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Voykit pocket guide · France
Tignes
Spend 2–3 days in Tignes: 1 day for core ski runs, another for mountain‑bike or hike; add a half‑day if you want glacier skiing.
Tignes is a high‑altitude Alpine resort with a huge ski area (Espace Killy) and summer mountain‑bike trails. A short stay covers the main lifts; longer stays let you explore the glacier or hike nearby valleys.
- Country
- France
- Best months
- Dec–Apr (ski), Jun–Sep (hike/bike)
- Avoid
- May (low snow) and late Oct (closing lifts)
- 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 €60–80 excl. lift pass · Mid €80–130 excl. lift pass · High €130+ 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 18 · Medical emergency 15
- 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 a café | €2–3 |
| Bottled water (1 L) | €1–2 |
| Ski rental (full day) | €30–45 |
| Mountain‑bike hire (half‑day) | €20–35 |
| Meal at a restaurant (main dish) | €12–25 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- GVA · Geneva International Airport
- About 2 h drive; shuttle services available
- LYS · Lyon–Saint‑Exupéry Airport
- About 4 h drive; train to Bourg‑Saint‑Maurice then coach
Typical fares
- Coach Tignes ↔ Bourg‑Saint‑Maurice
- ≈ €25 round‑trip (check)
- 6‑day lift pass Espace Killy
- €278 (2026 estimate)
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
Village is compact; walk or use free shuttle buses. Cars are discouraged; lifts and cable cars give direct slope access.
See and do
Known for
- Espace Killy ski area
- Glacier skiing
- Mountain‑bike trails
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Bourg‑Saint‑Maurice | Coach from Tignes village, about 1 h 15 min (check schedules) | ≈ 1 h 30 min |
| Val‑d'Isère | Ski lift within Espace Killy, 5 min ride | ≈ 10 min |
Sleep
- Hotel and chalet options
- 4‑star hotels, apartments and chalets throughout the village; book early in peak season.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Bonjourbonʒuʀ |
| Thank you | Mercimɛʀsi |
| How much? | C’est combien ?se kɔ̃bjɛ̃ |
| Where is the lift? | Où est le téléski ?u ɛ lə tɛlɛski |
| I need a doctor | J’ai besoin d’un médecinʒe bəzwɛ̃ dœ̃ medɛsɛ̃ |
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 required for the whole Espace Killy area; a 6‑day pass costs €278 (2026 estimate).
- High altitude: stay hydrated and acclimatise to avoid altitude sickness.
- Winter weather can close some lifts; check the official lift‑pass site for current status.
Tignes is safe for tourists; main risks are avalanches on off‑piste terrain and altitude‑related issues. Follow local safety advice.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Tignes yet. Suggested stay: 2–3 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Espace Killy ski area
- Glacier skiing
- Mountain‑bike trails
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikidata – Tignes: www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12345
- Wikivoyage: Tignes, revision 5319892 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5319892
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/tignes). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.