Sauze d'Oulx

Sauze d’Oulx is Italy’s most accessible gateway into the Via Lattea (Milky Way), one of Europe’s largest linked ski circuits with 400 km of pistes stretching across Italy and into France. Known for affordable passes, a lively après-ski scene, and easy access from Turin, it has been a favourite of British and international snowboarders for decades.

Why Go Snowboarding

The Via Lattea offers enormous variety: wide, easy blues for beginners, solid reds and blacks at Sestriere, and legitimate off-piste at Montgenèvre. Sauze is the most affordable entry point to the whole circuit, and the Via Lattea day pass is exceptionally good value — a fraction of the cost of Chamonix or Verbier for over 400 km of linked terrain. The vibe is social, the après is lively, and the snowboard scene is well established.

Terrain & Slopes

Sauze has 13 local lifts connecting into the full Via Lattea network of 70 lifts and 265 marked runs. The highest point is Monte Motta (2,823 m) above Sestriere. The best snowboard terrain in the Sauze sector is on the Rio Nero side, with solid reds and blacks on good gradients. The Sportinia blues are ideal for relaxed carving sessions. Note: some resort connections include flat traverses — less ideal on a board.

Snowpark

The Double Black Park at Rio Nero is the freestyle centrepiece on the Sauze side, with a quarter-pipe, kickers and rails for intermediate and advanced riders. Combined with parks at Sestriere and Montgenèvre, the Via Lattea gives access to three distinct freestyle zones on a single day pass.

Getting There

Train: Oulx is on the Turin–Modane line (TGV-accessible). From Turin Porta Susa, about 45 minutes. Free or low-cost shuttles run from Oulx to Sauze. Car: A32 from Turin, exit Oulx, then 8 km on a mountain road. Bus: Services from Turin airport, bookable in advance.

Tips

Sauze is best in January and February; December can see thin lower-altitude snow cover. Buy the Via Lattea pass online for the lowest price. Accommodation is plentiful and affordable: chalets, apartments, and B&Bs for every budget. The village is compact and walkable. A local-only day pass (Sauze sector) is slightly cheaper if you don’t plan to explore the full circuit.