Things to do in Alpe d'Huez
And where to stay, the best time to visit, what a day costs, and the traps to skip.
Best time to visit Alpe d'Huez
• a note or something on ✦ an occasion worth the trip
Ski season; February peak, late Feb to early Mar the sweet spot.
Summer season; biking, hiking, the Tour climb.
Shoulder; most lifts and restaurants closed.
What's on
- Tomorrowland Winter March
Electronic festival week; book far ahead or avoid.
- Festival de l'Alpe d'Huez January
Comedy film festival week.
Best things to do in Alpe d'Huez
Alpe d'Huez Grand Domaine Ski
250 km of pistes across five linked villages, best for intermediates.
Pic Blanc
The 3,330 m summit with the resort's big panorama and famous descents.
La Sarenne
16 km black run from Pic Blanc; the resort's stamina test.
Grotte de Glace
Ice cave at 2,700 m with sculptures recarved each winter.
The Tunnel piste
Expert-only piste through a mountain tunnel onto steep moguls.
Palais des Sports et des Congrès
Sports centre with pool, ice rink, climbing wall and cinema.
Night skiing at Signal
Thursday night skiing under lights, sometimes with dinner.
Where to stay in Alpe d'Huez
Town centre (Avenue des Jeux)
Les Bergers
Vieil Alpe
Altiport area
Think twice about
- Satellite villages for nightlife
- Far edges marketed as resort centre
Best restaurants in Alpe d'Huez
La Cabane
Slope restaurant with big terrace; snowcat dinners by reservation.
La Plage des Neiges
Chalet restaurant at 2,030 m; deck chairs on sunny days.
The Tremplin
Cheaper cheerful slope lunch at Bergers with fast service.
Au Montagnard
The town pick for classic Savoyard dishes.
Le Perce Neige
Lively town restaurant; good for a fun group dinner.
Chalet du Lac Besson
Grilled meats by the lake; the setting is the reason.
La Fondu en Folie
Fondue-focused and fun in town.
L'Authentique
Traditional town cooking; a safe good dinner.
Best bars in Alpe d'Huez
La Folie Douce
Slope-side apres-ski institution; dancing on tables by afternoon.
Smithy's Tavern
The late-night venue when dinner is not the end.
Underground Bar
Long-established bar; the pre-dinner or post-slope drink.
Outdoor things to do in Alpe d'Huez
The 21 hairpins by bike
The Tour de France climb from Bourg d'Oisans; ride it in summer.
Lac Besson
Small mountain lake; easy family walk in summer, snowshoes in winter.
Brandes archaeological site
Excavated medieval mining village, the highest of its kind in Europe.
Vaujany
The prettiest linked village; quieter ski days and village terraces.
Auris-en-Oisans
Family-oriented satellite village on the sunny south slope.
Best hotels in Alpe d'Huez
Au Chamois d'Or
The resort's five-star by the ski school meeting point.
Daria-I Nor
Newer luxury hotel with big spa and two restaurants.
Hôtel Les Grandes Rousses
Historic four-star, central and ski-in ski-out.
Hôtel Le Pic Blanc
Four-star in the Bergers quarter with mountain views.
Is Alpe d'Huez expensive? What a day costs
| Budget | €90 a person |
|---|---|
| Classic | €175 a person |
| Splurge | €350 a person |
A day of food, drink, sights and getting around, before the room
What to book ahead
- La Cabane: a few days ahead
- Au Chamois d'Or: months ahead
- Daria-I Nor: months ahead
- Hôtel Les Grandes Rousses: weeks ahead
- Hôtel Le Pic Blanc: weeks ahead
- February half-term and New Year: book accommodation months ahead.
- La Cabane snowcat dinner: reserve ahead.
- ESF ski school in peak weeks: book lessons before arrival.
Is Alpe d'Huez safe?
- Stay on marked pistes; off-piste is serious high-mountain terrain, hire a guide. Pace yourself at 3,330 m on day one. Emergency: 15, 17, or 112.
Alpe d'Huez travel tips: tourist traps to skip
- South-facing slopes turn to slush early on spring afternoons; ski high after lunch.
- Check the real walk to the lift behind ski-in ski-out claims.
- Better Savoyard cooking sits one street back from the main drag.
Getting around Alpe d'Huez: public transport and more
- Nearest airports: Grenoble (1.5 hours), Lyon (2 hours); bus or shared shuttle transfers.
- Centre is walkable; free winter shuttle buses link outlying quarters.
- Summer lifts (Televillage, DMC, Pic Blanc) carry bikers and hikers.
Who Alpe d'Huez suits
| Solo travellers | Good |
|---|---|
| Groups of friends | Great |
| Couples | Great |
| Bachelor parties | Good |
| Families | Great |
| Bachelorette parties | Good |
Make Alpe d'Huez your trip
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