❄️ Sauze d'Oulx or Sestriere - Which Ski Resort is Best for You?
- Angie Kirwin
- 5 days ago
- 5 min read
Updated: 2 days ago
When you’re planning a ski trip to Italy’s Via Lattea (Milky Way) ski area, the two resorts that usually come up first are Sauze d’Oulx and Sestriere. They’re only a few kilometres apart and linked by lifts and pistes, but they offer very different vibes and experiences.
So which one should you choose? Here’s our honest take, having lived, worked, skied and snowboarded across the area for years.
🏔️ The Skiing & Snowboarding
Sauze d’Oulx
Famous for its tree-lined red runs, Sauze is paradise for intermediates. The variety is huge, with long descents, hidden cut-throughs, and playful pistes. You can access the whole Via Lattea ski area from here and be in the amazing San Sicario area in 20 minutes.
Beginners can learn here too and the Ski School Sportinia is brilliant, but the ski school is up at the top of the Sportinia ski lift, meaning you’ll need to take a chairlift to reach it. Not impossible, but not as straightforward as having nursery slopes in the resort centre.
Sestriere
At over 2,000m, Sestriere has a reputation for snow reliability. It’s purpose-built, so the ski school and nursery slopes are right in the centre — brilliant for complete beginners and families. Intermediates will love the wide, cruising blues and reds, while advanced skiers can test themselves on the Olympic black runs.
For intermediate and advanced skiers & snowboarders you'll love Sestriere for a couple of days, but after that you'll want to get out and explore the other resorts of Claviere, Sauze d'Oulx & San Sicario.
🌞 Snow & Weather
Sauze d’Oulx
Sauze sits at a slightly lower altitude than Sestriere (1500m vs. 2000m) so the homeruns will always be slushier and icier, but the Sauze side is fairly protected so you're not going to face windswept, icy peaks and in poor visibility, the trees are a lifesaver.
Sestriere
Higher, more snow-sure, and great late into the season. On a bluebird day, the wide-open pistes are incredible — but in a whiteout, it can be tough going without the trees.
🏘️ The Resort Atmosphere
Sauze d’Oulx
A real Italian mountain town with cobbled streets, restaurants, bars, and that authentic village feel. The après-ski scene here is super friendly, lively but still welcoming. Less nightclubs, more bars that get rowdier into the small hours.
There are plenty of British people who came to work here years ago and now run many of our favourite bars & restaurants. It's the kind of place where you'll feel part of the community by the end of your holiday.
There's a brilliant variety of restaurants, from pizza by the slice to fine dining.
Sestriere
Purpose-built in the 1930s, it doesn’t have the same traditional charm as Sauze. But what it lacks in character, it makes up for in convenience. Most accommodation is ski-in/ski-out, and everything is designed around getting you onto the slopes quickly.
Still, there are some great bars whether you want to sip a gin & tonic peacefully or get rowdy with the seasonaires, there's also nightclub aimed at the younger party animals.
Wednesday Apres at GFC is not to be missed. Proper slope side dancing on tables silly nonsense, starting from 3pm. It's the biggest après night in the whole ski area.
💶 Cost
The lift pass is the same cost in both resorts and cover the same area. You can save big on Ski and Snowboard Equipment Rental in both resorts, too, when you book through Monsguide.
Sauze d’Oulx
Generally cheaper for food and drink, especially if you head into town. Aperitivo for a few euros, hearty pasta dishes that don’t drain your wallet, and a lively, good-value après scene.
You can save even more with The Monsguide Discount Card. It's is only €10 and you'll recoup that on your first day eating & drinking, both in town and on the mountain.
Sestriere
Prices are a little higher than Sauze, especially around the central pistes, but still nowhere near the levels of France or Switzerland and with The Monsguide Discount Card you'll save loads on your mountains meals and lunchtime beers.
🛏️ Stay at The Hideaway – Explore It All
If you’re still torn between the two resorts, here’s the good news: you don’t really have to choose.
The Hideaway Apartments in Borgata San Marco just outside Sauze d’Oulx, are the perfect base to explore the entire Via Lattea / Milky Way, especially if you hire a car. With the Jouvenceaux lift just a few minutes away, you’re straight into the Sauze ski area, and with a car you’ve got the freedom to head over to Sestriere, Cesana, Claviere.
And now that Bardonecchia is included on the 6-day lift pass, you can ski even further afield — opening up a whole extra resort to explore during your stay.
Even without a car, we've got the bus stop at the end of the street that'll have you at the Jovenceaux lift in five minutes.
🚌 Monsguide Sauze d'Oulx to Montgenevre Ski Away Day
One of our favourite ways to make the most of your lift pass is to head to Montgenèvre once a week with the Monsguide Ski Away Day. Every Thursday, a coach runs from Sauze d’Oulx straight to Montgenèvre, getting you onto the French slopes without the hassle of working your way over on lifts. You’ll get a full day to explore Montgenèvre and Claviere, and be back in time for après in Sauze.
It’s one of the easiest ways to make the most of your Via Lattea / Milky Way lift pass and tick off another resort without rushing there and back for last lifts.
🗝️ Who Each Resort is Best For
Choose Sauze d’Oulx if…
👉 You’ve skied a little before, or are an intermediate or advanced skier who loves long, tree-lined runs
👉 You want lively après-ski and an authentic Italian village atmosphere
👉 You’re looking for value for money on food, drink, and nightlife
Choose Sestriere if…
👉 You’re a beginner or family wanting nursery slopes right in the resort centre
👉 You want snow reliability, especially late in the season
👉 You prefer a purpose-built, ski-in/ski-out style resort with convenience at its core
✅ Final Verdict
You can’t really go wrong with either Sauze d’Oulx or Sestriere — and with a Via Lattea lift pass, you’ll end up skiing both anyway.
But if you want the freedom to explore the entire Via Lattea, hire a car and use The Hideaway self-catered, fully-equipped & highly rated holiday apartments as your base.
Add in Monsguide’s ski hire deals, discount card, and Ski Away Day to Montgenèvre, and you’ve got everything you need for the ultimate winter holiday in Italy.
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