Arabba Ski Resort
The lovely village of Arabba is a quiet and peaceful resort surrounded by some of the Dolomite's most spectacular mountain scenery. Sitting at the foot of the Sella group, ski holiday makers are granted a front-row seat to some of the most unforgettable views of the amazing mountain range, with the massifs in the Sella group known to glow in the rays of the sunset. Arabba is one of the Dolomite's most charismatic villages as well. It has always been a really small settlement but has always maintained its core followers of skiers who re-visit every year to take in its amazing beauty and enjoy its amazing pistes.
Sitting at 1,602m altitude, Arabba ranks among some of the Dolomite's highest and steepest pistes. It also sits at an incredibly unique position between the Gruppo del Sella Massif and the Marmolada glacier; thereby granting its visitors easy access to both the Marmolada glacier and the famed 26km long Sella Ronda circuit. Access to the Sella Ronda can be easily gained via lifts on either side of the village. With pistes stretching up to 3,342m, thanks to the Marmolada glacier, Arabba is probably the best place to be if you are an advanced skier in the area.
Sitting at 1,602m altitude, Arabba ranks among some of the Dolomite's highest and steepest pistes. It also sits at an incredibly unique position between the Gruppo del Sella Massif and the Marmolada glacier; thereby granting its visitors easy access to both the Marmolada glacier and the famed 26km long Sella Ronda circuit. Access to the Sella Ronda can be easily gained via lifts on either side of the village. With pistes stretching up to 3,342m, thanks to the Marmolada glacier, Arabba is probably the best place to be if you are an advanced skier in the area.
Arabba’s small size and laid back village charm lend it a serene and peaceful ambience. It prides itself in its Ladin history; with the ancient language still being spoken in the village. It's not really a lively, apres-ski fuelled resort; it is rather more absorbed within itself and the surrounding beauty it finds itself in. It is the perfect ski holiday destination for visitors looking for a bit of peace and quiet.
The skiing slopes in Arabba are split into the areas of Mount Porta Vescovo located just above the village at an altitude of 2,478 metres and the Marmolada glacier which peaks at 3,342 metres
Arabba is a very interesting place to ski because it has the perfect mix of beginner, intermediate and advanced pistes. The local area has up to 62 kilometres of pistes stretched out between 1,602 metres and 2,476 metres altitude. Also, as part of the Dolomiti Superski area, you are granted access to the entire 1,200 kilometres of pistes the Dolomites have to offer. Its location within the area is also perfect for exploring this region thanks to its connections within the integrated lift systems. Arabba also benefits from its position at the foot of the Sella group which grants it direct access to the world-renowned Sella Ronda circuit.
The nursery slopes at Arabba can be found close to the Burz chairlift. With only a limited amount of blues at the resort, the nursery slope location is perfect as skiers can head over to Corvara to tackle more gentle and easy blues via Le Pale and Bec de Roces, which are accessible by Burz chairlift from the village.
The Sella Ronda circuit offers a lot of skiing for intermediate ski levels in both clockwise and anti-clockwise directions. There are also a good number of challenging reds on the glacier and the Porta Vescovo ski area just above the village.
Most of Arabba’s 62-kilometre pistes are pretty easy for advanced skiers but there is always a challenge on the Sella Ronda, especially if you follow the clockwise, orange route. The Marmolada glacier is awash with red and black runs and there are long blacks to carve out on its north-facing side. The best possible place for advanced skiers visiting Arabba.
Arabba has a snow park that's suitable for all ski ability levels equipped with kicks, rails and hits. Arabba is also perfect for free riders thanks to its high elevation, long pistes and excellent snow conditions. The terrain is also ideal for free-riders with very few flats or inclines to allow for a steady build of momentum. Arabba is not well renowned for its snowboarding however, with the Dolomiti Superski area having more than 10 snow parks across the area, there is a huge amount of options to choose from.
Arabba has always had fantastic snow conditions thanks in small part to its high elevated slopes and its close proximity to the glacier. It is one of the highest sitting ski areas in the Veneto region of the Dolomites ski area. The area is also very well equipped with snow making facilities to ensure that the slopes are covered in cases of shortages.
The apres ski at Arabba is rather quiet and does not emulate the same energy as you would find in other parts of the Dolomites or across the border in Austria. There are very few bars and most of the apres-ski takes place in hotel bars or having some wine with your dinners in one of the many lovely restaurants in the resort. If you are visiting the resort and are after some evening activities, we have provided a few suggestions that may help point you in the right direction.
Bar Peter
The top spot for a typical apres-ski evening in Arabba. Located right in the centre of the resort, Bar Peter is Arabba’s ideal apres-ski establishment. A combination of bar, restaurant and pizzeria, it offers the full apres experience. The restaurant and pizzeria are opened earlier with the bar opening at 3;30 every afternoon. There is an outdoor terrace to take in the sunshine whilst enjoying a few drinks as well as cosy indoor seating. There is a live DJ set a number of times every week and you can enjoy the music, drinks and let your hair down.
Mister X
A small family run bar and restaurant conveniently located at the bottom of the Burz lift in Arabba. A welcoming bar, the staff and owners are very friendly allowing visitors to feel relaxed and at home. Well known for its excellent dishes like its bistecca, homemade pasta and tiramisu, stop by for a few drinks on the way down from the slopes. Not your typical party scene, Mister X is more restaurant than bar, however, it is still possible to enjoy a drink or two when you get off the lift and there is both indoor and outdoor seating available for you and your group to have a round of its famous bombardino’s; very well recommended after your last run down the slopes.
La Treina
La Treina is a small, rustic bar tucked away in a “hidden” corner of Arabba. It's a local favourite but friendly to visitors. It is a nice wooden-clad bar with an interesting interior. Drinks are cheap but make sure you sample the wine too.
Plan Boé Hut
Located right on the Sella Ronda circuit, this mountain hut is a fantastic place to kick off your evening apres-ski. Surrounded by the stunning views of the Dolomites mountains which glow in the sunset, Plan Boé hut is the ideal place to stop by on your way back to the village. It packs a punch for its small size with its wide range of drinks and lively ambience. It is also interesting to note that table dancing is allowed on the outside terrace.
Arabba has great facilities to cater to both visiting skiers and tourists who come to visit the Dolomites. The accommodation is fantastic and there are lovely shops, restaurants and cafes. The ski area is serviced by well functioning ski lifts and there are several non-ski outdoor activities to keep holidaymakers entertained
Arabba is a small family-friendly ski resort and is very well equipped with children and family facilities to ensure that the little ones are very well catered to and entertained. The accommodation facilities are also child friendly and there are often discounts on children's ski passes ( please feel free to enquire about any possible deals available for children's lift passes).
