and others. I truly like this online service as it generates a huge number of flight options which I can sort by various filters to narrow down the results as I may need. It really helps me to discover the best available variants.
How to get to Bormio from Milan
By public transport: The most convenient way to get to Bormio is from Milan, since in winter there are direct shuttle buses between the city and the resort, which greatly simplifies the trip. The Livigno Express bus shuttle departs from Milan Malpensa and Linate airports, the final stop of which is the resort of Livigno, but along the way the shuttle also makes a stop in Bormio. The travel time is about 4,5 hours.
If you wish, you can get to Bormio by public transport, but you will need to make a change along the route. So, from Milan you can take a train to the town of Tirano, and from there transfer to a regular bus to Bormio. Such a trip will probably be the cheapest option, but also the most time-consuming. The bus schedule from Tirano to Bormio can be found on the website of the local bus carrier called Busperego. The current train timetable from Milan to Tirano can be checked at the Raileurope booking service. I use Raileurope pretty much often when planning my upcoming trips so I can totally recommend it.
By transfer service: A more comfortable option to get to Bormio is to use the services of a private transfer. This type of transportation is especially relevant for those who transport ski equipment or arrive at night when public transport does not operate. It is convenient to use an individual transfer service for those who travels with small children as well. You can try to find a taxi car after arrival or to order a transfer service in advance using various booking services such as Kiwitaxi, Intui.Travel and others. The travel time is about 3,5 hours in total. According to my research, both online services have a great number of positive reviews.
By rented car: You can get to Bormio from Milan on your own by rented car. Car rental services in Milan are quite popular among tourists. To rent a car in Milan, you need to have a passport, a driver`s license and a bank card to pay for the services. The roads in Italy are of excellent quality; you can move along them quickly and comfortably. Milan and Bormio are connected with # SS42 road via Bergamo. The total travel time is 3,5 hours (see on the map). You can book a car in advance via various online services such as Discover Cars, Economybookings and others. In my opinion, both online services are good as they have a decent search and a lot of filters to sort the results as you may need.
How to get to Bormio from Bergamo
By public transport: The most convenient way to get to Bormio from Bergamo is to use a direct shuttle bus. The Livigno Express bus shuttle departs from Orio al Serio airport of Bergamo town, the final stop of which is the resort of Livigno, but along the way the shuttle also makes a stop in Bormio. The travel time is about 3,5 hours.
If you wish, you can get to Bormio by public transport, but, in this case, you will need to make a change along the route. So, from Bergamo you can take a train to the town of Tirano, and from there transfer to a regular bus to Bormio. Such a trip will probably be the cheapest option, but also the most time-consuming. The bus schedule from Tirano to Bormio can be found on the website of the local bus carrier called Busperego. The current train timetable from Bergamo to Tirano can be checked at the Raileurope booking service. I can totally recommend Raileurope as I often use it by myself when planning my trips.
By transfer service: A more comfortable option to get to Bormio is to use the services of a private transfer. This type of transportation is especially relevant for those who transport ski equipment or arrive at night when public transport does not operate. It is convenient to use an individual transfer service for those who travels with small children as well. You can try to find a taxi car after arrival or to order a transfer service in advance using various booking services such as Kiwitaxi and others. The travel time from Bergamo is about 3 hours in total.
By rented car: You can get to Bormio from Bergamo by rented car. Car rental service in Bergamo is a quite popular option among travellers. To rent a car in Bergamo, you need to have a passport, a driver`s license and a bank card to pay for the services. The roads in Italy are of excellent quality; you can move along them quickly and comfortably. Bergamo and Bormio are connected with # SS42 motorway. The total travel time is 3 hours (see on the map). You can book a car for renting in advance via various online services such as Discover Cars, Economybookings and others. To my mind, both online services have a convenient search and a lot of filters to find out the best available car rental option.
Where to stay in Bormio
Bormio is a fairly popular holiday destination. For a comfortable stay there is all the necessary infrastructure. So, you can stay in Bormio in hotels of various star categories, in apartments or vacation homes. All three accommodation options are in great demand among tourists. It is better to book accommodation at the resort in advance, so you can find options that are ideal in terms of price and quality.
In Bormio, hotels in the 3* and 4* categories predominate, but there are, for example, five-star hotels too. According to my research, the majority of local hotels offer breakfast included in the price, free Wi-Fi and parking spaces as many people come to the resort by car. Hotels in Bormio are usually decorated in an Alpine style using eco-friendly materials. Popular hotels in Bormio are:
Hotel Baita Dei Pini 4* – the hotel has a convenient location relatively close to the center, ski lifts and thermal springs. The hotel has a bar and a spa area. You can stay in single, double, triple or family rooms. Breakfast is included in the price. Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel and is free of charge. Private parking is provided on site for an extra charge and upon reservation. The front desk is open 24 hours a day and provides luggage storage and currency exchange services. As online booking services provide tourists reviews, I found out that sales of ski passes and ski storage space are also available in the hotel;
Eden Hotel 4* – this design hotel has a convenient location and a spa area with services such as a sauna and a Turkish bath. There is a bar at the hotel. Guests can stay in rooms of various categories, including family rooms. Breakfast is included in the price. Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel and is free of charge. A parking area is also provided. The front desk is open 24 hours a day and there are storage spaces for luggage and skis;
Genzianella Bormio 3* – this family hotel is located 300 m from the nearest ski lift. The hotel has a restaurant and a sauna. Guests can stay in rooms of various categories, including family rooms. Breakfast is included in the price. Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel and is free of charge. Free private parking is provided on site. Luggage and ski storage are available at the front desk;
Hotel Larice Bianco 3* – the hotel is located just 100 meters from the nearest ski lift and is surrounded with a garden. It features a spa area with a sauna, a Turkish bath and hydromassage. The hotel also features a restaurant, a bar and a fitness centre. You can stay in rooms of various categories. Breakfast is included in the price. Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel and is free of charge. Free private parking is available on site upon reservation. Ski storage is provided at the reception.
All of the hotels listed above have convenient access to ski lifts.
Apartments in Bormio are no less popular among tourists than hotels. Most often these are either one or two-room apartments, or detached chalets. The area of the chalet, as a rule, exceeds 100 sq.m., so this accommodation option is more suitable for families with children or for large groups of people. In addition to Bormio, you can also stay in neighboring towns, for example, in Valdisotto, Valdidentro or Valfurve.
What to do in Bormio
The resort of Bormio is considered to be both a ski resort and a thermal resort. I did some research to collect practical information for visiting and here it is:
- The home ski area of Bormio is 50 km, and the ski area of the Alta Valtellina region is 230 km of pistes.
- Bormio is served with 20+ more ski lifts.
- There are opportunities for freeride at the resort.
- There are also panoramic slopes for skiing.
- At the highest skiing point there is a snow park with various elements.
- In addition, Bormio is considered to be a snowboard-friendly resort.
Ski passes have different coverage; it may be home area or area of Alte Valtellina. You can purchase a ski pass for the home ski area and for the general ski area of Alta Valtellina. Based on my research, the price for Bormio ski-pass (home ski area) in high season starts from 56 euros per person. Prices for ski passes throughout the Alta Valtellina ski area will be slightly higher, but the coverage area also expands significantly.
In addition to skiing, Bormio is attractive for its thermal springs. The resort has hotels with their own spa centers, and there is a separate thermal complex called Bormio Terme, where you can also find a full range of services. For instance, there are several thermal pools for both children and adults; a Finnish sauna, panoramic lodges, thermorium and much more. After some research, I discovered the following practical information:
- The complex is open daily from 10 am to 8 pm (to 10 pm on Wednesday);
- A day ticket costs 28 euros for adults and 22 euros for kids. You also can purchase a family ticket, which costs 58 euros for 2 adults and 1 kid or 74 euros for 2 adults and 2 kids.
Bormio is a quite charming town. Here you can see not only Alpine chalets, but also, for example, some historical sights. These, in particular, include the Church of St. Vitalius, the clock tower, the Collegiate Church of Bormio, the Church of the Holy Spirit and some other objects. There are also quite a lot of restaurants in Bormio, incl. mountain bistros and bars. But there are almost no discos and nightclubs; the resort is designed for a relaxing holiday; for young people it can be a bit boring. However, for extreme sports enthusiasts there is such entertainment as skiing on a glacier, which is located half an hour’s drive from Bormio.
In general, we can say that Bormio is a remote corner of Italy, but with all the needed infrastructure for skiing and relaxing. The resort is well-equipped and often hosts sports events. Bormio can be considered not only as a ski resort, but also as a full-fledged thermal resort, because in the town there are as many as 9 healing springs. Bormio is a year-round resort which offer a lot of possibilities for relaxing around spectacular natural landscapes.
Take a note! When going on a trip to Italy, do not forget to take out a travel insurance, which is useful for receiving a tourist visa and for solving emerged medical problems when travelling in another country. You can purchase an insurance via online services, for example, via EKTA and others. You can choose from different modes, including quiet, active or extreme rest.
Photo above the article: Francesco Veronesi
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Julia is an experienced traveller, BA in International Relations and Languages and true lover of planning trips in advance. Learn more…