My husband, 18 year old daughter, and I are planning a trip to Italy between Christmas and New Year's. My son's HS band is in Rome that week, but we took a family trip to Rome a couple years ago so we are looking for other parts of Italy to explore. My daughter and husband really want to spend a day skiing in the Alps, but I am more for sight seeing. We were thinking of flying into Turin and hiring a guide/driver to take them to the slopes for the day while I see some of the sights in the area. I did find a guide through "ToursbyLocals.com" that would be willing to do that. Anyone with experience with the Tours By Locals guides? Looking for suggestions on where they can find good skiing for the day close to Turin. We only will have about 2 days at most to spend in Turin, and then we need to take the train down to Rome to see the band perform on New Year's eve.
Thanks!
Posted by
Cambridge, UK
80 posts
Snow could be iffy at the end of December. We spent a week in Champoluc in January of last year and had one day skiing in Pila, above Aosta town. Pila could be a good choice for a couple of days skiing. It's a large bowl with fine views towards the Matterhorn and a variety of ski trails. It is connected to Aosta by a gondola, so you could stay in Aosta and commute. Aosta itself is a pleasant town with Roman remains and is connected by regular train service to Turin.
David
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
15137 posts
Two major areas for skiing near Turin:
1. Alta Val di Susa (Upper Susa Valley) ski area, also known as the Via Lattea (Milky Way), which includes Sestriere, Sauze d'Oulx, Cesana. Over 250 miles of ski runs.
2. Bardonecchia ski area.
Both were the major venues during the 2006 Winter Olympics.
They are about 1 to 1.5 hours from Turin by car. I'm sure they have buses too.
To travel from Rome to Turin the Frecciarossa high speed train is faster than the airplane, when airport transfers and security procedures are accounted for. It's also infinitely more comfortable.
You can check schedules and prices here:
www.trenitalia.com
Just for checking use a date in the next 3 months, as December is probably not yet available.
Use the Italian spelling of stations:
ROMA TERMINI
TORINO PORTA SUSA or TORINO PORTA NUOVA (the former comes first coming from Rome/Milan)
Full (Base) fare in Standard class is 94€, but if you book ahead of time (up to 4 months) you can get Economy or Super Economy fares for much less.
Posted by
Bendigo, Australia
1223 posts
In Turin, the Cinema Museum is really worth visiting. Housed in the building that has the "Turin needle" atop it.
Posted by
Forest Grove, OR
11294 posts
Love Torino! We have gone twice in the winter. I believe the TGV from Milan to Paris stops in Torino and Bardonecchia. You can check that at Trenitalia.com.
Things to do and see:
Egyptian Museum is world class. Allow 2-3 hours.
The National Museum of the Automobile was surprising and wonderful
La Venaria Reale is the Versailles of Torino and there are several other royal residences
Torino has great public transportation and is also a great walking city. Excellent food, prices not bad compared to Roma.
Posted by
Tampa, FL, USA
1054 posts
I've used Tour by Locals for a guide to go around Lazio and on another trip in Umbria. I loved both of them and our day with them. We were only 2 people so the price was a little high, but for us it was well worth it.
Posted by
Green Bay
20002 posts
There is an hourly train from Porta Nuovo station to Oulx. Takes 1 hour 12 minutes. There is a bus there, again once per hour, to Sauze d'Oulx and takes 15 minutes.
I did ski there once, just before the Torino Olympics in early December. Snow cover was light, but after Christmas it should be pretty good.
Posted by
616 posts
Near Porta Nuova, there is Hotel Genova, via Sacchi which has Great breakfast, a Computer, Stamping machine at disposal and very nice Staff.
Restaurant La Conca nearby is located in via Assietta.
I was in Hotel Genova for 2 months when I moved for work to Torino.
The Egyptian museum is 1st class as already said and has been newly redone.
GAM which is the museum of modern art is also very good.
It is located near Porta Nuova Station.
Also worth it is the Basilica of Superga where all Italy's Kings the Savoy, were burried.
Abbazia San Michele near Turin is in the Mountains and worth seeing. but might be better in the Summer. Be careful with the deers, squirels, hares if you drive there.
Make sure you eat fresh white or even black truffle grated on an egg, it is a true wonder.
Eat porcini, fassone (which is beef, excellent but so different from Florence's chianina).
Posted by
Medford, OR, USA
5835 posts
One of many snow report websites:
https://www.j2ski.com/snow_forecast/Italy/
Resorts near Turin Cuneo (CUF) Airport:
https://www.j2ski.com/ski_resorts/Airports/Turin_Cuneo.html
Aeroporto Internazionale di Cuneo is near the city of Turin in Italy
and gives access to ski resorts in :- France, Italy and Switzerland.
I've only cross country skied at Asiago so can't advise on lift assisted alpine skiing near Turin. But that said, skiing in Italy offers more to just skiing.
Posted by
616 posts
For Pasta, try ravioli del Plin (very very tiny ravioli that can be accompanied by various sauces, sughi or butter with sage.
Agnolotti are also a kind of very tiny ravioli.
Tajarin are kind of very fine Tagliatelle. All freshly made Piedmontese pasta contains eggs.
Another special delicacy in Torino is its chocolate.
Posted by
616 posts
If you go in the area of Sestriere for skying, go to the baker in Claviere and try their grossing. Claviere is a wonderful village in the mountains near French border.