I love outdoor activities and skiing trip is a great opportunity to stay outside all day long. Especially, when Italian sun is brightening your day and glacier mountain offers perfect skiing conditions. Unfortunately, winter holidays can be really pricey. Over the past decade skiing became part of a lifestyle and according to numbers skiers visits went up 1.2 percent annually between 1998 and 2011, what found its reflection in prices. And higher pricing means that resorts will always cater to the wealthy clientele. Therefore many mountain locations turned into luxurious and overpriced resorts for the most wealthy guests. But I have some good news. Affordable skiing destination does exist and you do not need to ruin your budget to enjoy winter fun.

Ponte di Legno is a small mountain village that managed to maintain its fascination and affordability even with the passing time. The silence and the magic of this village are a real attraction for people wishing to spend time in the natural environment and avoid overcrowded and overpriced resorts. Situated in a sunny position at an altitude of 1258m, Ponte di Legno is an important climatic location in both, summer and winter season. It is also the most important town in the Val Camonica area. But let’s start with the basics…

Why Ponte di Legno?

I visited Ponte di Legno for the first time in 2014. It was my birthday trip and also my very first approach to skiing. I was lucky to have my best friend organizing the whole trip for us so I could finally learn skiing. What can I say, it was love at first sight. And I mean both, skiing and charming Ponte di Legno village. Ever since this first visit I keep coming every year to indulge myself with most delicious food, meet my Italian friends and, of course, to hit the slopes.

This picturesque mountain village always makes me feel like I found myself in my mountain home. The village has it all to make the best out of your stay. You will find here ski rentals, ski schools, great restaurants, cute cafes and all kind of shops. Dotted with beautiful, restored villas and framed with majestic mountains Ponte di Legno takes you immediately to the new level of relaxation. Morning coffee walk to one of the traditional cafes or afternoon aperitivo, which is a traditional Italian time for pre dinner drink, could’t be more perfect.

Skiing conditions

Ponte di Legno is located within Adamello Ski area which is a land spanning Valle Camonica in Lombardy and Val di Sole in Trentino. All together it makes a skiing carousel of 100 km of slopes. And they are all linked one to the other. This means you can treat it as a single ski run through many diverse landscapes. The area gives you possibility to ski from Presena glacier with 3.000 meters above sea level, to Tonale and then to Ponte di Legno or to another mountain village called Temù. What more, with the new cableway linking Ponte di Legno and Tonale the big dream of many has come true: Adamello Ski has become one of the biggest and most important skiing resorts of the Alps.

I found the slopes of Adamello Ski area really variable in terms of difficulty levels. You can find great blue slopes perfect for starting your skiing adventure, red and black ones for more experienced skiers and off piste tracks for the most brave skiers searching for some adrenaline. You can check all the slopes here.

Where to stay

I tried two different places in Polnde di Legno but the first one was disappointing so I will not be sharing it with you. The second one that I sincerely recommend is a family run Hotel Garni Pegra that is always my first choice when coming to Ponte di Legno. And there are numerous reasons for that:

• great location – right next to ski lift, you can actually see gondolas from your room. To reach the ski entrance you need about 4-5 minutes walk, the same as to ski rental and ski school.
• breakfast included in the room rate –  served every morning from 7 untill 10.
• ski room available in the hotel – convenient place to store and dry your skiing equipment.
• hotel parking – also roofed one what can be important when temperatures go low during the night.
• different size rooms with accommodation from 1 to 4 people – simply decorated but equipped with all the basics, most of the rooms have beautiful mountain view.
• cozy fireplace in the common area where you can relax after skiing and chat with locals.
• additional discounts available when booking hotel packages – for more information please email hotel’s reception.
• aperitivo in the hotel – an Italian style pre dinner drinks with snacks, you cannot miss it when in Italy!
• helpful and kind hotel service – it’s a family run hotel with a guesthouse approach so you will be treated in the most welcoming way.

Where to eat

You are in Italy so pasta and pizza diet is calling. There are many places to eat in Ponte di Legno but not all of them are worth visiting. Here are my top recommendations of the places I love and always go to.

In the village

Ca’ Del Re – relatively new restaurant in town and already made to the top of my recommendations list. This place has it all – fantastic food, stylish interior and friendly service. Ask for the daily specialities out of the menu and thank me later. Also, I was really impressed with their wine list with so many great options from local vineyards. This restaurant is located around 3 km from the center of Ponte di Legno and the way is not pedestrian friendly. I would recommend to take a taxi.

Ristorante Cavallino – located about 15 minutes drive from Ponte di Legno village but it’s so much worth the ride. The best Italian food you can get, all fresh and home made. Good to have a table booked as it’s usually full of locals which is always the best recommendation. The stuff does not speak English well but with a bit of effort you will be able to understand one another.

Ristorante San Marco – located in Ponte di Legno village is a great local restaurant. Food is really tasty and not overpriced. Try pasta and risotto. Table booking is recommended as it may be full during dinner time.

Pizzeria La Pergola – The best pizza you will get in Ponte di Legno. Fresh ingredients, crusty and thin pizza bottom and great choice of ingredients. They also offer take away. Table booking is not necessary. This is also one of the very few places where you will get food (pizza only) in between Italian dining schedule. Just as a reminder – most of the places in Italy are open for lunch 12-3 pm and than for a dinner again from 7 pm. It will be hard to get any food in between these hours.

La Rasega – there is no better aperitivo or apre ski bar for me in the whole area. It’s a cute wooden house located right by the picturesque river what makes it look like out from the fairytale. The service is super welcoming and the menu offers snacks and all kind of drinks including great selection of Italian sparkling wines.

Al Nazionale – Traditional Italian cafe where you can get great coffee and freshly backed brioche. My alway go to place in the morning.

Caffe Roma – Cool place located in the main city square, you will not miss it as it has a shape of an igloo. Good for aperitivo, has a fireplace inside and table service.

On the slopes

Chalet Nigritella – the best food you will get on the slopes. This place offers three dining options. 1. quick snacks 2. Buffet dinner 3. a la cart dinner. I tried all three and the best was number 2 as it’s usually a fresh pasta and prices are affordable. A la cart dinner is a good choice if you gave more time and want to spend more for your food as this option is the most expensive one.

Paradiso Après-Ski (Umbrella) – always my first place to go on the slopes, has a shape of an umbrella with folded roof which is great on a sunny day. Good choice of drinks and some basic warm snacks like fries, burgers or pizza.

La Baracca – nice place for a lunch break on the slopes. Offers table service, good choice of Italian food options and nice interior.

Panorama 3000 Glacier – another must go to. Panoramic bar located at the Presena Glacier at 3000 meters above sea level. Offers snacks, great coffee and good choice of Italian sparkling wines. On a sunny day you can enjoy the glacier view from a sun bed.

How to get to Ponte di Legno?

The way there is actually very easy no matter from which part of Europe you will be traveling. Just take a flight to Milan or Milan Bergamo which offers lots of frequent and cheap flights connections from many European cities. After arrival you need another 2 hours drive from the airport to reach Ponte di Legno village. There are many car rentals available at the airport and during winter season many airlines offers promotional skiing equipment transportation.

Cost calculation

To create this cost calculation I have used my own example of 2 adults traveling for a full week trip from Poland, but the cost will be the same from most of the European locations with cheap flights connections to Milan or Milan Bergamo.

Flight tickets for two people including check in luggage – 200 euro (Wizzair airlines).

Car rental for 7 days with full insurance – 150 euro.

Skiing equipment transportation both ways – 60 euro (Wizzair airlines).

Ski rental per person if you don’t have your own skiing equipment – around 100 euro per week (price may depend on your needs regarding equipment proficiency level).

Hotel for 7 nights for two adults including breakfast – 630 euro.

Weekly ski-pass per person – 220 euro (high season price without hotel discount, after main season which is January and February you may get a cheaper or even free ski-pass.

Average prices: pizza 6 – 7 euro, pasta 8 – 10 euro, glass of wine – 2 – 3 euro , coffee – 1 euro.

Kids:

* ski pass for kids is for free if the kid is no older than 8 years and at least one adult is purchasing ski-pass.

* ski school for a week, 2 hours per day costs 110 euro.

If you are interested in affordable skiing destinations in Austria read my other blog post about Hochark Ski Resort and Winter Holidays in Bad Gastein.

With love,

Betty