Enjoy the Olympics in Bormio: here's what you need to know about traffic and parking.
This February, Bormio will host the men’s alpine skiing and ski mountaineering events of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. If you’re planning to attend this exciting sporting event and perhaps combine it with a few days of relaxation in the most characteristic and renowned village of Valtellina, amid thermal springs and snowy excursions we’ve put together a short vademecum on getting around Bormio, with information on where to park and how to plan your car travel to and within the town as smoothly as possible.
How to get to Bormio in winter
To reach Bormio from Lombardy, the main route is the SS36 (Milan–Lecco–Colico), followed by the SS38, which runs through the entire Valtellina valley; those coming from the Brescia area can instead travel via Val Camonica and the Aprica Pass. In summer, more adventurous travelers can opt for the scenic Gavia or Mortirolo passes, iconic destinations for cyclists.
How to get to Bormio without stress? Timing is the secret: it’s essential to avoid Friday afternoons, Saturday mornings, and Sunday evening returns, when traffic to mountain resorts peaks. During the Cortina Olympics period, traffic is expected to be even heavier, and it’s always necessary to check whether there are any planned closures of the passes you intend to cross.
In any case, setting off before 6:30 a.m. or after 9:00 p.m. usually ensures a smooth journey; if you rent a car in Sondrio, reaching Bormio will take about an hour. Alternatively, for those who prefer to leave the car behind, the regional train from Milan Central Station to Tirano, combined with a scheduled bus for the final 30-kilometer stretch, is a longer but scenic option that allows you to admire the valley’s terraced vineyards without the stress of traffic jams.
Bormio traffic: ZTL areas and where to park
Access to Bormio’s shopping streets is normally monitored by cameras and reserved for residents or tourists who, through their hotel, can obtain a temporary permit for luggage loading. During the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics, however, the village adopts a “locked-down” setup: in conjunction with races on the Stelvio slope, access filters (Zones 1 and 2) will be activated, making an Auto Pass mandatory to circulate during morning hours.
As for parking, the most convenient paid options are the cable car multi-storey car park or the area in Via Pascolo, while those looking for free parking in Bormio can head toward the sports field or the cemetery, about a ten-minute walk from the heart of the village. During the Olympic period, however, the watchword is Park & Ride: the winning strategy will be to leave your car at the Aquilone car park in Valdisotto and rely on dedicated shuttle services, to experience the excitement of the Games without the stress of traffic.
