Bardonnechia is an authentic historic town and makes up for what it might lack in classic ski resort atmosphere with a wide choice of shops and restaurants. The town is located in western Piemont close to the Fréjus tunnel, which takes drivers through to France.

It is relatively quiet during the week and pleasantly busy on weekends when Italians come to visit from nearby Turin. 

The heart of Bardonnechia is based around the town’s main street, Via Medail. About 15 minutes walk or a short bus-ride from here lies the main ski area, Campo Smith, where you will also find several hotels and restaurants.

There’s a second ski area, Jafferau, that is best reached by bus and is located on the other side of the Fréjus tunnel road. The buses are free and fairly frequent although they tend not to adhere to the timetables posted at the bus stops.

Bardonecchia hosted all the 2006 Olympic snowboard events and is thus very well-equipped for snowboarders as well as skiers. It’s also an ideal spot for beginners and families, thanks to gentle, sunny nursery slopes and high-quality, affordable ski schools.

Highlights 

  • A good resort for families with excellent children’s facilities
  • Excellent ski schools (four in total)
  • The slopes are invariably quiet and queues are a rarity 
  • Two terrain parks and predominantly gentle slopes make this a good resort for snowboarders

Lowlights

  • Limited advanced ski terrain 
  • It’s more a work-a-day town than picturesque ski resort
  • You might find yourself doing a lot of walking (or waiting for buses)
Tourist office links
Tourist office website
Accommodation
Book ski passes