Is Cesana Torinese good for beginners?

With the gondola up to Sansicario, yes - the slopes above the village include gentle runs suited to beginners, though the village itself sits below the snowline in a mild spell.

When is the ski season in Cesana Torinese?

Typically early December to mid-April, though as the lowest base in the Vialattea, snow cover at village level is more weather-dependent than at higher resorts.

How do I get to Cesana Torinese from Turin?

By car it's about 1h15 via the A32 and SS24. By public transport, take a train to Oulx-Cesana-Claviere-Sestriere and then a short bus onward to Cesana - around 1h45 in total.

Do I need a car in Cesana Torinese?

No. The village is compact and a gondola close to the centre gives access to the slopes, so a car is not essential.

What Olympic events were held in Cesana?

Cesana hosted bobsleigh, luge and skeleton at the Cesana Pariol track, and biathlon at the Cesana San Sicario stadium, both part of the 2006 Turin Winter Olympics.

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Cesana Torinese · Torino · Piemonte

Cesana Torinese

Q: What is the Vialattea ski area?

The Vialattea (Milky Way) is the lift-linked domain joining Cesana, Sansicario, Sestriere, Sauze d'Oulx, Claviere and Montgenèvre in France - around 400 km of pistes on one pass.

Description

Cesana Torinese is the low-altitude gateway to Piedmont's Vialattea ski area, sitting at 1,350 metres in the upper Val Susa. A fast gondola links the village straight up to the slopes of Sansicario and beyond, and its Olympic bobsleigh, luge and biathlon venues from 2006 sit alongside a quieter, more budget-friendly base than the resorts higher up the mountain.

Good for

FamiliesEasy accessBig ski areasBudget skiing

Terrain by ability

Easy / beginner

~107pistes

Gentle green and blue runs reached via the gondola link up to Sansicario, good for beginners once you're off the valley floor.

Intermediate

~169pistes

Long red and blue runs linking Cesana into Sansicario and Sestriere, including the scenic Cesana-Claviere run.

Advanced

~37pistes

The Banchetta piste is one of the more serious black runs in the whole Vialattea, with a steep, direct line down towards Sestriere.

Practical Information

Season

Typically early December to mid-April

Snow Reliability

As the lowest-altitude base in the Vialattea, snow cover at village level can be patchy in a mild spell, though the gondola gives quick access to higher, more reliable slopes around Sansicario and Sestriere.

Linked ski area

Vialattea / Milky Way: Cesana, Sansicario, Sestriere, Sauze d'Oulx, Claviere and Montgenèvre (France)

Lift pass prices

The Vialattea daily skipass price: - Child: €17.5-18 - Adult: €53-58.5

How to get to Cesana Torinese

✈️ By air - Turin Caselle (TRN) is the closest airport, roughly 85 km and around 1h15 by road. Milan Malpensa (MXP) is around 235 km / 2h45. Both have winter transfer services in season.

🚗 By car - From Turin take the A32 towards Oulx, then follow the SS24 to Cesana Torinese. Winter tyres or chains are legally required in season.

🚆 By train + bus - The nearest station is Oulx-Cesana-Claviere-Sestriere on the Turin-Bardonecchia line, with onward buses to Cesana Torinese in around 15 minutes. Total journey time from Turin Porta Nuova is roughly 1h45.

🚶 Without a car - The village centre is compact, and a gondola leaves close to it for the slopes above, so a car is not essential once you arrive.

Who Cesana Torinese suits best

Best for

Budget-conscious visitors who want easy lift access to the Vialattea without paying resort-village prices - the gondola up to Sansicario puts the wider ski area within easy reach.

Also good for

Families wanting a quieter, more local base than Sestriere or Sauze d'Oulx
Stronger skiers keen to try the Banchetta black run
Visitors interested in the village's 2006 Olympic bobsleigh, luge and biathlon venues

Less ideal for

Skiers who want to step straight from their door onto the slopes (you'll need the gondola)
Anyone chasing high-altitude, snow-sure terrain right at village level

More about Cesana Torinese

Cesana Torinese sits at 1,350m at the foot of the Vialattea, the lowest and, historically, the most workaday of the ski area's linked villages. Rather than a purpose-built resort, it's a real valley town that predates the ski lifts by centuries, with a road that has long carried traffic over the Montgenèvre pass into France.

The 2006 Turin Winter Olympics left a lasting mark here: Cesana hosted the bobsleigh, luge and skeleton events on the Cesana Pariol track, along with the biathlon competitions at the nearby Cesana San Sicario stadium. Both venues are a reminder that Cesana's role in the Games was as much about infrastructure and access as it was about downhill skiing.

For skiers, the appeal is practical: a gondola links the village directly to the slopes around Sansicario, and from there lifts continue on to Sestriere, Sauze d'Oulx and the rest of the Vialattea. Cesana itself keeps lower, more affordable accommodation than the resorts higher up, which makes it a popular base for skiers who don't mind a short lift ride to reach the snow. The village retains a quieter, more local character than its neighbours, without the same concentration of hotels, bars and ski shops.

On-the-ground tips

🎫 Passes - The Vialattea pass covers Cesana and the rest of the linked area; buy the international version if you plan to ski across into Montgenèvre in France.

📅 When to go - Snow cover at village level can be thin outside a strong winter, so January and February are the safest bet; the gondola gives access to more reliable snow higher up regardless.

🚡 Getting to the snow - Budget a little extra time each morning for the gondola up to the slopes, especially at peak times when queues can build.

📆 Weekends - Quieter than Sestriere or Sauze d'Oulx through the week, though it does pick up with day-trippers from Turin at weekends.

Location

Cesana Torinese, upper Val di Susa - Piedmont Alps, gateway to the Vialattea