Travel to Bormio with travel insurance from Essential Travel

Bormio is a popular, upmarket ski resort situated in the central Alps in Italy’s Lombardy district, and protected by Alpine peaks from the cold northern wind. Bormio has a distinctly Italian flavour, and is unlike most other ski resorts in that equal importance is placed on off-slope activities and on the skiing.

Bormio does not have a traditionally Alpine centre, but is a typically medieval Italian village, with a wealth of history and Romanesque architecture that has been beautifully preserved in local museums, churches and palaces. There are a multitude of restaurants, cafés and bars from which to watch the world go by and absorb the charming atmosphere.

Despite its popularity, the skiing at Bormio is fairly limited with only 33kms of marked runs catering mainly for beginners and intermediates (30 per cent and 40 per cent, respectively). The ski resort offers few challenges for advanced or expert skiers (apart from a few decent off-piste routes) with only 30 per cent of the total slopes devoted to the upper levels of skiing expertise.

However, the advantages of Bormio are that it is an excellent place to learn, with highly respected ski schools. Additionally, snow conditions are generally reliable with high, snow-sure pistes and woodland runs supplemented by artificial snow. The longest run at Bormio is six kilometres, and the pistes are linked by a system of 16 lifts.

Although Bormio’s slopes are not the best in the Alps, the ski resort offers a profusion of alternative activities, both indoor and outdoor. Bormio is particularly well-known for its spa/thermal treatments, and these are the perfect way to indulge a cold, aching body after a day’s skiing. Additional outdoor pastimes include: ice-skating, mono-skiing, snowboarding and horseback riding. Indoor facilities accommodate swimming, tennis, squash, sauna and fitness training.

The winter season at Bormio ski resort runs from December through to April. Low season rates apply until December 18 and from January 7 to 29. The easiest way to reach Bormio is by flying into the international airport at Milan, and hiring a car or taking a bus transfer to complete the journey.

Skiing in Bormio

Bormio lacks the Alpine flavour of many European ski destinations, but has a picturesque, atmospheric town centre brimming with culture and history. It is characterised by Romanesque churches and palaces, as well as museums documenting the region’s past, and a timeless atmosphere.

The runs at Bormio make up a total skiing distance of 33kms linked by 16 lifts, with pistes geared mainly towards beginners and intermediates – 30 per cent and 40 per cent, respectively. Advanced and expert skiers may be rather frustrated at Bormio, with only 30 per cent of runs reserved for these levels, none of which are particularly challenging.

However Bormio does offer some good advanced off-piste skiing for more experienced skiers, and the Valtellina lift pass issued here also includes the ski areas of Livigno and Santa Caterina (situated approximately one hour away by bus) for more variety. An additional advantage to skiing in Bormio is that there are some worthwhile long runs, with the longest piste being six kilometres. Snow conditions are usually reliable, with artificial snow to supplement the lower, woodland passes.

The winter season at Bormio ski resort runs from December through to April. Low season rates apply until December 18 and from January 7 to 29. Bormio can be accessed by road, or by a combination of air and road transportation.

Apres-ski in Bormio

Bormio is known as much, if not more, for its off-slope and après-ski activities as for its skiing. The ski resort is widely renowned for its thermal spa treatments and also offers numerous other indoor and outdoor activities, including: mono-skiing, snowboarding, ice-skating, horseback riding, indoor swimming, indoor tennis, squash, a sauna, and a fitness centre.

Eating is a major attraction at Bormio, and a profusion of eateries are scattered around the ski resort, serving delicious Italian food and wines. Nightlife is fairly quiet during the week, but Bormio comes to life on the weekends, with a proliferation of après-ski venues to provide entertainment.

There is a range of lodging in the village to suit all preferences and budgets, from one- to four-star hotels, to apartments and private residences. Shops are plentiful in the village, and a cinema, drugstores and first-aid facilities are also featured.

The town centre features a plethora of quaint bars as well as eateries serving sumptuous Italian fare accompanied by excellent local wines. There is also a large range of après-ski venues, including cafés, bars and nightclubs. Accommodation is provided by one- to four-star hotels, apartments and private homes.

Transportation to Bormio

Bormio is located in the Italian region of Lombardy, in the central Alps, and can be reached by car, bus, or air travel. By far the quickest and most convenient of these options is to fly to the international airport at Milan and take road transportation from here to the resort.

If you choose to drive to Bormio from the UK, you will need plenty of time, as this is a lengthy journey. The first step is to take a car ferry across the English Channel to France, from where you can continue to Italy by road. Once in the country, head for Milan, and then take either the Milan-Lecco-Colico motorway or the Sondrio-Bormio provincial road to reach the resort.

Rail transport goes as far as Tirano, from where you will have to complete the journey by road. Take the Eurostar from Waterloo station in the UK to Paris, and then connect with a direct overnight express train (run by a consortium of French and Italian trains known as Artesia) to Milan. Trains from Milan to Tirano take approximately 2 hours, 30 minutes. Bus transfers provide transport from Tirano to Bormio.

The easiest way to reach Bormio is by flying to the gateway airport at Milan. From the airport, you can either hire a car or take a Skibus to access Bormio.

Eurolines buses run to Italy from all over Europe. Once in the country, a combination of local buses will deliver you to Bormio.

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