Madonna di Campiglio holidays

Madonna’s known for more high-end spends than bagging a bargain, although savvy shoppers will still be able to find a good deal here. Head to the weekly market in Pinzolo for some local steals.

If you’re after a souvenir to squeeze into your suitcase, there are plenty of gift shops where you can pick up a mountain momento. There’re also a few wineries and chocolate shops if you’d like to bring a taste of Madonna home with you.

Jewellers and boutiques selling the best Italian brands line the streets, so it's just the place if you’re looking to splash the cash in style with a shiny new watch or pair of designer sunnies.

There are lots of bars in Madonna where you can sit outside with an aperitivo, in true Italian style. And in August, the Sounds of the Dolomites comes to town – an unmissable mini festival where musicians play classical music outside, near mountain huts and forts, so make sure to catch it if you get the chance.

For a bit more of a buzz, there’s a great evening scene here. Head to the sophisticated Bar Suisse or Café d’Or for your favourite cocktail and tap your toes to the music.

You'll see more than pizza and pasta on the menus in Madonna, and you’ll find lots of traditional Tyrolean specialities – think simple and comforting alpine fare. And with a range of restaurants from mountain huts to Michelin-starred spots, there’s something here for everyone’s budget.

Head over to Hotel Bertelli, home to the Michelin-starred Il Gallo Cedrone. It’s got a proper mountain feel with a quirky menu – we’re talking sea urchin, eel broth and octopus cooked using local flavours like dandelion honey, alpine butter and conifer oil. And with a huge cellar that holds around 20,000 wines, you’re sure to find the right tipple to sip alongside your meal.

In Madonna’s centre, Le Roi is a hit with the locals. This traditional trattoria’s got a laidback and authentic feel – share some antipasti, sample some schnitzel or go for a classic pizza. Make sure to book ahead as it can get pretty busy here, although apparently they've got the best tiramisu in town, so it’s easy to see why.

It doesn’t get much more rustic than this family-run restaurant in the middle of town, with gingham tablecloths, pinecones dotted about the tables and cowhide upholstery. You can dig into all sorts of local favourites here, like homemade dumplings, bratwurst and deer burgers with blueberries and mushrooms foraged nearby. And they even have a microbrewery, so choose a craft beer to savour while you eat.

In the summer, there are lots of regular buses from Madonna to nearby villages in the Trentino area – you can catch one to Trento and Malè, plus to Italian cities like Verona, Brescia and Milan. You’ll find the main bus station is on Via Monte Spinale. You can use your Trentino Guest Card for discounted bus fares and entrance to local museums.

The mountain lifts stay open in the summer – there are five gondolas in Madonna and they’re open from around 9am – 5pm every day. You can use your Trentino Guest Card to get discounts on the 5 Laghi gondola and the Spinale, Pradalago and Grostè cable cars.

Malè train station’s around a 30-minute drive from Madonna di Campiglio. Once you’re there, you can hop on a train to Trento, which has direct links to Verona and other Italian cities. And here’s the great part – with the Trentino Guest Card, you can ride the trains for free, as long as your trip starts and ends in Trentino.

Madonna’s centre is pedestrianised, so you can meander down the charming streets and cobbled alleys packed with bars, shops and restaurants. Stroll down Via Monte Spinale to get to Piazza Righi, a square filled with flower boxes where you can hop between pavement cafés.