Guide to Sestriere, Italian Alps

Sestriere is a modern well designed ski resort in the Val di Susa area of the southwestern Alps near the Italian/French border. The local ski area forms part of the Milky Way (Via Lattea), an extensive ski circuit covering 400 km of slopes which includes Sestriere, Cesana and Sansicario, Claviere, Sauze d'Oulx, and Montgenèvre in France. It is the place to go if you like good snow, challenging powder and travelling on skis as high mileage is the keyword here. For beginners there are wide slopes and some lovely easy blues. Confident intermediates can explore the whole Milky Way region. Good ski schools with access for children, plus night skiing are also provided by the resort.

Mountain Information Sestriere

	Resort Altitude	2035 m
	Vertical Drop	1550 m
	Top Lift	2823 m
	Lifts	20
	Total Runs	45
	Milky Way Runs	146, 400 km
	Longest Run	5 km
	Advanced Runs	5
	Intermediate Runs	20
	Beginner	20
	Cross Country	10 km

Getting to Sestriere

The quickest and cheapest way to travel to Sestriere ski resort is to first find one of the many cheap flights to Turin. Sestriere lies 70 miles from Turin, the nearest airport. From the international airport of Torino Caselle you can reach Sestriere in just over 1 hour, with a short train journey direct to the station at Oulx and a bus service from there. A public coach service connects Oulx with Sestriere (15 miles), and connects Turin with Sestriere via Pinerolo (56 miles). Other possibilities are Milan Linate and Milan Bergamo airports. If you fly to Turin and hire a car, access by road is via the A32 motorway to the Oulx tollbooth, then 15 miles to Sestriere ski resort.

Accommodation in Sestriere

Sestriere has some interesting accommodation options, including buildings left over from Olympics and world championships. Forget pictoresque Alpine charm here, this resort has mushroomed into a purpose-built community where there is 20 times more accommodation for visitors than for permanent residents. Lodging costs are average in Sestriere, except in the luxurious Principi di Piemonte hotel. Most hotels are rated 3 star and give good value. Apartments are plentiful and offer a way of keeping down costs. Accommodation can also be found in Borgata, a quieter village a few miles from Sestriere.

Bars, restaurants and apres ski

There are 33 restaurants serving Italian, French and traditional cuisine, 30 bars, a nightclub and 40 shops to keep visitors busy. Sestriere is known for its stylish shops, classy dining, chic bar and nightclub entertainment, but it is quiet here during the week. For Après ski try out the Du Col bar, Irish Igloo bar, karaoke and live music at Al Kovo, Pinky Bar does nice Italian food, Brahms pub for Irish beer, or the Osteria Barabba wine bar. A popular disco in Sestriere is the Tabata night club.

Activities

Snowboarders will find a snow park and deep powder runs aplenty. Non skiing activities include a cinema, horse riding, bowling, paragliding, ice-skating, paragliding, sauna and hot tubs, a gym and sports centre, heli-skiing and skidoos.