Top 10 Places to Visit in Valle d'Aosta
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Latest page update: 14 April 2025
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By: Dion Protani
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This top ten list showcases the alpine beauty and historical landmarks of Valle d'Aosta — Italy’s smallest and most mountainous region. From the snow-covered peaks of Monte Bianco and the Matterhorn to castles like Fort Bard and Castello Savoia, it’s a place of both natural power and medieval character.
Aosta and Courmayeur offer a balance of culture, sport and scenery. Mountain villages such as Fontainemore and Lillianes add quieter highlights, while Gran Paradiso provides trails and wildlife. It’s a region for hikers, skiers, history lovers and anyone drawn to the mountains. |
Fontainemore, Valle d'Aosta
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Gran Paradiso National Park
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Gran Paradiso National Park is Italy’s oldest national park, offering high-altitude trails, alpine meadows and sightings of ibex and chamois. The scenery includes glaciers, waterfalls and dense forest.
The park covers a large area shared with Piedmont, but the Aosta Valley section includes Cogne and Valsavarenche, both popular starting points for walks and climbs. It’s best visited in summer or early autumn. Waymarked trails range from short strolls to multi-day hikes with mountain refuges. |
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Aosta
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Aosta is the regional capital and combines Roman ruins with alpine views. Its historic centre includes an amphitheatre, city gate and ancient archways surrounded by mountain peaks.
Shops and cafés line the pedestrianised Corso, and there are regular markets and cultural events. The city also offers access to ski resorts and hiking areas nearby. Aosta has a train station and is connected by road to Turin. It’s compact and walkable, making it an easy base for exploring the region. |
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Monte Bianco
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Monte Bianco (Mont Blanc) is the highest mountain in western Europe, straddling the border between Italy and France. The Italian side offers dramatic views and alpine experiences.
The Skyway Monte Bianco cable car departs from Courmayeur and climbs to Punta Helbronner, with views over glaciers and the surrounding peaks. This is a must-visit for scenic views and access to high mountains without hiking. Clear weather is essential, so check conditions before visiting. |
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Breuil - Cervinia
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Breuil-Cervinia is one of Italy’s top ski resorts, sitting at 2,000 metres at the foot of the Matterhorn. It’s connected to Zermatt in Switzerland for cross-border skiing and hiking.
In summer, the area is popular for high-altitude walks, mountain biking and glacier skiing. The views of the Matterhorn from the Italian side are especially impressive. The resort has hotels, restaurants and ski facilities. It’s a great base for winter sports and alpine scenery. |
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Matterhorn
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The Matterhorn (Cervino in Italian) is one of the most iconic peaks in the Alps, with its near-symmetrical pyramid shape visible from many parts of the Aosta Valley.
It can be seen most clearly from the Breuil-Cervinia area and from hiking routes nearby. The mountain straddles the border with Switzerland and has long captured the imagination. Though not climbed from the Italian side as often, it remains a major landmark. Best viewed at sunrise or sunset for dramatic colours. |
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Courmayeur
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Courmayeur is a chic mountain town on the Italian side of Mont Blanc. It offers ski slopes in winter and access to trails and cable cars in summer.
The pedestrian centre is lined with boutiques, bars and restaurants. It has a lively atmosphere and attracts a mix of Italian and international visitors. Courmayeur is reached via the A5 motorway or the Mont Blanc Tunnel. It’s a year-round destination with good facilities and stunning views. |
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Fort Bard
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Fort Bard is a restored fortress perched above the Dora Baltea river, once a strategic military site and now a cultural venue. It guards the narrow entrance to the Aosta Valley.
The fort houses museums, art exhibitions and temporary shows. It was also a filming location for a major Hollywood film in recent years. Visitors can walk or take a lift to the top. It’s open year-round and offers views of the valley below and surrounding peaks. |
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Castello Savoia
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Castello Savoia is a fairy-tale castle above the town of Gressoney-Saint-Jean, once the summer residence of Queen Margherita of Savoy. It sits at the edge of a forest, with mountain views.
The castle can be visited on guided tours, with rooms preserved in their early 20th-century style. Its turrets and stone balconies are especially photogenic. This is a good stop for visitors to the Lys Valley. Combine it with walks or a visit to Gressoney’s Walser culture museums. |
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Fontainemore
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Fontainemore is a quiet village in the Lys Valley, known for its stone houses, arched bridge and peaceful riverside setting. It’s one of the entry points to the Mont Mars nature reserve.
There are several marked trails for walking, and in spring and summer the area is full of alpine flowers and butterflies. The Ecomuseum shows local life and traditions. The village is close to Pont-Saint-Martin and easy to reach by car. It’s a good stop for nature lovers and day hikes. |
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Lillianes
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Lillianes is a small village further down the Lys Valley, with traditional stone buildings and an ancient multi-arched bridge across the river. It offers a quiet, local feel.
The surrounding area includes chestnut woods, old chapels and short trails. It’s a base for exploring the lower Lys Valley, away from the more developed resorts. It’s best accessed by car. Lillianes is a peaceful place for those interested in rural life and unspoiled scenery. |
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