Guide to Tignes, French Alps

Tignes is for skiers of all abilities and a great choice for low cost skiing holidays in France. This high altitude ski resort in the French Alps enjoys a very good snow record. The high Glacier de la Grande Motte means long season snow and provides long runs for all levels. Tignes is part of the vast Espace Killy ski area and is linked to Val d’Isere, covering over 300kms of good lift-linked trails. Advanced skiers come back year after year for the vast array of black pistes and endless off-piste challenges. The Espace Killy ski pass gives access to the whole region.

Mountain Information Tignes
Resort Altitude	2100m
Vertical Drop	1900m
Top Lift	3550m
Lifts	95
Total Runs	129, (300 km)
Longest Run	10 km
Advanced Runs	14
Intermediate Runs	36
Beginner	79
Cross Country	40 km

Getting to Tignes

The cheapest way to travel to Tignes ski resort is to find one of the very many cheap flights to Geneva, Lyon or Chambery. Tignes is located above Val d'Isère, 105 miles from the nearest airport at Geneva. Other options are Chambery (90 miles) and Lyon (135 miles). A daily bus runs to Tignes from Geneva airport and a weekend service from Lyons airport operates in winter. Flights to Lyon, St.Etienne or Grenoble mean more expensive transfers due to toll roads and longer distances involved. TGV trains now run directly from Paris to Bourg-St.Maurice in 4.5 hours, the closest rail station to Tignes with a bus connection. Car parking permits are compulsory in Tignes and can be paid for at the Tourist Office.

Accommodation in Tignes

For lodging, there are various choices but you'll see a lot of rather ugly accommodation buildings. Tignes Val Claret is ideally situated at the base of the main Grande Motte ski-lifts, Le Lac and Le Lavachet also offer excellent ski facilities. Whatever you choose it will mostly be ski-in/ski-out. Tignes has only 1200 hotel beds but 15000 beds in affordable apartments, quality varies in older buildings. The tourist office provides the easiest way to finding an apartment, it has a rental listing of the Tignes area. For rock-bottom prices stay in the village of Les Brévières. The Relais du Lac is quiet and out of the way, but a gondola takes you to the lift system. Another bargain spot is Les Seracs. Hotel Les Campanules in Tignes has been recommended for excellent French food and service.

Bars, restaurants and apres ski

Tignes ski resort has a lively shopping centre and night life. Popular bars are Yeti, Red Lion Bar, Le Caveau. Tignespace has internet facilities. Val Claret centre is more compact than Le Lac. Harri’s Bar (now called Censored)and Cafe de la Poste put on live music, TC’s Bar sells snacks anytime, Grizzly's has unusual character. There are more than 70 restaurants dotted around the resorts, serving everything from gourmet and French bistro to fine Italian and pizza to Tex/Mex and Japanese. La Pignatta offers great food and service. Le Caveau restaurant is considered by many as the best in town. Try L’Eterlou or Le Bistro for typical Savoyard cooking.

Activities

Tignes is mainly a resort for skiers, but there is a modern sports centre with sauna, a natural ice rink, cinema, skating rink and bowling alley. There is snow mobiling, ice climbing, husky sledging and parapenting. Excellent local ski- and snowboard schools, a snowboard park in Val Claret plus a huge off piste area should keep snowboarders happy for some time.
 
Check other nearby French Skiing areas or read our latest guides to Italian and Swiss resorts.

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