Ski resorts
Val d’Isère: skiing in Espace Killy and where to stay
Olympic runs, a real Savoyard village and après-ski that set the standard for the whole of the Alps. This is Val d’Isère, and the hotels that put you in the middle of it.
Val d’Isère has something many high-altitude resorts lack: a real village. Stone houses and timber beams meet some of the best skiing in the Alps, and when the sun sinks low over the mountains, the terraces fill with people in no hurry to head home.
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Runs with Olympic history
At the 1992 Winter Olympics the men’s downhill was raced on La Face de Bellevarde in Val d’Isère, and it remains one of the best-known runs in the Alps. Together with Tignes, Val d’Isère forms the Espace Killy ski area, named after ski legend Jean-Claude Killy.
Après-ski on the mountain
La Folie Douce began in Val d’Isère and has become a byword across the Alps, with dancing on the terrace in the middle of the slopes. Down in the village, restaurants and bars await for a quieter evening.
Getting to Val d’Isère
The nearest airports are Geneva, Lyon and Chambéry. Trains run to Bourg-Saint-Maurice, from where you take a bus or transfer up to Val d’Isère.
A day in Val d’Isère
There is something special about walking through Val d’Isère early in the morning. The stone houses huddle in the snow, smoke rises from the chimneys, and the bakeries have already opened their doors. Then you take the gondola up, and suddenly you are standing at the top of a mountain with the whole of Espace Killy before you.
The day can be spent on wide pistes or steep terrain, depending on how brave you feel. And when the afternoon comes, there are few places in the Alps where the après-ski feels quite so genuine, with music drifting from the terraces and laughter echoing between the mountainsides.
When is the best time to visit Val d’Isère?
Val d’Isère sits high and often has good snow from early December. January brings cold, clear days and shorter queues, while March and April offer sunshine, long days and a more relaxed mood. Christmas week, half term and Easter are the busiest periods.
Skiing with children in Val d’Isère
The village has ski schools and dedicated areas for children and beginners. Choose a hotel close to the lifts or along the ski bus route to avoid long walks with kit, and spend the evening on hot chocolate rather than logistics.
Tips before you book
Choose a lift pass for the whole of Espace Killy if you want to ski over to Tignes. Book restaurants in advance in high season, and consider a hotel with a spa, which works wonders after long days on the slopes.
Food and evenings in Val d’Isère
Val d’Isère is a village where the evenings matter as much as the days. Along its streets you will find restaurants serving everything from rustic Savoyard dishes to more refined French cooking, often with long wine lists. Fondue and raclette taste even better after a day in the cold, and many hotels have their own restaurants that make it tempting to stay in.
After dinner you can enjoy a drink in one of the bars in the centre, or take a quiet evening stroll between the lit stone houses. The snow glows blue in the dark and the mountains stand like shadows above the village. It is in these moments that you understand why so many people return here year after year.
Where to stay in Val d’Isère
Stay in the village for après-ski and restaurants, or by the slopes for ski-in/ski-out access. Here are three favourites.
Hôtel Barmes de l’Ours: ski-in/ski-out and spa
A luxury hotel with ski-in/ski-out access and a spa.
Book your stay: See rooms at Hôtel Barmes de l’Ours
Hôtel Avenue Lodge: in the heart of the village
A hotel with a spa, close to the ski area.
Book your stay: See rooms at Hôtel Avenue Lodge
Hôtel Christiania: luxury by the gondola
A luxury hotel with a spa, close to the L’Olympique gondola.
Book your stay: See rooms at Hôtel Christiania
Want to compare? See all our ski resorts or read about skiing in Val Thorens.
Frequently asked questions about skiing in Val d’Isère
Where should I stay in Val d’Isère?
Hôtel Barmes de l’Ours offers ski-in/ski-out access and a spa, Hôtel Christiania is close to the L’Olympique gondola, and Hôtel Avenue Lodge keeps the village and the slopes within easy reach.
What is Espace Killy?
Espace Killy is the ski area linking Val d’Isère and Tignes. It is named after the French ski legend Jean-Claude Killy.
How do you get to Val d’Isère?
Fly to Geneva, Lyon or Chambéry and take the train to Bourg-Saint-Maurice. From there, buses and transfers run up to Val d’Isère.
Where is the best après-ski in Val d’Isère?
La Folie Douce on the slopes is the best known, with dancing on the terrace in the afternoon. The village also has plenty of bars and restaurants.