landmark
Pic Blanc Summit
Reach 3,330 metres for views spanning Mont Blanc to the Écrins. Board the main cable car at opening to beat cloud cover.
Parley से पूछेंफ़्रांस
Alpe d'Huez
Sun-drenched alpine plateau defined by steep climbs and slopes.
introduction
Overview
Alpe d'Huez sits on a south-facing alpine shelf at 1,860 metres above the Oisans valley. You move between its tiered sectors using free shuttle buses and connecting bucket lifts. Expect extensive high-altitude terrain, reliable sunshine, and steep valley access roads.
The 21 Hairpin Bends
The 13.8-kilometre road from Bourg d'Oisans climbs 1,110 vertical metres. Each bend bears a sign honoring past Tour de France stage winners.
Skip the peak lift lines
Board the DMC 1 cable car before 08:45 to avoid morning queue bottlenecks. Alternatively, use the Marmottes 1 lift to reach high sectors faster.
Alpe d'Huez
Thibaut CHMARA · CC BY-SA 3.0
Huez Village — Traditional alpine settlement sitting 400 metres below the main modern ski resort plateau.
Édouard Hue (User:EdouardHue) · CC BY-SA 3.0
Tartiflette served hot at an alpine restaurant on the slopes.
Benoît Prieur · CC0highlights
Highlights
landmark
Sarenne Run
A 16-kilometre black piste dropping 2,000 vertical metres. Ski it in early morning before ice patches form on the steep top wall.
Parley से पूछें
landmark
21 Hairpin Bends
The legendary climb from Bourg d'Oisans to the resort. Ride early in summer to avoid heavy midday heat and tour bus exhaust.
Parley से पूछेंattractions
On the map
areas
Where life happens
Huez Village
Traditional alpine settlement sitting 400 metres below the main modern ski resort plateau.
Old charmPeaceful baseLower rates
समझौताRequires taking the Télévillage cable car to reach the main mountain slopes.
पास मेंTélévillage cable car station, local heritage museum.
Parley से पूछेंCognet / Centre Town
Central, practical, and busy. Connects commercial streets directly to the main lift station hub.
NightlifeShoppingCentral access
समझौताHeavy pedestrian traffic and elevated street noise late into the evening.
पास मेंDMC cable car base, Palais des Sports, municipal swimming pool.
Parley से पूछेंLes Bergers
Purpose-built base area dominated by modern ski-in, ski-out apartment complexes.
Ski-in ski-outSki schoolsFamily convenience
समझौताArchitectural concrete feel with few independent traditional dining spots.
पास मेंMarmottes lift station, ski school meeting points, shopping centre.
Parley से पूछेंÉclose
Quieter residential hillside sector linking the higher center to lower transit lines.
Quiet nightsNew chaletsSlope access
समझौताUphill walks to main nightlife when the Télécentre lift closes at 19:00.
पास मेंTélécentre bucket lift, Alpe Express cable car, local bakeries.
Parley से पूछेंfood
High-altitude Oisans dining
Mountain restaurants in Alpe d'Huez lean heavily on Savoyard staples, but local Oisans specialties stand apart on menus across the resort. Farçon, a slow-baked dish of grated potatoes, bacon, raisins, and prunes, is native to Haute-Savoie and Savoie, meaning this savoury-sweet specialty is widely found across northern Alps resorts rather than being unique to Oisans. Reblochon cheese dominates standard baked dishes, yet local places serve *gratin dauphinois* made strictly with garlic, cream, and potatoes without cheese additions.
Tartiflette served hot at an alpine restaurant on the slopes.
Benoît Prieur · CC0- Reserve on-piste lunches early
High-altitude terraces fill completely between 12:30 and 13:30. Phone ahead the morning of your ski day to secure table spots outdoors.
- Supermarket pricing gaps
The Spar in Les Bergers charges higher margins than the Casino supermarket down in Cognet. Buy weeklong provisions in Cognet.
history
A short history
Alpe d'Huez evolved from high mountain pastures used by farmers from the lower village of Huez into an international sports center. The invention of the pommel drag lift here in 1936 transformed the alpine plateau into a pioneer winter sports resort. Road cycling cemented its global fame when the Tour de France introduced the summit finish in 1952.
- 1936
First surface lift
Jean Pomagalski builds his first cable drag lift on the slopes, revolutionising uphill mountain transport.
- 1952
Tour de France debut
Fausto Coppi wins the first Tour de France stage finish at Alpe d'Huez after tackling the 21 hairpins.
- 1968
Olympic bobsleigh
The resort hosts the bobsleigh events for the 1968 Grenoble Winter Olympics on a purpose-built track.
where to stay
Where to stay
Choose your sector by your priority: immediate slope access, evening activity, or lower accommodation costs. The resort layout relies on vertical tiers, so location determines how easily you move around at night.
- Budget travellersHuez Village — Lower room rates in an authentic stone village linked by cable car to the main resort.
Live rates, matched to the areas above.
Hôtel Club MMV Les Bergers
Parley से पूछेंtransport
Getting around
You do not need a car inside Alpe d'Huez. Free resort shuttles (*Navettes Gratuit*) sweep through every sector continuously throughout the day, while pedestrian bucket lifts bridge vertical gaps between upper and lower quarters.
Grenoble Railway Station से
- Public Bus (Cars Région T84)1h 35m€12 - €17
Departs from Gare Routière adjacent to train station. Advance booking recommended in peak winter.
- Seasonal Express Shuttle (Transaltitude)1h 30m€15 - €22
Direct winter ski shuttle. Online reservation mandatory before boarding.
- Taxi1h 15m - 1h 30m€140 - €200
Ranks outside station. Night (19:00-07:00), Sunday, and luggage surcharges apply.
- Rideshare (BlaBlaCar)1h 15m - 1h 30m€6 - €12
Pickups usually near Gare de Grenoble; check driver's luggage space for ski gear.
This urban cable car links Les Bergers, Éclose, and the town center efficiently until early evening.
Circuits run every 10 to 15 minutes across three main routes from 08:00 until 19:00 daily.
cost
What things cost
Alpe d'Huez commands high-season ski resort pricing, particularly for mid-mountain dining and gear rentals. Booking lift passes online ahead of arrival reduces ticket window costs.
- Adult 1-day ski pass: €62 – €68
Grants full access to the Grande Domaine ski area including Pic Blanc lifts.
- On-mountain espresso: €3.50 – €4.50
Standard price across mountain terraces and slope side huts.
- Piste-side lunch main: €18 – €28
Covers heartier dishes like tartiflette or burgers at mountain restaurants.
- Daily ski equipment rental: €25 – €45
Varies by gear tier; pre-booking online secures substantial discounts.
seasonality
When to go
DEC – JAN
Cold, reliable snow cover with short days. French holiday weeks bring high accommodation demand.
भीड़
Snow
FEB – MAR
Peak ski conditions with longer sunny days. Book months in advance to secure reasonable lodging.
भीड़
Snow
APR
Spring skiing with soft snow by afternoon. Lower sectors suffer spring melt while top sector stays firm.
भीड़
Snow
JUN – SEP
Summer road cycling season. Tens of thousands of cyclists arrive to tackle the 21 hairpin climb.
भीड़
Snow
practicalities
Good to know
- High solar exposure
The south-facing orientation means strong UV intensity. Wear high SPF sunscreen even on overcast winter days.
- Altitude adjustment
The village sits at 1,860 metres. Drink extra water during your first 48 hours to prevent altitude headaches.
- Lift closures in wind
High winds shut the Pic Blanc cable car quickly. Check status boards at DMC base before buying single tickets.
- Medical center location
The primary resort medical center is located in Cognet near the central roundabout.
- Language in resort
English is widely spoken across hotels, lift stations, and ski schools throughout the valley.