Winter in Italy is particularly magical. Although the Mediterranean is still mild during the winter months, it’s the snowy mountain region in the north that is particularly stunning at this time of year.
Winter in Italy is calmer in the south, with the dramatic and stunning coastal views of Naples and the Amalfi Coast. Sicily offers citrus groves, Greek ruins, and hearty winter food. Florence, in the middle, offers great food and misty mornings. Here, in Macugnaga, located at the base of Monte Rosa, we offer breathtaking snowy mountains overlooking quaint chalets, hot chocolate, Christmas markets, snowboarding, and winter hiking.
With an average winter temperature of -7 °C, Macugnaga is a cozy, snowy town in winter, offering great facilities at favourable prices. Even in the midst of a cost-of-living crisis, we offer great value for money compared to nearby resorts with more pistes.
Spending winter in Italy
The cost of living has hit everyone since 2019, and the skiing industry hasn’t managed to escape the price rises.
If you are a regular visitor to the region, you will understand how spending winter in Italy looks a lot different, financially, than it did 5-10 years ago, and you might be expected to pay 20-40% more for your overall skiing holiday than you did in 2015.
Due to being a smaller resort, we have managed to keep price rises to a minimum and, compared to skiing in Canada and Japan, winter in Italy is way cheaper than in North America and East Asia.
Whereas other, larger Italian and French resorts have seen their lift passes rise to well over €400.00, our lift pass is a bargain at only €120.00, due mainly to our limited piste offering.
Half-term holidays and peak periods make winter in Italy comparably more expensive at the larger, ‘famous’ resorts. Here at Macugnaga, we are geared particularly well for families looking to get away to northern Italy and cut costs at peak times, and our ski school is ideal for children and beginners, with expert instructors tailored to specific needs – https://monterosaholidays.com/index.php/ski-school-experts/.
Booking as early as possible and factoring in the total cost (lift pass, equipment, food, lessons, accommodation, etc) gives you the best chance of keeping costs to a minimum during your winter in Italy.
What are the reasons for the price increases?
In northern Italy, many ski resorts increased lift passes by 13% in one year, to help cover the cost of rising energy bills and operating costs.
For example, a high-season day pass in the Dolomiti Superski area rose from €67 in the previous year to €74 for the 2025-25 winter in Italy season, and this is similar in the Livigno resort, where a daily adult pass rose from €65 to €72 in the same period.
Ultimately, you are seeing more significant price rises at the larger resorts whilst Macugnaga’s price increases are relatively much smaller.
What this means for a Monterosa ski holiday
When you plan for a ski holiday in Italy, keep in mind that lift pass is just one part of the cost. Other factors will also likely have increased or will affect your budget:
- Accommodation: with more demand and higher costs for energy/heating, prices for lodging in popular resorts will have gone up. See our reasonable prices for winter in Italy 2025/26 – https://monterosaholidays.com/index.php/prices-monterosa-holiday/.
- Equipment hire & lessons: these also tend to increase, and together with the lift pass, they form the “on-the-mountain” cost.
- Travel & extras: food, drinks, transfers, ski school, etc, may all be higher, particularly in peak weeks.
- Peak vs Off-peak difference: In the north of the country, a winter in Italy sees you pay more in peak holiday weeks (Christmas, February half-term, Carnival) vs early season or late/low season.
A rough estimate for your planning
If you’re planning a week’s ski holiday in Italy in a popular resort – not Macagnaga – based on recent lift pass data and likely accommodation/extra cost rises:
- Suppose 6 days of skiing → if an adult daily pass is ~€65-€72, then for 6 days: ~ €390-€430 just for the lift pass.
- Add accommodation, travel, meals, hire & lessons → the total may be 20-30% higher than what a “standard package” might have cost a few years ago, depending on how premium the resort is and how soon you book.
- If you travel off-peak, you may find better value; if you go mid/peak holiday week, expect premium pricing and possibly a higher than 30% increase vs low-season or 3-4 years ago
Northern Italy: Snow, Alps, and Cozy Towns
The main regions are Trentino-Alto Adige, Lombardy, Veneto, and Piedmont. The weather is cold but crisp – not the damp cold of England – with snowy mountains and temperatures in the region of 0–8°C / 32–46°F.
The general vibe around Monterosa at this time of year is one of ski chalets, hot chocolate, and Christmas markets. The main highlights of a winter in Italy are skiing, snowboarding, winter hiking, mulled wine, and handmade crafts.
And don’t forget about the food.
Italy and bordering France are renowned for their fine cuisines, and each country seems to bounce back and forth with inspiration.
Food and drink in Italy isn’t just about necessity; it’s a way of life. Common Italian foods in the north include comfort dishes and hearty classics such as stews, soups, and desserts: polenta, risotto, cassoeula, and panettone. Eatly provides a dozen examples of what to expect when you visit us – https://www.eataly.com/us_en/magazine/culture-and-tradition/italian-winter-food.
Northern Italy is well-known for quality wines, including reds from Piedmont’s Barolo and Barbresco. The region produces a wide range of sophisticated varieties, including sparkling wines from Veneto and Pinot Grigio from Friuli-Venezia Giulia. Here are some typical examples from Aitken Wines – https://aitkenwines.com/collections/wines-of-northern-italy .
Seasonal Benefits
During Christmas and New Year, Italians use the festive period to exhibit their beautiful decorations. There are nativity scenes and spectacular lighting displays everywhere to accompany the festive food.
There tend to be fewer tourists over Christmas, and so the service tends to be more personal when out and about. The prices remain cheaper, especially during the big winter sales across Italy. This is known as Saldi time, when you can take advantage of offers and make some huge savings when you spend winter in Italy.
To find out more about winter in Italy, contact us here for some more information – https://monterosaholidays.com/index.php/about-monterosa-holidays/ – be sure to scroll to the bottom of the page for our contact details.
Happy Holidays from Monterosa.