Resort information for Courmayeur

Courmayeur is a traditional old Italian mountaineering village that, despite the nearby Mont Blanc tunnel road, has retained much of its old-world feel.

The pistes suit intermediates, but are surprisingly limited for such a well-known, large resort. They are varied in character, if not gradient. The east-facing Chercrouit area catches morning sun, and has open, above-the-tree-line pistes. Most people follow the sun to the north-west-facing slopes towards Val Veny in the afternoon, which are interesting, varied and tree-lined, with great views of Mont Blanc and its glaciers. Courmayeur has good snow reliability for most of the season although its slopes are not high – those above Val Veny keep their snow well, but the Plan Chercrouit side is rather too sunny for comfort in late season. It is a great place for a weekend away – although Sunday crowds pour in making queues and overcrowded slopes - but whether it makes sense for a week’s holiday is another matter.

The village has a charming traffic-free centre of attractive shops, cobbled streets and well-preserved buildings. The centre has a great atmosphere and there is a lively evening scene centred on stylish bars with comfy armchairs or sofas to collapse into, often serving free canapés in the early evening. There’s a great choice for eating out, both in downtown Courmayeur and within taxi range.