The Italian Alps are an attractive wonderland of jagged mountain surroundings, lush alpine meadows, charming villages, and outside adventures. Listed below are 14 of essentially the most stunning locations to go to within the Italian mountains.
LAST UPDATE: 20 Jan 2024
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Masking an excellent mountain-filled arc sweeping throughout the highest of the nation, the Italian Alps are a scenic wonderland; an space of pure rugged magnificence bursting with fantastic locations to go to.
Stroll alongside high-alpine trails underneath razor-sharp vertical peaks within the Italian Mountains. Benefit from the tranquillity of emerald lakes glistening with a glacial glow. Savour the great thing about flower-filled alpine meadows dotted across the Alps in Italy.
There are such a lot of locations to go to within the Italian Alps and with mountaineering in summer time, snowboarding in winter, and lots in between, there’s by no means a foul time to go to.
IN THIS GUIDE
BEST PLACES TO VISIT IN THE ALPS IN ITALY
WHERE ARE THE ITALIAN ALPS
The Italian Alps sweep in an arc from Monaco within the west to Trieste within the east, overlaying the northern tip of Italy.
They’re made up of three important areas.
- Western – The western facet is the southern finish of the excessive Alps: a dramatic playground of snowcapped mountains bordering France and Switzerland.
- Central – The central part is the Italian Lakes the place giant lakes are framed by smaller hills and delightful villages.
- Japanese – The japanese part is the Italian Dolomites – jagged rocky peaks framed by lush alpine meadows.
Your complete area of the Italian Alps is most simply accessible from Milan. However if you wish to discover the japanese part, learn our Dolomites Highway journey information.
MAP – ITALIAN ALPS
We’ve collected all our favorite locations to go to within the Italian Alps on our map so you may discover the most effective of the Italian Mountains with ease.
How one can use this map / Click on on the highest left of the map to show the record of places, then click on on the places to show additional info. Click on on the highest proper nook of the map to open a bigger model in a brand new tab or the star to avoid wasting to your Google Maps.
1. TRE CIME DI LAVAREDO
There are few extra dramatic mountains on the planet than Tre Cime di Lavaredo. Three towering peaks, standing facet by facet, rise above a sea of boulders. Their near-vertical sides hovering to pointy peaks.
That is Alpine Italy at its most interesting. Probably the most iconic can solely be seen on the Tre Cime hike.
The paths are simple and the rewards are breathtaking. Numerous completely positioned rifugios supply refreshing beer and scrumptious Italian meals all through the hike. Tre Cime is a well-liked location for Dolomites pictures and an ideal half-day out within the mountains.
Learn Extra – Information to mountaineering Tre Cime di Lavaredo.
2. LAGO DI BRAIES
Excessive up within the mountains and surrounded by jagged peaks, the Italian Alps are full of gorgeous green-blue lakes. Finest considered within the early morning or late afternoon (when the wind is low), the shimmering dramatic alpine surroundings is mirrored in cool rippling water.
Probably the most spectacular of those lakes is Lago di Braies, a picture-perfect lake surrounded by the mighty rock face of Seekofel.
It’s the right place simply to take a seat and absorb the great thing about the Italian Alps. However, you may also depart the favored lake behind and go to the excessive alpine panorama of Prato Piazza for breathtaking view.
Learn Extra – Information to visiting Lago di Braies.
3. SECEDA RIDGELINE
The Puez-Odle mountains are like a mangled noticed. Bent and twisted pointy tooth type a jagged ridge of mountains. Nowhere else within the Italian Alps are you able to see such a mish-mash of hovering peaks combating in your consideration.
The most effective view of those jagged peaks is on the Seceda Ridgeline. Only a quick stroll from the Furnes-Seceda cable automobile summit, a line of towering mountains type a spectacular pictures location within the Italian Alps.
The grassy ridge with a slim pathway main as much as the ridgeline is the right vantage level from which to soak up the spectacle.
Learn Extra – See the most effective of the ridgeline on our Seceda Ridgeline hike.
4. COMO
Because the mountains of the Italian Alps drop into foothills and dashing rivers carry increasingly more water they lastly type nice lakes.
The best and most stunning of those is Lake Como.
As the principle centre on the lake, the city of Como is likely one of the greatest locations to go to within the Italian Alps. Stroll the previous city full with stunning squares, charming church buildings, and a bunch of attention-grabbing and quirky museums.
The cathedral is likely one of the most spectacular buildings within the metropolis and the funicular to Brunate offers a staggeringly spectacular view of the lakes.
Learn Extra – Our Lake Como by boat information takes you to essentially the most picturesque villages.
5. COURMAYEUR
Courmayeur is a captivating city within the Aosta Valley within the Italian Alps. Situated on the foot of Mont Blanc, fairly chalets and cute streets are dwarfed by towering peaks.
Courmayeur is Italy’s best-known and most picturesque ski resort with stunning south-facing slopes. In summer time because the snow melts, a wealth of fantastic biking and mountaineering trails head to distant rifugios and previous breath-taking views.
The Skyway Monte Bianco is an exciting 11-minute cable automobile experience that takes you 3,466 metres excessive on the Mont Blanc Massif. From right here, you may take the Panoramic Mont Blanc Cable Automotive over to France for essentially the most thrilling gondola experience on the planet.
Learn Extra – Finest issues to do in Courmayeur.
6. VAL DI FUNES
Instagram has introduced fame to Val di Funes. This as soon as quiet valley, tucked into the northern Italian mountains, now sees tons of of travellers arrive to seize the enduring views of its two church buildings.
San Giovanni and Santa Maddalena sit in rolling hay meadows nonetheless farmed historically. Nevertheless it’s not simply the bucolic nation scene that makes them particular. Rising nearly vertically behind them are the jagged peaks of the Puez-Odle massif.
Head right here at dawn or sundown and the church buildings with their imposing backdrops are superbly lit. A photographer’s dream, an unforgettable vista and a favorite on our Instagram account.
Learn Extra – What to do in Val di Funes.
7. BELLAGIO
Is there something extra picture-perfect than an Italian city on a lake? And if that’s the case absolutely essentially the most stunning is Bellagio. Referred to as the pearl of Lake Como, it’s strategically positioned the place the junction of the Y-shaped lake divides into two branches.
Peering out from its perch on the lakeshore, the facades of its golden villas, homes, and church buildings replicate within the rippling blue waters.
Hidden behind these buildings lies a cute and intriguing village. Slim laneways and twisty staircases conceal designer boutiques and native artisan outlets promoting the most effective silk in Europe. It’s one of the crucial stunning cities within the Italian Alps.
Learn Extra – Bellagio is roofed on our 2-week Europe Itinerary.
8. TRENTINO VALLEY
The Trentino Valley is spectacular. Fortresses peer over the steep-sided partitions and little villages with cute church buildings perch on ledges or cover in crevasses. However the true pleasure of coming right here is to pattern the wine.
Vineyards unfold all alongside the valley ground produce among the most interesting wine in Italy. Surrounded by stunning pastel-coloured buildings, little gardens present the perfect setting to pattern the native drop.
Our favorite is Alois Lageder within the village of Magré, a household winery run on biodynamic rules. They serve a scrumptious tackle trendy Italian cooking in a fantastic sunny courtyard. Nicely price a cease on any journey via the Italian mountains.
Learn Extra – Go to Trentino on our Italian Dolomites itinerary.
9. ALPE DI SIUSI
At 2,000m in altitude, visiting Alpe di Siusi, the most important excessive meadow within the Italian Alps is a panoramic expertise. Its swaying grasses, backed by among the most luxurious mountains in Italy, are a lush inexperienced in spring and a golden brown in autumn.
One of the simplest ways to see the realm is by hiring an e-bike. That approach – with out an excessive amount of huffing and puffing, and with zero emissions – you may see all of the highlights of this Instagram-friendly vacation spot.
Thankfully, you don’t must cycle up the meadow. A cable automobile carries you up 800m from the city of Ortisei. Even higher, the free-wheeling journey again down is an exhilarating experience.
Learn Extra – Close by, the wonderful Sassolungo-Langkofel circuit is one in every of our favorite Italian Alpine hikes.
10. BRENTA DOLOMITES
The Italian Mountains are the house of Through Ferrata. Which means ‘iron path,’ climbers are secured onto a metal cable that runs alongside near-vertical rock faces.
Vie ferrate have been linked collectively within the Brenta Dolomites creating intensive multi-day mountaineering excursions with in a single day stays in mountain refuges. It’s a nail-biting adrenaline-filled tour.
However even when that doesn’t take your fancy, mountaineering on this rocky wonderland is great. Rifugio Tuckett is likely one of the best-located huts within the Dolomites and it’s properly well worth the hike to see.
Learn Extra – Hike to Rifugio Tuckett on our Brenta Dolomites hike.
11. SASS PORDOI
The Italian Alps are hanging due to their distinctive form and pale Dolomite rock. The rock was shaped from fossilised coral reefs about 250 million years in the past when the African and European tectonic plates collided.
The collision created a various array of shapes. And nowhere are you able to see this variety higher than from the highest of the cable automobile that climbs from Passo Pordoi to Sass Pordoi.
From right here, observe table-top mountains, undulating grassy meadows, hovering pointy peaks and desolate moonscapes.
The views from Sass Pardoi are merely breathtaking, however the highway there’s a spotlight as properly. From Canazei take the highway to Passo Pordoi through the 22 exhilarating hairpin bends.
Learn Extra – All the main points are in our Dolomites itinerary.
12. BREUIL-CERVINIA
The high-altitude ski resort of Brueil-Cervinia has a community of over 160 kilometers of pistes, most of which have gorgeous views of the Matterhorn, simply throughout the border in Switzerland.
The resort itself is a small village, quieter than lots of the different ski locations within the Italian Alps. However, the lengthy runs and high-alpine views are arduous to beat.
The already fantastic winter playground of Brueil-Cervinia obtained a formidable improve in 2023. A brand new cable automobile hyperlinks the Italian Mountains with Zermatt in Switzerland, extending the ski season to a year-round exercise.
It’s the best cross-country cable on the planet connecting 9 totally different stations, 5 in Switzerland, 4 in Italy. It opens up an thrilling record of potentialities within the Italian Alps.
Learn Extra – Cease on the most spectacular stations on the Matterhorn Alpine Crossing.
13. MILAN
Though simply exterior the Italian Alps, Milan is the gateway to the area and an exquisite place to go to. With immaculate structure, among the world’s greatest artwork, and a mode matched by few cities, it’s properly price spending a couple of days in Milan in your approach via to the Italian Alps.
Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, the purchasing centre giving all different purchasing centres a foul identify is an architectural masterpiece.
Don’t miss sundown from the roof of the Duomo. As the color fades from the streets of Milan, there are few higher cityscapes on the planet which can be as spellbinding as this one.
Learn Extra – You can even go to Milan on a day journey from Florence.
14. GREAT SAINT BERNARD PASS
The Nice Saint Bernard Go connects the Italian Alps with Switzerland at an altitude of two,469 metres.
The go is called after the hospice of Saint Bernard. Based within the eleventh century, it continues to supply a resting place and rescue providers to travellers.
The views from the go are wonderful. The Mont Blanc massif sits to the west. Grand Combin and the Pennine Alps rises within the east. The Gran Paradiso Nationwide Park glints above the Aosta valley within the south. Nice Saint Bernard is a fantastic vacation spot on the Italian / Switzerland border.
Learn Extra – Simply over the border, see the most effective surroundings on our Col Saint Bernard hike.
