Located on the edge of the Via Lattea, Sauze d’Oulx has been a popular ski resort for a few decades. Formerly known as a drinking destination for raucous British après skiers, Sauze d’Oulx is a much quieter, better-behaved resort nowadays, popular with upscale visitors and families. Its pistes are perfect for intermediates, although there are plenty of options for beginners and experts, and they are surrounded by a gorgeous landscape of larch trees and sharp mountain edges.
With peaceful, crowd free slopes, beautiful woods to explore off-piste, off-the-beaten-path accommodation and great restaurants, Sauze d’Oulx is a wonderful resort for those looking to relax and disconnect from the hustle and bustle of bigger cities.
Ski Surrounded by Magnificent Scenery
Most Sauze d’Oulx pistes are over 2500 metres high, guaranteeing good conditions practically all ski season long. In fact, many expert skiers consider the resort’s pistes the best in Italy but, despite this, they are never overcrowded. You can ski down serenely once you deviate from the main resort toward the smaller villages in the area. If you’re confident enough to wander off piste, you can also explore some beautiful routes embraced by impressive larch and fir woods.
For intermediates, it’s a great idea to explore the magnificent red pistes and follow them all the way down to the village of Clotes, where you can reward yourself with some heavenly-tasting hot chocolate.
Make Sure to Explore the Charming Village
Although the outskirts of Sauze d’Oulx are pretty unimpressive, the village’s old town is charming and quaint, with narrow, cobbled streets and a 16th century church. This is where you’ll find some of the resort’s best restaurants, as well as lovely wine bars and small shops where you can find thoughtful presents for friends and family.
A highlight of the area is Il Lampione, a small and friendly wine bar with a fantastic choice of wines, both by the glass or bottle. It has live music evenings and offers a wonderfully unpretentious atmosphere in which to relax and wind down for the day. Moreover, it offers wine tasting sessions that can be booked in advance, which give you the chance to discover some amazing local wines and some tasty nibbles to accompany them.
The Best Places to Eat in Sauze d’Oulx
Although it doesn’t have as huge a variety of fine dining as other Alpine resorts, Sauze d’Oulx still has some wonderful places to try:
L’Ortiché
L’Ortiché is a welcoming, family-run restaurant decorated in the style of an old-fashioned mountain lodge, but which doesn’t feel old at all. The menus are tweaked throughout the season to ensure that only the freshest produce is served, resulting in outstanding Italian cuisine on a daily basis. Meats are locally sourced where possible, all pastas are homemade on the day, and the desserts will take your breath away. To top it off, the restaurant’s wine menu has a wide selection of beautiful reds and whites that pair wonderfully with the food.
Il Cantun del Barbabuc
Set in a renovated old stable, this cosy restaurant offers food that is both reassuringly comforting and surprisingly original. The dishes are seasonal, using regional produce, and are quite generous in size. In addition to the fantastic starters and mains, the bread is freshly made every day and the puddings are some of the best in Sauze d’Oulx. The wine list is excellent and the friendly staff will be more than happy to recommend the best wine to accompany your meal with.
How to Get to Sauze d’Oulx
Due to its location on the edge of the Via Lattea, Sauze d’Oulx is close to a number of airports, the closest of which is Turin Airport, only 90 kilometres east of the resort. Premium airlines fly to Turin regularly from the UK, and you can expect to be at the resort in just one hour if you are making the trip between the airport and Sauze d’Oulx by car.
The easiest way to travel onwards from Turin Airport is by booking a Shuttle Direct airport transfer service in advance. Your driver will be waiting for you once you land to help you out with your luggage, which is handy if you’re bringing your own ski equipment along. You’ll then travel to Sauze d’Oulx via the fastest route.
Other airports from which Sauze d’Oulx can be reached are Chambery, around two hours away, Milan Malpensa and Milan Bergamo, both of which are just over two and a half hours away, and Grenoble, which is slightly further away, with a travel time of around two hours and 45 minutes. Shuttle Direct also offers airport transfer services from these airports.
Where to Stay:
Hotel Chalet Il Capricorno – Although it has all the charm of a traditional Alpine wood-and-stone chalet, the Hotel Chalet Il Capricorno is not lacking in modern comforts. The rooms are beautifully decorated and feel cosy and warm, there is a sun terrace with stunning panoramic views of the mountains, and the freshly-made pastries, cakes, jams, and breads served for breakfast will make sure you start your day on a high.
Hotel Monte Triplex – A small, welcoming establishment, Hotel Monte Triplex has lovely rooms, excellent access to the slopes, and a nice restaurant onsite. However, the best thing about it, without a doubt, is its impressive wine cellar, which hosts over 200 different types of wine you can sample, thanks to their daily tasting sessions.
Chalet Chez Nous – Conveniently located in the resort’s town centre, this 18th century building is the perfect setting for an intimate, rustic hotel. Really close to the shops and restaurants, Chalet Chez Nous is perfect if you want to explore Sauze d’Oulx. Breakfast is a homemade affair, with lovely croissants and jams, and the traditionally-decorated rooms have a lovely ambience.
About Shuttle Direct
Shuttle Direct is one of Europe’s favourite airport transfer companies, providing holidaymakers as well as business travellers with prompt and professional rides to their end destination from major airports across Europe and northern Africa.
