What age can children start ski school in Sestriere?

It depends on the school. Sestriere has seven ski and snowboard schools, and minimum ages vary between private and group lessons, so check with the school before booking.

Is there a kids' club or childcare in Sestriere?

Several hotels run their own. TH Sestriere Villaggio Olimpico has an Infant Club, Hotel Principi di Piemonte has a Baby Club, and Club Med Pragelato Vialattea has clubs from 2 to 17.

Do kids need a helmet to ski in Sestriere?

Yes. Since 1 November 2025, Italian law requires everyone on the slopes to wear a helmet, adults included.

Sestriere with kids | Snow Hotels

Q: Is Sestriere good for families?

Yes, for families who like a big ski area and reliable snow. It has a new First Steps Area for children and beginners, seven ski and snowboard schools, and hotels with kids' clubs. It's high, cold and exposed, though, and there are few long green runs.

Sestriere works well for families who want reliable snow and a big area to explore, and it now has a dedicated First Steps Area for children and beginners. It’s less ideal for toddlers on stormy days: the village is at 2,035 m, much of the skiing is open and exposed, and the Vialattea has only 9 green runs. Plan around the weather and it’s a strong choice.

Is Sestriere good for families?

Yes, with a few caveats:

Snow you can count on. The village is at 2,035 m, and 80% of the Vialattea is above 1,900 m.
Somewhere to start. The new First Steps Area in Sestriere, plus Baby Fun Parks in Sauze d’Oulx and Sansicario.
Easy to reach. Turin is about an hour and a half by car, and Oulx station is a 30-minute bus ride away.
The downsides: altitude, cold and wind, and few long, easy green runs for the stage after the nursery slope.

Ski schools and kids’ lessons in Sestriere

The tourist board lists seven ski and snowboard schools in Sestriere:

Scuola Nazionale Sci e Snowboard Sestriere, Piazzale Kandahar
Scuola Sci Vialattea Sestriere, Via Pinerolo
Preskige Ski & Snowboard School, Piazza Fraiteve
Scuola Sci Olimpionica, Via Sauze
Scuola Sci Sestriere Borgata, in Borgata
Yes Academy, Via Pinerolo
Freewhite Scuola Sci Sestriere, which specialises in adaptive skiing

Minimum ages differ by school and between private and group lessons, so check with the school before booking. Book early for Christmas, New Year and February half-term, when children’s groups fill up first.

Childcare and nurseries in Sestriere

We couldn’t find a public crèche for visitors in Sestriere, so childcare mostly comes through hotels:

TH Sestriere Villaggio Olimpico lists an Infant Club and Baby Ski Play, and escorts children to ski school.
Hotel Principi di Piemonte has a Baby Club.
Club Med Pragelato Vialattea has a Petit Club for 2- and 3-year-olds (extra cost), a Mini Club for 4 to 10, and clubs for older children and teens.

Ask about ages, hours and booking when you reserve your room.

Best beginner areas for children in Sestriere

The First Steps Area in Sestriere: a beginner slope, a snow-play and sledging area and a sun terrace, so non-skiing parents have somewhere to wait.
Baby Fun Parks in Sansicario and Sauze d’Oulx, with inflatables for young children, plus beginner areas in both villages.
The Vialattea’s Beginners & More pass for those not ready for the whole area.

Sestriere lift passes for families

Baby passes for young children are sold only at the ski-area ticket offices, with ID showing the child’s age. Check the birth-year cut-off for this season.
Under-16 passes are discounted, for children born on or after 1 December 2010.
Infants under 2 can ride lifts that carry pedestrians, in a front carrier with a parent, with a free ticket.
Insurance: third-party liability cover is a legal requirement for every skier, children included. You can add it when you buy the pass.

Things to do with kids in Sestriere off the slopes

Husky sledding with The Husky Experience on Via Sauze.
Ice skating on the rink at Piazzale Kandahar, beside the pistes.
Snowshoeing and snowmobile trips for older children.
The Sestriere Sport Center, with a sports hall, squash courts and a wellness area.
The municipal pool has been closed for renovation and is expected to reopen around the winter season, so check before you go.

Sestriere in winter, with Mount Sises and Punta Rognosa above the village — Sestriere seen from the lower slopes of Monte Fraiteve, with Mount Sises and Punta Rognosa behind© Smt42, CC BY-SA 4.0

Best family hotels in Sestriere

TH Sestriere Villaggio Olimpico (Infant Club, pool, children’s ski programmes from 5), Hotel Principi di Piemonte (ski-in/ski-out, Baby Club, indoor pool) and Club Med Pragelato Vialattea (clubs from 2 to 17) are the stand-outs. See where to stay in Sestriere for the full list.

Tips for skiing in Sestriere with kids

Dress for altitude. At 2,035 m and above, it’s cold and the sun is strong. Pack warm layers, high-factor sun cream and goggles.
Have a bad-weather plan. Wind and poor visibility hit high, open slopes hardest, so keep the ice rink, the huskies or the Sport Center in reserve.
Helmets for everyone: it’s Italian law for all ages.
Pick your weeks. Peak lift prices run from 24 December to 6 January. Early December, 7 to 22 January and from 15 March are low season on the lifts.

Read the full Sestriere ski resort guide for the Vialattea, 2026/27 dates and how to get there.