Where to go skiing in Friuli Venezia Giulia in 2023: a guide to the most beautiful ski areas and slopes

If you are wondering where to go skiing in Friuli Venezia Giulia you should know that there are 120 km of ski slopes throughout the territory and the ski areas are served by 67 lifts. The largest ski resort, Kanin - Sella Nevea / Plezzo, gives the opportunity to choose from about thirty km of slopes of all difficulty, and with 2292 meters of maximum altitude is also the resort that reaches the highest altitude. Here the snow is always plentiful thanks to the altitude: the entire area between Poviz, Leupa, Cergnala and the arrival of the old Canin cable car, is considered a huge playground for lovers of freeride and fresh snow slopes.

A very suitable area for those who practice ski mountaineering and freeride is definitely Ravascletto - Monte Zoncolan, which is also the closest ski resort to Udine, reachable in about an hour by car: with 28 km of slopes for alpine skiing and many descents in fresh snow for freeriding offers good possibilities for those who love off-piste.

As for cross-country skiing, there are about 40 tracks in the mountains of Friuli Venezia Giulia: they are located along the valleys, in the woods or at the foot of majestic peaks and in front of breathtaking views. From Arena Paruzzi and the slopes of the high and low Val Saisera in Tarvisio to the technical rings of Forni di Sopra and Piancavallo open on some days even at night, from the biathlon slopes of Carnia Arena in Forni Avoltri to the tracks of Sappada's champions, where you can find Olympic champions in training: here is in fact one of the three federal centers FISI Biathlon of the Italian Alps.

If instead you approach skiing as beginners, a very suitable place is definitely Forni di Sopra: its lifts are almost exclusively chair lifts and treadmills, with simple slopes in the panorama of the Friuli Dolomites. Reaching Varmost you can enjoy the superb panorama of the Three Peaks of Lavaredo.

If you want to discover other places suitable for beginners and that offer specific attractions for children, read the next chapter "Where to go skiing in Friuli Venezia Giulia: the ski resorts suitable for families with children".

What are the most suitable places to ski in Friuli Venezia Giulia for families with children?

Sappada is located to the north-west of the Region and is a large and sunny resort. In addition to slopes suitable for all levels of preparation you can take advantage of school camps to take your first steps on skis. But the real attraction for children is definitely Nevelandia, a snow playground where children can learn to ski while playing. The park covers a large sunny area not far from the village center. Here you can find entertainment for all: a skating rink, a train, inflatable structures, sleds, bobsleighs, circuits for quads and mini quads. Another attraction for children and adults is the snowmobile excursion: thanks to expert guides you can venture into the beautiful itineraries that vary depending on the type of excursions, length and duration.

Also in Piancavallo you can find a Snow Park Nevelandia: this park is spread over an area of 25000 square meters and has a ski area with three movable carpets, one for sleds and bobsleighs and one for snowtubing, as well as a fenced area with games for children and foam sleds. Also in Piancavallo there is the Alpine Coaster, a bobsleigh track active in winter and in summer: more than a thousand meters of bumps, parabolic and 360 degrees turns, in a two-seater toboggan run for adults and children.

If you are looking for other parks, Tarvisio also has a Snow & Fun Park with inflatables, slopes and other games. During the winter season there are two movable carpets, a snowtubing path and a sledge area. The ski resort also offers the opportunity to experience the guide of the dog sled in the Piana di Fusine International School of Dog Sledding.

The Fantasy Snow Park is located in Forni di Sopra in a fenced area near the arrival of the slopes. Here too the fun is guaranteed thanks to a movable carpet, colorful games, snow humps, inflatables, trampolines, tunnels, toboggan run and bobsleigh.

Sella Nevea in the municipality of Chiusaforte is located in the basin between Monte Kanin and Jof di Montasio, 80 km from Udine and 22 km from Tarvisio. With its 30 kilometers served by 10 lifts is the largest ski area in Friuli Venezia Giulia. Since 2009 it is connected to the Slovenian ski resort of Bovec, on the south side of the Kanin, thanks to a modern cable car that reaches over Sella Prevala, at 2133 m of Sella Golovec: from here a chair lift and a slope reach Bovec.

The Sella Nevea-Bovec area is particularly snowy: the cold currents of the North collide with the warm humid ones coming from the South causing abundant rainfall.

The longest slopes are the Kanin and the Bila Pec and measure about 2.5 km: the latter is used for the European Cup races and as a training track for supergiant races and downhill. In fact, in this place there are often many races: both World Cup and European or Italian Championships. We can also find a trampoline that was used for the ski jumping World Cup.

Very interesting are also the ski mountaineering and off-piste trails for Freeride lovers: there are also available several rings for cross-country skiing, including one of 13 kilometers length, partially lit at night.

Tarvisio is located in the Julian Alps, a few kilometers from the borders with Austria and Slovenia, in the beautiful Valcanale, province of Udine: thanks to this geographical position, it is a place where cultures, traditions and gastronomy meet and blend.

With 23 kilometers of slopes served by 13 lifts and 55 km dedicated to cross-country skiing, it is undoubtedly the most famous ski resort in Friuli Venezia Giulia: despite being only at 754 meters of altitude, the winters are very snowy.

The ski slopes offer beautiful views and meet the needs of skiers at any level of experience, thanks to efficient facilities and services, always attentive to the needs of winter sports lovers. The areas of the lifts are located on Mount Lussari and Mount Florianca and are connected both to the valley and the summit, with a height difference of about 1000 meters, from 754 meters of the valley floor to 1752 of the summit. One of the most adrenaline-pumping slopes is Prampero, used in the past for the European Cup races: 4 kilometers long, descends from Mount Lussari with a total drop of 1000 meters to the valley floor in the area of Camporosso. On this slope you can also ski at night for two days a week.

In Tarvisio there is a snowpark for snowboarders: the Gold Park has paths designed for different levels of preparation and provides a school camp for beginners who want to approach this sport.

Tarvisio cross-country trails have a total development of over 55 kilometers, one of the largest in Italy: an offer that can satisfy everyone, from beginners to those who practice this sport at a competitive level, combining the ski area with a scenery of truly beautiful landscapes.

Snowshoe lovers will also find many itineraries to follow: the most recommended for the views are certainly the ring of Lake Fusine and the ring of Val Saisera. From here you can reach the refuge Zacchi along the path 512 CAI. Another unmissable path is 611 from Malga Saisera to Rifugio Fratelli Grego. Snowshoe hikes are often organized at sunset, as well as excursions with sled dogs organized by the International School of Sledding of Piana di Fusine: excellent alternatives for those who don't ski and for families with children.

Mount Zoncolan is set in the majestic panorama of the Carnic Alps, in the territories of the municipalities of Ravascletto, Sutrio and Ovaro and is a popular ski resort of Friuli Venezia Giulia. Considered the balcony of the Carnic Alps, it is 1750 meters high and the summit can be reached from Ovaro and Sutrio via two roads and from Ravascletto by cable car. The Monte Zoncolan has become famous in the world for being six times a stage of the Giro d'Italia: just to celebrate one of the most important national sporting events that made the Zoncolan famous in the world, In 2021, the first six-seater chairlift in Friuli Venezia Giulia was inaugurated. Six seats are pink and are signed by the six champions who won the stage.

The ski slopes of the area extend for about 23 kilometers and are served by 11 lifts for a height difference of about 1000 meters, with difficulty levels suitable for everyone: are well exposed and offer a wide range of huts and dining options where you can enjoy typical regional cuisine. Snowboarders have at their disposal the Freestyle Arena, equipped with platforms for kickers, landings, boarder-cross, rail, and various boxes.

In the area of Zoncolan, cross-country skiing enthusiasts have at their disposal a small ring of 2.5 km at an altitude of 1320 meters that is often also used by snowshoe hikers. Nearby you can also practice this sport at the "Centro fondo Laghetti" of Paluzza, on a track with a total development of 10 km. The stretch with guaranteed snow has a length of 3.5 km and the ring is also open at night.

Ravascletto is a small village characterized by beautiful architecture in Carnic style: in addition to facilities for cross-country skiing, downhill skiing, Alpine skiing and off-piste has an outdoor tennis court, practicable in summer and a spa, Arta Terme, whose sulphurous waters have been famous since Roman times.

Sappada, with 1,245 meters of altitude, is the highest village in Friuli Venezia Giulia and is located on the border with Veneto. The village is an ideal destination for families with children: located in the enchanting landscape of the Dolomites and surrounded by fir and larch woods, it offers services tailored to children, from Snow Park Nevelandia to many blue and red slopes on which to learn skiing, perhaps followed by ski instructors of the Sappada School, active since 1951.

Available to skiers and snowboarders there are about 15 kilometers of snow-covered slopes, made accessible by 9 lifts.

Sappada is also an ideal destination for those who love ski mountaineering, with numerous off-piste trails to discover the beauty of the Dolomites surrounded by nature.

Cross-country skiing in Sappada is a real vocation: along the path that develops through the valley on a total length of about 15 kilometers is not uncommon to meet champions of this discipline who train in views of great beauty. The width of the track and the different levels of difficulty make it suitable for any type of skier, from beginner to expert.

There are paths for those who love snowshoeing, such as the excursion that leads to the springs of Piave or to huts and refuges where you can recover your energy with a lunch based on typical products.

Piancavallo is a ski resort in the Carnic Pre-Alps: it is located in a large sunny valley at the foot of Mount Cavallo, very close to the border with Veneto and surrounded by the enchanting woods of Pian del Cansiglio. It is a small ski resort with about 25 km of slopes and 11 lifts, suitable for any type of skier.

Its location, a stone’s throw from the Po Valley and Veneto, allows on clear days to have an enchanting view that goes as far as the Adriatic Sea: this feature and its relative proximity to the sea, make at the same time its climate very mild. For this reason the area is completely covered by artificial snow-making systems.

The ski area runs from 1245 meters up to 1865 meters of the highest point and the areas dedicated to beginners are located mostly near the town: the more experienced skiers can test themselves on the highest slopes, which in the past have also been used for international competitions.

For fans of freestyle and snowboard is available a snowpark of about 800 m in length, while those who practice ski mountaineering can choose from several itineraries: a track of ascent is also delimited and on some days of the week it is allowed to practice ski mountaineering at night, using the slopes for the descent.

The offer is completed by about 26 km of cross-country skiing trails, immersed in tranquility of beech woods: it is also possible to ski at night on an illuminated loop 1.5 km long.

Between the region of Carnia and Cadore, in the heart of the Friulian Dolomites and the Upper Tagliamento Valley, Forni di Sopra is an ideal destination if you are looking for a holiday in the snow surrounded by a fairytale landscape.

Forni di Sopra is an UNESCO World Heritage Site and ski resort appreciated by experienced and novice skiers: the 15 km of slopes reach up to 2100 meters above sea level, where the Varmost Slope starts offering enchanting views of the Three Peaks of Lavaredo and other peaks of the Dolomites. In the area of Varmost are some of the highest slopes of Friuli Venezia Giulia, some of red level and a black track: don't miss the longest track of Friuli Venezia Giulia, with 6 kilometers of descent from the 2000 meters of the top of Crusicalas.

The ski slopes of the valley are located in Davost and host the Ski School Camp, where you can learn the basic techniques followed by the masters of the Italian Ski School. The ski areas are well connected by a free bus service.

Fantasy Snow Park and its area equipped with games for children offers an excellent alternative if you don't ski.