Located to the north of Turin and just below the Matterhorn, family-friendly Gressoney is more of a relaxed ski resort than some of its more famous neighbours, and features 74kms of groomed pistes, with the intermediate skier and snowboarder in mind.

The two main villages in the Gressoney ski resort are Gressoney-St Jean and Gressoney-La-Trinite, with about 900 beds available in each village. The former is the larger of the two, but both offer an authentic and relaxing atmosphere in beautiful surroundings.

Seventy-four kilometres of slopes run over beginner to advanced skier and snowboarder terrain, with 14kms for the beginner, 48kms for intermediates and 12kms for those at an advanced level; the longest run is an impressive nine kilometres. Thirteen ski lifts operate over the entire field, with an hourly capacity for 17,000 people. There are also 30kms of cross-country trails.

Other winter activities and facilities include: helicopter skiing; hiking; ice-skating (natural); mono-skiing and snowshoeing. In addition, there is indoor and outdoor swimming, saunas and a fitness centre. There are both mountain and village restaurants, and folklore evenings, bars and discos to keep visitors busy at night. Additionally, there is a casino at nearby St Vincent (40kms) for those who want to try their luck.

The December to April ski season at Gressoney has its best snow from early February to early/mid-March and cheaper rates pre-Christmas holidays, and from mid-March (excluding Easter).

For independent travellers (as opposed to those on a package holiday) it’s best to fly to Turin, take a shuttle into town, and then catch a train to Pont-Saint-Martin, from where local buses go to the Gressoney villages.