Alpe Cermis: A Low-Key Start to the Dolomiti Superski Season

It’s finally here!!! The slopes are open here in the Italian Alps and we secured Dolomiti Superski season passes. Safe to say we are extremely determined to get our money’s worth, so stay tuned for all our thoughts on the 12 ski resorts here and beyond.

First up on our list: Alpe Cermis in Cavalese. This resort is on the smaller side, but it’s also the closest Dolomiti Superski area to us. We visited on Thursday, December 18, 2025, for reference.

We left our apartment a little before 9:30 a.m. and arrived just after 10:30 a.m. We definitely would’ve left earlier if the goal was a full, maximize-every-minute ski day, but we were keeping it chill. The plan was simple: pick up our season passes, try out our new gear, and get a feel for everything.

Alpe Cermis

Lifts

7

Slopes

18

km of slopes

25 km

Elevation

850m - 2,250m

Nearest Town

Cavalese

Website

Visit Website

Skipass

Dolomiti Superski

Days of Fun

1-2

Best Parking

Cavalese ski parking Location Copy GPS

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From Trento, it’s about a one-hour drive. On the way there, we drove through the mountains, which I do not recommend if you’re prone to motion sickness like me 😵‍💫. On the way back, we took a different route that drops you onto the highway at the Egna exit, and it was significantly smoother. Both routes take about the same amount of time; one is smoother but includes a small toll, while the other is windier and probably not ideal in bad weather.

When we arrived in Cavalese, we parked in the lot Location Copy GPS above the bottom of the main lifts, which I wouldn’t really recommend, since you have to take an extra gondola. Next time we’ll park at the base of the resort Location Copy GPS itself. We picked up our season passes here, put on our snowboard boots, and hopped on the gondola.

Immediately, we noticed something that feels weirdly universal in historically cold places lately… the lack of snow 😬. Northern Italy is unfortunately no exception to climate change. Despite one glorious week of snow in late November, December snow has been pretty sparse.

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Because of the lack of snow at the base, most of the lower slopes were closed. Thankfully, once we took the gondola up toward the top, we finally started seeing snow!!

But first, coffee☕️ hehe.

We stopped for a quick espresso and bathroom break in the Staropramen bar Location Copy GPS .

It’s also worth noting that you can take the gondola all the way up to this spot, so if family or friends are sitting a ski session out, this is a great place to hang out. There’s a hotel here and an outdoor bar that looks like it hosts some serious après ski vibes.

And to our surprise (especially David’s), this resort is absolutely brimming with Czech people. Like… seriously. One of the main languages on the signage is Czech. David felt right at home, and we later learned that Alpe Cermis is indeed a popular ski destination for Czechs.

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Alrighty. Now properly caffeinated, it was time to hit the slopes!!

Quick disclaimer: David and I are not at the same skill level 😂. I bought my own snowboard gear for the first time ever this season. I always rented growing up and only went once or twice a year, and then my family stopped completely about 10 years ago (skiing is NOT budget-friendly for families, unfortunately :(.) Aside from snowboarding a few times with David over the past couple of years, I was definitely rusty. Add breaking in new gear (never fun), and yeah… it was a humbling start.

That said, I was SO stoked to be out there. We all have to start somewhere, people!! In my eyes, David is basically a pro—but he’s the best ever for riding with me regardless of the skill gap. I’ve officially dubbed this winter “Get Much Better at Snowboarding”, so here we are.

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As you can see from the photos, the snow at the top of the mountain really wasn’t too bad! It was actually pretty nice and pretty chilly up there. The main downside is that there just aren’t very many runs. Personally, for a first day of the season (and being a bit rusty), I would’ve preferred longer and easier runs. I still had a blast, but I’m not sure I’d recommend this resort to absolute beginners.

Here’s a map of the resort:

As you can see, there aren’t a ton of blue (easy) runs, especially since the long blue run was closed when we went.

After boarding for a few hours, you know what time it is (once the espresso wears off)… you guessed it, aperitivo time!! 🍺

We found the coziest spot for a beer before squeezing in a few more runs and then calling it a day. It’s called Lo Chalet Location Copy GPS . We sat inside by the window since it was cloudy and cold, but the patio outside looks amazing if the weather’s nice.

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Oh, and before leaving that morning, David made us some sandos to eat on the slopes to save a little money. They absolutely slapped after a brewski.

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So there you have it. Our first day on the Dolomiti slopes in the books! This was a great resort for a half day or a low-key session, but probably not ideal for a full day or multiple days in a row.

Stay stoked, spaghettos,

Dayz :-)

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P.S. Where to Stay for Alpe Cermis, Cavalese

We only skied in Alpe Cermis for one day but if we were to stay in the area longer, Cavalese is the obvious option. Direct lift access to the resort and plenty of options for accommodation and dining. Check out the map below:

Where to stay around Alpe Cermis

Here's a map of the accommodations in the area. We also included some of the places we visited and the parking spots for better orientation.

In full transparency, we do get a commission if you book through our map. But don't worry, it's not coming from your pocket! The prices you see are the same as what you'd find on the booking platforms directly. And it helps us keep the site running.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the altitude/elevation of Alpe Cermis?

The elevation range is 850m - 2,250m.

Where should you park for Alpe Cermis in Cavalese?

We recommend parking at the base of the resort (by the main lifts) for the simplest start to your day. Parking up in Cavalese town can work, but it adds an extra gondola step and felt less convenient for a straightforward ski day.

Is Alpe Cermis (Cavalese) a good ski resort for beginners?

It can work for some newer riders, but it may not feel ideal for absolute beginners—especially if you’re hoping for long, mellow runs. When we went, there weren’t many easy (blue) options available, and the long blue run was closed.

What were the snow conditions like at Alpe Cermis in mid-December?

When we visited (mid-December), the base area had very little snow and many lower slopes were closed. Once we took the gondola higher up, we finally started seeing real snow coverage, and it was noticeably colder up top.

How long is the drive to Alpe Cermis from Trento, and what’s the easiest route?

From Trento, it’s about a one-hour drive. The mountain route can be pretty windy (not great if you get motion sick), while the alternate route that drops you onto the highway at the Egna exit felt significantly smoother—though it includes a small toll.

Can non-skiers still enjoy Alpe Cermis with gondola access?

Yes—there’s a spot you can reach by gondola where you can hang out without skiing. There’s a bar (Staropramen bar) and a hotel there, and the outdoor bar area looked like it could have some serious après ski energy.

Where should you stop for coffee or a quick break on the mountain?

We did a quick espresso + bathroom break at the Staropramen bar. It’s an easy, convenient stop before getting into a longer session on the slopes.

What’s the overall vibe like at Alpe Cermis?

For us, it felt relaxed and low-key—more of a “half day / chill session” kind of resort. One unexpected (and funny) detail: the resort felt absolutely packed with Czech visitors, and we even saw Czech on the signage.

Where’s a good après / aperitivo stop at Alpe Cermis?

We loved Lo Chalet for a beer and a cozy break. The patio looks amazing in good weather; we sat inside by the window since it was cold and cloudy.

Is Alpe Cermis better for a full ski day or a shorter visit?

For us, it was perfect for a shorter, low-key day—especially early season—but not necessarily ideal for multiple full days in a row. The main downside is that there just aren’t that many runs, and we personally would’ve loved longer, easier options.