Tignes holds the Famille Plus label and is one of the cheapest big French resorts for families on lift passes: children under 8 ski free, and the child rate applies right up to 18. The snow is about as reliable as it gets in the Alps. The catch is the altitude and the cold, and a ski area better suited to confident skiers than to tiny beginners.
Is Tignes good for families?
Yes, with a few caveats. What works well:
- Free passes for under-8s and child rates up to and including 18, plus a €300 family discount.
- Free beginner areas with nine free lifts, so learners don’t need a pass at all.
- Snow you can count on, from late November into May, which matters if you’re tied to school holidays.
- Ski-in/ski-out apartments in most villages, so small children don’t have to walk far in boots.
What to weigh up: the main villages are above 2,000 m, it can be bitterly cold in December and January, and only 23 of the 160 runs across the shared area are green.
Ski schools and kids’ lessons in Tignes
Two ESF schools cover the five villages, with offices in Val Claret, Tignes le Lac, Tignes 1800 and Les Brévières, plus one at Club Med.
- The Club Piou-Piou takes little ones from 3 to 5 in a playful snow area.
- Children’s groups run for ages 6 to 12, and teen groups from 13.
- Several other schools and independent instructors teach children, and some let you book a supervised lunch.
The tourist office’s advice is simple: register children before you arrive. In the February holidays, places for the youngest groups go weeks ahead.
Childcare and nurseries in Tignes
Tignes doesn’t have one central nursery, so plan this before you book.
- Many accommodation providers offer childcare as part of their service, so ask when you book.
- The Maisons de Tignes tourist office keeps a list of professional childminders and babysitters (+33 4 79 40 04 40).
- Évolution 2 runs a Winter Camp for children, a Famille Plus approved service.
- Hôtel Club mmv Les Brévières has a baby club from 18 months to 3 years, and its staff take children aged 4 to 13 to and from ESF group lessons.
- Club Med Tignes runs its Petit Club Med from age 2 (at extra cost) and a Mini Club for older children. It has no Baby Club.
Best beginner areas for children in Tignes
- Free beginner areas served by four carpets (Claret, Centre and two at Les Boisses), two drag lifts (Lavachet and Grande Pareï) and three chairlifts (Bollin, Almes and Rosset). No pass needed.
- The fun zone at the foot of the Palafour chairlift in Tignes le Lac, at the bottom of the Anémone piste, with a parallel slalom and a course with tunnels and bells. Free, from 10:00 to 15:30.
- The “Animaux super-héros” fun slope from the top of the Bollin chairlift, with tunnels and mountain-animal characters.
- Green (XS) and blue (S) snowpark lines for children who want to try freestyle.
Tignes lift passes for families
- Children under 8 ski free on the Tignes – Val d’Isère pass.
- The child rate runs up to and including age 18, which helps a lot with teenagers.
- €300 off when you buy at least four passes together, of the same length and dates, including two adults aged 19 to 64 and two children aged 8 to 18. Ask at the checkout.
- Grandparents get a senior rate from 65 and ski free from 75.
Things to do with kids in Tignes off the slopes
- La Banquise, a free igloo village and snow maze open to all.
- Free sledging slopes, plus snowtubing from age 3 and Expedition Cobra, a 3 km toboggan run reached from Tignes le Lac by the Palafour chairlift.
- Dog sledding and pony rides.
- Snowshoeing from 8 and ice floating on the frozen lake from 10.
- Le Lagon aqua centre in Tignes le Lac, with a pool and wellness area.
- A weekly programme of children’s activities run by the resort’s entertainment team.
Best family hotels in Tignes
mmv Les Brévières (baby club from 18 months, lesson escort for 4 to 13-year-olds) and Club Med Tignes (all-inclusive, kids’ clubs from 2) are the most family-focused. Le Levanna in Tignes le Lac is right on the pistes, with a ski school meeting point a few steps away. Tignes le Lac and Tignes 1800 are the easiest villages with young children. See where to stay in Tignes for the full list.
Tips for skiing in Tignes with kids
- Dress for the cold. In December and January, good layers, mittens and face protection matter more here than in lower resorts.
- Take day one gently. Some people feel the altitude at first. Keep children well hydrated and plan a short first day.
- Go lower in bad weather. Tignes 1800 and Les Brévières have trees, which give better visibility on stormy days.
- Use the facilities. There are baby-changing rooms at the Maison de Tignes and at the picnic rooms at the foot of the Tovière and Brévières gondolas.
- Pick your weeks. French and UK school holidays, especially February half-term, are the busiest and most expensive. Late March and April bring softer snow and longer days, which suits learners.
For the bigger picture, read our Tignes ski resort guide.
