Livigno: the back story

About Livigno: the back story

By the ULTIMATE Ski Resorts Editorial Team

Editor-in-Chief: Jai Michael

Livigno lies in a long valley at 1,816 metres in Alta Valtellina, against the Swiss border. Its two sunny sides, Carosello 3000 and Mottolino with Sitas, carry 115 km of slopes, and in February 2026 its snowparks hosted the Olympic freestyle skiing and snowboard events.

The valley that winter closed

For centuries Livigno was cut off for months at a time. The tourist board tells of the ‘contrabandéir’, smugglers who crossed the passes at night with sugar, coffee and tobacco on their backs. Two dates changed everything: in 1952 the Foscagno Pass became passable in winter, and in 1965 work began on the Munt La Schera tunnel for the Livigno dam, which still links the valley with the Swiss canton of Graubünden.

A duty-free village

Livigno’s special tax status goes back to the Middle Ages and was set in national law at the start of the 20th century. It remains a non-customs zone today, so fuel, perfume, electronics and more cost less here, within the allowances set for travellers. Around 250 shops and single-brand boutiques line the pedestrian ‘Shopping Mile’ through the centre.

Isolation made Livigno a duty-free valley; snow and sunshine made it Italy’s freestyle capital.

Two sunny sides

The ski area spreads across both sides of the valley: Carosello 3000 to the west, and Mottolino and Sitas to the east. There are 115 km of slopes, 12 black, 37 red and 29 blue, served by 6 gondolas, 14 chairlifts and 12 drag lifts, and in many places you can walk to the lifts and ski back to your door. The 2026/27 season runs from 28 November 2026 to 2 May 2027.

The Olympic winter

In February 2026 Livigno hosted the freestyle skiing and snowboard events of Milano Cortina 2026, at Livigno Snow Park on Mottolino and the Livigno Aerials & Moguls Park. Twenty-six Olympic titles were decided in the valley. The Mottolino snowpark, with more than 60 features over 800 metres, is open to everyone again.

Every budget

Livigno makes room for every budget. In the promotional periods (28 November to 18 December 2026 and 10 April to 2 May 2027) an adult day pass costs €51.50, and partner hotels include the ski pass with stays of five nights or more booked direct. Local buses are included with MyLivignoPass, which your accommodation issues.

Our advice: come in early December or April for the best value, keep a passport with you for the Swiss approaches, and check the Munt La Schera tunnel times before you drive.

Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with Livigno: the back story before you go.