Livigno winds itself for seven kilometres along the valley floor between the Carosello and Mottolino mountain ski areas. Its location is the reason for its tax-free status. Over 100 years ago, tax collectors couldn’t cross the snowy mountain passes so they declared it tax exempt!

Today, the pretty pedestrian area is full of designer shops, electrical stores and perfumeries as well as over 100 bars of every type, including one that you need a slide to get into!

The fun and lively après ski bars are found at the bottom of all the main lifts, so you’ll have plenty to choose from. Don’t miss checking out Kosmo on the Mottolino side and Allegra and Stalet at the bottom of the Carosello gondola.

Complete beginners have an easy start to their holiday as all of the nursery slopes are accessed from the village so there’s no need to set foot on a lift until you meet your instructor. The main nursery areas are at lifts 18 Doss and 17 San Rocco. Both areas are gently sloping with wide runs suitable for anyone on their first week of skiing and snowboarding.

Lift 18 has a magic carpet (like the flat escalators in airports) as well as a drag and Lift 17 has a chairlift and a drag so you can keep practicing all day long without having to master getting on and off lifts first. After a few days you will be ready to tackle the blue runs which make up a third of all the slopes in Livigno.

The Costaccia area on Carosello mountain offers some lovely wide runs near the trees at the bottom of the resort. Mottolino has a seven kilometre long blue run all the way from the top of Monte della Neve to the bottom of the gondola. It passes the Meating Point bar if you fancy a warming bombardino on the way home (remember to drink responsibly).

Livigno has one of the best snow records for a non-glacier resort and certainly one of the longest seasons. It opens in November and carries on right through to May, so you’ll have no worries over having snow in the resort.

At 1815m, it’s high by Italian standards and also stays very cold. When the snow does need to be topped up by the snow cannons, they have the perfect conditions to make the white stuff all night long.

Livigno’s position in the Alps means that whatever direction the snow is coming from, some is sure to make its way on to Livigno’s slopes.

Thanks to its duty free status, the prices for everything in resort are very reasonable which makes it a great choice for someone looking to book their first ski holiday. Just because the prices are low doesn’t make it a budget resort; the accommodation and facilities are first class and just as good as any premium resort you would find in the French Alps.

With an abundance of restaurants, you’ll have plenty of choice. Delicious, freshly-made pizzas are on the menu from seven euros and supermarkets have bottles of wine and spirits from five euros. Après won’t break the bank either as bars only charge around four euros for a beer.

Après in Livigno is just as famous as the skiing itself with plenty to do after the slopes close. Aquagranda is a water complex with a 25m main pool and a kids pool complete with slide as well as a wellness and beauty area.

If you fancy something a bit different, the snow shoeing, husky dog sledding and tobogganing are very popular. Or why not try the bowling alley, cinema, ice rink or climbing wall to name a few. And of course, there’s always the shopping.

Livigno is a very traditional resort and many of the little Garni hotels have been converted from farmer’s barns giving them plenty of character and charm. With snow in the village for the whole winter, it certainly makes your holiday look and feel like a Christmas fairytale.

As the resort is large and spread out, it never seems too crowded, either on the slopes or in the town. There’s a great international feel as Livigno welcomes so many nationalities from all over Europe including the friendly Scandy and Danish visitors.

Located in the Alta Valtellina, it’s very famous for its Pizzocheri pasta and Bresaola (air dried beef). The bombardino drink was said to have been invented here and is certainly good at warming you up after a day on the slopes. Après ski and aperitvo time is perfect for trying out Aperol Spritz and enjoying all the free nibbles that come with it at this time of the day.

Beginners will absolutely love the Galli Fedele Ski School and Madness Snowboard School. Both are great fun and have very patient instructors who often end up socialising with the guests throughout the week as well as teaching them.

Small class sizes also make learning with these schools really easy. Ski schools have seven to eight people per class and four to five for snowboard school. This means you get a lot of one on one tuition from your instructor and progress much quicker than you would in a larger class.

The amount of customers who keep coming back to Livigno is testimony to its fun and friendly atmosphere, fantastic facilities and wonderful mountain to ski and board on.

Take a look at the Livigno ski holidays page to find out more about this wonderful resort.