Bormio

An Alpine spa town dating back to Roman times and a cycling mecca for the Stelvio and Gavia passes, with skiing in winter and open-air thermal baths all year round.

Bormio lies at the northern tip of the Province of Sondrio in Lombardy, Italy, in the upper Valtellina at about 1,225 m. It is a gateway to Stelvio National Park and borders Switzerland across the mountains. The town has been famous for its hot springs since Roman times, and in the Middle Ages it was an important self-governing town on the trade route between Italy and Switzerland; its old town retains stone arcades and frescoed mansions. There are three main draws. First, the thermal baths: the Bagni Vecchi and Bagni Nuovi perched on the cliffs above town, and an affordable spa centre in the town centre. Second, skiing: the Bormio ski area has a vertical drop of nearly 1,800 m, and the Stelvio piste is the venue for men's alpine skiing at the 2026 Winter Olympics; nearby are Santa Caterina and the duty-free town of Livigno. Third, high mountain roads and hiking in summer: the Stelvio Pass north of town (2,757 m, with about 40 hairpin bends on the Bormio side) and the Gavia Pass to the southeast are cycling meccas, while the Forni Glacier, Val Zebrù and Lake Cancano in the national park are great for day hikes. Best seasons: June–September, when the passes are open, for cycling and hiking; December–April for skiing; the baths are open all year. Getting there: train from Milan to Tirano (about 2.5 hours), then a bus (about 1 hour); by car via Lake Como and the Valtellina takes about 3.5 hours. Allow 3–4 days. The high passes are generally open from around June to October each year, so check road conditions before setting out.

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