As you already know- I absolutely love Trentino. Each year I explore a different place to stay. This year, to kick off 2022, I headed to San Martino di Castrozza, part of the ski carousel Dolomiti Superski. This little town is located at 1450 metres above sea level, in the heart of the Paneveggio – Pale di San Martino Nature Park. It stole my heart, so let me tell you all about it!
How to get there
There are a few ways to get to San Martino di Castrozza depending on which airport you are travelling from. There are quite a few options, either by car, by coach or by train. You can find all the detailed information here.
About the town
The town has only 500 inhabitants but it’s super beautiful and charming. I was lucky to experience it being all covered in snow. It felt like being in a fairytale. There are some lovely boutiques, restaurants, coffee shops, après ski chic bars and clubs. You definitely won’t be bored.
San Martino is a part of the ski carousel Dolomiti Superski – the biggest ski destination in Italy with 12 ski areas, 450 ski lifts, 1,200 km of slopes – all on a single ski pass.
Skiing in the Dolomites, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2009, is an unique experience that fills your soul with beauty. A true paradise if you ask me! So many gorgeous routes and breathtaking landscapes! I absolutely loved snowboarding and admiring the views. The weather was absolutely incredible too! I loved the crispy air, but also the gorgeous sunshine and perfectly blue skies.
Staying in this location is also extremely convenient. Visitors do not have to worry about travelling long distances. Ski lifts are easily reachable on foot. There are also ski buses available.
My snowboard outfit is from an amazing brand OOSC Clothing. All their ski suits and outerwear are sustainably made using recycled plastic bottles. They create the most colourful and unique styles! You should definitely check them out! Click here to shop.
Safety
You can enjoy the mountain safely thanks to the new technological tools that aim at minimising or even eliminating queueing. They also have an app – the Dolomiti Superski app – that brings together all the information you will need to organise your holiday.
Moreover, from now on, people with a foreign vaccination certificate (with the completed vaccination cycle) or with a foreign recovery certificate can use all the lifts in the Dolomiti-Superski area, as well as other services such as accommodation and restaurants.
Additionally, on cable cars, gondolas and chairlifts, the FFP2 mask is mandatory and the capacity is reduced to 80%.
Winter sports enthusiasts also must have third-party liability insurance. It can be purchased online or at the skips point of sale. I got mine at 3 euros per day.
For details on the rules for accessing the cable lifts, see the section on how to vacation safely on the website.
Things to do
This place is a total paradise for sports lovers. There’s so much to do, from classic downhill skiing, snowboarding, freerideing, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, to paragliding, ski mountaineering and even go-karting on ice. Let’s also not forget to mention the gorgeous boutique hotels with absolutely stunning wellness areas. I believe everyone can find something to do here!
Experiences that cannot be missed
One of my favourite experiences from this trip was Trentino Ski Sunrise. We got up super early and took a gondola in the total darkness. As we arrived, we were welcomed with a lovely, warm cup of tea and waited for the magic to happen. It was absolutely incredible to watch the sunrise so up in the mountains. One of the most spectacular views my eyes have ever seen. We then enjoyed a gorgeous breakfast spread with some delicious local specialities.
I can’t recommend this experience enough! More information about this experience here. If you’d like to see the video from this magical morning, you can find it on my Instagram.
Another must-do experience is lunch at Rifugio Colvedere. This place was love at first sight because of the gorgeous mountain-style, cosy interior. It was a perfect place to warm up, admire the spectacular views and enjoy some typical specialties of the Primiero Valley and the Dolomites.
If you’re looking for a cosy après ski spot in San Martino, you should totally check out Bar Pasticceria Rosetta. We were craving some sweets after the long day of skiing, so we stopped there for some hot chocolate and cakes. It’s a really trendy spot in town where you can sit and warm up by the fire and watch the winter wonderland outside.
You also should not miss out on the late lunch and sunset watch at Rifugio Capanna Cervino. The place is super cosy, has a lovely local atmosphere and serves the traditional cuisine. We stayed until sunset and what we experienced was out of this world! To me it’s a must-do experience.
Lastly, what I find extremely important to mention is sustainability. San Martino di Castrozza- Passo Rolle is a truly eco-friendly ski area! The lifts are totally powered by clean energy and low-polluting snow groomers. It’s all thanks to the Green Way Primiero project, which promotes a sustainable lifestyle.
If you make a decision to swap your old petrol car for electric, San Martino will be your favourite destination. There are around 20 charging stations between valleys that are easily accessible.
I hope my blog post will make you add San Martino di Castrozza to your bucket list! It is a truly special destination and a dream place for your next skiing holidays. For more information and bookings click here.
Post in collaboration with Visit San Martino