Belpiano - Malga San Valentino ski resort is in the German speaking region of Italy known as South Tyrol - Alto Adige, and hence the ski resort is also known locally as Schoeneben-Haideralm.
Where is Belpiano - Malga San Valentino Italy?
The Belpiano-Malga S.Valentino ski resort is in the Val Venosta (or Vinschgau) of north-eastern Italy, above the villages of San Valentino (St Valentin auf der Haide) & Resia (Reschen am See). The closest major towns are Merano (Meran), 68km (over 1hr) by road to the east, & Landeck-Zams in Austria, a similar distance to the north. As the crow flies, the ski resort is 88km south-west of Innsbruck, 164km south-east of Zurich, 173km north-east of Milan and over 190km north-west of Venice.
Best Airports & Flights
Despite being in Italy, the gateway airport for Belpiano-Malga San Valentino is Innsbruck (INN) (116km or 1½hr drive via Reschen Pass) for European & UK residents. Munich (MUC) airport is the best option for international visitors from other origins. Train connections from Munich to Innsbruck are excellent, from where one can choose the best way to get to the ski resort.
Several Italian airports can be utilised also, i.e. Milan Malpensa (MXP), but travel times to the region are longer. Zurich (ZRH) in Switzerland is a far more time-efficient alternative.
Search & book here for flights to Innsbruck or another European airport.
Private Transfers & Airport Shuttles
The Powderhounds usually recommend taking the train to the closest stations (i.e. Landeck-Zams or Malles) and then bus to the resort, however local bus transport can be problematic. The quickest way to Belpiano from the airports is a private transfer/shuttle, however costs can be prohibitive for singles or couples. Reduce costs by arranging for a pickup at the Landeck Zams train station or other convenient point along the way.
Search & book here for private transfers to Resia, San Valentino or other location in the Val Venosta.
Travel by Train & Bus
Public transport to the general region is ok via trains from Innsbruck via Landeck-Zams, or Verona via Bolzano, Merano & finally, Malles. Journeys to the resort villages are completed by bus. From Innsbruck (or other starting point north of the Alps), trains to Landeck-Zams are regular along the main line to St Anton & Zurich, & also, south to Bolzano in Italy. If coming to the area via an Italian airport (i.e. from Venice or Milan), trains to Verona are excellent & the journey north to Bolzano, straightforward.
From Landeck-Zams
From Landeck, the route 4210 bus is taken to Martina (Cunfin). Martina is an intriguing 'fork in the road' actually located in Switzerland! From there, the hourly route 273 bus completes the journey to Resia or San Valentino via Nauders. Depending on the time of day, travel time from Innsbruck central station is between 2½hr & 3½hr. Innsbruck central station is a 15min bus ride form the local airport, and 2hr from Munich.
From Bolzano
An alternative is to take the train from somewhere in Italy or Austria via Bolzano. From Bolzano, trains go to Merano & then Malles taking around 2½hr with services every hour throughout the day & into the night. From the Malles station, the route 273 bus travels to San Valentino (21min) & Resia (31min) via Burgusio. The convoluted journey of at least 3 trains & a bus may prove too much for most.
Search & book here for train tickets to Malles or Landeck-Zams.
Driving to the Val Venosta
If intending to explore Belpiano & the broader Val Venosta/Ortler region, from experience, we recommend renting a car & driving. Whilst this goes against our usual mantra of use public transport where possible, many parts of Italy just lend themselves more to getting around by car, and this is one of them.
It is possible to drive into the region (and hence the ski resort) from either Austria, Switzerland & of course, Italy. We have completed journeys in all three directions by car. Far & away the trip from Austria is the easiest, & the trip from Switzerland is the most dangerous (but most interesting!). It goes without saying, but check road conditions before heading there, particularly via Switzerland.
From Austria
The preferred driving route to the region is from Austria via the Inn valley, the Landecker tunnel, Nauders & the gentle Reschen Pass. From Innsbruck airport, the winter driving time to San Valentino is less than 2hr. the route passes a host of amazing ski regions along the way.
Anyone arriving via Munich should head to the area via Innsbruck as per above. The safest route from Zurich to the region is similarly via the Inn valley & Landeck.
From Italy
From Milan or other points in Italy (i.e. Venice), the recommended route in winter is via Bolzano. Allow up to 6hr to get to the ski resort from Milan. Winter closures on the Stelvio Pass road preclude its use via Bormio, & routes via Livigno & Chiavenna/St Moritz are problematic or adventurous depending on your perspective (read the Swiss section below). Getting to Bolzano is easy on the motorways but does come with some pay-as-you-go toll costs. Once through Bolzano & past Merano, the road can often become slow & congested, particularly in poor weather. The route via Bolzano can also be used if travelling from Innsbruck in Austria.
In winter, the journey time from Bolzano to San Valentino is usually 2hr.
From Switzerland
We have completed the journey to the Val Venosta from Switzerland. One should only utilise this ‘scenic route’ in favourable road & weather conditions. It can be done if travelling from Milan Malpensa airport, Zurich airport, ski resorts near Chur in Graubuenden (i.e. St Moritz & Davos-Klosters), or if in the Alta Valtellina around Livigno. Routes through Switzerland are undoubtedly spectacular & adventurous in winter, but each route via either Scuol (via Nauders Austria) or Zernez & Tschierv (via Val Müstair) includes either the cumbersome, time & money consuming single-lane Munt la Schera tunnel (from Livigno toward Tschierv), the 2,149m Fuorn (or Ofen) Pass (heading into Val Müstair), the long Vereina car-train tunnel (from Klosters toward Scuol) or other mountain passes including Maloja Pass (1815m) or Foscagno Pass (2291m). Each pass can prove interesting in icy conditions.
We only recommend driving to Val Venosta via Switzerland if already in the vicinity, during daylight hours & if road conditions are favourable. If heading to the region from either Zurich or Milan airports, the recommended routes in winter are via Bolzano from Milan (allow up to 6hr), and via Landeck & Nauders in Austria from Zurich (allow up to 4hr). The routes through Switzerland mentioned above can take similar times, assuming everything goes right. Choose wisely!
Getting Around the Resort
From the Belpiano gondola base on the western side of Lake Reschen (Lago di Resia or Reschensee), a large car park is less than 2km from the centre of Resia village. The San Valentino gondola base is a further 8km drive past the just below the southern end of the lake. The gondola station & ski runs from the Haideralm end right on the edge of the village.
Day parking at either lift base is free (for users of the ski lifts) & plentiful at Belpiano, but more limited at San Valentino (get there early).
Car Rental
If renting a car, we recommend doing so from either Switzerland or Austria, preferably Innsbruck at the airport. Avoid renting cars in Italy as they are rarely winterised (i.e. fit for winter driving conditions - tyres, chains, diesel, windscreen fluid, ice scraper, snow brush, AWD or 4WD).
Search & book here for all car rentals.
For hints, tips & warnings about driving to Italian ski resorts in winter, see our Travel in Italy page.
Getting Around the Village
Getting around the villages will depend on where one is staying. Individually, each village is small enough to walk, although the back of Resia does rise up the mountainside somewhat! Local buses are not frequent enough to rely on for efficient journeys between the disparate parts of the valley, hence our recommendation to have a rental car when visiting the region. Without a car, the best place to stay & ski is San Valentino.
Nearby Ski Resorts
The Zwei Lander (or Two Lands/Countries) ski region includes the nearby Nauders in Austria, nearby Watles, Trafoi & the glacier resort of Solda-Sulden.
Further afield in Austria, the mammoth Serfaus Fiss Ladis is only a short drive from Nauders. The powder hounds pleasure palace of Kaunertal Glacier is a worthy mission if you can get the logistics right. The ultimate is to finish a day at Kaunertal with a backcountry run back into Italy finishing at the village of Melago, itself only 10km east of Resia Lake.