If you’re looking to book a magical, yet affordable family ski trip this year, try the Aosta Valley. Because Italy’s smallest region is a winter holiday superstar, with an impressive 25 snow fun parks to thrill your kids.
Snow fun park, Pila
The Aosta Valley is why family ski trips were invented
For an Alpine family ski trip which is guaranteed to have your kids hopping with excitement, the Aosta Valley could be the one for you this season. Italy’s smallest region has everything families need to create a magical winter holiday experience: epic peaks by way of Alps’ giants: Mont Blanc, Monterosa, Gran Paradiso and the Matterhorn; authentically Alpine villages dotted around the spectacular landscape; world-class family ski resorts like Pila and Torgnon, and an altitude promising plenty of snow for the taking, alongside plenty of space on the slopes. Talking of slopes, they’re perfect for beginners, boasting wide ski areas, spacious runs, and gentle, gradual slopes.
Aosta Valley is easy to get to, with direct flights from the UK to Turin and Milan. For those who like a bit of culture, there’s a history stretching all the way back to Roman times, and what’s more, it’s surprisingly affordable, stacking up very competitively against other Alps’ resorts. And finally, two words, Italian food.
But what we really love for families is the sheer number of snow fun parks in Aosta Valley: 25 across the region. Which means, whether it’s a ski day or not, there’s a whole lot of snowy excitement to go around.
Snow fun park, Cogne
Why kids love snow fun parks in the Aosta Valley
Snow fun parks offer all kinds of exciting winter activities for kids: like snowtubing runs, tobogganing, sledging and magic carpet rides, as well as general snow play areas and baby ski runs. In short, they’re a wonderful way for your kids to have fun in the Alps on a family ski trip, and no matter which resort you choose, you’ll have no problem finding them within easy reach.
They tend to be set in convenient locations making life easier for your family, and also in the sunniest spots close to restaurants and other amenities, so you don’t need to go out of your way to find the fun. More to the point, you’ll have somewhere to decamp for a hot chocolate fix once everyone’s had their fill of snow time.
Gressoney Saint Jean, Aosta Valley
Family ski trips are all about the right resorts, and the Aosta Valley has plenty
Depending on the age of your kids and what everyone likes doing on a family ski trip, there’s plenty 0f choice when seeking the perfect family-friendly resort in the Aosta Valley.
The smaller, quieter resorts are ideal for younger kids, and their livelier counterparts may suit families with older ones, but you’ll find both are affordable. Much-loved destination Pila overlooks Aosta city, linked by a scenic road, and has a brand-new gondola to take you to the best runs. As a ‘skis-on’ resort, there’s direct access to the lifts from all the hotels and apartments, and the ski school here is a lot of fun: with play facilities, an Adventure Park, and two mini-clubs. You’ll find plenty of special offers and discounts for families too.
Torgnon is known as ‘the land of children and toys’, which pretty much sums things up at this small but very charming resort. Sitting in a sunny sheltered position, it’s enduringly popular with families, not least for the Winter Park: one of the biggest and best-equipped in the region, with some seriously epic slides. Snowboarders are well-catered for here too, with jumps and a beginner’s area.
Then there’s Crévacol, the sunniest resort in the whole of the Aosta Valley, which offers sledging and bobsleighs in the Flassin playground, as well as excellent snowshoeing trails.
Snow fun park, Pila
Try a fairytale ride in a horse-drawn carriage on your family ski trip
Cogne sits at the foot of Gran Paradiso, with slopes suitable for all levels of skiing, and 80km of cross-country potential. Fairy tale rides on horse-drawn carriages are a great way to see the extraordinary waterfalls of ice you’ll find across the Aosta Valley, and very popular here. There’s a cute baby slope with a treadmill for the budding skiers, and the snow fun park has inflatables, trampolines, a bobsleigh and tubing trails.
Gressoney Saint Jean takes the scenic beauty to new levels with its views of the Lyskamm glacier and Monterosa peaks. It’s also home to Weissmatten’s snow fun park with its magic carpets, carousel, snow-tubes, ski bikes, beginner’s ski runs, and bouncy castles.
Snow tubing, Aosta Valley
See more of the incredible Aosta Valley during your stay
The Aosta Valley is ridiculously stunning, so make sure you leave the resort and see some more of it during your family ski break. A trip to Aosta city to see the Roman ruins is a lovely and educational day out – it’s not called ‘the Rome of the Alps’ lightly. Check out the Roman Theatre, Arch of Augustus, and the Porta Praetoria: perfect for immersing your kids into the rich history of the Roman Empire. And if you’ve got time (and patient children), Aosta Cathedral and the Collegiata di Sant’Orso are where you can marvel at some beautiful medieval and Romanesque architecture.
A somewhat different, but no less magical family experience is a trip to the Thermal Baths at Pré-Saint-Didier, with stunning Mont Blanc views, outdoor thermal pools, waterfalls, saunas, and chill-out areas. There are a few age restrictions in place so check first, but children are allowed to enjoy the thermal waters too, and it’s a lovely and unique way to soothe tired muscles, no matter how young you are.
Snowshoeing through the forest? Just an average day in Aosta
The majesty of the Gran Paradiso National Park, one of the oldest national parks in Italy, needs to be seen to be appreciated, and what better way to do it than by strapping on some snowshoes and heading off for a walk through the forest? There are walking trails throughout the park, and nature guides to escort willing families, all bookable through your resort. Although, the whole of the Aosta Valley has snowshoeing routes, so whether you go to Gran Paradiso or not, you can still get your ‘yeti feet’ fix.
Snowshoeing, Gran Paradiso National Park
Christmas markets bring Alpine cheer for family ski trips
Festive Alpine cheer is all around the Aosta Valley, but no family ski trip around the festive season is complete without a trip to a Christmas market.
Head to the Marché Vert Noël in Aosta city, a traditional Christmas market with a very festive Alpine village atmosphere, which is open from 23 November 2024 to 6 January 2025. The usual lovely array of local artisan products, tasty regional specialities accompanied by hot chocolate or mulled wine are on offer, and you’ll no doubt find some unique and seasonal gifts in amongst all that wholesome festive cheer. A truly perfect winter outing for your family ski trip.