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Snowy mountains, pistes and village at Alpe d’Huez, France.
Explore / Alpe d'Huez / Destination Guide

ALPE D'HUEZ

📍Alpe d'Huez, Isere, France

🏞️ Scenic Cruiser👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family Cruiser⬛ Steep & Deep🤙 Local's FavoriteIndependent☀️ Year-round destination

Photo: benjgibbs · CC BY 2.0 · Photo details

⬇️
Vertical drop
7,218 ft*
🗻
Skiable terrain
6,225 acres*
❄️
Avg snowfall
170 in*
🚡
Lifts
84*
☀

Another season up here

BEYOND WINTER

Guided summer glacier hikes reached by the Pic Blanc cable car.

Before you go: Subject to snow conditions; good walking fitness and appropriate mountain equipment are required.

Explore summer activities ↗Make a mountain escape →

GRANDES ROUSSES

Alpe d’Huez sits in the Grandes Rousses above the Romanche Valley. Its high, open setting and broad mountain views give it a different feel from a woo...

THE REGION

Alpe d’Huez sits in the Grandes Rousses above the Romanche Valley. Its high, open setting and broad mountain views give it a different feel from a wooded valley resort. The linked domain includes Auris-en-Oisans, Oz-en-Oisans, Vaujany and Villard-Reculas, so the village you choose shapes your daily journey.

The resort developed around skiing in the 1930s. Its road of 21 bends also became a cycling landmark: a summer outing, alongside hiking and mountain biking. Winter visitors will find a lively resort with learning areas, long descents and time to linger over mountain meals.

THE LOCAL SCENE

Alpe d’Huez has a purpose-built resort feel and a sporting identity shaped by skiing and cycling. Dining choices range from mountain terraces to intimate town restaurants.

La Cabane at Le Poutat offers chalet dining and panoramic views in the Les Bergers sector. Signal 2108 serves regional cooking above the resort, while L’Authentique on avenue des Jeux serves mountain and Italian cooking in a wooden chalet setting.

For a livelier slope-side stop, La Folie Douce combines La Petite Cuisine’s self-service food with live music and a party atmosphere at the top of Marmottes 1.

GETTING THERE

Compare Grenoble, Lyon and Geneva connections around your complete journey to the resort. Grenoble station is a useful rail gateway, with onward buses or a prearranged transfer. The tourism office’s transport directory lists bus and private-transfer operators; check the connection to your accommodation before booking.

The final approach is a mountain-road journey on the famous 21 bends. Allow time for winter conditions and check current road and equipment guidance before departure. Once in the resort, use local transport where it suits your accommodation and chosen ski base.

WHEN TO GO

Choose midwinter for a winter-skiing atmosphere or later-season dates for longer days and time on the terraces. Treat snow and open connections as conditions for the particular day, rather than promises attached to a month. Holiday periods and major events can change the feel of the resort, so compare your dates with the official calendar.

For long routes such as the Sarenne, plan around your group’s stamina, the day’s conditions and the return journey. Summer cycling and hiking make a separate kind of trip.

BEYOND THE SLOPES

The region offers much more than skiing. Here's what else to explore:

🏔️

Pic Blanc Cable Car

Outdoor

A mountain panorama above the resort; check current pedestrian or skier access for your visit.

🏔️

La Sarenne

Outdoor

A long mountain descent for experienced skiers; use the current map and conditions to decide whether it suits your group.

🏔️

Guided snowshoe outings

Outdoor

A change of pace on snow with the mountain guides; ask about routes suited to your group.

🏔️

Cycling the 21 Bends

Outdoor

The Tour de France climb is a summer cycling outing; plan around conditions and road events.

🧘

AgorAlp leisure activities

Wellness

Compare swimming, skating, climbing and other indoor leisure options for a break from skiing.

🏔️

Vaujany Day Trip

Outdoor

Explore another village in the linked ski area, planning around current connections and the return journey.

WHERE TO STAY

Choose your accommodation around its actual lift connection and room format. Daria-I Nor in Eclose reaches the skiing via Alpe Express; central Le Cristal de l’Alpe offers apartments with equipped kitchens and wellness facilities. Au Chamois d’Or offers direct piste access, while Hotel Pic Blanc provides a chalet-style stay close to the slopes.

Hôtel le Refuge suits a straightforward room-and-meals stay, with family rooms and half-board. For an apartment or private rental, check the address, kitchen and daily journey before booking. The linked villages offer other bases, with evening travel and return lifts worth considering.

DESTINATION FACTS

Nearest Town
Alpe d'Huez, France
Population
~1,500 (25,000+ visitors in season)
Elevation
6,102 ft (village base)
Timezone
Central European Time (CET/CEST)

LIVE WEATHER

Real-time conditions for planning your Alpe d'Huez trip

❄️Snow Depth🌨️Precipitation💨Wind🌡️Temperature☁️Visibility

Powered by Ventusky — opens in new tab

Learn to read ski weather maps →

GETTING THERE

✈️
GNB
Grenoble Alpes Isere
About 1–2 hours
✈️
LYS
Lyon-Saint Exupery
About 1.5–2.5 hours

Approximate planning ranges; allow extra time for winter conditions.

Sources & planning context

Historical planning figures · Figures marked * come from earlier references and may differ from current resort figures.

Other names · Alpe d'Huez Grand Domaine

Local recommendations are editorial guidance. Travel times are approximate and depend on your route and conditions.

Typically early December to mid April

A broad planning range from the historical guide, conditions permitting. Use the operator’s schedule for your travel dates.

Official schedules & conditions ↗
Schedule source ↗Official resort ↗
Summer and winter destination
Yes
Source ↗ · Oct 25, 2026
Beyond winter
Guided summer glacier hikes reached by the Pic Blanc cable car.
Source ↗ · Oct 25, 2026
Summer visit planning
Subject to snow conditions; good walking fitness and appropriate mountain equipment are required.
Source ↗ · Oct 25, 2026
Official website
https://www.alpedhuez.com/
Source ↗ · Oct 27, 2026
Runs
111
Source ↗ · Oct 27, 2026
Summit elevation (ft)
10925
Source ↗ · Oct 27, 2026

Historical mountain figures awaiting field-level confirmation: Vertical drop (ft), Skiable area (acres), Lifts, Reported average snowfall (in), Base elevation (ft), Longest run (mi).

Individual listings retain their own sources and check dates. A source check covers only the named details; it does not confirm availability. Snowfall averages describe climate, not a forecast.

Alpe d’Huez — practical questions ↗Local transport, Grenoble connections, linked ski areas, leisure facilities and guided winter outings. · Checked Oct 30, 2026. This check covers these details only.

Alpe d’Huez — access and transport ↗Official directory of buses, taxis and transfer operators. · Checked Oct 30, 2026. This check covers these details only.

Alpe d’Huez — discover the resort ↗Grandes Rousses setting, linked villages, Sarenne and Tunnel, and distinct summer cycling and hiking. · Checked Oct 30, 2026. This check covers these details only.

Daria-I Nor — accommodation ↗Five-star hotel in the Eclose district with contemporary rooms and suites, a restaurant and lounge bar, and a pool and spa. · Checked Oct 30, 2026. This check covers these details only.

CGH Résidences Le Cristal de l'Alpe — accommodation ↗Central Alpe d’Huez apartments with equipped kitchens, an indoor pool and wellness facilities, close to shops and pistes. · Checked Oct 30, 2026. This check covers these details only.

Hôtel le Refuge — accommodation ↗A small hotel with en-suite rooms, family room options and half-board, plus a restaurant, bar and terrace. · Checked Oct 30, 2026. This check covers these details only.

ESF Alpe d’Huez — school and lessons ↗School services, booking and office. · Checked Oct 30, 2026. This check covers these details only.

ESF Alpe d’Huez — Skiez autrement ↗Instructor-led outings vary by difficulty and conditions. · Checked Oct 30, 2026. This check covers these details only.

SPORT 2000 — Alpe d’Huez ski hire ↗Named shops, ski/snowboard rental and booking. · Checked Oct 30, 2026. This check covers these details only.

SPORT 2000 Centre Station ↗Workshop listed at Route du Signal, Centre Station only. · Checked Oct 30, 2026. This check covers these details only.

EasySki — Alpe d’Huez school ↗Local school, office, lesson formats, language and lift-pass exclusion. · Checked Oct 30, 2026. This check covers these details only.

EasySki — equipment rental ↗Optional online equipment package pickup restricted to Galerie de l’Ours Blanc. · Checked Oct 30, 2026. This check covers these details only.

La Cabane | Alpes Isère ↗La Cabane at Le Poutat in Les Bergers, with traditional cooking and a panoramic terrace. · Checked Oct 30, 2026. This check covers these details only.

La Cabane Restaurant d’altitude | Alpe d’Huez ↗Chalet-style mountain restaurant and terrace in Les Bergers. · Checked Oct 30, 2026. This check covers these details only.

Le Restaurant Maître Restaurateur du Signal 2108 ↗Signal 2108 is a mountain restaurant with seasonal regional cooking, a contemporary mountain interior, terrace and views over Alpe d’Huez. Its access page names skier and pedestrian access via Signal and Grande Sûre lifts. · Checked Oct 30, 2026. This check covers these details only.

Authentique (l’) | Oisans official tourism ↗Town restaurant on avenue des Jeux with mountain and Italian cooking and a chalet setting. · Checked Oct 30, 2026. This check covers these details only.

  • Alpe d’Huez official ski passes ↗

    Published winter opening dates, subject to snow and weather.

  • Glacier hike in Alpe d'Huez | Official resort booking site ↗

    Guided summer glacier hikes reached by the Pic Blanc cable car.

  • Alpe d’Huez FAQ ↗

    The official Alpe d’Huez FAQ page supports the asserted static mountain facts. Metric source values are stored in the site's rounded imperial display units.

SEE YOU UP THERE.

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