A new kind of Winter Olympics adventure is taking shape across the snowy mountains and bustling cities of northern Italy. Unlike past Games that focused on one city or a tight ring of venues, this edition is the most geographically dispersed Winter Olympics in history.
Host cities are scattered across more than 400 kilometers, with major clusters in places like Milan, Cortina d’Ampezzo, Bormio, Livigno, and Val di Fiemme, forcing athletes, fans, and even the organizers on their own kind of marathon: moving from one excitement-packed zone to another.
The Olympics span 400 kilometers this year, sending athletes and fans on a grand adventure from Milan to the mountain peaks.
For spectators, it means dusting off those travel plans and perhaps practicing a little patience. Special train services are being added—Trenord is putting in 120 extra trips per day for Olympic visitors, and travelers can benefit from combination travel passes for seamless transfers between venues.
Milan’s Central Station stands ready as the gateway to mountain adventures, with just over two hours needed to reach Tirano by rail. From there, buses whisk fans onward to Bormio and Livigno, home of some of the snowiest competitions.
Because of the six Olympic villages designed to keep travel times down for competitors, athletes will find some relief from the region’s vast distances.
Despite these efforts, getting from Milan to Cortina still eats up about five or six hours, so visitors might want to pack a snack or two and a few good jokes to share en route.
To manage car traffic, park-and-ride lots surface 15 to 60 kilometers from Cortina, pairing with shuttle buses to the bustling town center. Residents and visitors will each have their own transport networks, keeping things orderly, even as the winding mountain roads threaten occasional congestion.
Spectators visiting multiple events may need to book several hotels—a true tour of northern Italy’s variety.
Milan will showcase everything from speed skating to ice hockey, while Cortina hosts women’s alpine skiing, curling, and more; Bormio’s legendary Stelvio slope sets the stage for men’s alpine skiing.
Major investments unfold, from a $140 million bobsleigh track to new roads and ski lifts. Yet, this journey comes with challenges: ancient trees lost for buildings, increased emissions, and questions about legacy.
Still, the decentralized model spreads the Olympic spotlight—and the fun—while giving cities, organizers, and fans a true taste of Italian adventure.
