Skiing in Kronplatz – Comfort for Beginners, Fun for Advanced Skiers, Alto Adige, Italy
Kronplatz is a resort located in Alto Adige.For wine lovers and winter sports enthusiasts, Alto Adige (or Südtirol in German) refers to the northern Italian region bordering Austria. Here, German is widely spoken, giving you the impression you’re in Austria—only the cuisine is unmistakably Italian.
Whether it’s summer or winter, this region is worth a visit. You can enjoy skiing, cycling, wine tourism, or indulging in relaxing spa experiences. Every hotel, chalet, or rental apartment is equipped with facilities for storing sports gear and parking vehicles. Heated racks for ski and snowboard boots, as well as storage areas for bicycles, are standard. Every detail is carefully thought out for your comfort.
Kronplatz as a winter resort
The region offers several ski areas, but the standout is Kronplatz. This iconic part of the Dolomites is also known as Plan de Corones. The views from the peak are breathtaking, with the jagged peaks of the Dolomites looking so close you feel you could touch them.
Four or five gondolas transport visitors to the summit, where you’ll find the main attraction—the giant Concordia 2000 bell, which rings at noon, echoing throughout the area. At 2,275 meters above sea level, the scenery is spectacular.
The resort features an extensive ski area with about 30 lifts and 60 slopes of varying difficulty. Snow cannons operate around the clock, and the artificial snow here is remarkably good—not grainy or blue-tinted, as seen in some other resorts. The facilities are state-of-the-art, designed to provide maximum comfort for skiers and snowboarders alike.
Gondolas are the most common type of lift, and chairlifts typically accommodate 8–10 people. The seats are heated, with automatic lowering of the helmet and safety bar. There’s no need to shuffle awkwardly or worry about slipping skis when sitting—everything is elegantly designed for all ages. For beginners, this is a fantastic setup, with minimal risk of falling when using the lifts. In the rare case someone does, staff are quick to stop the lift and assist.
Lift Pass Prices at Kronplatz
For the 2024 season, adult lift passes range from €60 to €77 per day, depending on the number of days purchased. Students can get discounts of up to €50 per day.
Tip & Trick: Purchase your ski pass online at least two days before your first day on the slopes. You can pick up the physical card at any ticket counter or kiosk by scanning the QR code.
Getting to the Slopes
The ski area is connected by a ski train, which is extremely convenient. Check if there’s a train station near your accommodation to avoid the hassle of finding parking. The train stops right by the gondola at Percha.
All gondolas transport visitors to the top of Kronplatz, where you can choose slopes based on your skill level. The slopes are wide and ideal for beginners learning to ski.
The two main gondolas, Kronplatz 1 and 2, are located in Riscone (Roschach). The parking lot there is large, and we never had trouble finding a spot, even during busy times. Staff assist in organizing cars efficiently, and parking costs €1 per hour, with a daily maximum of €8.
Note: The slopes leading down to the bottom stations of these gondolas are mostly red with black sections, but less experienced skiers can take the gondola back down. In contrast, the slopes near Percha and Olang are more beginner-friendly.
Video watchich time: 1:19 h
If you’re searching for gondola base stations on Google Maps, use the following names:
- For Kronplatz 1 and 2: Funivia Plan de Corones (searching for “Kronplatz 1+2” might lead you to the summit instead).
- For the Percha gondola: Talstation Ried. This station has a small parking lot for hotel guests only, so using the ski train is recommended.
- For Olang: Olanger Seilbahnen AG | Funivie Valdaora SPA. This is the newest lift in the area, featuring a spacious parking lot and an excellent slope leading back to it.
Equipment rentals and ski instructors are available at Percha, Olang, and other locations—just find the one closest to your hotel.
Accommodation and Spa Options in Kronplatz region
The area offers a wide range of accommodations—from luxurious 5-star hotels (€500 per night for a double room) to 3- and 4-star hotels, chalets, and rental apartments (€300–400 for a two-bedroom apartment). Most places are well-maintained and include at least a sauna. If not, the Cron4 Spa is a great alternative, offering indoor and outdoor pools, waterslides, and several outdoor saunas.
To secure good accommodations at reasonable prices, book as early as January for the following winter season.
I recommend that you check the packages that the hotel offers on their website because they are very affordable. But for your convenience, I have also put a box on booking.com. Compare the prices and choose an option.
Booking.com
We booked in July for a December trip, and most good options were already gone. We ended up at Bellevue Bruneck, which offers nice apartments slightly outside the town of Brunico (Bruneck). However, because it’s a 15–18-minute walk from the center, we often needed to drive and find parking suitable for our SUV with a roof box.
Read more about Bellevue Bruneck in the post about it Bellevue Bruneck: Cozy Design for a Ski Getaway in Alto Adige, Italy.
Dining and Drinks in Alto Adige
The food in this region is a delightful blend of Italian and Austrian cuisines, leaning heavily toward Italian. Pizzas, pasta, and excellent steaks are widely available, along with local specialties like Speck—a cured meat with a mix of fat and lean cuts.
Recommendations:
- Hardimitz’n near the base of the Riscone gondolas: Great steaks and a pizzeria.
- K1 at Kronplatz: A combination of restaurant, bar, and pizzeria with something for everyone. The outdoor bar becomes a lively après-ski spot in the afternoon, with a DJ and plenty of drinks.
- b.local in Brunico: Fine dining with locally sourced ingredients, though service can be slow during peak times.
On the slopes, check out Geiselberger Hütte and its outdoor bar, Quadrat. The vibe is festive, with great music and food, making it a must-visit spot.
The interesting local wine varieties include the white wines Pinot Grigio, Gewürztraminer, Müller-Thurgau, and Sylvaner, as well as the red wines Vernatsch, also known as Schiava, and Lagrein. The region also produces wines from well-known varieties such as Chardonnay, Pinot Bianco, Pinot Nero, and others. The excellent sparkling wine from Trento DOC, made using the traditional method (metodo classico), is fantastic, and I highly recommend it. It features varieties like Chardonnay, Pinot Nero, Pinot Bianco, and Meunier. Don’t bother with Prosecco—this local sparkling wine is much better and not as expensive as Franciacorta.
Of the drinks, it’s worth trying the mulled wine and of course the bombardino with cream. Why not a hot chocolate with rum and cream, well, we won’t count the calories, we’ll spend them on the slopes.
Sausages are another local specialty, perfectly paired with excellent local beer. The cloudy Weizen beer is unmatched. It’s wonderful that non-alcoholic beer is available everywhere and is of very high quality.
If you’re not a fan of meat, the local minestrone is excellent—rich in vegetables and full of flavor.
In the region, bread with fennel and caraway is very popular. It has a rather unique aroma, which might not appeal to everyone, but it’s definitely worth trying. It’s available in both soft and fluffy forms as well as hard, crunchy flatbreads.
If your accommodations don’t include dinner, you can stock up on amazing cheeses and cured meats from the supermarkets in Brunico. Pair them with local wine, and you won’t need anything else for dinner. We shopped at the MPREIS Italia supermarket beneath our apartment. Keep in mind that on Christmas Eve, they have reduced hours and might close early, while on Christmas Day and St. Stephen’s Day (celebrated there on December 26), they are closed. In such cases, your alternative is Interspar St. Lorenzen, which is open even on holidays. It’s a large supermarket, typically busy, but you can find everything there, including ready-to-eat meals.
One of the iconic spots for speck, salami, cheese, and wine is Tito – Il Maso dello Speck, located in the center of Brunico. It’s considered a museum of speck, but it also operates as a store. In addition to cured meats and cheeses, you can buy pasta, pasta sauces, and other local delicacies.
If your accommodation is a studio-type, make sure to check if it includes an oven, as it’s not commonly provided. We were provided with a portable oven after we asked about it.
Other Activities
If skiing isn’t your only interest, try these:
- Spa visits: The Cron4 Spa is a must. Follow Austrian-style spa etiquette—nude saunas with towels, slippers, and robes are standard.
- Wine tastings: Explore local wineries, but book in advance.
- Christmas market in Brunico: This well-known market offers cozy seating areas with heaters and fire pits. Food stalls serve everything from sausages and sandwiches to goulash. However, unlike markets in Zagreb or Ljubljana, live music is noticeably absent.
Getting Around
For detailed directions to all the locations mentioned, follow this map.
Whether you’re hitting the slopes or simply enjoying the local culture, Kronplatz offers something for everyone. Happy skiing!
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