If you're dreaming of Italy but want less "pizza-eating crowds" and more "hiking past 2,000-year-old ruins under Mont Blanc", let me introduce you to your new obsession: Aosta Valley.
Tucked away in Italy's northwest corner, cuddling up against France and Switzerland, Aosta feels like a place that somehow slipped past the Instagram influencers.
It's small (the tiniest Italian region), it's mighty (hello, Alps!), it's bilingual (Italian and French), and it's packed with more castles, Roman ruins, glaciers, ski slopes, and cheese wheels than your adventurous little heart can handle.
And me?
I accidentally discovered Aosta Valley while semi-dying of the flu (alright, it may have been a cold, but it felt like the flu!), dragging myself around ancient ruins and scenic mountain passes like a Renaissance ghost.
If I still fell head-over-hiking-boots in love with this place while running a 38°C fever, trust me—you’ll thrive.
So, whether you're into jaw-dropping landscapes, medieval castles, glacier-hopping cable cars, or just eating enough melted Fontina to legally change your blood type, Aosta Valley is about to become your favorite chapter in Italy.
Here are the 10 best things to do in Aosta Valley—from epic Mont Blanc rides to Matterhorn selfies, Saint Bernard dog legends to Roman relics older than your country.
Where ancient history meets alpine charm—exploring the timeless streets of Aosta
You know how most places in Italy are either drowning in tourists, overpriced Aperol Spritzes, or existential pizza debates?
Yeah, Aosta Valley skipped all that drama and decided to just be awesome.
Small but Mighty:
At just one-tenth the size of Tuscany, the Aosta Valley is the tiniest region in Italy. Tiny, but stacked with giant mountains like Mont Blanc and the Matterhorn casually chilling in the background.
Roman Ruins That Put Your History Degree to Work:
Aosta city (aka "The Rome of the Alps") is crammed with ancient Roman gates, arches, theatres, bridges, and underground cryptoportici (I promise it’s cooler than it sounds).
Bilingual Bragging Rights:
Here, everyone speaks Italian and French—which means you can finally whip out that high school French without the Parisians glaring at you.
A Foodie's Alpine Paradise:
If you’ve ever wanted to eat molten cheese (hello, fonduta) under a glacier while sipping Valle d'Aosta wine you can barely pronounce, this is your spot.
Adventure Sports + Lazy Strolls:
Whether you want to ski down glaciers, hike next to ibexes, cross a country border in a rotating cable car, or just eat your body weight in polenta, Aosta’s got you.
Best of Italy, France, and Switzerland, All Rolled Into One:
Alpine scenery? French pastries? Italian pasta? It's basically Europe’s greatest hits—without the crowds.
Cable Car @ Monte Bianco
If you only do one thing in Aosta Valley (besides inhaling massive quantities of melted cheese), let it be riding the Skyway Monte Bianco.
This isn't your average cable car—it's a spinning glass spaceship that whisks you up to 3,466 meters (11,372 feet) into the sky, straight toward the flanks of Mont Blanc, Europe's highest peak. (Sorry, Elbrus, you big show-off—I don't count Russia as Europe)
I started in Courmayeur at 1,300 meters. From there, I rose to Pavillon du Mont Fréty (2,173 meters, the air got significantly thinner, and then I continued up to Punta Helbronner, where the real views started.
The cabins rotate 360° as you ascend, so no fighting tourists for the best photo spot—everyone gets a slice of that Alpine glory. It feels slightly strange—I was semi-expecting it to fall.
The drive from Aosta to Courmayeur is short and very sweet
Walk on the Sky Vertigo glass platform if you're brave (or if you want a new respect for gravity).
Admire the 360° panoramic terrace with views of Mont Blanc, Monte Rosa, the Matterhorn, and more snowy celebrity peaks.
Visit the Crystal Hall to see glittering Alpine minerals if you like your rocks bougie.
Optionally: Continue across the border on the Panoramic Mont-Blanc gondola to Chamonix, France—because who doesn’t want to cross a national border in mid-air?
Get there early in the morning to avoid clouds swallowing the views. Also, dress like you're visiting the Arctic, even if it’s bikini weather in Aosta city—trust me. For some reason, people underestimate the altitude, and about 100 people a year die on Mont Blanc while doing various activities. Well, not me after having experience with 5000 m+ in Chile and Peru.
Where: Skyway Monte Bianco Station, Courmayeur
Open: Varies by season—check Skyway’s official website before you go!
(Secret tip: Not in Italy, but if you’re making your way up to Mont Blanc from the French side, you get to ride the similarly epic Aiguille du Midi cable car—the highest cable car in France!)
Standing in awe of the legendary Matterhorn
Posing like the deep thinker that I am @ Cervinia
I spent 4 days in Cervinia, because of all the hiking options and I must say that its true what they say about Matterhorn (Cervinia), it really is extremely photogenic. It had slightly different angle than you are used to from all the pictures you see from Zermatt in Switzerland.
Officially called Breuil-Cervinia, this lively resort town is perched at 2,006 meters (6,581 feet) above sea level—basically so close to the Matterhorn you can smell the smugness of all those professional climbers. I was surprised to see so many.
I found out later that it’s mainly known as a ski paradise. I went there mainly because of the altitude feel and serpentine, dramatic driving up.
The Matterhorn views are absolutely insane from Cervinia’s side—way better angles than from Zermatt if you ask me (and I’m obviously an expert after wheezing up one trail).
Photo ops on every corner. Honestly, you could create an entire calendar just from different shots of this mountain being ridiculously dramatic at sunrise, sunset, or whenever it feels like it.
Summer skiing—yes, you read that right. Thanks to the Plateau Rosà glacier, you can carve some snow even in July while wearing shorts. Alpine madness.
Apres ski vibe—during the summer as well.
The crystal-clear waters of Lago Blu—pure alpine magic
Hike to Lago Blu—a small lake perfectly reflecting the Matterhorn. It’s so pretty you’ll wonder if your eyeballs were replaced by stock photo filters. I almost died walking there—we took the wrong turn and it turned out one of the longest hikes I ever hiked and to pity myself I had the flu.
Take the cable car up to Plan Maison or even higher to Plateau Rosà for jaw-dropping views and easy glacier access.
Eat polenta with melted Fontina cheese because climbing 200 steps deserves rewards. I didn't like either, but it's a thing there.
Even if you don’t ski or hike, Cervinia’s crisp air, amazing views, and relaxed après-ski scene make it worth at least a day trip. Bonus points if you casually order a grappa at noon and feel extremely European about it.
Where: Breuil-Cervinia, about a 1-hour drive from Aosta city
Open: Year-round! Ski season = late October to early May; summer hiking = June to September.
Since I really loved Cervinia, I spent a couple more days there than I originally planned and compiled a full guide to Cervinia.
Not too shabby, right? @ Art Hotel Grivola
If you want to enjoy a majestic view of the Matterhorn in Cervinia, even when you’re resting—the Art Hotel Grivola is a great choice. It's a bit more expensive, but the scenery and amenities are the best. Bonus points for the great breakfast and convenient parking.
Our horned guide along the River Trail
Gran Paradiso is the oldest Italian national park with one of the highest peaks of the Italian Alps at 4,061 m (13,323 ft). For the lack of imagination, I presume, the peak is called Gran Paradiso as well.
This area provides perfect Mont Blanc photo spots, and it’s rich with various fauna and flora species. The park is divided into four territories: Valle Soana, Valle Orco, Valle di Cogne, and Valle di Rhêmes, and it’s covered by 183 lakes and 59 glaciers.
Ideal for a nice hike, right? Yeah, I thought so too, so I planned the hike up to Lillaz Waterfalls. But as I mentioned earlier, I caught a cold right before we departed for Italy.
I was at my worst when I got to Gran Paradiso, and after some 400 meters (1,300 ft), I started whining and decided to take the easier Valnontey River Trail. It’s a super easy, 7 km (4 50 mi) long circular trail along the creek with stunning views.
The Gran Paradiso is intertwined with more than 500 km (310 mi) of accessible trails, so you have plenty of options to choose from. Don’t be frightened when a cow suddenly appears around the corner. In the Alps, cows are everywhere, but usually friendly.
Gran Paradiso without cows is like cheeseless pizza. It just doesn’t work
This really looks straight out of a movie @ Gran Paradiso
Lillaz Waterfalls Trail—a short, easy hike leading to spectacular cascading waterfalls near Cogne. (Perfect if you’re sick, hungover, or just generally anti-effort.)
Valnontey River Trail—an even easier 7 km (4.3 miles) loop along the river, with epic mountain views and lots of benches to sit dramatically and question your choices.
Serious hikes—Of course, if you’re an ultra-hiker with calves carved from marble, you can tackle longer routes like the ascent to Rifugio Vittorio Sella.
The Roman Theater is right in Aosta city
Aosta is sometimes referred to as an “ancient Roman capital of the Alps”. You can see for yourself, there are plenty of ancient sights still standing to this day.
Nowadays, it’s the capital of Aosta Valley, or in Italian Valle d’Aosta, the smallest autonomous region in Italy, mostly famous for its convenient position between the highest peaks of the Alps.
Fun fact: The name of Aosta is actually the linguistic distortion of the original Augusta Praetoria, which referred to the city's origins.
It was founded by Emperor Augustus, who subdued the former troublesome Salassi tribe and settled the town with 3,000 of his personal praetorian guards. If you are curious about what happened to the Salassi, Augustus sold them into slavery.
Are you proud of your impeccable French but too sad you can’t flex with it in Italy? Good news for you, the Aosta Valley is bilingual, so that you can charm the locals with your charme français. It’s because, in the past, the area was perpetually the cause of strife between France and Italy.
So, they basically played tug-of-war with it. I guess the French didn’t have Il-nam and Sang-woo on their team in this game.
I like history, I like mountains... Aosta Valley was literally the perfect destination for me
The Roman Theater from another angle
Porta Praetoria—The ancient city gate that still looks like it could fend off an army...or at least a herd of selfie sticks.
Arch of Augustus—A huge Roman arch built to celebrate beating the local Salassi tribe. (Spoiler: they got sold into slavery. Rome wasn’t exactly known for their empathy awards.)
Roman Theatre—A partially standing theatre with a 22-meter-high façade—still hosting shows today because when the Romans built something, it stayed built.
Pont de Pierre—A Roman bridge so old it survived the river moving away from it. (You know you’re legit when the landscape gives up before you do.)
Cryptoporticus—Underground tunnels built to even out the city’s terrain. Also, perfect if you like your history with a side of eerie vibes.
Grab the Aosta Culture Pass for about 7 EUR. It gets you into all the Roman sites plus the Regional Archaeological Museum, saving you money and precious decision-making energy you’ll need later for choosing gelato flavors.
Pro tip: Get a map from the tourist office right at Porta Praetoria. Otherwise, you’ll be like me, wandering around using Google Maps and looking tragically lost next to every important ruin.
Like is a fairytale @ the historic Savoy Castle
If you’ve ever wanted to live out your inner Disney royal fantasy (minus the evil stepmothers and suspicious apples), Castel Savoia is the place.
This late 19th-century castle was the summer playground of Queen Margherita of Savoy—yes, the same Margherita who got a pizza named after her. Legend.
Apparently, she wanted a mountain retreat where she could hang out, admire Monte Rosa, and flex her queen status without the riff-raff bothering her.
Honestly? Big mood
Exploring Castel Savoia inside and out
Five pointy towers sticking out of the conifer forest like something straight out of a fantasy novel.
Built in a neo-medieval style, but with all the “no peasants allowed” elegance you’d expect from royalty.
Gorgeous Alpine botanical gardens right next door—ideal for smug strolls pretending you own the place.
The Queen’s Walk (Sentiero della Regina) starts near Castel Savoia and leads toward the tiny hamlet of Tschemenoal.
It’s an easy, flat 3 km (1.9 mi) round-trip walk, perfect even if you overdid it on polenta the night before.
The trail also passes by Gover Lake, a peaceful little spot surrounded by pines—a great place to sit and reflect on how extra you’re about to become.
Where: Gressoney-Saint-Jean, about a 1 hour 20 minutes drive from Aosta
Open: April to November (castle interiors); Queen’s Walk = free and open anytime
There’s nothing like a rocky wall to hold you up when you have the man flu
I went to Aosta Valley mainly because years ago I saw a picture of Fenis Castle and I thought I just gotta see it. Fast forward into the future, and there I was.
The Aosta valley is famous mostly for the mountains and then for its castles. Because I was a sick sucker when we were in Aosta, I decided for Fenis Castle mainly because it’s the only one not situated on the hill.
You know how I hate most medieval castles because there’s nothing inside? Well, well, well, here’s the shout-out to Fenis Castle, which is not only in great condition but also furnished!
Fun Fact: Despite it looking like a proper medieval castle with its walls and towers, it was never built primarily for military purposes, but as a prestigious residence of the Challant-Fénis family.
Checking out Fenis Castle’s towers
Conquered the Matterhorn! Now off to the spa because my legs have officially resigned
After hiking, castle-hopping, and climbing cable cars like an over-caffeinated goat, it’s time for the best Aosta Valley tradition of all: sitting half-naked in naturally hot water while staring at glaciers.
Welcome to Pré-Saint-Didier Thermal Baths—proof that the Romans invented self-care way before Instagram did.
These thermal springs have been bubbling up here since Roman times—and no, they didn’t suddenly decide to stop working just because TikTok was invented.
The modern spa complex is basically an Alpine sanctuary of hot pools, saunas, steam baths, waterfalls, and outdoor jacuzzis with ridiculously good Mont Blanc views.
My biggest problem of the day was deciding whether to sip herbal tea, plunge into an ice pool, or nap in a panoramic relaxation room first. (Tough life, right?)
Just the thing you need after a long day of being on your feet @ Pré-Saint Didier thermal baths
Multiple outdoor pools—so you can soak while being snowed on in winter or tanned in summer.
Thermal waterfalls that basically pummel the stress out of your spine.
Sauna villages and sensory showers that are either magical or just very confusing, depending on how tired you are.
Historical nerd note: Romans loved Pré-Saint-Didier so much they actually built one of the first thermal complexes here. Fast forward to the 17th century, and it became the go-to destination for European aristocrats pretending not to be stressed about revolutions and inheritance drama.
Where: Pré-Saint-Didier, about 30 minutes from Aosta
Open: Year-round, typically 9:30 AM—9 PM (but double-check the official spa site for updates)
Great St Bernard pass
During my first visit to Aostra Valley in 2020, I was all about the scenic driving. Here are some epic views at the Great St. Bernard Pass
The Great Saint Bernard Pass connects Italy and Switzerland through the Pennine Alps at a nosebleed-inducing 2,472 meters (8,110 ft) above sea level.
It's been used for over 2,000 years by everyone from Roman armies to medieval pilgrims to modern-day travelers trying to find better coffee. How cool is that?
The Great Saint Bernard Hospice, founded in 1049, still welcomes visitors— and yes, it’s the birthplace of the actual Saint Bernard dogs, bred to rescue snow-trapped idiots like us. I didn't see any.
Fun Fact: The St. Bernard´s breeding kennel is still there!
Crossing centuries of history at the Great Saint Bernard Pass
Drive: Open mid-June to mid-October (depending on snow), the pass is accessible via a super scenic winding road. Think hairpin bends, dramatic vistas, and plenty of excuses to scream “PULL OVER, PHOTO STOP!”
Hike: Serious hikers can tackle sections of the Via Francigena pilgrimage route that leads up to the pass.
Tunnel option: In winter, traffic uses the Great Saint Bernard Tunnel underneath the pass (but trust me, the road is the experience you want).
Simply iconic! One of the most amazing drives of my life @ Great St. Bernard Pass
The route is usually accessible from mid-June to mid-October and closed through winter due to a large amount of snow. Don’t forget warm clothes, though. We were there in summer, and it’s still quite chilly (around 6° C /42° F).
It makes sense given it’s 2,472 meters above sea level, but I saw people who obviously forgot about that, and I think they missed their jacket a lot. What doesn’t make much sense to me is that it’s beautiful weather everywhere on the Italian side.
Cross the border to Switzerland and you get soaking wet. Don’t ask me why, but in the Swiss and Austrian part of the Alps, it’s always raining.
Obviously, I turned around at the border and went back down to Aosta as I was going to avoid the rain, even though it was sunny. It's Switzerland, anyways, so there was a rain lurking somewhere.
Mont Avic at its finest—could these views get any better?
If you ever thought, "Hmm, I like Gran Paradiso, but what if there were fewer people and more goats judging me?"—Mont Avic Natural Park is calling your name.
Hidden away on the southeastern edge of Aosta Valley, Mont Avic feels like Gran Paradiso's rugged younger sibling: less polished, more dramatic, and way more interested in showing you who's boss.
(Spoiler: it’s the mountains.)
Breathtaking views and endless trails @ Val Ferret
If you’re looking for a spot where you can casually sip coffee, admire glaciers, and be aggressively judged by cows, Courmayeur and Val Ferret are your Alpine daydreams come true.
Sitting pretty at the foot of Mont Blanc, Courmayeur is the Aosta Valley’s answer to “What if a mountain village were ridiculously good-looking?”
It’s a blend of stylish boutiques, cozy cafés, ski resorts, and enough old-school charm to make you seriously question why you don’t already own a chalet.
The charming town of Courmayeur
Head just a few minutes north of Courmayeur and you'll land in Val Ferret — a wide, peaceful valley framed by towering peaks, thick pine forests, and meadows so lush they look Photoshopped.
In winter, it’s a cross-country skiing paradise.
In summer, it becomes cow heaven, and by extension, your heaven too if you like hiking past lazy herds, glaciers, and rivers that sound like spa background music.
Hike or bike the gentle trails crisscrossing Val Ferret.
Have a picnic by the Dora di Ferret stream and pretend you're starring in a luxury hiking ad.
Eat everything - cafés and rifugi (mountain huts) serve up hearty polenta, cheese, and desserts that could fuel an Olympic ski team.
Just...exist - honestly, sitting in the grass and staring at Mont Blanc here feels like an achievement. (Especially if you managed not to step in cow poop on the way.)
Pro Tip: Bring cash if you want snacks or lunch at the rifugi - some places are so old-school they laugh in the face of credit cards. Also, cows have zero road manners, so don’t be shocked if you get traffic-jammed by a herd on the trail.
Where: Courmayeur & Val Ferret, about 35 minutes west of Aosta city
Open: Year-round; best for hiking May to October, best for skiing December to March
Aosta Cathedral renaissance façade (Image Source: The official Aosta Valley tourism website)
Sure, you could try to bus your way around Aosta Valley, but unless you enjoy memorizing weird rural timetables and practicing patience on a spiritual level, rent a car. Or if you are a few km north of Italy like me, bring your own.
Driving here is pure joy: open mountain roads, jaw-dropping scenery, and occasional cow traffic jams that add character to your road trip.
Pro Tip: Rent from major airports (like Turin or Milan) for the best prices—and definitely request a small car unless you want to become intimately familiar with 600-year-old village walls.
Behold the Arco de Augusto monument
Summer (June–September) = Prime hiking season, warm valleys, and glacier-cool breezes.
Winter (December–March) = Skiing paradise, snow-covered castles, and lots of thermal bath soaking opportunities.
Fall (September–October) = Bonus season—cooler hikes, harvest festivals, chestnut roasting, and fewer tourists!
(Spring is pretty too—but be warned: some high mountain passes stay snowed in till June.)
The weather in Aosta Valley changes faster than you can say "gelato meltdown."
In one day you can go from sunbathing in a T-shirt in Aosta city to wearing all your clothes at once up at 3,400 meters on Mont Blanc.
Checklist:
A sweet reward for my hiking efforts @ Matterhorn trail
If you came to Aosta Valley expecting just another cute Italian region, surprise: you just found Italy’s ultimate hidden gem. Gosh I hate hidden gems, but Aosta really feels like it.
Where else can you hike under glaciers, explore ancient Roman cities, bathe in 2,000-year-old hot springs, ski next to the Matterhorn, and eat melted cheese like it’s a competitive sport—all within an hour’s drive?
Exactly.
Aosta Valley is small, but it punches way above its weight—with mountains that make your jaw drop, castles that make you believe in fairy tales again, and food so good it should come with a warning label.
Whether you come for a day, a week, or just enough time to seriously rethink your life choices at a panoramic spa, Aosta Valley will steal your heart (and probably a few calories).
Even if you show up half-sick and half-delirious like me, you’ll still leave planning your next trip back.
Ready to dive into Italy’s secret mountain wonderland? Grab your boots, your appetite, and maybe a light jacket (trust me)—Aosta Valley is waiting.
Some more secrets are hidden at the Church of St. Lawrence, the oldest Christian archeological site in Aosta
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Hi, I’m Jan. I travel fast and intensely, whether I’m exploring the buzz of Tokyo in 3 days or road-tripping through mountains and beaches on a 3-week Thailand adventure. And no matter where I am, you’ll always find me in a comfortable hotel at night and eating the best food.
If that sounds like your kind of journey, hop on board, and let’s explore the world together!
I started this blog after realizing how tough it can be to find reliable, authentic travel info. You wouldn’t believe how many “travel bloggers” never even visit the places they write about! On Next Level of Travel, you can count on my full honesty and insights drawn from my firsthand experiences.
Here’s the deal: not every destination is all superlatives and unicorns. I’ll let you know if a tourist attraction isn’t worth your time, like skipping overrated stops in my 2-week Spain itinerary. And when I find something truly special—like the perfect mix of culture and nature in Cape Town—you can trust that it’s worth adding to your itinerary.
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