You can sill ski In Italy this spring: this tiny Alpine village stays white till late April 

Think spring skiing in Italy is impossible? Not quite. Up in Arabba, winter doesn’t really care what the calendar says. While most resorts are winding down, this tiny alpine village hidden in the Dolomites is still very much white until late April. 

Arabba feels like a loophole for those not ready to say goodbye to snow. It’s small, it’s high (about 1,600 meters), and somehow it keeps delivering proper ski days well into spring.

In the common narrative of spring skiing, there is always a general sense of melancholy, the kind that marks any sort of ending, from summer to Christmas holidays. 

Yet, in the Dolomites, there is an exception that defies this story. Nestled between the Sella Group and Marmolada, Arabba maintains conditions that elsewhere vanish by late winter.

Why is this alpine village one of the best places for spring skiing in Italy? It’s a matter of geography as much as luck.

Altitude and exposure keep Arabba’s slopes firm and reliable well into April, something that’s not a given in every resort.

This year, lifts are scheduled to remain open until April 19.

Another decisive factor is space. As hotter days arrive, the crowds thin out. Runs are quieter, and the experience takes on a more personal rhythm. Still, its slopes maintain speed and precision well beyond typical seasonal expectations. 

Firmly sitting in the category of hidden ski destinations in Europe, Arabba tends to attract skiers who know exactly what they’re doing. And there is a reason for that.

Arabba is a small alpine gem. Around 300 people live here year-round, and at 1,602 meters, it’s the highest village around the Sella group. It sits in the Fodom valley, right at the foot of the mountains, with peaks closing in from every direction.  

If it’s your first time in the Dolomites, this is probably the place you’ve never heard of. People doing the Sellaronda tour can get a tad frustrated if they’re beginners–some find the runs way too challenging for their level. But true connoisseurs see it differently.

Arabba is a niche alpine skiing destination and an outdoor paradise. Here, experienced skiers have something to sink their teeth into during their spring skiing adventure in Italy. 

Spring is still generous in Arabba, a trait well known to those familiar with the mountains. In a rare, almost unusual quietness, advanced skiers take the chance to tackle some of the steepest black runs in the Dolomites, sometimes with the feeling of being alone.

Fodoma, Ornella, Sourasass, and Burz may not be the most famous, but they are undoubtedly among the most challenging and adrenaline-fuelled pistes for skiing in Italy in April. Some pitches tip past 70 percent.

Those steep Dolomite faces, still rideable late into the season thanks to altitude and exposure, make Arabba a destination that speaks mainly to the more adventurous. However, this is just part of the story, as Arabba offers much more beyond expert-only terrain.

This broader appeal is evident, as Arabba forms part of Dolomiti Superski, one of the largest ski areas in the world, with 1,246 km of pistes and possibilities for all levels.

Moreover, Arabba is one of the access points to the Sellaronda, the famous circular ski route around the Sella massif linking Val Badia, Val Gardena and Val di Fassa.

From the village’s hotels, it takes a few minutes to reach the slopes, as two main lift stations bring skiers straight up to altitude.

Lifts open in Arabba, April 8–12, 2026:

- Porta Vescovo Cable Car

- Pescoi Gondola

- Forcella Europa Gondola

- Carpazza Chairlift

- Alpenrose Chairlift

- Lezuo Cable Car

- Maria Chairlift

- Fodom Cable Car

Lifts open, April 13–19, 2026:

- Pescoi Gondola

- Forcella Europa Gondola

- Carpazza Chairlift

While spring skiing usually comes with trade-offs, here it is not so much. The landscape around Arabba can stay white into May. Yet the pressure of peak season feels like it’s vanished.

The days are longer now, the pace has shifted, and while there’s more time to spend on the slopes, there’s just as much to enjoy off them. Afternoons in Arabba unfold like this: strolling through cozy mountain-style bars and cafés, indulging in pastries, enjoying high-altitude events, unwinding in spa retreats, taking winter hikes through the Dolomites, and savoring authentic moments in the heart of the village.

Panoramic terraces fill up too–with sunshine and skiers–but without the chaos. Snow is still here; the crowds aren’t. And finally, there’s space to truly take it all in: the dramatic Dolomites, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the imposing Marmolada glacier.

While this corner of the Alps seems to promise the perfect spring skiing adventure in Italy, there’s still room for surprises.

One of the best ski resorts in Italy in spring, Arabba is also something else.

After the last runs of the season, it’s only a matter of time before the focus shifts to adventurous hikes, mountain bike tours, forest bathing and via ferrata routes.

In some cases, you don’t even have to wait for the snow to fully melt to branch out. A few of the best viewpoints around this tiny alpine village are accessible even without skiing.

If you’re not in the mood to click into bindings, take the lift up to up to Porta Vescovo, where the views open out onto the Sella massif. Or head towards Bec de Roces, a natural terrace with sweeping views over the jagged peaks surrounding Arabba.

It’s also possible to reach Passo Pordoi, one of the most iconic climbs in the Dolomites and a legendary stage of the Giro d’Italia cycling race.

Another must is the Cherz plateau: wide, bright, and quiet, it’s superb for slow walks or snowshoeing.

Always in the background looms Marmolada, the highest peak in the Dolomites–something to admire from afar or take on in an impressive high-altitude route. 

If you’ve ever wondered where to ski in Italy in spring, Arabba is likely to become the latest addition to your bucket list. The season runs longer here.

The Porta Vescovo area, with its north-facing slopes, holds snow well into late April, and the runs on Passo Pordoi–home to some of the most scenic descents in the entire Dolomiti Superski area–are epic for late-season skiing in Italy.

This year, lifts will remain open until 19 April 2026, making it possible to ski in Arabba even over the Easter holidays–something not all alpine resorts can promise.

Nevertheless, spring isn’t just about unexpectedly awesome snow.

The landscape invites travellers to step out and explore: slow walks, snowshoeing, opportunities to reach the surrounding valleys, and the chance to dive into the local food scene.

There’s no rush to get back on your skis: snow isn’t going anywhere until May. 

Arabba sits at the heart of the Dolomites, so getting there takes a bit of planning.

The nearest airports are Bolzano (77 km), Treviso “Antonio Canova” (150 km), Venice Marco Polo (160 km), Innsbruck (145 km), Bergamo (310 km) and Verona (226 km).

During the winter season, a private shuttle service runs from the airports of Venice, Treviso, and Bolzano to the local hotels.

Drivers coming from Belluno should follow directions to Agordo, Alleghe, Caprile, and Livinallongo del Col di Lana. From Cortina, the Falzarego Pass leads directly to Arabba in about 50 minutes. From Bolzano, the route goes via the Gardena Pass or the Pordoi Pass, taking about 1 hour and 50 minutes.

For train travellers, key stations are Belluno (70 km), Brunico (50 km), and Bolzano (75 km). 

In the gap between what Arabba offers and how little it is talked about lies the real value of this Dolomites village, a place that can provide a rare window for late-season skiing in Italy.

In April, the scenery, the laid-back vibe, and the crisp mountain air are heightened by a bold sense of verticality and refined seclusion. 

As the Fodom Valley becomes awash in sunlight, it takes on an almost exclusive feel. The mountains are still perfectly groomed, and with the crowds gone, there’s a sense of privilege in being here late.

More than a destination to visit before anyone else, Arabba is a place to catch at exactly the right moment–before that delicate balance between lingering snow and advancing light fades away. At least until next spring. But why wait?