la villa

Transfer Time

2HRS

Best For

Beginners , Intermediates & Advanced

Skiing

Dolomiti Superski Pass includes 1200km of marked piste and 450 lifts.




Ideal For

Families & Couples

ARABBA AT A GLANCE.

La Villa (also known as La Villa in Badia or La Villa Stern) is a picturesque alpine village nestled in the heart of the Dolomites, in South Tyrol, northern Italy. It sits at an altitude of about 1,433 meters (4,700 feet) and is part of the Alta Badia region, a renowned area for skiing, hiking, and Ladin culture.

Key Features of La Villa:

🏞️ Scenic Beauty

  • La Villa is surrounded by dramatic Dolomite peaks like Sassongher, Gardenaccia, and Lagazuoi.
  • The landscape includes lush alpine meadows, dense forests, and steep mountain cliffs.
  • The views are spectacular in all seasons, from snow-covered winters to flower-filled summers.

🎿 Winter Sports Paradise

  • It's a prime location for skiing and snowboarding, connected to the Alta Badia ski area and the famous Dolomiti Superski network.
  • The Gran Risa slope in La Villa is one of the most challenging and prestigious courses in the FIS Alpine Ski World Cup.

🚶‍♂️ Summer Activities

  • In summer, La Villa is a base for hiking, climbing, cycling, and mountain biking.
  • Popular routes include the Alta Via 1 and hikes to peaks and mountain huts like Rifugio Gardenacia.

🏛️ Culture and Architecture

  • The village has a charming blend of Tyrolean and Ladin architecture, with wooden chalets, flower-bedecked balconies, and Baroque churches.
  • It’s part of the Ladin-speaking region, with a distinct cultural heritage preserved through language, cuisine, and traditions.

🍽️ Cuisine and Hospitality

  • Known for excellent mountain hospitality, from luxury alpine hotels to cozy family-run guesthouses.
  • Local cuisine blends Italian, Austrian, and Ladin influences—expect dishes like canederli (dumplings), speck, and polenta, often with a gourmet twist.

🚗 Accessibility

  • Though remote, it is well-connected by road and within driving distance of Bolzano, Brunico, and Cortina d'Ampezzo.
  • It’s part of the scenic Great Dolomites Road, making it popular among road trippers and photographers.

La Villa offers a peaceful, authentic alpine experience ideal for nature lovers, outdoor adventurers, and those seeking cultural depth in one of Italy’s most stunning mountain regions. Would you like tips for visiting or where to stay?

la villa  SKI HOLIDAYS

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Beginners

La Villa, located in the heart of the Alta Badia ski area in the Italian Dolomites, is an excellent destination for beginner skiers. Here's a helpful guide to get you started:

🏔️ Why La Villa is Great for Beginners

1. Wide, Gentle Slopes:

  • La Villa offers several blue runs (easy slopes) that are wide, well-groomed, and ideal for learning.
  • The area near the Piz La Ila gondola is particularly beginner-friendly.

2. Ski Schools & Instructors:

  • Highly rated ski schools with multilingual instructors are available, including:
  • Scuola Sci La Villa
  • Ski & Snowboard School Dolomites
  • Group and private lessons are available, with beginner packages often including equipment rental.

3. Modern Lift System:

  • The lift infrastructure is modern and efficient, making access to beginner areas stress-free.
  • Moving carpets and chairlifts serve beginner zones, minimizing the intimidation factor.

4. Breathtaking Scenery:

  • Skiing in the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Dolomites offers stunning views that make even beginner practice a joy.

🗺️ Recommended Beginner Areas

Piz La Ila by gondola from La Villa village; features gentle slopes and a ski school base.Gardenaccia Quieter area for practice with easy terrain. Pralongià (nearby in Corvara)Excellent open slopes and beginner terrain, accessible via lift connections.

WHY WE LOVE ARABBA?

  • Stunning Mountain

There are many reasons why people fall in love with La Villa in the Dolomites, and here are some of the most compelling:

🏔️ Breathtaking Natural Beauty

  • Dramatic scenery: Nestled between the Puez-Odle and Fanes-Sennes-Braies nature parks, La Villa offers stunning views of the Sella Group, Sas dla Crusc, and other jagged Dolomite peaks.
  • Golden hour magic: The light in the Dolomites—especially at sunrise and sunset—casts a warm, golden hue on the mountains, creating an almost surreal landscape.

⛷️ World-Class Skiing and Winter Sports

  • Located on the Sellaronda ski circuit, La Villa is a dream for winter sports lovers.
  • The Gran Risa slope, a fixture in the Alpine Ski World Cup, is one of the most prestigious and challenging giant slalom courses in the world.

🚶‍♂️ Hiking, Climbing, and Outdoor Adventure

  • In summer, it’s a paradise for hikers, cyclists, and climbers.
  • Trails range from scenic walks through alpine meadows to challenging via ferrata routes and summit treks.

🧘‍♀️ Tranquility and Wellness

  • La Villa is quieter and more refined than some of the larger ski towns, with a peaceful, alpine village atmosphere.
  • Many hotels and chalets offer wellness facilities like saunas, spas, and panoramic hot tubs.

🍷 Ladin Culture and Cuisine

  • This region is part of the Ladin-speaking area of South Tyrol, which adds a unique cultural richness.
  • The food is a mouthwatering mix of Italian, Austrian, and local Ladin traditions—with specialties like turtres, casunziei, and hearty mountain dishes.

🛷 A Perfect Balance of Luxury and Authenticity

  • La Villa combines elegant chalets, family-run inns, and Michelin-starred restaurants with a warm, authentic alpine charm.
  • You’ll find high-end service without the glitziness of more commercial resorts.


Skiing in La Villa, located in the Alta Badia region of the Dolomites (Italy), is a fantastic experience for intermediate skiers. Here's a breakdown of what to expect:

🎿 Terrain for Intermediate Skiers

La Villa is exceptionally friendly to intermediates, offering:

1. Wide, Groomed Red Runs

  • The area is known for its meticulously groomed pistes, perfect for carving and building confidence.
  • Red runs dominate the area, offering a nice progression from easier blues.
  • These slopes are often wide, providing room to practice parallel turns and control speed.

2. The Gardenaccia and Piz La Ila Areas

  • From La Villa village, take the Piz La Ila gondola, which opens up access to cruising red runs ideal for intermediates.
  • Gardenaccia offers slightly more challenging terrain—great for developing skills.

3. Sella Ronda Access

  • Intermediate skiers can comfortably complete the famous Sella Ronda circuit (both clockwise and counter-clockwise).
  • It connects La Villa to Val Gardena, Arabba, and Val di Fassa — offering a full-day ski safari across stunning scenery.

4. World Cup Run – Gran Risa

  • While the Gran Risa black run is one of the toughest World Cup tracks, you can ski alongside it and even give it a try if you're a strong intermediate ready for a challenge.

🗺️ Connectivity and Ski Area

  • Part of the Dolomiti Superski network — over 1,200 km of pistes accessible with a single pass.
  • La Villa is centrally located in Alta Badia, with easy connections to Corvara, San Cassiano, and beyond — great for ski exploration without getting stuck on advanced terrain.

🏔️ Scenery and Atmosphere

  • Expect breathtaking Dolomite peaks, charming alpine villages, and a relaxed vibe.
  • Excellent mountain huts (rifugi) for lunch — many with gourmet food and sunny terraces.

👍 Why It's Great for Intermediates

  • Gentle progression in terrain difficulty.
  • Reliable snow conditions thanks to elevation and snowmaking.
  • Less crowded than some of the bigger Alpine resorts, especially mid-week.


Advanced

Advanced skiing in La Villa, located in the Alta Badia region of the Dolomites in northern Italy, offers a thrilling mix of challenging terrain, stunning scenery, and access to iconic ski circuits. Here’s a detailed look at what advanced skiers can expect:

🏔️ Terrain and Ski Runs

1. Gran Risa – World Cup Black Run

  • One of the most famous and demanding runs in the Dolomites.
  • Hosts the annual FIS Alpine Ski World Cup giant slalom.
  • Steep, narrow, and technical with icy conditions common.
  • Best attempted in the morning when the piste is freshly groomed.

2. Advanced Red Runs

  • La Villa connects to a network of red runs with steep gradients and varied terrain, ideal for advanced intermediates looking to push themselves.
  • Runs toward Corvara and San Cassiano offer long, sustained descents with stunning views.

⛷️ Ski Circuits and Routes

3. Sella Ronda

  • La Villa links into the Sella Ronda, a famous 40+ km circuit around the Sella massif.
  • Clockwise (orange) and counter-clockwise (green) routes offer different challenges.
  • While the Sella Ronda itself is intermediate, advanced skiers can detour onto more difficult routes along the way.

4. Hidden Black Runs and Off-Piste Options

  • Though Alta Badia is known more for intermediate skiing, there are several challenging blacks tucked into the lift system—like Vallon near Corvara or Boè.
  • Off-piste terrain is accessible but requires local knowledge or a guide due to avalanche risk and terrain complexity.

🌨️ Snow and Conditions

  • Alta Badia benefits from excellent snowmaking, covering over 90% of the pistes.
  • Natural snowfall is moderate, but well-managed grooming and snow quality make for consistent conditions even late in the season.
  • Powder days do happen, especially after storms from the south, making for memorable tree runs in the nearby forests.

🏞️ Scenery and Experience

  • Skiing in La Villa means skiing in a UNESCO World Heritage area—the Dolomite peaks provide dramatic, vertical backdrops.
  • The runs often pass beneath limestone cliffs and through serene alpine forests.
  • Mountain huts ("rifugi") offer gourmet food and wine—this is Italy, after all.

🧭 Tips for Advanced Skiers

  • Go early: Popular pistes get busy, and snow conditions deteriorate by midday.
  • Hire a guide for off-piste or to explore challenging terrain beyond the standard maps.
  • Try the First World War Ski Tour for a full-day advanced circuit with historic sites and a variety of terrain.
  • Consider ski touring: La Villa is a launch point for some exceptional ski touring routes into the backcountry.

If you'd like to discuss a holiday to La Villa , get in touch via the online chat, send us an email or give us a call on 01248 712567.

Places to eat and drink in La Villa.

La Villa, nestled in the heart of the Dolomites, offers a delightful array of dining and drinking establishments that showcase the region's rich culinary heritage and vibrant atmosphere. Here's a curated selection of places to consider:

🍽️ Restaurants & Pizzerias

1. Restaurant Pizzeria La Tor
A cozy establishment known for its warm hospitality and a menu featuring Ladin, South Tyrolean, and Italian dishes.

2. Steakhouse L’ Fanà Food & Wine
Specializing in grilled meat delicacies, this rustic yet romantic spot is celebrated for its gourmet offerings and family-like ambiance.

3. La Ciano – Ristorante Pizzeria Steakhouse
Centrally located, La Ciano offers a diverse menu ranging from pizzas to hearty steaks, making it a convenient choice for various palates.

4. Hotel Savoy’s À-la-Carte Restaurant
Open to both guests and visitors, this restaurant serves a delectable mix of Ladin, South Tyrolean, and international cuisines, with options for special dietary needs. Reservations are recommended.

☕ Cafés & Brunch Spots

1. Utia de Bioch
A mountain hut offering traditional dishes and a cozy atmosphere, perfect for a leisurely brunch.

2. Rifugio Ütia Bamby
Known for its scenic views and hearty meals, this café provides a delightful brunch experience in a rustic setting.

🍷 Bars & Nightlife

1. Bar Pizzeria Ariston
A popular spot in La Villa, Ariston combines the charm of a pizzeria with a lively bar atmosphere, making it ideal for evening gatherings.

2. L’ Murin
Renowned for its après-ski scene, L’ Murin offers live music and a vibrant environment, perfect for unwinding after a day on the slopes.

3. The Stube at Hotel La Majun
This cozy bar provides a relaxed setting with a selection of fine wines and spirits, ideal for a quiet evening.

Whether you're seeking traditional Ladin flavors, international cuisine, or a lively après-ski atmosphere, La Villa's diverse culinary scene caters to all tastes. Enjoy your gastronomic journey in the Dolomites!

In the Snow >

Our Recommended Hotels in la villa.

Dolomites Wellness Hotel Savoy - La Villa



  • 4* hotel.
  • Indoor swimming pool.
  • Spa and wellness centre.
  • Free parking.
  • Free WiFi.
  • Family rooms.
  • Skiing.
  • Restaurant.
  • Bar.









hotel christiana  - La Villa



  • 4* hotel.
  • Indoor swimming pool.
  • Spa and wellness centre.
  • Free parking.
  • Free WiFi.
  • Family rooms.
  • Skiing.
  • Restaurant.
  • Bar.









Hotel Cristallo - La Villa

  • 4* hotel.
  • Indoor swimming pool.
  • Spa and wellness centre.
  • Free parking.
  • Free WiFi.
  • Family rooms.
  • Skiing.
  • Restaurant.
  • Bar.









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