It’s high, it’s big and has some of the best skiing in Europe. As it sits above the tree level and is mostly modern buildings, Tignes can appear stark but in recent years much has been done to beautify the resort and with the development of new 4 & 5* hotels, chic apartments, and even Michelin star restaurants, Tignes is finally coming out of the shadow of its better-known neighbor, Val d’Isere.
Tignes is actually made up of five villages of varying altitudes (from 1,550 – 2100m) and offers some of the finest lift-accessed slopes in Europe – or anywhere else in the world. Of the five villages, Val Claret (2,100m) has easy access to the glacier and, together with Tignes Le Lac just down the road, it’s the most convenient place to stay, giving you the pick of the hotels, restaurants, and shops. The village of Tignes Le Lavachet is very slightly lower in altitude but offers ski-in / ski-out accommodation. Further down the mountain at 1,800m and 1,550m respectively are the satellites of Tignes Les Boisses (aka Tignes 1800) and Tignes Les Brévières. Both are well-linked to the ski area with their own lifts, but they’re further from the central hub of shops, bars, and restaurants. There is a free local bus service that links the different villages with the exception of Tignes Les Brévières.