Last Updated on February 1, 2023
A little over two hours driving northwest of Milan is the picturesque ski village of Courmayeur. Such a short car ride makes it one of the best weekend trips from Milan in the winter. It is perfectly situated at the foot of Monte Bianco on the Italian side with close proximity to both France and Switzerland. Popular with well-to-do Italians coming from Milan, Courmayeur is open later in the season than other ski mountains in Europe. It is more friendly towards beginners than mountains in Austria and less expensive than ski resorts in Switzerland. While I grew up skiing in snowy New England, JC is still learning. This trip would mark his third skiing trip in his life. Read below how you too can make a weekend trip to Courmayeur from Milan.
Rent a car from Milan
We bought 50 EUR flights from Berlin to Milan. Then we rented a car from the Malpensa airport to drive the 2 1/2 hours to Courmayeur. We stayed at an Airbnb in Courmayeur. You can find our Airbnb here. This was perfect because we were able to buy groceries and make ourselves breakfast in the mornings. Plus, we could easily walk to a restaurant in town for dinner after a day of skiing.
Skiing Courmayeur
While you can walk to the ski lift from the town, it is definitely advisable to drive. The road is not so pedestrian friendly and it is difficult to walk in ski clothes. We rented our equipment at a shop at the base of the mountain, bought our ski passes and were off! We bought 2-day passes which cost about 100 EUR in the ‘off season’. You can see ticket prices online here.
There are a few ways to get up the mountain. We took the closest route from the town of Courmayeur, the ‘Plan Checrouit’. I skied this side of the mountain all morning and switched to the other side after lunch. The sun was so strong it was melting the snow on the Checrouit side of the mountain. JC and his best friend stuck to the bunny slope.
Enjoy the Italian Ski culture off (or on) the slopes
One of the best ways to build up some liquid courage before going down the mountain is with a bombardino: my après ski beverage of choice!
Hit the spa after a day of skiing to relax and unwind
After our second day of skiing, we went to QC Terme Spa to relax and unwind our tired muscles. We have now been to three QC Terme spas (Milan and Bormio the other two) and cannot recommend them enough! While our favorite is in Bormio, I would still check out Monte Bianco one if you are in Courmayeur. You can buy a day pass for the spa without staying in the hotel. I recommend buying ahead of time online to ensure availability.
Take the funicular to Punta Helbronner
On our last day in Courmayeur, rather than skiing, we took the funicular to Punta Helbronner. It is the highest point of Monte Bianco you can reach by lift. It is 3462 meters above sea level. Once you reach the top, you can admire the view from the viewing station. As well as catch the sun in a beach chair.
And that’s it! We hope you find this post useful to plan your own ski trip to Courmayeur. What are your other favorite weekend trips from Milan? Comment them below!
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