The Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, scheduled for February, will be an unforgettable but also very expensive experience for those who can afford to participate. An investigation of Altroconsumo conducted between November and December 2025, it revealed dizzying prices for those who want to watch the races live.
For an Olympic weekend, a couple will spend on average up to 1,800 euros on accommodation, transport and tickets. But in the more expensive mountain resorts, such as Cortina d’Ampezzo, the total for the weekend reaches over 2,800 euros.
Cortina is the most expensive, Valtellina has a record for increases
The most expensive location overall was Cortina d’Ampezzo, where on average over 2,000 euros are spent on accommodation alone for a weekend during the Games, with an increase of 261% compared to a normal weekend in January 2026.
But it is Valtellina that records the most shocking increase in prices: here the average cost of accommodation reaches almost 1,700 euros, with an increase of 437% compared to January.
More accessible, although still double compared to normal, are the locations in Val di Fiemme (around 500 euros) and Milan (just over 300 euros for the weekend).
The investigation of Altroconsumo compared prices of three-star hotels and the top five available Airbnb offers, revealing interesting differences between different destinations.
In Cortina, Airbnbs exceed 3,000 euros for an Olympic weekend, making them more expensive than hotels. In Valtellina, however, it is the hotels that increase the bill, with over 2,000 euros compared to just over half for short-term rentals. In Val di Fiemme Airbnbs cost almost one and a half times compared to hotels, while in Milan the difference is less marked.
And consider that, compared to the August 2025 survey, prices for an Olympic weekend have dropped slightly, probably because the even higher initial rates had discouraged bookings. Those who have already booked with free cancellation may find it convenient to check the offers again and save a few euros.
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Trains: high but stable prices
Reaching the mountain locations where the races take place has a far from negligible cost. A return trip for two people from Milan to Cortina costs 216 euros, from Rome 338 euros, from Turin 318 euros. The cheapest destination is Tirano in Valtellina, reachable from Milan for just 50 euros return.
The good news is that compared to January prices there are no significant increases, with average increases between 4% (Valtellina) and 7% (Cortina and Val di Fiemme). However, the variation between minimum and maximum price for the same route can reach up to 164%, as in the case of the Venice-Milan connection (from 82 to 217 euros). Booking in advance can therefore make a big difference.
And tickets for the races?
The cost of tickets also varies enormously depending on the sporting discipline. Ice hockey games in Milan are the most accessible, with less than 100 euros for two people. Biathlon, curling and cross-country skiing also remain below this threshold.
The situation is very different for more popular sports: acrobatic skiing and short track skiing exceed 300 euros for two tickets, while to watch figure skating you can pay 560 euros.
Putting all the costs together, an Olympic weekend in Milan to watch ice hockey can cost a total of just under 700 euros for two people. But if you want to cheer for the alpine skiing champions in Cortina, the bill goes beyond 2,800 euros.
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An unforgettable experience which, however, risks remaining a dream for many Italians, discouraged by prices that have very little to do with Olympic, in the noblest sense of the term.
