Lombardy Alps accommodation from AU$187

The Alps are one of the world’s most famous mountain ranges, stretching 1,200km across eight countries. Mont Blanc is the highest mountain in the bunch, bordering Italy and France and reaching more than 15,000 feet. In 1786, Frenchmen Jacques Balmat and Michel Paccard completed the first recorded ascent to the summit.

Things to see and do

The Aosta Valley has Roman ruins and castles that are open for the public to visit, like Forti de Bade and the fairytale-ish Savoy Castle. Beginner skiers can take on a gentle slope in a spot like Courmayeur while experienced sorts can take on more challenging ones. You can even climb Mont Blanc in just six days if you’re fit enough. When the weather warms up, you can take a walk on hiking trails and flower-filled valleys.

A UNESCO World Heritage Area, the Dolomites consist of sheer, steep walls, lush green valleys and 18 mountain peaks. Check out slopes for all skill levels at the ski resorts of Trentino. Take a walk in a national park, unleash your inner ski champion and even go bowling on the frozen ice of blue-green Lake Dobbiaco in winter.

Shopping and dining

You probably won’t be here to shop, but Aosta has outdoor markets, shops and restaurants among its cobblestone streets, and the Dolomites has flea markets and fine restaurants where you can sip a glass of wine as you watch the sun sink beneath the mountains. You can find Michelin-starred restaurants in Alta Badia or snack on pizza and pasta.

Getting here

It’s only two hours from Milan to Aosta, so if you’re after the Alps, check out our flights to Milan. If the Dolomites are your destination, our flights to Venice will take you to Italy’s famous city of canals, and then it’s just over an hour to your mountain holiday. A European escape mixed with a mountain adventure – wot more could you want? Book your Alps and Dolomites accommodation with us!