Undecided about where to go for your next snowboarding trip? Maybe 3Zinnen is what you’re looking for! This region offers some really good riding conditions and views that will take your breath away. It is a fantastic place to ride and a unique melting pot of cultures, providing an exciting and memorable experience. So grab your board and join us as we explore this hidden gem of South Tyrol!
South Tyrol
South Tyrol is a unique region in Northern Italy, where the culture and language of its people are a mix of Italian and German influences. Located in the Alps near Austria and Switzerland, it offers visitors breathtaking views of snow-capped mountains, lush green valleys, and crystal-clear lakes. This tiny corner of the world has a rich history, full of twists and turns. It was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire until 1918 and was predominantly German-speaking. After World War I, it was annexed to Italy, but the German-speaking population has maintained their language and cultural heritage to this day.
So don’t be surprised that people mostly speak German here, even though you’re in Italy. Also, the cuisine is mostly Austrian, and it’s easier to find speck than lasagna on the menu 😉
Drei Zinnen / Tre Cime / Three Peaks
The Drei Zinnen, or Tre Cime in Italian, is one of the most recognizable landmarks in the Dolomites mountain range. These three majestic peaks are a symbol of beauty and strength for many people. The Drei Zinnen have been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to their unique geological formation and breathtaking views.
But 3Zinnen is also the name of the ski resort, with stunning views and 300 sunny days a year.
The slopes and lifts
Nestled between 1100 m above sea level and 2225, 3Zinnen has 115 km of trails in total, starting from 1100 m above sea level and soaring as high as 2225 m. It is divided into a few smaller ski areas; the main skiresort 3Zinnen Dolomites (with the peaks of Monte Elmo, Stiergarten, and Croda Rossa), Val Comelico, Passo Monte Croce, Monte Baranci (a family friendly ski area), and Rienza (a very small and remote ski area). They are all connected with a ski bus service.
There are 38 km of blue trails for those who want to take it easy and 32 km of red trails for intermediate skiers wanting to challenge themselves. If you’re an adrenaline junky – don’t worry; there are 12 km of black trails, including the steepest one in Italy – Holzriese, with a 72% gradient.
You can choose from 30 ski lifts; 6 gondolas, 6 chairlifts, and 18 draglifts. Most of the trails can be accessed from the gondolas, and the draglifts are short and easy to ride. So no worries, snowboarders, you won’t have to spend much time being dragged but something that was designed to give you pain in the … 😉
Giro delle Cime
The Giro delle Cime is an intriguing option to see most of the resort. It takes you across five different peaks, offering some stunning views along the way. Most of it is done via ski lift, but not all – so you’ll have to use the free ski bus service to complete your tour. Some plans are in the works that’ll make this a 100% skiable adventure, so keep an eye out.
Although not the most exciting journey for snowboarders, as part of it goes through a long, flat blue trail – it’s still worth doing for the view!
For snowboarders out there, take note: parts of the tour are a pretty long and tiring blue trail which may be one of the rare occasions when you wish you were wearing two planks – but it’s still worth doing — undeniably beautiful views await.
Snowparks
If freestyle is your thing then you will probably be disappointed with what 3zinnen has to offer. There’s the Shaka snowpark located in Ski Center Rienza Dobbiaco, but it’s relatively small, with only one medium and one easy kicker. However, kids have got something to smile about – there’s a ski cross run at Baranci with 6 curves, 12 waves and 4 kickers.
Freeride
If you’re an adventurous freerider, 3Zinnen is not the best place to be. Thick forest surrounds the trails, so finding any untapped mountain powder will require a bit of luck and a whole lot of skill. You can’t just sail a few feet off the trail and expect fields of glittering whiteness—unlike Verbier, which is justly famous for its superlative fresh powder. If you really want to go freeriding here, make sure you’ve got plenty of experience under your belt!
Night snowboarding and sledging
While all the lifts shut down at 4:30 pm (or sooner), Monte Baranci has laid out the perfect way to spend a Tuesday or Friday night – snowboarding! From 7pm to 10 pm, the 3km illuminated trail offers all the adventure of regular snowboarding but with the exclusive addition of views under the stars. And if all that gets your stomach grumbling, you can always head over to Rifugio Gigante, a mountaintop restaurant with good food and really cool vibes. Alternatively, experience a different kind of descent as you rent a sledge and slide down the snow track right next to the ski run.
Snowboarder’s rating
3Zinnen is a great ski resort as far as trails and skilifts are concerned. You probably won’t even have to use draglifts if you don’t want to, and the variety of difficulty levels makes it perfect for snowboarders of all levels. And the views here are really something! However, it falls short when it comes to freestyle or freeriding -a biggie for most snowboarders- but the star of the show is the breathtaking views from up top! From a snowboarder’s perspective, I’d give 3Zinnen a generous 3 out of 5 stars rating.
Food – what to eat in 3Zinnen
So, you make your way to the Dolomites expecting to indulge in all the Italian delicacies. Well, you’re in for a bit of surprise here! South Tyrol is not really known for its pizzas and pasta, instead they serve up some mouthwatering Austrian specialties like Apfelstrudel (apple pie). But South Tyrolean cuisine has a lot more to offer with such dishes as Speckknödel (dumplings made with speck), Knödel Suppe (dumpling soup) or potato-spinach soup. Speck is basically a part of most of the dishes (besides the apples pie obviously!). It’s basically pork ham that has been salt cured and lightly smoked. So vegetarians beware of anything with Speck on the menu! However, there are some really tasty local cheese varietes and the freshly baked bread is delicious. If you’re in the mood for something to quench your thirst, there’s plenty of local beer and wine available. For a wintery treat after snowboarding, try some delicious mulled wine! But if it’s an extra strong drink that you crave (just remember not to hit the slopes afterwards!), then there is no better choice than Jagertee – an alcoholic punch made by mixing ‘Inlander-Rum’ with spiced black tea. This rum thing called Stroh is pretty strong (80% of alcohol – definitely no riding after drinking that!).
My favourite “hut” (restaurant on the slope) is Zin Fux located at the foot of the 3Zinnen and Signaue gondolas.
Besides snowboarding
3 Zinnen Dolomites have a little something for everyone! Got a need for speed? Check out the two sledging runs they have – one 5 km long in Corda Rossa and the other is shorter but it remains open for night sledging twice a week in Monte Baranci. You can use your ski pass to rent the necessary gear to join in on the fun. But if you’re more of an outdoor enthusiast, try exploring the region’s breathtaking landscape with some winter hiking trails or even paragliding tandem flights to really take in all its beauty. And don’t forget about cross-country skiing either, since 3 Zinnen has 200 km of professionally tracked and connected trails perfect for skiers of all levels and stunning UNESCO World Heritage views.
Apres ski and nightlife in 3Zinnen
If you’re looking to paint the town red during your snowboarding trip, then 3Zinnen is not the place to go. However, while it may not be known for its party scene, you can still enjoy some cozy après-ski options. When you reach the base station in Vierschach, head to Max Alm for an after-hours drink or hang out at the Igloo bar in Sexten. The Putschall Hütte in Bad Moos is also worth a visit. Après-ski aside, one thing 3Zinnen does have plenty of are restaurants – providing more relaxed alternatives to wild nights! Which is good if you want to hit the slopes early in the morning (lifts start operating at 8:30 am!) and enjoy some well prepared slopes (or powder if it snowed at night!).
When to go to 3Zinnen
Depending on the year, 3Zinnen usually starts up at the end of November and closes at the end of March. High season is during Christmas and New Year holidays, as well as in February and early March, so for a good balance between not too many people and good snow, I’d recommend going in January right after the winter holidays have ended but before high season starts again. Going for the opening in December might be risky because there’s no guarantee that the slopes will have enough snow yet, while going after high season in late March isn’t ideal due to the resort’s low altitude which could turn everything into slush in the afternoon.
Skipasses
With the skipass 3 Zinnen Dolomites you have access to all cable cars, lifts and slopes in the ski resort 3 Zinnen Dolomites (see opening hours). This includes the ski mountains Monte Elmo, Stiergarten, Croda Rossa, Monte Baranci and the Val Comelico area. You can also use the valley ski lifts in Braies, Skicenter Rienza, Waldheim and Kreuzberg.You can check the current prices here. With your skipass you can also use the free skibus service.
How to get to 3Zinnen
The nearest airport is Bolzano Dolomiti Airport is located in the region’s capital city of Bolzano. However, shuttle buses regularly transport passengers to South Tyrol from airports in Innsbruck, Salzburg, Munich, Treviso, Venice, Verona, Bergamo and Milano Malpensa on a daily basis.