Skiing, tobogganing and ski touring - all winter sports activities in South Tyrol near Merano
The 5 ski areas in Merano and Environs in South Tyrol leave nothing to be desired on your next skiing holiday. Because here you will find quiet and accessible, easy and challenging areas for skiing. The ski season on the glacier lasts from September to May - which is why skiers can still enjoy the valley run on the glacier while spring arrives in Merano/Meran.
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In addition, the end of January to the beginning of April is the best time for ski tourers. As tobogganing has also long been a popular leisure activity in South Tyrol, most ski resorts include an additional toboggan run.
Skiing in South Tyrol - Overview of popular ski resorts
1. South Tyrol's all-rounder for skiing - Merano 2000 ski area
Info overview:
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Kilometres of pistes: 40 km
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Blue pistes: 12 km
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Red pistes: 25 km
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Black pistes: 3 km
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Number of lifts: 9
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Highest altitude:
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2,300 m
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Lowest altitude:1609 m
The Merano 2000 ski area is a real all-rounder for skiing and much more - winter sports fans will have the time of their lives here. The ski area combines outstanding, wide ski slopes spread over 40 km, with a natural toboggan run and trails for ski tourers and hikers spread over 25 kilometres. In addition, there are pistes for every level of difficulty, from easy to medium to difficult, there is something for everyone. You can find the piste map here so that you can see for yourself.
There are also 15 cosy huts in the entire area where you can stop off after skiing, warm up and enjoy some refreshments. You can explore the Merano slopes from the beginning of December to the beginning of April.
The mostly easy to medium-difficulty pistes are spread across the St. Oswald, Kesselberg and Mittager ski mountains, from which sporty skiers can venture down the black piste of the same name. Thanks to the wide range of slopes for all ages and skill levels, the Merano 2000 ski area has been recognised several times for its family-friendliness. The year-round toboggan run provides thrills: the Alpine Bob whizzes along the tracks at speeds of up to 40 km/h.
2. Challenging pistes for skiing - Schwemmalm ski area (South Tyrol)
Info overview:
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Kilometres of slopes: 25 km
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Blue pistes: 9 km
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Red pistes: 13 km
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Black pistes: 3 km
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Number of lifts: 6
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Highest altitude: 2,600 m
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Lowest altitude: 1150 m
The Schwemmalm ski area in Ultental Valley, which is guaranteed to have snow and is perched high above the municipality of Kuppelwies on a sun-drenched slope, is a popular attraction for demanding and experienced skiers who appreciate the total length of 25 kilometres of the ski area, which is spread over nine pistes. But it's not just the pros, families also find the Schwemmalm a pleasant place to ski. In terms of difficulty, three blue pistes, 5 red pistes and 1 black piste await you on site, as you can see on the piste map. In addition to the pistes, there is also a natural toboggan run. The Schwemmalm ski area is particularly popular with freestylers for its powder slopes and regularly opens in mid-December and closes at the end of April.
After a day full of impressive descents on the excellently groomed pistes, you can end the day in one of the cosy ski huts with traditional dishes or enjoy some après-ski after skiing.
Ski tourers will find countless routes of varying degrees of difficulty in the Ultental Valley, with the routes around the glacier at the end of the valley being particularly challenging. The groomed cross-country ski trails and numerous winter hiking trails, which lead past centuries-old farms with traditional shingle roofs, allow you to explore the unspoilt Ultental Valley on your own.
3. Three Peaks Dolomites - Skiing along the UNESCO World Heritage Site
Info overview:
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Kilometres of slopes: 115 km
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Blue pistes: 44.1 km
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Red pistes: 53.7 km
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Black pistes: 12.2 km
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Number of lifts: 32
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Highest altitude: 2,200 m
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Lowest altitude:1154 m
Surrounded by the famous Three Peaks, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Dolomites, and close to the border with Austria, modern lift systems provide access to over 115 kilometres of varied ski slopes. The "Giro delle Cime" offers the most impressive panoramic views of the mountain peaks and takes you on a sporty tour to the Helm, Stiergarten, Rotwand, Kreuzberg ski areas and the Val Comelico ski area in the province of Belluno.
In the land of the sleeping giant, the Haunold, giant snowmen, a toboggan run and the only free-roaming herd of reindeer in the Alps provide family fun. For the brave, there is the steepest regularly groomed ski run in Italy to conquer: the "Holzriese" run with a gradient of 72%. To enjoy even more kilometres of slopes, you don't even have to take off your ski boots - the Ski Pustertal Express connects the Three Peaks Dolomites ski area with Plan de Corones/Kronplatz. Here you can find the piste map for the entire structure of the pistes in the Three Peaks area.
4. Glacier fun for skiing - Schnalstal Valley
Info overview:
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​Kilometres of pistes: 42 km-
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Blue pistes: 8 km
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Red pistes: 8 km
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Black pistes: 14 km
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Number of lifts: 11
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Highest altitude: 3,212 m
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Lowest altitude: 2011 m
In the glacier ski area in the rustic Schnalstal Valley, there are pistes for skiing up to 3,200 metres above sea level. The long ski season from September to May is also used by international ski and cross-country professionals for their altitude training. The highest cable car in South Tyrol takes you from the village of Kurzras to the snow-sure pistes for all ability levels in just a few minutes. Almost half of them are black; the "Teufelsegg" is notorious, the new "Leo Gurschler" slalom training run with a gradient of up to 60% or the "Schmuggler" descent into the valley are challenging. Click here for the Schnalstal Valley piste map.
Schnals is also known as a fantastic ski touring region: Many of the surrounding three-thousand metre peaks can be reached without long ascents. The challenging "Ötzi Glacier Tour" takes you to the Tisenjoch, the place where the famous glacier mummy was found, or you can join the "Ötztaler Runde".
5. Skiing with romance - Vigiljoch
Info overview:
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Kilometres of pistes: 5 km
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Blue pistes:
2 km -
Red pistes: 2 km
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Black pistes: 0 km
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Number of lifts: 4
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Highest altitude: 1,815 m
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Lowest altitude: 1485 m
A winter skiing holiday on the Vigiljoch offers a touch of nostalgia from November to April: even the journey on the second oldest cable car in Europe, built in 1912, is a special experience. Lana's local mountain was once a popular destination for spa guests from Merano/Meran, where international ski races were even held in winter. Today, the Vigiljoch offers above all unspoilt nature and tranquil places of power.
- The blue and red ski slopes, which you can find here in the piste map, can be reached using a historic chairlift. The panoramic views of the surrounding mountain landscape and the idyllic winter landscape of the car-free high plateau are best explored on a winter or snowshoe hike. There is a cheerful atmosphere on the toboggan run and when ice skating on the legendary mountain lake "Schwarze Lacke", which lies in the middle of the forest.
