Italy

Italian Alps Ski Getaway With Kids: Ponte di Legno Tonale

Fresh off our ski trip to Ponte de Legno Tonale, we are all afresh with the glow of several days outside in the picturesque Italian Alps.  Cheeks are rosy, some noses are a bit sunburned after an incredibly sunny day over the snowy mountain peaks, some muscles are a bit sore from several days of skiing, and our hearts are happy.

I feel like we discovered an Italian parent gem, tucked away in the stunning Alps 2.5 hours outside of Milan.  This entire ski resort and the associated hotels cater to families in a way I’ve not seen before.  With over 100 km of ski slopes over several mountains, much of Ponte de Legno Tonale caters to the family crowd.  There are several beginner slopes, moving belts from parking lots, hotels, and more to get those little skiers (or boarders!) up without tears, a huge family center under construction, and more.

Located in between the stunning peaks of the soaring Alps, everywhere you look is a living postcard.  There isn’t a bad view in the entire place!  Pair that with the friendly Italian attitude and family-friendly atmosphere, and we’ve found one of our new favorite locations to go skiing with kids.

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Where is Ponte di Legno Tonale Ski Resort?

Ponte di Legno Tonale is located in the Italian Alps, straddling the regions of Lombardy and Trentino. It’s part of the Adamello Ski area, offering breathtaking mountain scenery and a variety of slopes for all skill levels.

Distance from major cities & airports:

• Milan: 2.5 hours by car (approximately 180 km)
• Bergamo (Orio al Serio Airport – BGY): 2 hours by car (around 130 km)
• Verona (Verona Villafranca Airport – VRN): 2.5 hours by car (about 170 km)
• Venice (Marco Polo Airport – VCE): 3.5 hours by car (roughly 250 km)

Many travelers fly into Milan Malpensa (MXP) or Bergamo Orio al Serio (BGY) and take a rental car or shuttle to reach the resort.

How To Get To Ponte di Legno Tonale Ski Resort

Getting to Ponte di Legno Tonale is relatively easy, with multiple transportation options available, depending on your travel style and budget.

• Ski Bus from Airports: Several shuttle services operate between Milan, Bergamo, and Verona airports and the ski resort. These are often the most convenient option for travelers who don’t want to rent a car. The transfer takes about 2.5 to 3 hours, and it’s recommended to book in advance, especially during peak ski season.
  

Rental Car: Renting a car provides flexibility, especially if you plan to explore nearby areas. Be sure to have an updated international driver’s license, as it’s required for non-EU visitors. In winter, snow chains or winter tires are mandatory in the Alps. There’s covered parking at some hotels (like Sporting Hotel) to avoid getting snowed in.

• Train + Bus Connection: If you prefer public transport, you can take a train from Milan or Bergamo to Edolo, the closest train station to the resort (about 30 km away). From Edolo, there’s a bus service that takes you directly to Ponte di Legno.
  
• Gondola from Ponte di Legno to Passo Tonale: If you’re staying in Ponte di Legno, you can take the gondola directly up to the ski resort in Passo Tonale, where most of the ski action happens. This means you can avoid driving up the mountain and enjoy a scenic ride instead.

Where To Stay at Ponte di Legno Tolane With Kids

We were lucky enough to stay at the Sporting Hotel, right next to the slopes.  This ski-in/ski-out family resort packs an incredible punch when it comes to amenities!  

Top of the list is the massive indoor waterpark, complete with two large slides, lots of play equipment, a heated pool, a family spa, and more.  After we hit the slopes, we rushed back to the hotel to enjoy some time playing in the water.  I was amazed by the indoor pool area, which is open daily in the afternoons until 7 pm.

Other amenities include:

• Large dining room with meal plans (more on that below)
• Video game corner
• On-site dog, Ice, who is an adorable, pure white Great Pyrenees.  We loved giving her love every time we came through the lobby!  Check out the cute pictures of her around the hotel.

• Covered parking (very important when the snow dumps!  We saw many cars outside buried in snow.)
• Gym
• Lunch restaurant open to the slopes with a discount for hotel guests

• Children’s programs including pizza night, disco night, and more
• Heated, fabulous ski locker room with amazing ski lockers
• Family suites
• For adults: Sky Spa is an adults-only indoor/outdoor hot tub hanging out amid the Italian Alps.  There are also saunas of various temperatures to enjoy and an amazing sitting area with stunning views.  Note it is strictly 18+ as the saunas are only enjoyed without clothing!

We loved the Family Suite Cristiano, which takes the cake as our coolest hotel room to date!  Complete with three separate sleeping areas, a climbing wall and play kitchen, two full bathrooms, and a loft, this huge family suite sleeps up to eight and was lovely for our stay.  We appreciated the two showers after swimming each evening and getting ready to ski each morning.  The views of the slopes were lovely, too!

Dining in European Hotels With Kids

European hotels offer great meal plans with their stays, which we recommend. It saves a lot of hassle and money to not have to worry about where you are going to eat. You can simply stay in your hotel for your meals!  The large dining rooms offer a “big family” feel, and you are assigned a table for your stay.  On your first day, you’ll find out your table number and then know to go there each night. 

Full-board includes three meals a day.  Half board includes breakfast (hot continental) and dinner.  For dinner at Sporting Hotel, adults could enjoy their choice of a four-course meal each night, whereas the kids could self-serve at the “baby buffet”.   I loved that the younger kids could get their food quickly to stave off their “hangry” attitudes while the adults relaxed and enjoyed the service of a four-course meal.  All of this is set in a very family-friendly atmosphere.

We were glad to have the half-board arrangement for our stay so we could enjoy lunch wherever the slopes took us that day.  We loved the food at the Ponte di Legno Tonale Ski Resort.  The pizza oven was a fan favorite with hot, delicious Italian pizza (unmatched around the world, honestly) as well as the other hot home-cooked favorites.  We also couldn’t get enough of the amazing hot chocolate with real cream on top.  It is rich, thicker than you might expect, and oh, so yummy.

Skiing or Snowboarding at Ponte di Legno Tonale Ski Resort

While we are pretty hard-core skiers in our family (several of our kids have done ski team in the past), we’ve also got some snowboarding skills in our family.  My husband and the dad of this big brood, Chris, boarded for several years before the kids could ski proficiently.  On this trip, our two teens tried snowboarding for the first time.

The ski resort handled all of these situations and catered to all of our needs!  From the experienced teenagers who skied first in the fresh powder and did the trick park to our youngest, who is getting her confidence up on blue and red slopes, we found everything we could have wanted!

Take note that slope rating can be slightly different in Europe than in the US.  In Italy, the slopes are rated from easiest to hardest as:

• Blue
• Red
• Black

Ponte de Legno offers tons of blue slopes with quick, kid-friendly lifts, full systems, and carpet rides to cater to every skill level.  There are also plentiful black slopes, including on the other side of the mountain with the amazing igloo concert hall we attended!  You could ski blacks or go off-trail (off-piste) into the powder and then attend an ice concert with the Paradice band on the same slope!

Renting Equipment at Ponte di Legno Tonale Ski Resort as a Family

We rented ski and snowboard equipment for all seven of us at Noleggio by Maestri.  While there are many options for renting equipment, I’d recommend this shop for a few reasons:

• Location.  Noleggio by Maestri is located in the main building of the ski resort, right above the ski ticket office!  The location makes skiing in and out a dream.  They have a fabulous ski locker area right in the back of the shop that has 24-hour access with your ski pass.  Inside, the ski lockers are like nothing we’ve seen before!  Heated and ventilated, these lockers have hooks for all your equipment and pump air throughout to get your stuff dry quickly. 
  
• High-tech equipment.  We’ve rented ski equipment in many places, including Switzerland, France, and Canada recently.  This shop in Ponte di Legno Tolane offered the best selection and highest quality equipment.  Our teens switched from skis to snowboards on the last day and loved the quality of both options.  The check-in was easy on some tablets and the technicians were super helpful.
  
• Cost: Adults run about 30€ per day and kids are about 15-20€ per day, including helmets.

Ski Hours at Ponte di Legno Ski Resort

We skied for three days, Wednesday through Friday.  As is typical, mid-week was less busy than the weekend.  Friday afternoon was pretty busy!  The slopes are open from 8:30 am to 5 pm.

Night skiing is available on Tuesday and Thursday evenings on the easiest run.  I was a bit bummed it was only one run, but night skiing is fun in its own right and worth a try.  There is a fun atmosphere and party attitude as you ski!  Night skiing is open 8:30 – 11 pm.  Thankfully, Sporting Hotel is just a 5-minute walk and a quick ski away!

Cost of Ski Passes at Ponte di Legno Tonale Ski Resort

Ski passes at Ponte di Legno Tonale vary based on duration, age group, and seasonal discounts. Below are the current prices for February:

Standard Ski Pass Prices

(Prices are per person and may vary based on the date of purchase and seasonal promotions.)

Adult (Ages 16+)

• Full Day: €62.00 (€55.80 if purchased 7+ days in advance)
• 5-Hour Pass: €58.00 (€52.20 if purchased early)
• 4-Hour Pass: €52.00 (€46.80 if purchased early)
• 3-Hour Pass: €50.00 (€45.00 if purchased early)

Junior (Born between May 1, 2008 – April 30, 2016)

• Full Day: €50.00 (€45.00 if purchased early)

Child (Born after April 30, 2016)

• Full Day: €33.00 (€29.70 if purchased early)

Special Package Deal

• Adult + Child (Born after May 1, 2016) Free: €62.00 (€55.80 if purchased early)

Additional Notes on Ski Passes

• Early bird discounts (10% off) apply if you purchase at least 7 days in advance.
• Passes are valid from first access to the turnstile, meaning your time starts when you scan in for the first time.
• Children under 8 ski for free when an accompanying adult purchases a full-price ski pass.
• Multi-day and seasonal passes are also available for longer stays.

Ski Lessons for Kids at Ponte di Legno Tonale

One thing you’ll notice right away about this ski resort: there are ski classes everywhere!  Teachers are patiently leading groups of kids of all ages around the resort.  Kids are learning to ski here at all times!  We saw kids as young as two in group lessons.  I love that!

Group classes with kids will cost you about 33 – 40 euros per kid. 

We opted for two private lessons: one for our two youngest kids to sharpen their skills a bit and one for our two teens who wanted to snowboard for the first time.  We did 2-hour lessons in both cases, and they all learned a great deal.  The instructors spoke in English and were very friendly.

Private lessons cost about 45€ per hour, which is a great deal!

Other Winter Family Activities at Ponte di Legno Tonale

This amazing corner of Italy has much to offer families in the winter.  You don’t need to be a skier to enjoy this ski resort!

Fantaski

At the bottom of the main slopes, you can find a children’s winter heaven!  Fantaski offers snow tubing and sledding, inflatables, ski bikes, and more.  We loved zooming down the tube run, and the kids enjoyed slipping around the inflatables.

Family Fun Village

Projected to be completed next year, this family center is housed in a gorgeous new building.  It is expected to have family activities, projects, play centers, and even babysitting!

Cioccolateria Chocolate Shop

In case you need to sweeten up your day, this darling chocolate shop sits at the base of the main ski run and offers chocolate truffles, delicious gelato, and plentiful hot chocolate.  

Paradice Music Concerts

Take the gondola up 1000+ meters (3000+ feet) amid stunning views to the other side of the Alps and attend a concert in an igloo concert hall!  Even the instruments are made of ice.  We loved singing along to American classics in our snow gear inside an igloo!

Restaurants and Bars

Enjoy some amazing hot chocolate (seriously, some of the best in the world) as you take in the views of the stunning, snow-capped mountains. The kids can play in the snow, climb the gentle hills, sled down, and more.  There are restaurants and bars aplenty to enjoy, disco nights and more the adults, and more.

Other Things To Expect When Visiting Ponte di Legno Tonale

• Great attitude with kids.  Italians are family-focused, similar to the Portuguese, and we always felt welcomed with open arms with our five kids.  Kids are a joy in Italy, and we love that!  Kids can also be kids.  No one is too uptight if kids are playing with the snow, talking too loud, or getting their energy out!
  
• Language barrier.  We had zero problems communicating during our trip, but this resort is set in Italy and you will hear lots of Italian!  The resort gets most of its visitors from Italy, Spain, France, Poland, and some US and Canada.  Everyone spoke English, but the kid programs at the hotel were in Italian and a bit intimidating for our kids.  We had a bit of a leg up with Portuguese as they are both romantic languages, however, you might feel a bit out of the loop at times on some of the announcements. We like to think of this as part of the adventure!  Don’t be intimidated, but do brush up on your hello (bonjorno), thank you (grazie), and please (per favore).
  
• Europe has some customs that the US does not, such as:
  • Swim caps must be worn in the pool area.  As weird as this feels to us Americans, it does keep it a lot more sanitary to not have hair everywhere.  I’ve come to like it, and it’s not that weird when you see everyone else doing the same thing.
  • Showering before entering a pool is absolutely mandatory
  • Tipping is not expected at all.  This includes meals, lessons, etc.  They might be pleased if you chose to anyway, or they might be offended and refuse it.
  • Dinners are later.  We are VERY used to this in Portugal, and now I love it, but it can throw off the Americans!  Dinner hour at our hotel was 7:30 – 8:45.  This felt a bit early to us as we normally eat now around 8:30-9:30 pm at home.
  • Use the stairs!  Europeans take the stairs most of the time instead of the elevators.  The elevators are also a lot smaller 🙂
  • Food is a lot healthier.  While you can find burgers and fries, I’d really recommend you try some of the local dishes, such as polenta and meat in gravy.  These are not only healthier but pack a ton of flavor!

—-

Our time in Ponte di Legno Tonale was nothing short of incredible. From carving down powdery slopes to indulging in rich Italian hot chocolate, relaxing in the Sporting Hotel’s fantastic family-friendly amenities, and even catching a concert in an igloo, this trip had everything we could have asked for in a family ski getaway.

The welcoming Italian atmosphere, the thoughtful ski infrastructure for kids, and the variety of activities beyond skiing made this a destination we’ll absolutely return to. Whether you’re a seasoned ski family or introducing your kids to the slopes for the first time, Ponte di Legno Tonale is a true hidden gem in the Italian Alps.

If you’re looking for a family-friendly, adventure-packed winter escape, add this spot to your list—you won’t regret it!

Happy skiing!

Leslie,

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Additional Reading

Skiing With Kids in French Quebec: Château-Bromont in Canada

Taking Our Kids to Brian Head Ski Resort

Best Things To Do In Grindelwald, Switzerland With Kids In Winter