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Les Deux Alpes

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Year-Round Glacier Skiing and Adventure

Grenoble stands in the heart of the French Alps, where mountains meet rivers and city life flows with outdoor adventure. The town sits at the crossroads of three valleys, making it a gateway to skiing, hiking and climbing. Its mix of old stone buildings and modern architecture reflects centuries of history alongside new energy. Public transport connects neighborhoods easily, while markets and cafes line streets filled with locals and visitors alike. Grenoble’s location provides quick access to high-altitude trails and winter sports without leaving the urban setting.

Town in France
Climate zone: Boreal

Boreal: Cool-summer subarctic climates with brief mild seasons, long cold winters and coniferous forests adapted to low temperatures.

See climate table
Price level: $$$
$Cheap
$$Medium
$$$Expensive, upscale
$$$+Very expensive, luxury
See price details
Safety: 6.3
General Safety:5
Health & medical:8
Accessibility:8
Tap water:9
Read details
Tourist English: 3/5
English is widely spoken in hotels, ski schools, and restaurants catering to tourists, but less common among older locals and in smaller shops. Basic French phrases are appreciated, especially outside the main tourist areas.
Last update: 12 Oct 2026
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Les Deux Alpes Summary

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Great for glacier skiing and mountain adventure. Ski year-round glacier slopes, hike alpine trails and enjoy lively après-ski resorts.
Place score
7.5
Best at:
Snow
10
Skiing
10
Spotless
8
Mountains
7
Natural sites
7
Personal score
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Suited for
👶 9
Families
🧓 8
Seniors
❤️ 9
Couples
🛡️ 8
Travel Beginners
France – Quick facts
Power Grid: 230 V, 50 Hz
Plug: Type C , Type E
Type C:
Diagram of a Type C power plug
Type E:
Diagram of a Type E power plug

Read about power adapters
Currency: Euro (EUR)
£1 ≈ €1.19
Cashless info: Rating 5/5
Cashless payments are widely accepted, especially in cities and tourist areas.

Save with a travel credit card
eSIM providers: Best value: Saily
Flexibility: Airalo
Read our in-depth comparison
Tipping: Tipping is optional but appreciated in restaurants (5-10%) and for exceptional service.
Public drinking: Public drinking is allowed in designated areas, but restrictions apply in some cities.
Public smoking: Smoking is banned in indoor public spaces but common in outdoor cafes.
Bastille Day
(July)
Parades and fireworks occur nationwide.
Easter
(March/April)
Cultural celebrations and closures.
Christmas
(December)
Markets and festive events.
Emergency contact: Emergency Numbers: 112 (EU emergency), 15 (Ambulance), 17 (Police), 18 (Fire)
Taxi apps: Uber, Bolt, Heetch
Other: France offers diverse experiences, from art and culture to nature and cuisine. Be cautious in crowded areas.
Best times to travel

The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.

Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.

Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.

Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.

Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.

for Les Deux Alpes, France
🌨️
Jan
🌨️
Feb
❄️
Mar
🌤️
Apr
🌤️
May
🌤️
Jun
☀️
Jul
☀️
Aug
🌤️
Sep
🌤️
Oct
❄️
Nov
🌨️
Dec
High season: Jan. - March, July - Aug., Dec.
Shoulder season: April
Crowdedness: 7 (Many tourists)
Tap on a month for more info Hover over a month for more info
Ski season mid December to late April, glacier skiing late June to August
Most lifts, hotels and restaurants closed May to mid June and September to mid December
French school holidays in February: very crowded, book lodging and lift passes well ahead

Why travel to Les Deux Alpes?

Les Deux Alpes stands out for its exceptional snow reliability thanks to the Glacier de Mont-de-Lans, which allows for skiing even in summer months – a rare treat in the Alps. The resort boasts an impressive 220km of pistes catering to all levels, with plenty of wide, gentle slopes for beginners and challenging off-piste terrain for experts. Beyond skiing, the resort has developed a reputation for freestyle with its world-class snowpark and halfpipe. In summer, the area transforms into a mountain biking and hiking haven, with trails crisscrossing the alpine meadows and lift systems operating to take visitors and their bikes up the mountains. However, Les Deux Alpes isn't without its drawbacks. The town itself lacks the traditional Alpine charm of some neighboring resorts, with a somewhat functional architectural style from its 1960s development. The layout is quite linear and stretched along a road, which can mean long walks between accommodations and lifts. During peak season, lift lines can be frustratingly long, especially at the main gondolas. The glacier, while offering year-round skiing, can become crowded and slushy on warm summer days. Additionally, the resort sits at a relatively high altitude, which can cause altitude sickness for some visitors not properly acclimatized.

🏯Places worth seeing
  • 1 Ice caves
  • 2 Belvédère des Écrins
  • 3 Avenue de la Muzelle
🎡Places for activities
  • 1 Snowpark
  • 2 Bike park de Bourg-d'Oisans
  • 3 Venosc
  • 4 Vallée Blanche
🏞️Natural landmarks
  • 1 Parc national des Écrins (cœur)
  • 2 Glacier de Mont-de-Lans
  • 3 Grande Roche de la Muzelle
🎈Events
  • Rise Festival (electronic music)
  • Mondial du Snowboard
  • Mountain of Hell (mountain bike race)
  • Summer Glacier Opening
  • Outdoor Festival

Knowledge before you go

  • Get glacier lift pass. Ski Europe's largest skiable glacier year-round.
  • Easiest blues found at 3600m glacier top; blacks and moguls dominate lower slopes.
  • December-April winter season; summer glacier skiing June-September with reliable snow.
  • Access legendary La Grave off-piste from glacier top for extreme freeride terrain.

How to travel to Les Deux Alpes

The nearest major airports are Grenoble (1.5 hours), Lyon (2 hours) and Geneva (2.5 hours), all with regular shuttle services to the resort during winter. By train, the closest station is Grenoble, followed by a bus connection to Les Deux Alpes (approximately 1.5 hours). If driving, the resort is accessible via the A48 autoroute to Grenoble, then following the RN91 towards Briançon, though winter tires or chains are essential during snow season.

Access summary

  • From Grenoble Airport (GNB): Shared shuttle or car, usually about 1.5–2 hours.
  • From Grenoble city: Direct buses or shuttle services, roughly 1.5–2.5 hours.
  • From Lyon Airport (LYS): Ski transfer or car via Grenoble, typically around 2.5 hours.

Where to stay in Les Deux Alpes

Accommodation in Les Deux Alpes ranges from luxury hotels and apartments to more budget-friendly options and self-catering rentals. Most are concentrated along the main avenue, with newer developments at the Venosc end of town. For a quieter stay, consider accommodations in Venosc village, connected to the main resort by gondola. Book well in advance for peak weeks (Christmas, New Year, February school holidays) when prices surge.

How to get around Les Deux Alpes

The resort is stretched along one main street (Avenue de la Muzelle), making it easy to navigate on foot, though it can be a long walk from one end to the other. Free shuttle buses run regularly throughout the resort during winter season, connecting different areas and accommodations to the main lifts. For trips to the traditional village of Venosc below, there's a gondola that operates year-round.
Budget snapshot
Costs compared to home

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-5 %
Daily expenses in the region are around 5% lower than the average across United States. That means you'll spend around the same on meals and getting around.
Exchange rate trend

The exchange rate price factor shows how expensive or cheap a currency currently is compared to its historical average. It's a quick way to see if a country is currently more or less affordable due to exchange rate changes.

-3 %
Your exchange rate (GBP to EUR) is 3% better than in recent years. That means travelling now costs around the same compared to the past.

Travel costs (Data for Grenoble, France - 37 km away)

To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when travelling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.

Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.

Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.

Daily cost summary

Travel style categories explained:

Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.

Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.

Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.

Backpacker Mid-range Luxury
💵 Total costs per day, including accommodation
£61
£143
£378
🏨 Accommodation per night, per person
£23
£68
£150
🍝 Food per day
£31
£66
£196
🚕 Transportation per day
£8
£9
£32
Notable additional fees: Adult day pass about €62 (£51.90). Ski, boot and pole hire runs roughly €25 – 35 (£20.93 – 29.30) a day or around €140 (£117.19) for a six-day set booked online.
Food & Drink
🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person
£22
🍛 Lunch Set, per person
£14
🍟 Fast food combo
£10.50
🍝 Preparing your own food, per day
£10
☕ Cappuccino
£2.70
🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l
£5.50
Transportation
🚌 Public transport ticket
£1.80
🚕 Taxi Ride, 10 km / 6 mi
£19
⛽ Petrol, 1 l
£1.50
Other
🎞️ Cinema ticket
£12.50
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's consult
£25
🤧 Cold medication
£4.70
💇 Basic haircut
£14

Safety information overview

General safety
5
Les Deux Alpes is generally very safe with low crime rates. The main risks are related to mountain activities — follow ski area rules, check weather forecasts before hiking/biking and be aware of rapid weather changes and altitude effects.
Health & Medical
8
The resort has a medical center with doctors experienced in treating ski injuries and altitude-related issues. For serious emergencies, larger hospitals are in Grenoble. Altitude sickness can affect some visitors — stay hydrated and acclimatize gradually.
Accessi­bility
8
The steep terrain presents challenges for those with mobility issues, though the main street is relatively flat. Some accommodations and restaurants are accessible, but the nature of mountain resorts means steps and inclines are common.
Tap water
9
Tap water is safe to drink and of excellent quality, coming directly from mountain sources. Bring a reusable bottle to stay hydrated, especially important at high altitude to prevent altitude sickness.

Packing recommendations for Les Deux Alpes

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