Tignes - France

The French ski resort of Tignes is located in the Haute Tarentaise of the Savoie region of France. Famed for its extensive ski area, off-piste terrain and popularity with hardcore skiers and snowboarders, Tignes has some of the most snow-sure skiing in the region.

Tignes (“Teen”) is unfairly renowned for being the ugly resort in the Espace Killy, and indeed, if it’s a chocolate box Alpine experience you’re after, then stay elsewhere. But if you want a snow sure resort with a huge variation of fantastic skiing, then Tignes does not disappoint.

Tucked into a hanging valley in the Haute Tarentaise, Tignes has five villages, 300km of varied pistes, a glacier and access to a huge amount of breathtaking back country riding through the Vanoise National Park. Whilst the nightlife is not on the level of Verbier or neighbouring Val d’Isere, Tignes seems to have the right balance of apres-ski and sport. Our Where to stay section has more…

Key info

Resort altitude	1550m - 2100m
Highest lift	3455m
Lowest lift	1550m
Kms of piste	300kms
No of lifts	90
Black pistes	12%
Red pistes	27%
Blue pistes	46%
Green pistes	15%
Snow parks	2
Glacier	Yes
Snowmaking	635

Our penny's worth

Tignes is one of the best places in the world to learn to ski off-piste. As well as having some of the best lift-served off-piste there is, the resort has sensibly set up a SPOT free rider area dedicated to teaching people about safety and how to get the most out of the mountains.

Don't leave Tignes without...

Skiing all the way from the top of the Grande Motte down to Les Brevieres
Trying your hand at some off-piste rescue at the SPOT
Trying some of the 40 vodka shots on offer at Couloir
Dining at the ultra-romantic Caveau
Ski off the side of a mountain and float down to reality

At a glance

Nearest airports	Type of resort	Stay in	Go for a
Chambery Geneva Grenoble Lyon	Mega resort	Chalets Hostels Hotels Independent Travel Self-Catered Tour operator	Week Week+ Weekend
Good for	On the piste	Children	Food and drink
Disabled skiing Freestyle Ski-touring Snowboarding	British ski schools Free nursery slopes Mobile ski hire Online lift passes Ski in, ski out Snow sure	Creches Babysitting Ski schools	Apres-ski Evening drinking Resort dining Vegetarian Family friendly Live music Late drinking Mountain dining
Other	Other activities
Internet access Churches	Adrenaline fuelled Sightseeing Relaxation Shopping

Tignes guidebook

Tignes

Report date:	30 Apr 2008
Last snowed:	22 Apr 2008
Fresh snow:	20cm
Lifts open:	25 out of 43
Snow depth
Lower slopes:	100cm
Upper slopes:	310cm
Piste information
On-piste:	Excellent
Off-piste:	Varied
Resort runs:	Packed

Snow conditions

Very good piste conditions, best at top

Weather

Strong winds at altitude