Bardonecchia Information

Apres-ski

Bardonecchia's few dozen bars can get quite animated, particularly at weekends when larger crowds arrive from Turin.

Bar Seba (Via Medail 12) is a popular little spot on the main street with a good drinks menu and bar snacks, while the cosy Al Crotin (tel: +39 0122 901 851) is a nice spot for a sophisticated glass of Italian rosso.

Café Medail (tel: +39 0122 99 101) serves Ichnusa beer, a century-old brew from Sardinia that's well worth sampling, and sometimes has live music and dancing. Camarillo Cafè (tel: +39 339 852 5016) is another of the better choices for revellers searching for a late-night dance spot.

Eating out

There are more than 70 places to eat in and around Bardonecchia. The local Alta Val Susa region is renowned for its fine food, so it's a good place to enjoy famous local Alpine dishes – from polenta and game stew to tasty mountain cheeses such as the violet-scented Plaisentif. Also not to be missed are the hearty glara and cajette (savoury dishes made of potatoes), wholemeal bread soup and gofri (traditional waffles).

Waikiki (tel: +39 0122 902482; www.ristorantewaikiki.com) boasts a family-friendly environment, with games and play areas, whilst serving tasty traditional Neapolitan pizza.

On the mountain, Chesal 1805 (tel: +39 0122 744 173; www.chesal1805.com), situated at the top of the Melzet chairlift, offers a relaxing, scenic spot to sample traditional Valsusina cuisine.

Resort Information

Beyond the slopes

Bardonecchia is a large, year-round destination, so there's a lot to do on and off the slopes. Indoor facilities include a cinema, indoor tennis courts, climbing wall, ice rink and a sports centre with a gymnasium, swimming pool and sauna.

For something a little different in the fresh mountain air, try snowshoeing, tubing, winter mountain biking or horse riding in and around the resort.

There's also a range of cultural and historical attractions to explore; including the Museo Civico e di Arte Sacra (Museum of Religious Art), a woodcarving school in Melezet, a museum for alpine art and culture, and the Tur d'Amun archaeological park.

Additionally, The Palazzo Delle Feste (tel: +39 0122 909 991), with its distinctive Art Nouveau architecture, stages a variety of cultural events, from art exhibitions to cabaret shows.

Family fun

Bardonecchia is a welcoming place for families with young children, notably because child-friendly, affordable, restaurants at the resort are plentiful and facilities for young children (including ski schools) are abundant.

There's a nursery for young children run by the Villaggio Campo Smith apartment complex, while the ever-popular fun play area for under-fives (next to the baby ski lift and the floodlit tubing hill in Campo Smith) is served by an easy-to-use carpet lift.

On the slopes, the resort's ski schools have special programmes for children aged five and older with classes streamed according to age and ability.

Retail therapy

Bardonecchia has around 80 shops, making the choice here much greater than at many ski resorts. Among the more interesting shopping places to explore are A Cair D'La Gleisa (Via Des Geneys 5) for antiques and crafts; Bado Luca (Via Giolitti 20) for toys; and Dal Caliè Creazioni (Piazza Europa 18) for Italian designer shoes and leather goods. Top-scale fashion boutiques here include Benetton (Via Medail 75) and C (Via Medail 76).

Splashing out

Snowcat safaris of between one and three hours in length are offered every day during the ski season after the lifts have closed. The tour, which departs at 1730, can accommodate up to 10 people in a tank-like vehicle, and concludes with an inclusive meal at a mountain restaurant. Booking is possible through the Tourist Information Office (tel: +39 012 299 137).

Hotels

Bardonecchia has a good mix of accommodation of all types and in all categories. Almost two-thirds of the resort's 10,000 guest beds are in apartments, but there are also more than 30 hotels in Bardonecchia (graded up to 5-star), as well as simple bed and breakfasts and mountain lodges.

Luxury

Moderate

Cheap