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Voykit pocket guide · France
Serre-Chevalier
Spend 2–3 days for skiing; add a day for Briançon if you want a town break.
Serre-Chevalier is a large Alpine ski area with 250 km of runs from 1,200‑2,800 m. A short stay covers the main slopes; a longer stay lets you explore nearby Briançon or relax in the spa villages.
- Country
- France
- Best months
- Dec–Mar
- Avoid
- Jun–Aug (limited ski)
- Stay
- 2–3 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 €70–€120 excl. lift pass · Mid €120–€200 excl. lift pass · High €200+ excl. lift pass (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 · Fire and ambulance 15 · General emergency 112
- 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 |
| Croissant | €1.5–€2.5 |
| Ski rental (full day) | €30–€45 |
| Taxi 5 km (3.1 mi)Taxi 3.1 mi (5 km) | €15–€20 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- GNB · Grenoble Alpes–Isère
- ≈2 h 45 min by car
- LYS · Lyon‑Saint‑Exupéry
- ≈3 h by car
- TRN · Turin
- ≈2 h 40 min by car
- MXP · Milan Malpensa
- ≈2 h 40 min by car
Typical fares
- Grenoble → Briançon bus
- ≈ €15, 2 h 45 min (check)
- Ski lift day pass
- ≈ €300 for 6 days (check)
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
Bus from Grenoble or Marseille to Briançon, then local bus or shuttle to ski villages. Car via D1091 (Lautaret) or A51/E712. Within the resort use ski lifts and village shuttles.
See and do
Known for
- 250 km of ski slopes
- Briançon town
- high‑altitude snow
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Briançon | Train from Briançon station (Marseille‑Briançon line) or bus from resort, ~30 min | ≈45 min |
| Gap | Car or bus via N85, ~1 h | ≈1 h 15 min |
Sleep
- Peak Retreats
- Self‑catering apartments, 2‑10 guests, lift‑pass and ski‑school options
- Grand Hotel Serre Chevalier
- 2‑minute walk to lifts, rooms €80‑€230, half‑board available
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 the bill? | L’addition, s’il vous plaîtl’addition s’il vous plaît |
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
- Lift tickets are pricey; check current rates before arrival.
- Snow conditions vary early/late season; verify open runs.
- Night train from Paris arrives late; plan transport to Briançon.
Generally safe; watch mountain weather changes and keep ski equipment secured on lifts.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Serre-Chevalier yet. Suggested stay: 2–3 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- 250 km of ski slopes
- Briançon town
- high‑altitude snow
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Serre-Chevalier, revision 4080544 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4080544
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/serre-chevalier). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.