Where is Alta Badia, Italy?
The Alta Badia ski resort is located deep in the Dolomites of northeast Italy & is the heartland of the Ladin culture.
Alta Badia is made up of five main villages (Badia, Corvara, Colfosco, La Villa & San Cassiano) in the central Dolomites of the South Tyrol.
The village of Corvara is 26km south of Brunico (Bruneck), 20km west of Cortina d’Ampezzo & 127km north of Venice. The world's best ski city, Innsbruck is only 130km by road to the north.
Alta Badia Best Airports
The gateway international airports to Alta Badia are Venice (VCE)(172km/2½-3hr), Munich (MUC)(330km/4hr) & Milan Malpensa (MXP)(375km/4-5½hr).
For skiers coming from within Europe or the UK, airports at Verona (VRN), Treviso (TSF) and Innsbruck (INN) (135km/2-2½hr) are options.
Search for a great deal on a flight to Venice Marco Polo (VCE) or other European airport, use our preferred flight search engine.
Bus & private transfers are available from each airport as are numerous car hire options. Public train & bus transport is also possible to Alta Badia from each airport, although some airports are certainly more convenient than others!
Airport & Hotel Transfers
By far the quickest & most efficient way to get to Alta Badia is via a shuttle or transfer service. Private, shared & group transfers are available to/from Venice, Milan, Innsbruck & Munich to/from Alta Badia & its surrounding villages. Group transfers from Venice go via Cortina d’Ampezzo.
Search & book private transfers to Corvara, Colfosco, Badia, La Villa or San Cassiano.
Driving to Alta Badia
Unlike many ski resorts, Alta Badia can be accessed from all points of the compass but none of them is necessarily simple. Most involve traversing one, two or even three high mountain passes. Road access from the north via Brunico is the easiest.
Driving from Munich airport to Corvara is around 330km and takes at least 4hr is good road conditions. The route is via Innsbruck, the Brenner Pass & Brunico, then south on the SS244 road past Kronplatz ski resort.
From Milan Malpensa airport the 370km journey goes east via Verona, then north through Bolzano & Selva in Val Gardena, taking 4 to 5½hr depending on traffic & road conditions.
The Venice airport road trip is 172km north on the A22 before heading into the mountains via a spectacular route up the Val di Zoldo between Monte Civetta & Pelmo, then Arabba. The route goes over three high mountain passes and whilst is the shortest of the drives from a major airport, still takes about 3hr in winter.
Innsbruck is the most convenient staging point for a drive to Alta Badia. The route mirrors the last half of the journey from Munich via Brunico and only takes 2hr in good conditions.
Car Rental
All the major airports & cities have car hire available. The cheapest rates are at Italian airports like Milan Malpensa & Venice Marco Polo. The airports also have the easiest pick up & drop off process. We do not recommend renting a car from downtown Milan as the drive & navigation out can be hectic to say the least.
If you want to hire a car closer to Alta Badia, take a train or bus to an alternative Dolomites location with car rental offices such as Bolzano, Bressanone (Brixen), Brunico (Bruneck), Cortina d’Ampezzo, Canazei (Alba), Santa Christina (Val Gardena), Belluno or even Trento. If travelling from or via Austria, Innsbruck is a convenient place to hire a car.
Ensure the hire car comes with snow tyres and/or snow chains (bare minimum). All-wheel drive or 4WD vehicles offer the safest driving experience on the windy mountain roads of Dolomites.
Search & book car rentals.
Train & Bus Transport to Alta Badia
Train travel to Alta Badia is possible from Munich & Milan Malpensa airports to Brunico railway station. From there, the regular route 460 bus takes 1hr to reach Corvara in Alta Badia. Other airports require a bus or in the case of Venice, a water taxi to link with a train service.
Trains from Munich airport take a little over 5hr to Brunico. Two changes are required at München Ost (Munich East) & Fortezza.
From Milan Malpensa, a 6hr train journey will get you to Brunico. Three changes are required at Milano Centrale, Verona Porta Nuova & Fortezza.
The train from Innsbruck Hbf (central station) requires only one change at Fortezza, but an additional bus trip is required to get to the station from the airport.
Search bus & train transport options to Corvara, Colfosco & La Villa in Alta Badia & book online here.
Getting around Alta Badia
All local villages in Alta Badia are linked by ski lifts, but if other transport is required, numerous local buses (small fare) & taxis service the area. The villages are too far apart to comfortably walk.
Nearby Ski Resorts
Alta Badia is of course part of the Dolomiti Superski area and is directly lift & piste interlinked with the massive ski resorts of Val Gardena, Val di Fassa & Arabba Marmolada.
The huge and modern Kronplatz is 30km north toward Brunico, providing an easy day trip via local buses (the number 460). Kronplatz is linked by train to lovely 3 Peaks Dolomites ski resort. Cortina d'Ampezzo ski resort is a short taxi or regular bus ride away up to the spectacular Lagazuoi. Quiet but delightful Civetta is accessible via ski bus from Marmolada's Malga Ciapela or Cortina's Fedare.