Arabba resort guide - a general overview
At 1,600 metres altitude, Arabba is one of the highest Italian ski resorts in the Dolomites. Arabba is an old, character-filled mountain town in the heart of the world's largest ski circuit (the Dolomiti Super Ski) boasting 460km of piste. This is an intermediate paradise with some of the best cruising runs you'll find anywhere. It is well placed for exploring the Sella Ronda ski circuit. For après ski there is an excellent selection of cafes and bars in the village centre.
Arabba has a good mix of open and woodland slopes and is the gateway to the Marmolada Glacier, offering guaranteed snow at an altitude of 3,342 metres - the highest peak in the Dolomites.
We recommend ski holidays in Arabba for families and adult groups looking for excellent value for money in a quaint Italian resort with access to miles and miles of pistes. The town has an outdoor skating rink and a wonderful torchlight descent every Thursday, the perfect way to end your ski holiday in Arabba.
Resort stats
433km
1,600m - 3,270m
Level of skiing
- Beginners
- Intermediates
- Experts
- Snow sure
- Off-piste
- Ski area
Qualities
- Charm factor
- Non-skiers
- Nightlife
- Resort layout
- Fine dining
- Short transfer
- Resort value
Airports
- Bolzano
- 45mins
- Verona
- 3hrs
- Innsbruck
- 3hrs
1 ski chalets in Arabba View All
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Vast network of connected slopes particularly suitable for intermediates
- Efficient lift system and high lifts offering late season skiing
- Spectacular scenery
- Good value for money mountain restaurants
- Excellent snowmaking and grooming
Cons
- Beginners and timid intermediates
- Limited nightlife
- Very few tough runs for experts
- Crowds on the Sella Ronda especially at the weekend
- Erratic snow record and slopes are vunerable to warm weather
Restaurants
Arabba Resort Restaurants
Restaurant choice is rather limited. Dining seems to focus around the restaurants in hotels. Arabba has many busy hotel restaurants: Portavescovo, Sporthotel and Grifone to name a few. Micky's Grill in Hotel Mesdi has a great reputation for its delicious steak. The Alpenrose hotel will send its horsedrawn sleigh to pick you up if you book a table at their restaurant - the Stube Ladina.
Arabba Mountain Restaurants
Luigi Gorze at the top of the Vescovo lifts comes highly recommended, a fantastic alternative to eating lunch at one of the resort hotels. Arabba generally has a wide range of mountain restaurants from rustic huts to larger places. Most are lively and many have spectacular views. On Thursdays you can go up to Rifugio Plan Boe by snowmobile for a traditional three course evening meal and dancing.
Arabba Apres Ski
Apres-ski is inexpensive but again a bit limited. Bar Peter in the town centre is reputedly well-priced, fun and a good place to have a drink before you head back to your hotel. Arabba also has the Stube and the Treina which some favour over Bar Peter. You might also want to try a cosy hotel bar such as the atmospheric Rifugio Plan Boe up the mountain if you appreciate a bit of cheesy Europop!
Arabba Nightlife
Bar Peter has a DJ on some nights or once again there is the Stube or Treina. Alternatively you could just go for a drink at one of the hotels. Arabba is not renowned for nightlife so you need to seek it out.
Funicular
Cable Car
Gondola
Chair lift
Drag lift
Property
