Arabba Marmolada Ski Resort Italy
Deep in the Dolomites, surrounded by the soaring peaks of the Marmolada, Sella massif, Padon and Col di Lana, the Arabba Marmolada ski resort is a justifiably popular skiing destination. Arabba Marmolada ski resort has the best snow quality & quantity of all the Dolomites ski resorts. Add to its many attributes the highest lifted point in the Dolomites, the longest ski run & the best piste trail variety and it is easy to see why we think Arabba Marmolada is well worth a visit.
Pros & Cons for Arabba Marmolada Ski Resort
Pros
- Best snow quality & snow surety in the Dolomites.
- Best range of piste trails for all abilities in the Dolomiti Superski area.
- Highest lifted point in the Dolomites.
- Longest skiable vertical & longest ski run/trail in the Dolomites.
- Includes the Dolomites only glacier skiing.
- Numerous après ski options.
- Ski-in ski-out accommodation available.
- Fabulous mountain huts.
- Ski area is in one of the most spectacular mountain areas in the world.
Cons
- Resort villages are deep in shaded, cold valleys, particularly in mid-winter.
- The smallest (by length of piste trail) of the Sella Ronda ski resorts.
- Marmolada cable car can have lengthy waiting times on powder days & during high season.
- Some older style linking chairlifts & tows (but all are supposed to be replaced by season 24/25).
Pro or Con (depending on your perspective!)
- Integral part of the Sella Ronda & Great War Ski Tours.
- Small, quiet villages.
- Piste trails spread across a huge area.
- Relatively quiet villages, isolated location of Malga Ciapela.
- IKON Pass now valid in the resort!
[AdListings collection="Europe" category="Italy Dolomites" subcategory="Dolomites Tours"]
Skiing & Snowboarding, Lift & Terrain
Arabba Marmolada skiing & snowboarding trails may be the smallest of the Sella Ronda resorts, but they include the Dolomites highest peak, mighty Marmolada, providing the longest advanced runs and best off-piste opportunities in the entire Dolomites. This is the 'go to' ski area for skiers & snowboarders looking for challenging on-piste runs, plus off-piste powder on the glacier.
Check out the full ski trail map for Arabba Marmolada below.
With its high alpine glacier, Marmolada is home to the Dolomites highest & longest ski run - the 12km, 1,820m vertical Bullunese run. From 3,265m at Punta Rocca near the summit of Marmolada, ski the glacier down to Passo Fedaia at 2,057m, then wiz through the valley past speeding cars on the adjacent road, finishing with a long schuss in a forested valley to Malga Ciapela at 1,446m. Wonderful! Way more fun too if doing the glacier sector off-piste in powder!
In Arabba, the north-aspect ski slopes from Porta Vescovo are the Dolomites best advanced pistes. On the opposite side of the valley below the Sella massif, the slopes are a beginner & intermediates paradise on sun soaked, perfectly groomed piste. Further up towards the Belvedere & Passo Pordoi, a broad off-piste interspersed with trails will please everyone hunting powder.
International visitors may be pleased to know that Ikon Pass is valid in Arabba Marmolada & the Dolomites, but with certain conditions/limitations.
Interlinked with Dolomiti Superski
Part of the Dolomiti Superski area, Arabba Marmolada is one of the sections of the popular Sella Ronda and a major part of the intriguing Great War ski circuit. Arabba is located such that direct ski links via piste and lift are easy to the Alta Badia and Val di Fassa ski resorts. Bus links are easy to both Cortina and Civetta ski resorts.
For more information on lifts, terrain, trail maps & lift passes, see our Skiing & Snowboarding Arabba Marmolada page.
Where is Arabba Marmolada Italy?
Arabba Marmolada ski resort is in the spectacular Dolomites, Veneto (Venice) province, northeast Italy. The two main centres for the ski resort, Arabba & Malga Ciapela are separated by a mountain range and whilst it is only 8km 'as the crow flies', driving distance is over 25km.
The village of Arabba is at high elevation (over 1,600m above sea level), 2½hr drive north of Venice. The wonderful ski city of Innsbruck in Austria is a similar distance & travel time north of Arabba. Gateway airports are Venice (VCE) & Innsbruck (INN), or at a stretch, Munich.
For detailed information on the best ways to get there, see our Travel to Arabba Marmolada page.
Arabba & Marmolada Accommodation
Visitors to the Arabba Marmolada ski resort have a wide choice of options when staying overnight. The obvious choice is the small town of Arabba. Whilst it is central to the resort lifts and has everything one would require in a compact town, Arabba is deep in shadows for much of mid-winter so can be quite cold. A range of ski-in & some ski-out hotels and apartments are in the town & up the road. Below the Burz chair above town, Hotel Alpenrose & Hotel Chalet Barbara are awesome. The Hotel Malita, Blizzard Apartments, Hotel Pordoi, Sporthotel Arabba & Chalet Karin have prime positions in the village, a few steps from the lifts & pistes.
Search & book all Arabba ski accommodation.
As it is two ski resorts in one, the other choice is the base area of Marmolada at a location known as Malga Ciapela. Set deep in a forested valley & surrounded by magnificent, precipitous cliffs, Malga Ciapela has some excellent hotels providing quick access to the Marmolada lifts (avoid the powder day line up!). The closest hotels to the cable car are the Hotel Principe Marmolada & Hotel Tyrolia. Facilities & services are relatively few & it will not be everyone's ideal location. Malga Ciapela will appeal to those that prefer their nights blissfully quiet. Party animals should apply elsewhere!
Search & book all Marmolada accommodation.
[AdListings collection="Europe" category="Italy Dolomites" subcategory="Dolomites Packages"]
Ski Rentals, Lessons & Guiding
Arabba village has two partner ski rental outlets near the base of the lifts. Receive a discount when you search & book via our Arabba Ski & Snowboard Rental page.
Getting around the Dolomites & exploring the off-piste routes on the Sella massif & Marmolada glacier can be best done with a local ski instructor or guide. For a range of options, see our Arabba-Marmolada Ski Lessons & Guiding page.
Arabba Restaurants
Aside from the delicious lunches served up by most of the mountain rifugi, the absolute standout restaurant in Arabba is Miky's Grill at the bottom of the Mesdi Hotel next to the Burz chairlift & ticket counter. Huge, heaped platters of scorched meats & vegetables are a carnivore's delight at Miky's. The centre of the village has numerous traditional restaurant options that will satisfy your desire for quality Italian nosh.
Review
The Powderhounds have visited Arabba & Marmolada numerous times, the last in 2019. Arabba is one of our favourite resorts & villages in the Dolomites. We are due to return to the region next season to check some new lifts. Click on the review link in the left column (or top of the page if on a mobile) to read all our reviews!
See how Arabba-Marmolada and the other Dolomites ski resorts compare to the rest of the Italian ski resorts on the Italy ski resort ratings page, or compare to the rest of Europe on the European ski resort ratings page.
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