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Resort comparison · 2026/27

Tignes vs Les Arcs: which suits your ski trip?

A side-by-side comparison on the things that change a ski week: altitude, how much terrain and of what difficulty, what the lift pass costs and how far each is from the airport.

TignesLes Arcs
Ski areaTignes - Val d'IsèreLes Arcs
Top / base altitude3,456 m / 1,550 m3,226 m / 1,200 m
Vertical drop1,906 m2,026 m
Mapped pistes300 km200 km
Lifts7148
Green & blue runs56%57%
Black & harder11%13%
Six-day adult pass€468 (≈ €78/day)–
Nearest airport transferChambéry, 142 km (2 h), from €395Chambéry, 143 km (2 h), from €423

Ski-area figures are OpenSkiMap mapped data (OpenStreetMap contributors, 10 October 2026) for the whole linked area each village belongs to. Pass prices from official 2026/27 tariffs; transfers from partner route pages.

France flagFrance

Choose Tignes for…

  • higher skiing (top 3,456 m) for snow-sure early and late season
  • a higher base (1,550 m), so more snow down to the village
  • more terrain (300 km of mapped pistes)

France flagFrance

Choose Les Arcs for…

No clear edge on our measures: choose it for the village and accommodation that suit you.

Frequently asked questions

Which is bigger, Tignes or Les Arcs?

Tignes: about 300 km of mapped pistes and 71 lifts in Tignes - Val d'Isère, against 200 km and 48 lifts in Les Arcs.

Which is higher, Tignes or Les Arcs?

Tignes reaches 3,456 m (base 1,550 m); Les Arcs reaches 3,226 m (base 1,200 m). Higher resorts usually hold snow better early and late in the season.

Which is easier to get to?

Tignes: Chambéry, 142 km (2 h), from €395. Les Arcs: Chambéry, 143 km (2 h), from €423.

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