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Table of Contents:
How to get to Sestriere from Turin
How to get to Sestriere from Milan
When to travel to Sestriere
Sestriere is a popular ski resort in Italy, located near the border with France. Sestriere is situated between two mountains at an altitude of more than 2000 m, and the length of all resort trails is more than 400 km. In addition, there are ideal climate conditions for skiing, developed infrastructure and a lot of entertainment. It’s no surprise that Sestriere is a popular resort among outdoor enthusiasts.
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 Sestriere. I figured out how to get to the town, where to stay & what to do there. I really hope this detailed information will help you plan your trip to Sestriere.
Sestriere can be visited any season of the year, depending on your preferences. Skiing season lasts from December until April. The period of May-October is best for seasonal outdoor activities such as hiking, mountaineering, rock climbing, sightseeing, cycling, etc. During winter time, the resort has a perfect-quality snow coverage which is good for skiing, snowboarding, sledding, cross-country skiing, freeriding, etc. During the period of spring and summer, the natural landscapes of Sestriere cheer you up with blossoming and sunshining. During autumn, you will be amazed with colorful and picturesque countryside and mountain trails. So, the choice is up to you.
How to get to Sestriere
Where do you fly into to get to Sestriere? The great advantage of the resort is its location. Unlike most other ski resorts in Italy, Sestriere is located relatively close to major cities, including Turin, Milan and French Chambery. Therefore, getting here is much easier. You can check the current flight timetable to Milan or Turin or Chambery via specialized searching services such as Aviasales and others. I can recommend this online service as I often use it when planning my own trips. Then from Milan or Turin or Chambery you can get to Sestriere by bus (the longest option), by taxi or transfer service or by rented car.
How to get to Sestriere from Turin
By public transport: The distance from Turin is only 100 km. If you choose public transport as an option for getting to the resort, you need to use a train + bus combination. For example, from Turin you can take the train to the Oulx/Cesana/Claviere/Sestriere station. The travel time is 1 hour 12 minutes. You can check the current timetable and purchase a ticket in advance at the Raileurope booking service. Next, you need to take bus No. 285, which goes directly to the resort. The travel time is about another hour.
By transfer service: You can also get to Sestriere by a private transfer. This option looks preferable if you carry ski equipment, a large amount of luggage, or, for example, travel with children. The travel time from Turin Airport is 1 hour 20 minutes. You can book an individual car transfer in advance for your arrival date (at least two days in advance). Online booking can be made via various international transfer services such as Kiwitaxi, Intui.Travel and others. I did some research and I can confirm both online services have a lot of positive reviews so I can recommend them.
By rented car: As an option, you can rent a car at the airport for getting to the resort. To rent a car, you need to have a passport, an international driver’s license and a bank card. I would also recommend booking a car in advance, because it lets you save your time and money. Online booking can be made via various international services such as Discover Cars, Economybookings and others similar. Turin and Sestriere are connected with highway No. A32/E70. The travel time is about 1.5 hours (see on the map).
How to get to Sestriere from Milan
By public transport: The distance from Milan is 240 km. To reach Sestriere resort, you need to take a train to the Oulx/Cesana/Claviere/Sestriere station (via Turin). The travel time is 2.5 hours. You can check the current timetable and purchase a ticket in advance at the Raileurope booking service. I like Raileurope as a railway service as it has pretty much convenient search and I use it very often when planning my upcoming trips around Europe. Next, you need to take bus No. 285, which goes directly to the resort. The travel time is about another hour.
By transfer service: Besides public transport, tourists can also book a transfer car to reach their holiday destination. It is an especially useful option when carrying ski equipment and a large amount of luggage or travelling with children. Kiwitaxi, Intui.Travel and other transfer services run along the route. The travel time is 2 hours 20 minutes.
By rented car: Milan and Sestriere are connected with the A4/E64 and A32/E70 motorways. The travel time is 2 hours 45 minutes (see on the map). To rent a car you need to have a passport, a driver`s license and a bank card. A car for renting can be taken either at the Airport of Milan or at the city center points. It can also be booked online in advance. For this option you can use various online services such as Discover Cars, Economybookings and others. Based on my experience, both online services have a decent search and a lot of convenient filters to sort the results so I can recommend them for discovering car rental options. Please note that renting a car in Milan is a pretty popular option among tourists, so it is reasonable to book a car in advance.
Where to stay in Sestriere
In Sestriere you can find a developed infrastructure and this also applies to housing. You can stay in various apartments, hotels, chalets, and holiday homes in Sestriere. I would recommend booking your accommodation in advance as the resort is popular, especially in winter.
Hotel Il Fraitevino 4* – the hotel is located in the central part of Sestriere and is perfect for ski lovers. You can stay in single, double or triple rooms. Some rooms have mountain views. Wi-Fi is available in the hotel rooms and is free of charge. Private parking is provided on site for an additional fee and upon reservation. The front desk is open 24 hours a day. There are places for storing luggage and skis. Ski equipment is available for rental;
Tana Della Volpe 3* – the hotel is located near the center of Sestriere and has stunning views of the mountains. There is a bar and a restaurant on site. You can stay in rooms of various categories, including family rooms. Wi-Fi is available in public areas and is free of charge. Street parking is also available. Storage spaces for skis and luggage can be found at reception. In winter, the hotel is accessible by skis;
Hotel Olimpic 3* – the hotel is located in the center of Sestriere and 200 meters from the ski slopes. There is a restaurant and a bar on site. Guests can stay in rooms of various categories. Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel and is free of charge. Street parking is also available. The front desk is open 24 hours a day. There are places for storing skis and luggage. Rental of ski equipment is also provided;
Hotel Biancaneve 3* – the hotel is located near the center of the resort, and also within walking distance from the nearest ski lift. The hotel offers panoramic mountain views. In winter there is a free shuttle bus to the ski lifts and to the resort centre. The hotel has 2 bars and a restaurant. You can stay in rooms of various categories. Wi-Fi is provided in the hotel rooms and is free of charge. Free public parking is available nearby. The front desk is open 24 hours a day. There are places for storing skis.
What to do in Sestriere
Sestriere is a fairly well-known and popular ski resort in Italy, located near the border with France. A special feature of the natural landscape of the resort is its location between two mountains. The altitude of the resort reaches more than 2000 m. Another advantage of Sestriere is its developed infrastructure. It is worth mentioning that the World Championship and Olympic Games were held here. There is some useful information for visiting that I discovered:
- The total length of trails in Sestriere is impressive and is about 400 km.
- 96 km are reserved for “beginners”, 220 km for intermediate skiers and 84 km are black trails for professionals.
- The length of the longest route is 8.5 km.
- In total, the resort serves more than 60 ski lifts.
Three ski areas are available with a single ski pass. You will be able to ski at Monte Sises, Monte Banchetta, Monte Fraiteve pistes. If you wish, you can also ski on the French side, in the Montgenevre ski area, but to ski in this area you will have to purchase a separate ski pass. I did some research to collect practical information for visiting and here it is:
- For snowboarders, the resort has several snow parks with equipped quarter pipes.
- The region also offers heli-skiing and free-riding opportunities, both treeless and forest skiing.
- About 15 km of trails are reserved for cross-country skiing.
Activities such as sledding and snowshoeing are also available. Active pastime can be continued in Sestriere town centre, where you can find a wellness center with a swimming pool, saunas, tennis courts, a climbing wall and a gym. Sestriere also has an indoor ice-skating rink.
Classic entertainment in Sestriere includes various bars, restaurants, discos, a cinema, pizzerias, pubs and souvenir shops. In addition, one day you can go on an excursion to Italian Turin or French Chambery, however, such a trip will most likely take a full day.
The outdoor swimming pool and biosauna, located at an altitude of 2000 m, can be found. The highlight of this entertainment is that the pool is open all year round, i.e. even in winter it is possible to swim in the open air. After some research, I discovered the following practical information:
- The pool is open daily from 11.00 to 20.00,
- An entrance ticket for 2 hours costs 10 euros, for the whole day – 13 euros.
- It is also possible to purchase a subscription for 10 visits from 90 euros per person.
- The swimming pool is located at Via Europa, 4.
It would be a mistake to think that Sestriere is only suitable for winter holidays. In summer it is no less interesting. For example, tourists can go trekking and hiking, mountain biking, golfing, horse riding, tennis, swimming and much more. There is a lot of entertainment for children here too.
Among the restaurants, tourists can visit Don Chischiotte, Du Grand Pere, I.gloo Sestriere, Il Centro, La Baita, La Gargote, Last Tango, Pinky, Trattoria La Rognosa, Truber, Barbasel, Ristorante Monterotta and others. Also popular are the bars Aldo, Sestriere Ski School bar, Galup, Il Bistrot, Lelei, Qb, Black pepper, Kovo, etc.
In general, I can say that Sestriere has one of the most developed ski infrastructures. This applies to the routes, opportunities for sports leisure, hotel facilities, and entertainment. The resort gained its first fame at the beginning of the 20th century, and since then the popularity of the resort has only increased. Due to the increased attention among tourists, I would also recommend booking a holiday in this place in advance. This will allow you to choose the best option in terms of price and quality. The ski season in Sestriere is open from November to March inclusive.
Take a note! When going on a trip to Italy, do not forget to take out travel insurance, which is useful for receiving a tourist visa and for solving emerging medical problems when travelling in another country. You can purchase 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: Roberto Ferrari
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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 about the author…