The Tignes / Val d’Isère ski area is one of the best ski areas in the world: it is snow reliable, spacious, high alpine, varied and family-friendly. Our “Best Place to Ski” in the check.

• 300 kilometers of slopes and 82 lifts
• one of the largest and highest ski areas in France
• Glacier slopes up to an altitude of 3,456 m
• Awarded the “Best Place to Ski” as well as the “Famille Plus” ski area

The lift network of the two ski areas of Tignes and Val d’Isère is one of the largest and most sought-after ski areas in France. In 2009 the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships took place in Val d’Isère and legendary skiers such as the 1968 Olympic champion, Jean-Claude Killy , come from here. This ski area has a fabulous reputation – and rightly so.

A total of around 300 kilometers of perfectly groomed slopes are available on the Solaise, Bellevarde, Palet and Percée ski mountains, as well as on the La Grande Motte and Pissaillas glaciers, and are accessible with 82 lifts. The ski area ranges from 1,550 m in Tignes to an airy 3,456 m on the Grande Motte glacier. The lifts on the glacier are also open for summer skiing from June to August.

The Tignes / Val d’Isère ski area has a lot to offer especially for families. A total of 170 km of the slopes are blue and therefore marked as beginner-friendly slopes. In addition, professional child care, several ski schools and lovingly designed children’s areas make the ski area very family-friendly. It even bears the “Famille Plus” seal of approval.

But even advanced skiers are by no means neglected in the extensive area: For advanced skiers there are 78 km of red pistes and 52 km of black pistes to choose from, plus two snow parks, a halfpipe, a ski movie and several race tracks as well as a considerable off-piste area.

For Nordic athletes, there are six cross-country trails with a total length of around 30 km in and around the ski area. Most of the tracks run around the town of Val d’Isère. With skating routes, high-altitude trails on Lac d’Ouillette and Grande Motte glacier as well as dog trails, the choice for cross-country skiers is very varied.

Thanks to the altitude and favorable weather conditions, the snow situation in the Tignes / Val d’Isère ski area is very good in the winter months. The average snow depth in the season is 180 cm on the mountain, in the snowiest month of March it is even 248 cm on the mountain and 130 cm in the valley. Statistically speaking, it is one of the snowiest ski areas in France. The ski area is also a leader when it comes to sunny days: Val d’Isère counts a total of 124 sunny days on average, with around 22 sunny days in the sunniest month of October.

The best snow and weather conditions, an extensive range of lifts and slopes as well as a fabulous mountain landscape all around make the Tignes / Val d’Isère ski area a real deluxe destination that receives the best ratings from our experts: it is in the top categories four or five stars and an almost unbeatable 4.8 stars in the overall rating.

2) Tignes / Val d’Isère piste map

3) Skiing in the Tignes / Val d’Isère ski area

The Tignes / Val d’Isère ski area offers slopes for every level of ability and every requirement. The huge area has a large selection of easy slopes and lots of services for families. Of the 300 km of slopes, 170 km are of an easy level. From the two main towns of Val d’Isère and Tignes, the cable cars and funiculars go up to the ski area from different parts of the town.

Above Val d’Isère, skiing takes place on the slopes of the Solaise and the Bellevarde. The Solaise offers a diverse range of slopes, including a large beginner’s zone with blue slopes, a boardercross route, but also great ski routes. From there there is also a lift connection to the neighboring Pissaillas Glacier, where mainly red slopes are located.

The slopes on Fornet and Pissaillas open up views of the Haute-Maurienne and in the summer months of June and July the glacier is also open for skiing. At Bellevarde there is a large plateau with green, very flat slopes. Lower down in the wooded area, on the other hand, red and black runs dominate.

From Bellevarde it goes over to Tovière and thus seamlessly into the ski area of ​​Tignes. Numerous easy to moderately difficult slopes await there, as well as offers especially for small children and beginners. In Val Claret and Le Lac, for example, there is a children’s park and a snow playground. On the “L’Acticross” fun slope, winter sports enthusiasts of all ages can expect a wave run, a snow tunnel and other obstacles.

Overall, the strong family offer in the Tignes / Val d’Isère ski area has been given the top five-star rating in our rating.

The funicular “Funiculaire Perce Neige” takes 7 minutes from Val Claret to the Grande Motte glacier. In this highest part of the ski area there are mostly red slopes, further down also blue slopes. The longest descent leads from the Grande Motte glacier over 6.5 km to Tignes. It bridges 1,300 meters in altitude.

Fun athletes can look forward to two snow parks and four boardercross trails in the Tignes / Val d’Isère ski area. The Val d’Isère snow park is located at Bellevarde, a sizable area with around 25 obstacles and a chill-out area.

There is another snow park at the Col du Palet. An airbag is installed here so that you can land softly in the large air cushion after the really high jumps.

In Val Claret, if there is enough snow, a halfpipe is also shaped. No question about it, the Tignes / Val d’Isère ski area also achieved our top marks in the snow parks category.

Around 25 ski huts and mountain restaurants, including fine kitchens and good lounges with wine cellars right on the slopes, take care of the lunch break and your physical well-being. There are also free WiFi hotspots at several mountain and valley stations. The varied, high-quality gastronomy also receives five stars from our experts.

4) Expert evaluation

The Tignes / Val d’Isère ski area is one of the most popular and best rated ski areas in the entire Alpine region, and our experts also join in. With 4.8 stars in our overall rating, this ski area can hardly be topped.

5) Off-piste activities

The other leisure activities in Tignes and Val d’Isère are almost as varied as the slopes in the ski area. The frozen lake of Tignes forms a wonderful natural ice rink where you can skate for free. Ice diving in the lake is a special experience.

In addition, the tourist offices offer various fun sports such as snake gliss and snowmobiling, winter mountain biking and karting on ice – to name just a few. Winter hikers will find six marked winter hiking trails around Tignes.

You can also enjoy the afternoon in Tignes in a quiet way. A few hours of wellness, relaxing in the sauna or splashing around with the children is wonderful in the Le Lagon leisure pool. The local cinema shows current films several times a day.

In Val d’Isère, the fun sports offer is even more exclusive: Paragliding, speed riding, flights in helicopters and sports aircraft or a training ride on ice in a sports car leave nothing to be desired.

Winter hiking, snowshoe trekking, ice climbing, dog sledding or ice skating in the town centre are also part of the leisure program. In addition to the Savonette drag lift, child-friendly tobogganing is possible on an approximately 1 km long toboggan run.

When it comes to après-ski, the two main towns of Tignes and Val d’Isère are in no way inferior. In both places there are numerous bars, pubs and restaurants for cozy or boozy get-togethers. In the evening it goes on in the numerous clubs and discos. Above all, Val d’Isére has some fine addresses to offer here.

6) Locations in the Tignes / Val d’Isère ski area

Tignes is divided into three altitudes: the village of Tignes-les-Brevières at 1,550 m, Tignes 1800 on the lake shore and Tignes 2100.

The latter is the ski station in the middle of the mountains at 2,100 m above Lac de Chevril. The three districts Le Lavachet, Val Claret and Tignes-le-Lac are located around the mountain lake Lac-de-Tignes and thus offer a great mountain-lake panorama.

In winter, ice sports are offered on the frozen lake. In Tignes 2100 you are practically in the middle of the ski area and numerous lifts provide access to Tovière, Percée, Palet and the Grande Motte Glacier.

At the end of the valley, on the Isère river, lies Val d’Isere (1,850 m) with the two districts of La Daille and Le Fornet. Cable cars run from all three districts to the ski area.

Val d’Isère with its 1,600 inhabitants is characterized by its very own, sophisticated flair. In addition to cozy chalets and the old baroque church, life pulsates in the shopping streets, bars and cafes. Eating out in style, celebrating exuberantly, getting active in sports, experiencing events – holidaymakers can expect the full program here.

7) Arrival in the Tignes / Val d’Isère ski area

The easiest way to get to Tignes and Val d’Isère directly is by car. Drivers come from the north via Albertville, Moûtiers and Bourg-Saint-Maurice. From there it’s another 30 km uphill to Tignes. Driving past the lake, after another kilometer you finally reach Val d’Isère.

The closest train station to the ski area is also in Bourg-Saint-Maurice. From there, taxis and special shuttle buses run to the ski resorts.

The nearest airports are in Chambéry, Switzerland (approx. 145 km) and Turin (approx. 165 km) in Italy. Grenoble is a little further away at 220 km, but as an exciting Alpine metropolis, it is ideal for a short stopover during the journey.