What It's Like Skiing/Snowboarding at Monte Zoncolan

The Ski Resort at Monte Zoncolan

While in the Dolomites you can enjoy the SuperSki area where all the runs are essentially interconnected, Zoncolan is its own entity. Although small when compared to its neighbors, it's big enough to give you a variety of runs to choose from.

The balance between price and what you get makes it one of my favorite places to go snowboarding in Italy.

There are a number of different restaurants and bars, both on the runs and around the ski lifts, giving you plenty of options where to grab your meal, snack, or après-ski beer.

From our experience, the area tends to get a solid amount of snow and the snowmaking system does a good job in covering what the real stuff misses. I wouldn't consider this the most high-tech resort in Italy but I'd say it offers fantastic bang for your buck and really covers the basics and then some.

To get to the top of the slopes, you'll need to take a gondola from the town of Ravascletto (more on that later). The gondola is big and only offers standing room. You can expect to be squeezed in with plenty of others on the weekends but the ride isn't too long.

You can also drive to the bottom of the slopes, where there are 4 bars/restaurants and a rental facility, and take a regular ski lift up to the top of the mountain from there.

As of writing, the price for a 1-day lift ticket for the winter season will be €44,00, with discounts for multi-day passes. Here’s the full breakdown. The proposed opening date for 2026 is December 6. Note that it's just a partial opening and not all lifts and runs will be open that day.

I'm not sure of the price or quality of rental gear as we have our own boards.

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Slopes

There are 24 kilometers (14 miles) of slopes at Monte Zoncolan and are broken down like:

• Blue (easy): 9 kilometers
• Red (intermediate): 11 kilometers
• Black (advanced): 4 kilometers

As you can see, this is a better resort for those that fall into the beginner or intermediate skill levels. It's a great place to get some confidence for the bigger mountains in the Dolomites.

There are also some cross country ski runs but personally I haven't tried those trails.

In general I'd consider the slopes and lift facilities to be well-maintained. There are rarely long lines here which is an added perk as you don't have to wait too long between runs. I've even experienced no wait times at lifts higher up the mountain.

Luckily for us snowboarders, there's only 1 rope tow, with the rest as true ski lifts.

Personally, my favorite run at Zoncolan is #10. This is the longest slope and goes from the top of the mountain all the way to Ravascletto. It's the perfect way to end a session, just note that this is usually the last to open and first to close each season since it relies on good snow down in the valley.

A cool thing that Monte Zoncolan offers that most other ski resorts in the area don't is a snow park complete with rails, jumps, boxes, and even a sound system. This area doesn't tend to be crowded and can be a good place to practice your skills.

Although I've been snowboarding since I was teenager, I've always been intimidated by these areas. From our experience, the snow park at Zoncolan is a good place to mess around, just be sure to watch out for others coming off of jumps.

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Restaurants

There are 9 bars/restaurants on Zoncolan, giving you plenty of choices while you're out on the slopes. All of them have a bar where you can easily grab a coffee and croissant or beer and snack at any moment. Most also offer full menus when you're ready for lunch or an early dinner.

You can expect cozy lodges with wood burning fireplaces or outdoor patios to sit on.

Rifugio Tamai is my favorite spot on the mountain. Tucked away on the map shown above off run 5b, this is the coolest little spot. If you're looking for the après-ski scene, I'd head here. There's usually a DJ and the food and beer hits the spot.

Since it's located on more flat runs, you'll also feel immersed in your own little winter wonderland secret. Just know that to make it here on 5b on a snowboard, you will need to get some speed as the run is pretty flat.

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The Overall Vibe of Skiing or Snowboarding Here

Personally, I really enjoy the vibe at Monte Zoncolan. Compared to other ski resorts in Italy, like popular and bougie Cortina d'Ampezzo, Zoncolan has a nice laid back atmosphere.

There's a good mix of skiers and snowboarders here, although you can definitely expect to see more skiers. Most are beginners or intermediates. I haven't come across many who think they're racing for gold here and instead people seem to come to enjoy a day out at a leisurely pace.

If you're one of those that will be easily bothered by people who take this sport as fun, not as a full competition, you might not enjoy it here and would prefer somewhere like Cortina.

Since most people who come here and locals visit on the weekends, you can expect way less people if you're able to come on the weekdays instead.

Plus, with the lift ticket price at nearly half of what it costs just slightly west in the Dolomites, the savings are sure to leave your spirits high.

For a great day on the slopes without having to budget too much for it, I highly recommend snowboarding or skiing Monte Zoncolan.

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The Cons of Monte Zoncolan

While in general I do think it's a solid ski resort, there are some cons, especially compared to other places I've snowboarded in the Dolomites.

One of the biggest cons is that it's simply smaller. If you were to stay a weekend here, you would end up doing the same runs multiple times. Sometimes this can be really fun because you have the time to test out all slopes then go back and practice the challenging ones or redo ones you simply enjoyed. But for those that prefer infinite variety, the Dolomiti SuperSki is probably what you're looking for.

Another "con" of Monte Zoncolan is that while the views are simply stunning, not many places in the world can compare to the breathtaking views of the Dolomites. We went snowboarding here before the Dolomites and were more than happy with what we saw...until we snowboarded in Cinque Torri and saw what that region was really capable of.

If you've never been to the Dolomites, you'll be plenty pleased with the views from Monte Zoncolan but if you usually go there, you might not be as wowed.

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Staying at Ravascletto

Ravascletto is the small village that sits at the base on Monte Zoncolan. If you want to stay as close to the slopes as possible without actually having to pay to be on them, this is where you'll want to book your accommodation.

The gondola leaves from right at the center of town and run #10 will land you right there.

Just note that this is a very sleepy village and there's not too much going on. There are a few restaurants, bars, and one shop for groceries but don't expect much more than that.

Given that, I recommend you expend all of your energy on the slopes and book somewhere cozy to rest up for the night.

These are some personal recommendations of where to stay in Ravascletto:

• Albergo Diffuso Ravascletto: We booked a long weekend here and loved it. You will need to drive to the cable car but the house is quiet, cozy, and pet-friendly.
• Dolomiti Village: This is where we stayed on our second time to Zoncolan. We enjoyed the cozy cabin and the sauna. It’s a bit out of town but they have a great restaurant for nights in.‍
• Baita Goles: I haven’t stayed here yet but if you want to sleep on the slopes, this is the hotel for you. We have eaten at the restaurant here and really enjoyed it.

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Will You Try Skiing Monte Zoncolan?

For those coming from Trieste or other places in Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Zoncolan is one of the best places to go skiing or snowboarding. Unlike Lussari which is really best for those with a need for speed, this ski resort offers a variety of slopes, difficulties, and even the added fun of a snow park to try jumps and tricks.

Given that the price of a lift ticket is so much lower than the Dolomites, it's the perfect choice for those that are looking for a low-key day and don't need too many slopes to choose between to stay entertained.