Macugnaga

• How to get to Macugnaga?
• Winter activities
  • Skiing
  • Snowboard
  • Freeride and Heli-skiing
  • Snowshoes
• Summer experience
• Trekking
• Climbing
• Paragliding
• Main attractions
• Restaurants
• Accommodation

How to get to Macugnaga?

A flight to Milano is the easiest way to travel to Macugnaga, and then take a bus or rent a car. The nearest railway station is Piedimulera. There is a public bus service from here to Macugnaga. Macugnaga is consisted of four hamlets (Italian “frazioni”), but you know that you are in Macugnaga when you pass the sign Staffa. In the main square the parking space is located and if you continue the same road you find a cablecar station with a huge parking space. You will notice also a place for parking campervans.

Winter activities

Macugnaga can offer a wide range of attractions both in summer and winter. Here you can ski from November until spring on the east face of Monte Rosa.

Skiing

Belvedere and Monte Moro are two major ski areas for Macugnaga. You can reach Belvedere (1932m) with the Pecetto chairlift that starting from the village. Slopes (10km) are perfect for beginners and advanced skiers alike. Monte Moro, located at 3000m, you will reach from Staffa (one of the small villages that Macugnaga is consisted of). Apart from blue and red slopes, you will find more challenging black ski runs that require good ski skills as the altitude gasps can go up to 1000m. Monte Moro offers also amazing view over Monte Rosa massif. Cross-country skiers can try over 20km of well-prepared slopes. Two runs amid the old houses of the village Pecetto and Isella, then it goes to the wood that surrounds Macugnaga. You will end in the small village, Quarazza, parallel to the Macugnaga valley.

Ski schools

There are ski schools with professional teachers and equipment as headphone-helmets. Instructors speak English, French, and Germany and teach both alpine ski style, cross-country skiing, and snowboarding.

Snowboard

For snowboard lovers there is well prepared Pink Snow Park in Monte Moro with a snowboard-house where you can relax on soffas. You can try off-pistes runs down to the Alpe Bill or in the larch woods in the Belvedere area. You will also find a special area for free-stylers on Monte Moro. Little snowboarders or beginners can try the Snow Park at the beginning of Belvedere, next to Pecetto chairlift.

Snowshoes

Snowshoes excursions can be a perfect idea to discover Macugnaga and the area around, including the ancient, wooden, Walser hamlets. You can choose between organized tours (even the excursions in the moonlight - contact Agritourism Alpe Burki, +39 338 1657608) or do it by yourself. You can rent snowshoes on the spot. The busiest, but also the most interesting runs lead around the Wildlife Oasis of Macugnaga, Alpe Burki, Macugnaga-Rifugio Zamboni Zappa, and in the Quarnazza Valley.

Freeride and heli-skiing

Monte Rosa is famous for freeride and heli-skiing adventure. In Macugnaga you can try both. As a freerider you will experience breathtaking views and unspoiled places on the very border between Switzerland and Italy. Zumstein, Jazzi, Colle delle Locce, and Colle Bottigia are one of several destinations that can be reached by helicopter.

Check our heli-skiing and freeride tour!

Summer experience

If you decide on Macugnaga as your summer destination you can have both very relaxing, and active holidays, always in the beautiful, natural surroundings. Biking, climbing, trekking, paragliding, horse riding, and tennis – it is just few of many activities that you can choose.

Trekking

In the Anzasca Valley, where Macugnaga is, there are several paths of different difficulty. If you feel like not in the top shape, try to begin with the shorter and easier trails at the beginning. The most fascinating trail up to Monte Rosa is waiting for more advanced tourists. 190km, 9 stages, and six valleys of Piedmont, Aosta, Switzerland – it can be a perfect idea for relaxing, but active holidays that will leave you with many memories of unforgettable views over the mountains. Easy or medium trails: along Valle del Rosa, Wildlife Oasis of Macugnaga, excursions in the Quarazza Valley and Lake of the Fairies (reachable from Staffa). For trails read here.

Climbing

Macugnaga is famous for the East Wall of Monte Rosa – the so-called Himalayan face of the Alps. It is only for very experienced climbers, but if you are interested in climbing you can try a course with C.A.I. Macugnaga, 4000 Club, Alpine Guides of Macugnaga. Courses are adjusted to different levels, from beginners to more advanced climbers.

Paragliding

Monte Moro is perfect for unforgettable paragliding flights. You start at 2900 m. The two-seater flights with pilots are possible all year round. There are several clubs where you can book your aerial adventure:

Club Parapendio Macugnaga (mail: [email protected])

Parapendio Club Laveno (+39 330769039, mail: [email protected])

Associazione Sportiva Aerosport Scuola di Parapendio (+39 3683003177)

North West Paragliding (mail: [email protected])

Main attractions

The Walser House

Museum Casa Museo Walser, founded in 1982, is a good place to start discovering the history of the village and the valley. Walser people came to Macugnaga long before the Piedmont people. The museum presents traditional architecture of Walser culture. You will get information about the way of building houses in the past centuries. It gives you a glimpse of Walser people daily live. Walser people were talented craftsmen in carving and turning wood, sculpting and building houses.

The museum is placed in the 17th century priest’s house in Borca. It collects old prints, photographs, as well as old furniture and crafts - 650 exhibits dated from 14th to 20th century.

It is possible to visit the Museum on other days by appointment. To book a visit call +39 347 984 23 29 or send an email. Opening hours depends on season, but the museum is usually open 3.30 pm to 5.30 pm. It takes around one hour to see the exhibition.

Guia Gold Mine

Macugnaga is famous for its gold mine, Mineria Aurifera Della Guja. It was established in 1710 and operated for over two hundreds years, until 1961. Many people immigrated to the village hoping for luck and money. The mine is closed and nowadays serves as a museum and a trace of the past, lively, interesting times of this region.

The mine is located not so far from the Walser House Museum and is open for visitors. You can see all caves, tunnels, and the arcades. It is open June-September, and the guide is taking min 3 persons. To visit the mine, what takes about 40 min, mail or book by phone +39 3403953869 or +39 347 4722583.

The Wildlife Oasis of Macugnaga

The Oasis covers an area of 2 750 hectares of amazing Alpine landscapes. It was established in 1969 to protect the ibex that was endangered species. Nowadays, late spring or autumn are the best seasons to see these lovely animals, as well as chamois. If you have luck, you will even meet marmots or stoats. The Oasis is locates at the foot of Monte Rosa, 2 500 m. It is a perfect place for hiking excursions as it leads through Stra Grande trail. In Macugnaga you can take the Belvedere Chairlift to the glacier. From here you can starts one of several trails that go through larch and conifer woods, the Locce Lake and the Ephemeral Lake.

The Old Church in Macugnaga

This Old Church from 13th century is one of the vivid sign of the Walser culture in Macugnaga. It is located in Dorf, one of Macugnaga hamlets. The church went through some renovation and changes during centuries, but it has kept its character. Next to the church is an old cemetery where you will find the 14th century Old Lime Tree. There were times when under the Tree the community and administration of the village assembled. The circumference of the 700-year-old tree is 7m!

Restaurants

Z'Makana Stube (+39 0324 65796) located in the cosy 1930s villa, serves delicious Walser cuisine and regiobal wines.

Flizzi (+39 0324 65160) decent food, a good beer selection.

Accommodation

Although it is not a big village, Macugnaga has decent hotels and B&B base. The village can get crowded during winter and summer peak seasons. You will find also farmhouses that offer agricultural holidays, and mountain cabins.

Hotel Edelweiss (+39 0324 65124) a two-star-hotel situated near slopes and the cableway. Room have private bathrooms and most of them a panoramic balconies. There is a restaurant in the hotel.

Hotel Macugnaga (+39 0324 65005) a small hotel next to the main square and the lift to Monte Moro. The hotel owners allow to have small animals in rooms.

Middle

There are now very exclusive hotels, the highest standard is offered by three-starred hotels like: 

Hotel Alpi (+39 0324 65135) family owned, rustically in style, with it own restaurant and regional cuisine. The hotel is located in Borca. 

Hotel Cristallo (+39 0324 65139) located next to Walser houses, with a big garden, surrounded by the forest. Beautiful view of the eastern face of Monte Rosa is surely a huge asset. The hotel has a lift. Close to the Belvedere ski area in Pecetto.

For more hotels in Macugnaga check here.

If you would like to stay over night in the higher part of the mountains, try the Rifugio D.Oberto (+39 0324 65544) located at Monte Moro, below the upper station, and just 10 min from the Swiss border. Breathtaking panorama of four-thousanders and east face of Monte Rosa, and nice atmosphere inside. Good for having dinner/lunch.