Travel to Pila with ski insurance from Essential Travel

With incredible views of Mont Blanc to the Grand Combin, and stunning panoramas from the Matterhorn to Monte Rosa, Pila offers unbeatable skiing and snowboarding.

Pila is a modern holiday centre facing a small Alpine town which is proud of its own history and traditions. The resort attracts those who are first and foremost interested in skiing, with direct access to the ski slopes from all the hotels and residences.

In Pila, you are free to roam over an area of 70kms of ski runs. Twelve modern lifts moving 18,900 persons an hour will take you where you want to go, with the lowest lift at 1,800m and the highest lift at 2,752m. As for the skiing, beginners can enjoy 17 per cent of the slopes, intermediate skiers are offered 73 per cent, and experts will be challenged on 10 per cent of runs. The longest slope in the area is six kilometres.

Pila is situated in a beautiful area, with plenty of natural wonders on display. For some time off the slopes, nearby Aosta, only 20 minutes away, is a city rich in Roman and Medieval remains, as well as exhibition centres and museums. Just a few kilometres away from Aosta are numerous medieval castles and manor houses, the most famous being Issogne, Verrès, Fénis and Sarre.

For foreign visitors, the best way to reach Pila is by air. You can take a flight to Milans Malpensa 2000 or Turins Caselle Airport, and then continue by car or coach. With Airvallée, you can get directly to Aosta’s Corrado Gex Airport. If you are driving, then take the A5 from Torino through to Aosta.

Skiing in Pila

With breathtaking views of Mont Blanc, Grand Combin, the Matterhorn and Monte Rosa, Pila offers some great ski-in/ski-out accommodation and a plethora of activities off the slopes. With 70kms of good quality ski runs for all levels, Pila is a great resort to visit.

Most of the hotels in Pila are ski-in/ski-out. Some of the hotels may be a little rustic, but are very convenient. There are also plenty of mountain restaurants where you can dine. For more luxurious accommodation, head to the town of Aosta.

Twelve modern lifts, moving 18,900 persons an hour, will take you where you want to go, with the lowest lift at 1,800m and the highest at 2,752m. As for the skiing, beginners can enjoy 17 per cent of the slopes, intermediates are offered 73 per cent, and experts can get their thrills on 10 per cent of runs. The longest slope in the area is six kilometres. For boarders, the Pila snow park has a massive half-pipe and has proved very popular.

Pila is open in the winter months for skiing and it’s also open throughout the summer, with many alternative activities to skiing on offer. The best way to reach the resort is by taking a plane to Milan or Torino, from where you can catch a coach or drive to the resort.

Après-ski in Pila

Pila has a limited selection of après-ski activities; however, the vibrant town of Aosta is only 20 minutes away for those who require more options. Pila has 22 restaurants and four discos.

Most of Pila’s hotels are ski-in/ski-out, and some of them can be quite rustic, which appeals to many visitors. The city of Aosta has a more varied selection of accommodation. Between Pila and Aosta, you’ll find a scattering of restaurants, discos, a sports centre, ice rink and swimming pool.

Other activities offered in Pila include: ice-skating, swimming, bowling and hand-gliding. There’s also a sauna and a well-equipped sports centre here. For those seeking historical sites and museums, head to Aosta, where you find a myriad of interesting things to do. Childcare is available in the resort and there is a ski school, although Italian is usually the only language spoken.

Transportation in Pila

Pila is situated in the magnificent Alps, with quite spectacular views encompassing the resort, yet it’s also not too far from some major cities in Italy. The most practical way of reaching the resort is by taking a plane to the major airports in Milan and Torino, and then transferring by road.

If you decide to travel by car, it may be a long arduous journey; however, you are certain to see some marvellous scenery on the way. Once in Italy, take the A5 Torino-Aosta (99kms) and exit at Aosta Est, then follow the regional road in the direction Pollein-Charvensod-Pila. Alternatively, you can come here via the Great St Bernard tunnel, and then get on state highway SS 27 to Aosta; or via the Mont Blanc tunnel, then on state highway SS 26 to Aosta. From Aosta, follow the signs to Gressan-Pila.

Another option is to take the train to Pila, which is comfortable and convenient, although some of the trains can be a little slow. From Turin or Milan, trains go to Aosta via Chivasso. The cable car to Pila is joined to the station by a short pedestrian subway.

The easiest way to get to the resort is to take a flight to Milans Malpensa 2000 Airport or Turins Caselle Airport, and then transfer to the resort by car or coach. Another option would be to take a flight with Airvallée, which will enable you to get directly to Aostas Corrado Gex Airport.

By bus, you can take the regular Turin-Aosta and Milan-Aosta autostrada coach services, which are joined in the winter by the Freccia delle Nevi service from Bergamo, Milan and Genoa, on weekdays.

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