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Voykit pocket guide · France
Alpe d'Huez
Spend 2 days: one for skiing or summer mountain activities, another for the Tour de France climb or local sights.
Alpe d'Huez is a high‑altitude Alpine resort offering extensive ski terrain in winter and iconic cycling climbs in summer; a short stay covers the main lifts, a ski run, and the famous 21‑hairpin ascent.
- Country
- France
- Best months
- Dec–Mar for snow; Jun–Aug for cycling and hiking
- Avoid
- Late April–May (variable snow, limited lift opening)
- Stay
- 2 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- EUR
- Money
- Currency is the euro (EUR, €). Contactless cards work in most shops, cafés and restaurants.
- Daily spend
- Budget €60–80 excl. bed · Mid €80–130 excl. bed · High €130+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Orange, SFR, Bouygues Télécom and Free sell prepaid SIMs in their shops and at tabacs; ID is required to register.
- Emergency
- Police 17 · Ambulance / SAMU 15 · Fire 18
- Plugs
- Types C, E · 230 V · 50 Hz · Round two-pin plugs; type E sockets have an earth pin sticking out, so Schuko (type F) plugs need a C/E hybrid or an adapter.
- Tipping
- Café or bar: Leave small change, €0.20–1.; Restaurant: Service is included; leave 5–10% in cash for good service.; Taxi: Round up to the next euro or two.; Hotel porter or housekeeping: €1–2 per bag or per night.; Tour guide: €5–10 per person for a half day, more for private guides.
- Water
- Tap water is safe everywhere unless signed otherwise. Restaurants must serve a free carafe of tap water on request.
- Toilets
- Paris has free automatic public toilets (sanisettes); elsewhere use cafés (buy a coffee), museums and stations, where some charge €0.50–1.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee in café | €2–3 |
| Mountain lunch (sandwich, soup) | €8–12 |
| Ski lift ticket (full day) | €45–55 |
| Taxi (10 km (6.2 mi))Taxi (6.2 mi (10 km)) | €30–40 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- AHZ · Alpe d'Huez Altiport
- General aviation only; no scheduled flights
Typical fares
- Grenoble → Alpe d'Huez shuttle
- Free (check schedule)
- Ski lift day‑pass
- ≈ €45 (check price)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Free shuttle bus runs up and down the mountain and serves the altiport; taxis available; private cars use D1085/D1091 roads.
See and do
Known for
- Skiing with 249 km of pistes
- Tour de France 21‑hairpin climb
- Altiport AHZ
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Grenoble | Bus T75 to Bourg d'Oisans, change to T76; about 1 h 30 min total | ≈1 h 30 min |
Sleep
- Ecrins Lodge
- Chalet on town outskirts, catered accommodation
- Résidence La Géode
- 3‑apartment complex near ski runs
- Résidence Pierre & Vacances Les Bergers
- Resort residence with restaurant, pool, sauna
- Résidence Pierre & Vacances L'Ours Blanc
- Wood‑decorated building with direct rink access
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | Pardonpardon |
| Thank you | Mercimerci |
| How much is it? | C’est combien ?c'est combien |
| Where is the lift? | Où est le téléski ?où est le téléski |
| Can I have a map? | Puis-je avoir une carte ?puis-je avoir une carte |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Say 'bonjour madame/monsieur' on entering any shop, bus or office; avoid: Asking a question before saying bonjour — it is read as rude
- Cheek kisses (la bise): Follow the other person's lead; one to four kisses depending on region; avoid: Initiating la bise with strangers or in business
- Addressing people: Use 'vous' and titles until invited otherwise; avoid: First names and 'tu' with older people or staff
- Restaurants: Wait to be seated in restaurants; call the waiter 'monsieur' or 'madame'; avoid: 'Garçon', snapping fingers, asking for the bill before you are finished
- Conversation: Debate is a pleasure; food, politics and philosophy are fair game; avoid: Asking about salary or religion; loud voices on trains
- Dinner at a home: Bring flowers (not chrysanthemums), chocolates or a good bottle; arrive 10–15 minutes late; avoid: Cutting the tip off a cheese wedge or asking for ketchup
- Dress: Smart-casual in cities; covered shoulders in churches; avoid: Beachwear in town centres
Scams and watch-outs
- Winter lift opening dates vary; check the resort website each season.
- Shuttle bus may be limited outside ski season; verify schedule.
- High altitude can cause rapid fatigue; acclimatise before long climbs.
Alpe d'Huez is safe for tourists; main risks are weather‑related (avalanches, sudden storms) and altitude effects.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Alpe d'Huez yet. Suggested stay: 2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Skiing with 249 km of pistes
- Tour de France 21‑hairpin climb
- Altiport AHZ
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Transaltitude shuttle info: www.transaltitude.fr/en/
- Local bus operator: carsisere.auvergnerhonealpes.fr/
- Altiport AHZ: www.avionhuez.com/a-propos-5
- Wikivoyage: Alpe d'Huez, revision 5181432 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5181432
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/alpe-dhuez). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.