Val d'Isere is an important ski station in the Savoie department of the Rhone-Alps. The resort is within the eastern part of the Vanoise National Park a few kilometres south-east of Tignes and about 20 kilometres south-east of Les Arcs Bourg-Saint-Maurice.
The conversion of Val d'Isere from small mountain village to major resort came a little later than Chamonix to the north, starting from around the early 1930's. In 1936 the road across the mountain to val d'Isere was complete - and the transformation could start in force. It is now one of the best known ski stations in the world.
Explore Val d'Isere
At an altitude of 1850 metres, the traditional village of Val d'Isere is now an and Alpine ski resort of international renown. Unusually, more than half the visitors to the resort are from overseas. The important 'Alpine Ski World Cup' competition is held here each year, and the resort has also played host to the winter Olympics.
The winter season in Val d'Isere is from early December to the end of April.
As well as skiing numerous other mountain related activities are also available, from mountain climbing and hiking to ice-skating and husky sledge rides, and there is a snowpark to enable you to try new ski experiences. Val d'Isere is also one of the few resorts to offer the chance to drive a car on ice.
If all that is too active for you, time your visit for one of the many skiing events held in Val d'Isere, and watch how the professionals do it or relax in the leisure pool or take a sauna...
Val d'Isere also has a large number of shops, bars and restaurants to satisfy the needs of the many visitors that come here during the winter months. In all there are more than 200 restaurants, shops, ski rental shops and other businesses, and the resort is very lively in the evening.
Happily there have been successful efforts to preserve the town's original architectural style with stone and wood buildings and there are some interesting traditional buildings to be seen in the town, such as the baroque style church. Some of the apartment blocks are perhaps rather larger than we might hope to find in a traditional village, but that is an inevitable consequence of the resort's popularity.
Families will be pleased to know that there is a creche available for the youngest children (from 18 months old) and an active children's club for children up to 13 years old that offers a very interesting range of activities.
During the summer months the focus of the resort changes, with hiking being the most popular activity, along with road cycling, climbing, fishing, hangliding and mountain bikes. An added bonus, the ski lifts are available and free during the summer in Val d'Isere.
Attractions nearby
The principal appeal of Val d'Isere is because it offers access to one of the largest, most popular and most attractive skiing resorts in the Alps. As well as the many ski runs in Val d'Isere, together with the neighbouring resort of Tignes it forms the region called 'Espace Killy'.
The Espace Killy ski region contains 300 kilometres of ski runs, accessed by 90 different ski lifts, to ensure that everyone can find a suitable challenge regardless of level of skill and experience. A large part of the ski area is above 2200 metres altitude.
There is a great deal to see in the beautiful scenery of the Vanoise National Park, especially in summer when hiking and cycling are more practical.
The village of Bonneval-sur-Arc is listed among the most beautiful villages in France and not far south-east of Val d'Isere.
You can find more travel ideas in the Savoie guide and the Rhone-Alpes guide.
Arrange a visit to Val d'Isere
Hotels in Val d'Isere
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Map of Val d'Isere and places nearby
Visit near Val d'Isere with France This Way reviews
Bonneval-sur-Arc
At Bonneval, listed among the 'most beautiful villages of France', you can discover a very traditional mountain village
Bonneval-sur-Arc guide
Vanoise National Park
The stunning mountain scenery in the Vanoise National Park ensure its year around popularity with outdoor enthusiasts
Vanoise National Park guide
Les Arcs
Centred around Bourg-Saint-Maurice and within the Paradiski ski region, the Les Arcs ski ae is always very popular
Les Arcs guide
Courchevel
Courchevel, ski resort in the 'Three Valleys region', is also popular with summer mountain visitors
Courchevel guide
Meribel
Part of the extensive 'Trois Vallées' ski region, Meribel is extremely popular and has many activities available
Meribel guide... or see ALL recommended places to visit in Savoie
Address: Val-d'Isère, Bourg-Saint-Maurice, Albertville, Rhone-Alpes, 73150, France || GPS coordinates: latitude 45.4506, longitude 6.97806
Plan your visit to Val d'Isere, Savoie
Sightseeing & tourist attractions to visit nearby
- Col de l'Iseran: site of natural beauty (6 km)
- Bonneval: most beautiful village (10 km)
- Mont Blanc: site of natural beauty (43 km)
- Aiguille du Midi: site of natural beauty (48 km)
- Glacier des Bossons: site of natural beauty (48 km)
- Albertville: town of art and history (51 km)
- Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne: recommended detour (53 km)
- Megeve: ville fleurie 4* (53 km)
- Jardin alpin du Lautaret: remarkable garden (68 km)
Market days in Val d'Isere, France
Regular market(s) are held in Val d'Isere each Monday all day. (Markets are held in the morning unless stated.)
The French version of this page is at Val d'Isere (Francais)