Rating: ★★★★ 8.2 out of 10

“Pinzolo is not as famous and posh as Madonna di Campiglio (I will compare these two a lot in the following text because people often can’t decide where to stay) is but you will be able to enjoy same slopes (connected since 2012) and in the same time you will spend smaller amount of money. It is bigger than Madonna which is part of Pinzolo commune. The city is situated at 770 m above sea level and it is surrounded by stunning Brenta Dolomites, UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its slopes are best suited for beginners and intermediate skiers. Pistes are groomed to the perfection.”

PROS: Good value for money, beautiful scenery, great orientation of slopes (even on warmer days snow quality is good),

CONS: You will need lot of time to get to other parts of ski area, only one lift goes from the vilage (possible queues).

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SLOPES

Pinzolo is connected to three other resorts Madonna di Campiglio, Folgàrida, and Marilléva. With Skirama area ski pass you will be able to use facilities in resorts mentioned above (connected with lifts) and you will be also able to visit: Tonale, Peio, Folgaria-Lavarone, Andalo – Fai della Paganella and Monte Bondone (Tonale and Peio are sticking out from the crowd, but you will have to drive or take bus which can take time). Further text will be only about pistes in Dolomiti Adamello-Brenta area (Pinzolo, Madonna di Campiglio, Folgàrida, and Marilléva).

Top of the Pinzolo skiable area is situated at 2,100 m. It is not that high, but slopes are well orientated and even on warmer days snow quality is good. Only top of the resort is not surrounded by forests. There is only one gondola going from the city up, so in the morning it can get crowded. Pinzolo resort area is bigger than it looks on the map of Dolomiti Adamello-Brenta ski area. Malga Grual and Pra Rodont are most interesting lifts. You should also check out slope which goes all way down to Tulot (not for beginners). Dolomiti mountains are spectacular, take your time and enjoy every second.

You will need considerable amount of time to get to the rest of Dolomiti Adamello-Brenta ski area and Madonna (in order to get to Madonna you will have to use gondola called Pinzolo Campiglo Express, ride lasts 16 minutes but the view is stunning so you won’t get bored).

In total you will find 57 lifts with 150 km of well groomed slopes. Highest part of the whole area is Passo Groste 2444 m (you will need at least 1 hour and 45 minutes to get there), reachable by Groste Express gondola (it can get crowded and takes lot of time to get to the top even if there is no queue). The most interesting piste for me was Spinale Direttissima, mainly red with 70 degrees black part (entrance on the steep part is especially interesting, it looks like you are standing on balcony and you can use it to launch yourself from there 🙂 ). Madonna di Campiglio is regular stop on FIS world Cup Tour; as a result of that you will share pistes with best skiers of the world.

PINZOLO FREE RIDE AND TERRAIN PARKS

The best part of Dolomiti Adamello-Brenta ski area for off piste excursions is Pinzolo, to be precise part around Malga Grual and Pra Rodont lifts (I have mentioned them earlier in the text). They lead to the top called Doss del Sabion where you will be able to find lot of options since terrain is pretty steep and open (without trees). Also you will find nice wooded areas below. You should also check out Passo Groste area in Madonna.

Pinzolo has small snow park but on the up side is fact that I was the only person there every time I visited it. You will find all necessary technical structures (rails, boxes and  kickers) there. The largest snow park in whole area is on the top of Groste gondola and it is called Ursus Snow Park. It is really big and it has several different difficulty lines. People who maintain it change components almost every day during week. There is also small park in 5 Laghi Madonna area but it is more suited for children. Folgàrida and Marilléva have its own terrain parks but they are much smaller.

HOW TO GET TO PINZOLO

Pinzolo is situated in northeast Italy, Trentino province. It is much better connected to closest “big” town called Trento than its much more famous neighbor Madonna di Campiglio (there are regular daily bus departures from Male, Trento, Milano, and Brescia). Pinzolo is 57 km away from Trento and you will need about 70 minutes to get from one place to another (by car).

Closest airport is in Brescia (111 km or 1 h 53 min  by car). Verona airport is 137 km away, it will take you circa 2 h by car. Bergamo is 164 km away, you will need 2 and half hours by car. Be aware that mentioned airports are not close and that you will have to arrange transport to the resort (bus transport will probably last whole day so it would be great if you could rent a car or arrange ride with your accommodation).

If you choose train you’ll have to go to Trento since Pinzolo doesn’t have station. Buses from Trento are not that regular and you will have to check when is last one for the day (if you don’t want to spend night in Trento).

WHERE TO STAY IN PINZOLO

Accommodation in Pinzolo is much cheaper than in Madonna and you get to choose from cheapest studio apartments to hotels. Top season is around Xmas and in February therefore you will have to pay more in that period. TIP: During first and last week of the season you might get ski pass for free (check it when you book your accommodation). You should find place where you are going to stay close to starting point of gondola or otherwise you will have to walk with your equipment. It is not bad for warm up in the morning but painful at the end of the day.

WHAT TO DO AFTER DAY ON SNOW (APRES-SKI) IN PINZOLO

If you are making brake during day you should try bombardino. It is popular hot Italian winter drink, made from eggnog, rum or brandy, served with cream and small cookie on the top, there is variation with espresso, not surprisingly since it is Italian. Bombardino kicks like mule (without cream it probably tastes like mule, haven’t tried one). Speck Stube was a restaurant we liked the most (not exactly in the center, 4.5 km towards Madonna). Shops are on lower level of “poshness” than in Madonna but supermarkets are much better. If you are history lover you should definitely check out Museum of the Adamello Great White War. It is really interesting to see how Italian and Austrian soldiers fought during WWI on high alpine altitudes during harsh winters.