In Madonna di Campiglio winter runs from late November to the first half of April. You ski on the 156 km of the Skiarea Campiglio Dolomiti di Brenta, with slopes that come right down into the centre of the village. Off the slopes there is ski touring, cross-country skiing on the historic golf course, tobogganing and evening skating in the pedestrian centre. And in the evening people go out: Campiglio is still one of the liveliest resorts in the Italian Alps after dark.
This page is the place to start if you want to understand the season as a whole: the character of the village, the climate, skiing in brief, what to do beyond the slopes, the events and the evenings. For the detail on when to come, on slopes and lifts and on how to get here, there are dedicated guides linked throughout.
Winter in Madonna di Campiglio at a glance | Ski season | late November to the first half of April |
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| Slopes | 156 km in the Skiarea Campiglio Dolomiti di Brenta |
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| Lifts | 63 |
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| Difficulty | 30% easy, 40% intermediate, 30% difficult |
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| Altitude | from 850 to 2,500 metres |
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| Snowmaking | on every slope |
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| Resorts linked on skis | Madonna di Campiglio, Pinzolo, Folgarida and Marilleva |
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| Beyond downhill skiing | ski touring, snowboarding and snowpark, cross-country skiing, tobogganing, skating, snowshoeing |
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| Main events | 3Tre in December, Winter Marathon in January, Habsburg Carnival in February |
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What Madonna di Campiglio is like in winter
Campiglio's history begins in the 16th century, with the first settlements and the church. In the late 1800s the village became a holiday retreat for the Austro-Hungarian aristocracy and for the English, and in the 1970s and 1980s came the great boom of skiing.
Today it is a very Italian resort, in its guests and in its atmosphere, and different from the valleys of Alto Adige. The slopes reach the centre of the village: you ski the last run of the day and a few minutes later you are having an aperitivo. The centre is pedestrian, and the whole day happens within a few steps, between lifts, shops, bars and restaurants.
The comparison with Cortina shows the difference. In Madonna di Campiglio blue, red and black runs come down into the village, and four access lifts leave from the centre, all linked to one another: from any point you can reach the whole ski area. In Cortina no run comes down into town, and only one lift leaves from the centre, not connected to the others. Cortina is a small town in a wide basin, with more shopping and more of a social scene; Campiglio is a compact village, warmer in character. The other differences are in our comparison of Madonna di Campiglio and Cortina.
What is the weather like in Madonna di Campiglio in winter?
December and January are the coldest months: in the village temperatures hover around -5 °C, and higher up they drop to -15 °C and sometimes -20 °C. From February the climate softens, and between late March and April come the first spring days, with afternoons above freezing when you can ski in a T-shirt.
There is plenty of sun and a marked difference between morning and afternoon temperatures. Snowfall is frequent, partly thanks to the influence of Lake Garda, the largest lake in Italy: when it snows the air turns humid and the falls are often heavy.
How the resort changes from month to month is covered in our guide on when to visit Madonna di Campiglio.
Skiing in Madonna di Campiglio in brief
The Skiarea Campiglio Dolomiti di Brenta has 156 km of slopes served by 63 lifts, between 850 and 2,500 metres. The runs are split roughly into thirds between easy, intermediate and difficult, and every one of them has snowmaking.
The slopes face the sun from every direction: depending on the temperature and the snow, you pick the side of the mountain where the skiing is best. The ski area links Madonna di Campiglio, Pinzolo, Folgarida and Marilleva on skis. For snowboarding and freestyle there is the Ursus Snowpark.
The season usually closes between 10 and 15 April, and March and April are the most underrated months: snow still good, long days, high sun. Two further reads: how ski-in/ski-out in Madonna di Campiglio really works, and why skiing in March is worth it. All the figures for the SkiArea Dolomites of Brenta are on the dedicated page.
What to do in Madonna di Campiglio in winter beyond the slopes
Ski touring. The winter activity that has grown most in recent years. It takes you outside the ski area, to places that stay untouched in winter: the Brenta Dolomites, the glaciers, the alpine lakes, the Cinque Laghi area.
Mountaineering and ice climbing. For those with mountain experience, winter in Campiglio also means climbs on snow and ice, and frozen waterfalls to climb.
Cross-country skiing. There are two loops at the Golf Club Campiglio, which opened in the 1920s: one of the first golf courses in the Alps and the third in Italy.
Tobogganing. The run starts at the top of the Spinale Express and is several kilometres long: the descent takes from twenty minutes to half an hour.
Skating. In the evening people skate in the pedestrian centre, among the lights of the village.
Snowshoes and dog sledding. Snowshoe walks climb towards viewpoints over the Brenta; dog sled outings round out the options on the snow.
Madonna di Campiglio in December: start of the season, Christmas and New Year
The period from late November to 20 December is one of the best of the winter. The lifts reopen, the first fresh snow arrives and with it the urge to get back on skis after the summer. The village gets ready for Christmas, the lights go on in the centre and the sun sets around 4.30 pm, turning the Brenta pink and orange. It is also the time of the most accessible prices of the whole season.
Between Christmas and Epiphany Campiglio is at its liveliest: the centre is full until late and restaurants run several sittings. It is the period people book furthest in advance.
Winter events in Madonna di Campiglio: 3Tre, Winter Marathon and Habsburg Carnival
The 3Tre, in December, is the oldest World Cup race in Italy. The slalom is run at night on the Canalone Miramonti, inside the village, with the slope floodlit and the crowd lining the course.
The Winter Marathon, in January, is a regularity race for classic cars on the snowy roads of the Dolomites, starting and finishing in Madonna di Campiglio.
The Habsburg Carnival, in February, brings the court of Franz Joseph and Sissi back to the village: costume parades, quadrilles on the snow and the Emperor's Grand Ball.
Exact dates change every year and are published by the local tourist board at the start of the season.
Nightlife in Madonna di Campiglio
The day does not end with the last run. In the afternoon, après-ski livens up the bars at the foot of the slopes and up on the mountain, with music and DJs until the lifts close. Then everyone heads down to the village for an aperitivo.
The village does not shut down early. If you want, you can have dinner late in the evening, because many restaurants take bookings after 10 pm, and the food is of a high standard, with several addresses in the Michelin Guide, some of them starred. After dinner, piano bars and venues with live music stay open until one or two in the morning.
The tone is elegant, never rowdy. Those who want an early night before a morning on the slopes can have one; those who want to stay out late will find somewhere to do it.
Between the slopes and dinner there is also time to unwind: our wellness area is designed for those hours.
Before you go
To plan the journey there is our guide on how to get to Madonna di Campiglio, with airports, trains and transfers. On why sleeping next to the lifts changes the holiday, see our page on the hotel on the ski slopes. The full picture of the resort, in every season, is in our Madonna di Campiglio guide.
