Tignes holidays

How to reach Tignes

• Flight time: Flights to Geneva or Lyon from London take around 1 hour 45 minutes.

• Transfer time: Transfer time is much of a muchness whether you fly into Geneva Airport or Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport, typically around 3 to 3 hours 30 minutes.

• Price: A one-way shared transfer from Geneva or Lyon airports costs around €50–€55. Taxiing from either airport is pricey, with fares exceeding €300.

Best time to visit Tignes

The best time for your Tignes holidays depends on what you want to do. Are you a ski bunny, an avid hiker or an all-round ski mountaineer?

• December to April experiences max daytime temperatures ranging from -4 to 4°C and 10 to 8 snowfall days per month. With snow-sure conditions, the pistes are especially busy from late December into early January and again in February and April, mirroring school hols.

• May to June sees temperatures rise to 9–14°C. The winter ski season wraps up in early May, but if you’re willing to take your chances with some rain (a degree of precipitation is part and parcel of holidays in the Alps), these can be lovely months for hiking.

• July to August is ideal for outdoorsy types, with temperatures hovering around 17°C and mountain biking, hiking and summer glacier skiing on offer.

• September to November brings a drop in temperatures (13 to 1°C), and precipitation turns to snow from October onwards. With ski season just around the corner, many businesses take a hiatus to prepare, so expect the resort to be extra quiet.

Practical information

• Spoken languages: French is the official language. Although it is hit or miss whether locals speak English in the surrounding villages, you should have no problem communicating in ski resorts, restaurants or hotels.

• Currency: France is in the eurozone.

• Getting around: Cars stay put at the resort entrance (paid parking from late November to early May), but you can easily move around the resort via a combination of shuttles and ski lifts. Prices for the ski lifts vary depending on the date and duration and whether you opt for a ski or pedestrian pass. As a guide, a one-day pedestrian pass costs €26; one-day ski passes range from €30–€70.

• Electricity and plug types: Standard mains electricity is 220–240V, 50Hz. Plugs are two-pin Type C and E.

• Time zone: France keeps Central European Time (GMT+ 1 hour) but switches to Central European Summer Time (GMT+ 2 hours, British Summer Time + 1 hour) from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October.

• Required travel documentation: UK citizens need a valid passport (issued less than 10 years before the entry date and valid for at least 3 months after the departure date) but don’t need a visa for stays up to 90 days in a rolling 180-day period.

Local dishes in Tignes

Rich, warming and often cheese-based, Savoie cuisine is just the ticket after a hard day’s skiing or hiking on your Tignes holidays.

Some typical dishes

• Fondue Savoyarde: This iconic communal dish consists of a pot of melted cheese (usually a blend of Comté, Beaufort and Emmental) and chunks of bread for dipping.

• Raclette: A cheese lover’s dream cooked at your table, melted cheese scraped over boiled potatoes, charcuterie and pickles.

Meat dishes

• Diots: These traditional Savoie sausages are typically cooked in white wine with onions and garlic (diots au vin blanc) and served with polenta or potatoes.

• Tartiflette: Served piping hot, this bubbling gratin of potatoes, onions, smoked lardons and melted Reblochon cheese is pure comfort food.

Fish and seafood dishes

• Féra: Part of the same family as trout and salmon, Féra has a delicate, sweet and subtly earthy flavour.

• Omble Chevalier: Another relative, taste-wise Omble Chevalier, is like a cross between salmon and trout.

Sweets and desserts

• Tarte aux Myrtilles: Starring blueberries, this French fruit custard tart is a showstopper.

• Biscuit de Savoie: Baked in a ring-shaped mould and served with fruit, jams or crème anglaise, this light and airy sponge cake tastes as good as it looks.

Local drinks

• Vin chaud: Flavoured with cinnamon, cloves and citrus, this warm, spiced wine is perfect for cold winter months.

• Génépi: An après-ski favourite, this Alpine herbal liqueur is a little bit like absinthe but mintier and less bitter. It’s traditionally drunk neat but works well in cocktails, too.

Best things to do in Tignes

From winter skiing to summer hiking, holidays to Tignes are a perfect match for outdoorsy types.

Viewpoints and panoramas

• Grande Motte Glacier: At 3,456m, the views are breathtaking, whatever the season. On clear days, you can see as far as Mont Blanc.

• Lac de Tignes: Backdropped by mountains and crystal clear, this Alpine lake comes into its own in summer.

The best districts

• Tignes Le Lac: This is the main resort settlement and social hub, with a selection of shops, restaurants and bars, not to mention quick access to the pistes.

• Val Claret: Slightly higher up and the gateway to the Grande Motte Glacier, Val Claret is a favourite among serious skiers and snowboarders.

Parks and gardens

• Tignes-Champagny Nature Reserve: This stunning reserve offers everything from passes and summits to Alpine lawns and crystalline lakes.

Museums

• Musée de Val d'Isère: From its agro-pastoral past to the modern-day ski industry, this little museum in nearby Val d'Isère is the perfect place to learn about the region's history.

Historical monuments

• Chevril Dam: This controversial landmark is a must-see, with its fading mural of Hercules and the historic town of Tignes hidden beneath its artificial lake.

• Église Saint-Jacques: A 1950s replica of the drowned church in Lac du Chevril, with most of its furniture and religious artefacts salvaged from its 18th-century predecessor, this is as close as you’ll get to the real thing.

Day trips in the area

• Bourg-Saint-Maurice: If you fancy a break from the mountain ski resorts, this charming fortress town is just 30km away. It’s well known for its local markets, which are chock-full of delicious cheeses, cured meats and other regional delicacies.

• Bonneval-sur-Arc: An hour or so’s drive from Tignes, this traditional Savoie village is one of those ridiculously pretty places. It is all solid stone, slate roofs, wooden balconies and scenery, with Vanoise National Park on its doorstep.

Activities for families in Tignes

Whether you’re travelling with toddlers or teens, there’s no shortage of family-friendly things to do, both on and off the slopes.

• Swimming pools: The Le Lagon leisure centre in Tignes Le Lac offers a fun pool, sports pool and paddling pool.

• Playgrounds: Igloo village, labyrinth, sledge run and curling rink. Check, check and double-check. The resort’s dedicated outdoor kids’ area is the perfect winter playground.

• Ice rinks: Lac de Tignes freezes over in the winter, transforming into a natural ice rink. It’s a fun and festive way to spend an afternoon with the family, and skates can be hired on-site.

• Snow tubes: Perfect for the young and young at heart (3 years and up), speed down the resort's speciality track on an inflatable buoy.

• Bun J Ride: Combining skiing with bungee jumping, this ride is not for the faint of heart (or anyone under 13).

• Kids clubs: From wintertime skiing to summertime archery, biking, hiking, horse riding, rock climbing, swimming and more, there’s plenty to keep 4- to 16-year-olds active.

• Waterparks: For older kids (10 years and up), lakeside Acroland offers summer slides with springboards, inflatable buoys and a bodyboard track.

Free things to do in Tignes

Even though Tignes is a premier ski resort, not everything has a premier price tag.

• Free events: During the winter and summer seasons, Tignes hosts several free events, from outdoor concerts and fireworks displays to festive Christmas markets and New Year’s Eve celebrations. Check the resort’s calendar for upcoming events during your stay.

• Explore Tignes by shuttle bus: The resort’s complimentary shuttle buses frequently run between Tignes Le Lac, Val Clare and the lower areas, making it simple to explore different parts of the resort without spending a cent.

• Free guided tours in Tignes: Guided by the Pays d’art et d’histoire/Facim Foundation, history, food and village tours are all in the offing.

Wellness in Tignes

• Spas and thermal baths: Jacuzzi, sauna, steam room or Turkish bath. Between Le Lagon and the resort’s spa hotels, you’ll find just about every balneotherapy facility under the sun.

• Yoga and meditation centres: Perfect for stretching out those muscles after a day of skiing or hiking, indoor and outdoor yoga classes (from beginners to more advanced practitioners) run throughout the year.

Nature and outdoor activities

• Skiing: The Espace Killy ski area offers a mix of blue (beginner), red (intermediate) and black (advanced) runs.

• Hiking: When the snow melts, Tignes becomes a hiker’s paradise, with countless hiking trails ranging from gentle lakeside walks to challenging mountain hikes. The Tignes to Val d'Isère trail is a favourite, offering breathtaking views and plenty of wildlife spotting opportunities.

• Mountain biking: Tignes is peppered with trails from beginner routes to more advanced downhill tracks. Best of all, the lifts are bike-friendly, making it easy to access the best trails.

• Paragliding: If you’re looking for a truly unforgettable experience, try paragliding over the mountains. You’ll get a bird’s-eye view of Tignes and the surrounding valleys.

• Whitewater rafting: The Haute Isère River is prime territory for paddlers, with passages of rapids and gorges.