What to Do in Sauze d'Oulx if You Don't Ski
Published 8 December 2025
Going to Sauze d’Oulx with a partner or group who ski but not skiing yourself? You won’t be bored — but it helps to plan ahead. Here’s what to do with your days.
The honest picture first
Sauze d’Oulx is primarily a ski resort. It’s not a spa destination or a shopping hub. If you genuinely have no interest in being near mountains or winter scenery, it probably isn’t the right choice of destination.
If, on the other hand, you enjoy a beautiful mountain setting, good food, Italian village life, and the occasional adventure activity — you’ll have a good time. And there’s always Turin, one of Italy’s most underrated cities, less than 90 minutes away.
Snowshoeing
Snowshoes strap onto your boots and let you walk across snow-covered terrain that would otherwise be inaccessible. It requires no prior experience and almost no fitness beyond being able to walk.
The forests and mountain trails around Sauze d’Oulx are excellent for snowshoeing — the Gran Bosco di Salbertrand Natural Park has marked snowshoe routes through pine forest at valley level. Guided snowshoe tours are the best option for first-timers; equipment is included.
Browse guided snowshoe tours →
Sledging (tobogganing)
Several areas near the resort have designated sledging slopes. Equipment can be hired locally. This is the easiest way for non-skiers to get out on the snow and experience the mountain — genuinely fun for adults as well as children.
Winter walking
The lower trails around Sauze d’Oulx are walkable in winter with the right footwear — waterproof boots with good grip are essential. The paths through the Gran Bosco di Salbertrand, accessible from the valley below the resort, are particularly good: a protected natural park with well-marked paths through ancient forest.
The gondola carries non-skiers up to the Sportinia plateau (~1,800m) — buy a single or return lift ticket at the gondola base. From Sportinia, the views across the ski area are spectacular even without skis. Several mountain restaurants up there are excellent for a long lunch.
Day trip to Turin ⭐ highly recommended
Turin is only around 80km from Sauze d’Oulx — approximately 1 hour 15 minutes by car, or accessible by train from Oulx. For a non-skier with a free day, it’s the obvious choice.
Turin is one of Italy’s most underrated cities: a grand Baroque capital, home to the Egyptian Museum (second only to Cairo’s), world-class food, the iconic Mole Antonelliana, and a relaxed, authentic Italian atmosphere without the tourist crowds of Florence or Rome.
What to see:
- Egyptian Museum (Museo Egizio) — genuinely extraordinary collection
- Piazza Castello and the Royal Palace
- Mole Antonelliana — Turin’s iconic tower and cinema museum
- Porta Palazzo market — the largest open-air market in Europe
- Drink a Negroni or Aperol spritz in Piazza San Carlo — Turin invented the aperitivo culture
Book Turin guided tours on Viator →
The village and village life
Sauze d’Oulx’s village centre is small but pleasant for a morning wander. There are cafés, a small supermarket, sports shops, a handful of boutiques and a good selection of restaurants. The Italian village atmosphere — espresso at the bar, fresh pasta for lunch, the rhythm of Italian mountain life — is part of the appeal.
The coffee is excellent and cheap. Treat yourself to a proper Italian breakfast (cornetto and cappuccino at the bar) every morning.
Mountain restaurant lunches
Even without skis, you can take the gondola up to Sportinia and spend a long afternoon at one of the mountain restaurants. The food is genuinely good — pasta, polenta, regional cheeses — and the setting, surrounded by snowy peaks with a view across the ski area, is hard to beat.
This is a genuinely pleasant way to spend a day without being on skis. The skiers in your group can find you for lunch and you can ride the gondola back down together.
Spa and wellness
Sauze d’Oulx doesn’t have a large dedicated spa complex in the way some Swiss or Austrian resorts do, but several hotels have spa and wellness facilities (pools, saunas, treatment rooms) that are sometimes available to non-guests. Check with your accommodation or ask locally.
Sestriere — a 30-minute drive or ski traverse away — has slightly more wellness infrastructure.
Eating and drinking
One of the genuine pleasures of a Sauze d’Oulx holiday for non-skiers is having the time to eat properly. While skiers grab a quick mountain lunch, you can take your time with a full Italian lunch — antipasti, pasta, secondo, dessert, coffee — at a fraction of UK restaurant prices.
The evening restaurant scene in Sauze is good for an Italian resort. Pizza is universally excellent; pasta and local Piedmont dishes (fonduta, vitello tonnato, tajarin) are worth seeking out.
Frequently asked questions
Is Sauze d’Oulx worth visiting if you don’t ski?
Yes, if you enjoy mountain environments, Italian village life, and good food. The addition of a day trip to Turin makes it a genuinely rewarding trip even without skiing. It’s not a spa destination or a city break, but for someone accompanying a skiing partner or group, there’s enough to do for a week.
Can non-skiers go up the mountain in Sauze d’Oulx?
Yes — the gondola from the village carries non-skiers up to the Sportinia plateau at around 1,800m. Buy a single or return lift ticket at the gondola base. Mountain restaurants up there welcome non-skiers for lunch.
What do non-skiers do while skiers ski?
The most popular options: snowshoeing, sledging, village walks, day trip to Turin, mountain restaurant lunch, reading in a café. A non-skier with a car and a free day can also explore the wider Val di Susa valley, including the Sacra di San Michele monastery.
Are there spa facilities in Sauze d’Oulx?
Sauze doesn’t have a large purpose-built spa complex. Some hotels have pool and sauna facilities. For a dedicated spa day, Sestriere has slightly more options and is accessible by road.
Is there anything to do in Sauze d’Oulx at night for non-skiers?
Yes — the village has a good selection of restaurants for evening meals. The après-ski bars are open to everyone and create a lively atmosphere from around 4pm. Several bars have live music. It’s a social, enjoyable evening atmosphere without requiring any skiing.
Travelling with a mix of skiers and non-skiers? See our family guide → for more on mixed-group trips.