Where is Tignes Ski Resort?
Tignes is deep in the French Alps' Haute Tarentaise valley of the Savoie (Rhône-Alpes) region in south-eastern France. The Tignes ski resort is only 6 km (as the crow flies) across the valley from the Italian border and next door to Val d’Isere. The closest major town is Bourg St. Maurice (30km away from the upper villages), which also acts as a major transport hub for the region.
The ski resort has four major villages separated by 10km of road in winter. The lowest village is Les Brevieres, then (in ascending order) Les Boisses, Tignes 2100 (Le Lac/Lavachet) & finally, Val Claret. Tignes' highest two villages are at around 2100m elevation.
Flights to Tignes
The nearest airport to Tignes is Chambéry (CMF) (144km or about 2½hr by road), followed by Geneva (GVA) (187km / 3½hr) and Lyon Saint-Exupéry (LYS) (221km / 3½hr).
Whilst Chambery is closest, it has a relatively limited schedule restricted to weekends & serves only some European or UK flight origins. For international travellers, Geneva & Lyon have wide range of worldwide flight origins as well as excellent train, bus & shuttle links to Bourg St Maurice and Tignes.
Search and book flights to Geneva, Lyon & Chambery here.
Airport & Hotel Transfers
The Powderhounds usually recommend taking the train & bus to ski resorts like Tignes, mainly in order to POW (Protect Our Winters). However, if in a group of three or more people or you simply cannot abide public transport, take a private transfer direct to your hotel in Tignes from the airport or major town.
Search & book private transfers to Tignes here.
Train & Bus Travel to Tignes
Bourg St Maurice is a key transport hub for all Tarentaise ski resorts including Tignes. The Bourg St. Maurice train station is 30km from Tignes & is on the schedule of numerous train lines including TGV, Eurostar & regional trains. Train travel is possible directly from the Geneva & Lyon St Exupery airports (with various connections), as well as London & Paris via fast train.
Search & book train tickets to Bourg St Maurice.
Bus services run regularly from the Bourg St. Maurice station to Tignes all the way up to Val Claret on the T15 line, taking about 45min to an hour. Buy bus tickets at the Bourg St Maurice railway station Belle Savoie office. Or you can take a local taxi/private transfer for a substantially higher fee, but a door to door service at a time you want to travel!
See the Savoie public transport network map here.
Driving to Tignes
Driving to Tignes by car can be cheaper if you can share the journey with some mates. Bear in mind that the normal journey times across France may take much longer if you chose to travel on a busy Saturday or encounter heavy snowfalls. Once at Tignes you won’t need to use your car, unless travelling to another Tarentaise valley ski resort for the day.
If travelling from Italy, the best approach is via Turin, then west through the Val Frejus Tunnel & up the Maurienne Valley. From Switzerland cross into France at near Geneva, or via Martigny & through Chamonix./p>
If hiring or renting a car, all the major towns and airports have a range of options. Make sure the car is fitted with snow tyres as a bare minimum. Search & book all car rentals.
Car parking in Tignes can be either outside or in covered or underground parking garages. Many hotels & apartment complexes come with their own underground parking and its worth checking when you book accommodation. For places without parking & if a day-tripper, the best parking is at the Le Lac villages where it is all covered/underground. Val Claret has a huge, extremely exposed out door car park that would be hellish in storm, but is magnificent when the sun is out. Parking at Tignes 1800/Les Boisses is very limited for day-trippers and not recommended as such. The lowest village, and easiest to get to if driving on a day trip, is Tignes 1550/Les Brevieres which has ample day parking if arriving early, but note also that it is shade for much of winter and super-cold with icy roads winding narrowly through the town. We have parked here after a huge storm and it appeared clearing the day car park was the last of their priorities ..... b.y.o. shovel!
For tips, hints & warnings about travelling around France in winter, see our Getting Around France page.
Getting Around Tignes
Tignes has a regular & reliable bus service linking all the villages in the resort. The bus is free for skiers / snowboarders, and runs from morning to night every day of the season, but with reduced frequency in the evenings and in inter-season. All villages in Tignes are lift & piste linked to each other, as is Val d'Isere. Diesel powered buses are slowly being replaced by clean electric buses, fantastic for the environment & for decreasing noise & particulate pollution.
Nearby Ski Resorts
Tignes is part of the legendary skiing region called the Tarentaise. Whilst you may not feel the need to visit anywhere else, a festival of wonderful French ski resorts, from mega resorts to 'secret stashes', are within an hour’s drive of Tignes. The world's largest fully interlinked resort, the 3 Vallees (Courchevel, Meribel and Val Thorens), huge Paradiski (Les Arcs and La Plagne) plus the smaller La Rosiere (linked to Italy's La Thuile) & the fabulous Sainte Foy are all close by.
