Arabba: A Charming Village with World-Class Skiing in the Dolomites
- Trip And Zip
- Dec 29, 2005
- 3 min read
A few years ago, I discovered a unique place among the mountain resorts of the Alps. In the Dolomites region of Italy lies a small village, Arabba, which combines the charm of an Italian mountain hamlet with an excellent offering for advanced skiers and snowboarders.
Visitors shouldn’t expect much in terms of off-snow activities, shopping, or après-ski options. Families with children might also be disappointed by the lack of facilities for specific activities like ice rinks or swimming pools. However, most tourists will undoubtedly appreciate the idyllic atmosphere of the resort!
Arabba is very small—it takes no more than 20 minutes to walk from one end to the other. The selection of hotels and restaurants is decent, with most being family-run establishments offering a full range of accommodations. These places, while neither spectacular nor posh, preserve a rustic charm, with plenty of wooden accents carefully maintained as a hallmark of the area. For those seeking a traditional, picturesque location at altitude (1,600 m), unspoiled and free from noisy groups looking for wild après-ski parties—but offering exceptional skiing, good infrastructure, and stunning mountain scenery—Arabba is a serious contender.
Many of Arabba’s hotels and apartments feature ski-in/ski-out access. I highly recommend Hotel Mesdi, an excellent family-run establishment with impeccable service located right at the base of one of the slopes. You can step out of the restaurant and find yourself just 10 meters from the lift line (which rarely exceeds 10-15 people). This convenience is sure to be appreciated by many visitors! Another bonus: Micky’s Grill, one of the best restaurants in the resort and a popular lunch stop for skiers, is located in the same building and managed by the same family.
A curious local detail: in Arabba and the surrounding areas, the Ladin language, a Romance language still spoken by a small number of people in the Dolomites, is preserved. Though Arabba is an Italian village, German is also widely spoken. This intriguing mix of Latin atmosphere and Germanic-style services adds to the unique charm found in many northern Italian resorts.
Tourists who choose Arabba as their holiday destination can rest assured that the skiing experience will be fantastic! The Arabba/Marmolada ski area is expansive, with connections to many surrounding resorts. The resort is part of a vast circuit (175 km of slopes) that circles the main mountain massif in the area, the Sella Ronda, a route that can be skied in both directions. This allows skiers to reach several popular areas, such as Val di Fassa, Val Gardena, and Alta Badia, all in a single day, traversing multiple mountain passes (Campolongo, Gardena, Sella, and Pordoi) without ever taking their skis off!
Although most of the Dolomites region is best suited for intermediate and beginner skiers or snowboarders, Arabba/Marmolada is the exception. I am absolutely confident that the challenges here will satisfy even the most advanced skiers. The area features several outstanding black runs, descending from Portavescovo (2,478 m), which also offers breathtaking views of jagged peaks and rocky cliffs in its upper sections. Here, I had my first experience skiing at over 3,000 meters. From Arabba, you can easily reach the Marmolada Glacier (3,342 m), accessible via cable car to Punta Roca (3,309 m). This area is stunningly beautiful and particularly spectacular on clear days. For those seeking extreme sports, Arabba also offers one of the best heli-skiing options in the Alps.
Most tourists come to Arabba primarily for skiing. However, for those interested in après-ski, a few hotspots with bars offering extended evening hours are available. I fondly remember spending time with an English family at a bar near Hotel Portavescovo, called "Pub La Stube," if memory serves me right. However, there are no nightclubs with late-night programs in Arabba, and entertainment options remain limited. 🙂
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