In short: Tignes isn’t one village but five areas spread along the valley. Three sit at 2,100 m around the lake —Le Lavachet, Le Lac and Val Claret, what the resort calls Tignes 2100—, lower down is Tignes 1800 and, at 1,550 m, Les Brévières. All of them share the Tignes–Val d’Isère ski area with its 300 km of pistes, and free shuttle buses link them.
Val Claret: the sportiest and liveliest
Val Claret is at the head of the valley, closest to the glacier. The tourist office describes it as festive and sporty: après-ski, restaurants and nightlife. It has the slopestyle and big air courses of the Tignes Mountain Shaker and the Lognan competition stadium, next to the Tichot chairlift. Free shuttles link it with Le Lac and Le Lavachet.
Le Lac: the centre of the resort
Le Lac is the heart of Tignes: shops, terraces, the Espace Panorama (in the Maison de Tignes le Lac) and Le Lagon for wellness. In winter you can walk across the frozen lake to Val Claret.
Le Lavachet: quiet, with everything close by
Le Lavachet is the calmest part of Tignes 2100. Restaurants, bars and shops are within walking distance, the lifts are ski-in, and free shuttles reach Le Lac and Val Claret in a few minutes.
Tignes 1800: the family area
Tignes 1800 (also known as Les Boisses) lies between Les Brévières and Le Lac. It was built around a church that recreates the one lost under the dam, and it is designed for families: services on site and a beginners’ area. The Boisses gondola (8 seats) takes you up to the 300 km of pistes, and you can ski back to the village.
Les Brévières: the original village, at 1,550 m
At the foot of the dam, Les Brévières keeps its traditional chalets, larch trees and authentic restaurants. It has a direct link with Tignes 1800, and in summer the banks of the Isère are made for walks and barbecues.
Getting around: free shuttle buses
- Tignes 2100: Le Lavachet, Le Lac and Val Claret.
- Tignes 1800: links Tignes 1800 with Tignes 2100.
- Les Brévières: links Les Brévières with Tignes 1800.
- Tignes – Val d’Isère: between the two resorts.
They run all day in winter and summer (not between seasons; they restart in November with the opening) and they are free. Timetables are in the Tignes app, with real-time tracking. On snowy days they may run late.
Parking in Tignes
There are around 3,500 parking spaces between Les Brévières and Val Claret. Parking is free in summer and autumn and paid from 20 November 2026 to 6 May 2027; in winter you can book online with Indigo (24 hours minimum, and from Friday morning you can no longer book for the following week). The resort recommends arriving after 5 pm and leaving before noon. For electric cars there are 40 charging points at the Le Rosset car park (Le Lac) and 120 at Les Tufs (Val Claret). The Grande Motte motorhome area is closed in winter.
The Grande Motte glacier
It is the highest point of the Tignes–Val d’Isère ski area, at 3,656 m. You get there in about 7 minutes with the Perce-Neige funicular and then the cable car, which tops out at 3,456 m. In July there is summer skiing on the glacier.
Hiring skis wherever you stay
Our shop is in Tignes 1800, halfway between Les Brévières and Tignes 2100, and you can collect your gear from 4 pm the day before your first ski day. Booking online you pay 30% less than at the counter (20% less in holiday weeks): ski hire in Tignes.
Frequently asked questions
Which is the best area to stay in Tignes?
It depends on what you want: Val Claret for atmosphere and après-ski, Le Lac to have everything nearby, Le Lavachet for peace and quiet, Tignes 1800 for families and Les Brévières for a traditional village at lower altitude.
Are the Tignes villages connected?
Yes, by free shuttle buses all day during the season: one between Le Lavachet, Le Lac and Val Claret, one between Tignes 1800 and Tignes 2100 and one between Les Brévières and Tignes 1800.
Are Tignes 1800 and Les Boisses the same?
Yes, Tignes 1800 is the Les Boisses area, between Les Brévières and Le Lac, with the Boisses gondola up to the slopes.
Where can I park in Tignes in winter?
In the resort car parks (around 3,500 spaces), paid from 20 November 2026 to 6 May 2027 and bookable online with Indigo for at least 24 hours.
What altitude is Tignes?
Le Lac, Le Lavachet and Val Claret are at 2,100 m and Les Brévières at 1,550 m. The highest point of the ski area is the Grande Motte glacier, at 3,656 m.
Information from the Tignes tourist office (tignes.net), checked on 15 October 2026.
