Famed for its fairytale setting it ain’t, (if that’s what you’re after, pick another resort) but what it lacks in sparkle, Sestriere more than makes up for with acres of impeccably maintained terrain, excellent off-piste and, actually, as it’s surrounded by mountains, some rather brilliant panoramic views.
The resort, which sits at the centre of the Milky Way circuit, is linked to three main areas: Mount Sises, Mount Motta and Mount Fraiteve making it an ideal station for powderhounds. Mount Fraiteve leads into Sauze d’Oulx, a pretty village known for its wild après, Sansicario and the rest of the Milky Way playground.
The resort also offers nighttime skiing on the same floodlit runs as skied by the pros during the 2006 Winter Olympic Games – what more could you want? Pretty little village? Pah, no thanks. Food and drink is cheaper too than in neighbouring French resorts #icingoncake #winning.
Queues will form at the weekends when Sestriere becomes a playground for local Italians from neighbouring Turin and Milan. Avoid the crowds by taking a day trip to take in some of the culture at Turin which is only an hour away and then return in the evening for some lively après ski!
The resort caters to all levels of ability but to make the most of the resort, buy the Milky Way ski pass to access all areas. Expert skiers should make like the pros and try the Kandahar Banchetta, the main Olympic downhill race course -is a long run with a steep start and a challenging finish. Following that, hop aboard two 4-man chairlifts, Nuova Nube (20) and Chisonetto Banchetta (21) back up to the top, and plan your next descent!
For nighttime skiing, the run is open to the public on Wednesday night from 18.00 to 22.00 (other than those nights when special events are taking place on it). The ski pass fare is 10 Euros.
Sestriere offers spectacular view of the mountains, you’ve just got to know where to look. The Shackleton Mountain Resort, comprised of mainly steel and glass, is a luxurious spot with a slightly futuristic feel. The food is fantastic too, with a menu that changes daily, and an impressive wine list. Go and visit and drink in the views!
Sestriere has modernized in recent years and it has all of the amenities that you would expect from a sophisticated ski resort. The town itself is compact, although there are often gripes about the layout which was designed and built in the 1930s and lacks a modern convenient arrangement.
Food wise there’s an abundance of charming places to choose from which are easy on the purse strings. Town and mountain restaurants are warm and friendly, staff are engaging and many restaurants cook using traditional Italian ingredients. For a casual bite to eat go for pizza at the famous Pinky Bar Restaurant or for more traditional Italian fare head to the more upmarket and very popular Last Tango but make sure you book in advance.
On the mountain, Riugio Alpette is highly recommended for authentic dishes like deer in civet, polenta, ghenefle and tartiflette. Alpette also arrange evening activities and excursions on the snow so enquire directly with the staff to find out what’s on.
Apres ski is quite laid back during the week and really comes alive at the weekend when the local Italians flock into town. Popular venues include Hotel du Col, cocktails at Mama Lia and Spotties Bar and Irish Igloo Bar which plays great music and is a lot of fun. For lively après head to Pinky bar for warm up drinks and then onto the main club Tabata Disco - with a cool bar upstairs and a disco downstairs it’s where everyone is likely to end up. Or if people singing badly floats your boat go to Dreamers bar for some good clean karaoke. There are also more sophisticated wine bars if you fancy something a little less casual – check out Kandahar Wine Bar and Osteria Barabba. But if you’re craving something a bit wilder, Sauze always has a great party vibe.