Skip to main content
SeeTignes

All you need to know about children’s ski lessons in Tignes

Keeping your kids entertained for the week & ski school

featured in News & reviews Author Ellie Mahoney, Tignes Editor Updated

Taking the whole family on a ski holiday can be intimidating. After picking the perfect resort to the perfect accommodation, you still then need to book ski lessons and figure out how to keep the kids entertained all week long.

We’ve got the low down on children’s ski lessons in Tignes and everything else you need to know to ensure the kids enjoy their holiday and therefore so can you.

Ski Schools

Tignes has a great choice of Ski Schools, most of whom offer children's lessons and there are a handful of Private Ski Instructors who can also take small groups of children or individuals.

Meeting Points

Ski school meeting points tend to be at the bottom of the ski lifts in each of the different sectors of Tignes and some Ski Schools or Private Instructors can meet you at a location of your choice, you just need to ask if they offer this service.

children on a ski lesson

Bringing the babies along?

Don’t be intimidated if you’re on holiday with very wee ones, free buses in Tignes are child friendly and allow you easy access between Val Claret, Le Lac and Lavachet. There is lift access for buggies to and from the bus stop up to the snow front in the Maison de Tignes. There is also a playground right next to the Toviere lift in Le Lac (if it’s not too buried by snow!) and access to Le Lagon swimming pool. Take a look at Tignes maps to help find them.

If you fancy are stroll, the walk across the lake is buggy friendly (depending on snowfall – you may need snow tyres!) and is a short and scenic walk between Le Lac and Val Claret. And don’t worry about lugging all the huge baby gear along. You can hire all the essential products from Rent Stroller. They have buggies, car seats, baby backpack carriers and cots to rent. And with various pick up points around Tignes, you’re bound to find a convenient location.

kids in the snow

Where to eat with the kids?

There are a number of restaurants for the family to refuel after ski lessons. At Le Lac in the centre of Tignes you can find the Brasserie L’Arbina, which offers fondues and good pizzas at a reasonable price for the location. Venture further down the road from the L’Arbina to the Chevallot Bakery (an export of Val D’Isere’s famous bakery) to enjoy beautiful quiche’s, sandwiches and pastries. There is limited seating inside but further seating on the decking to enjoy views of Le Lac if it’s sunny.

If you’re looking for something a little more extravagant, head down to La Ferme des Trois Capucines, a family-run Savoyard farmhouse in Lavachet. It’s a short ski from the bottom of the Lavachet drag lift to the right of the bottom of the Paquis and Chaudannes chairlifts. To add to it’s alpine charm, the children can even see the farm animals that produce the milk for it’s homemade cheeses. A true culinary delight for both adults and children (booking recommended). Find more restaurants in Tignes.

For those on a budget and more inclined to a picnic, head to the picnic room under the Toviere lift. With cheap coffee machines, toilets, picnic tables and direct access to the lift there’s not much more you need than your sandwiches!

kids on a ski lesson

What else can the kids get up to?

There is no need to worry about what to get up to after ski lessons, as TIgnes has a number of activities to keep your little ones entertained all day long. Head to Le Lagon swimming pool in Le Lac for a splash around with the kids. Children under 5 get free entry and you get a free pass per day included in the price of your weekly ski pass. There is a paddling pool for toddlers, and for older children Jacuzzi style under water benches, a cave and a slide where children (or adults) can go head to head!

Head to Tignespace, the sporting hub of Tignes, and book your children onto the trampolines. Right in the heart of Le Lac, it's a great way to tire the kids out by letting them bounce to their hearts content! For the older kids (and adults) book a bowling lane next door to Tignespace in Le Lac for an evening’s entertainment and some light competition between the family!

To enjoy some Ice Skating, head down to Tignes lake where the children can try their hand (or feet!) at ice-skating. It’s completely free other than the skate hire which is €2 for under 13's or €3 for adults. Every Thursday there is a “disco on ice” from 20:00-22:00 for any older children/teens that may fancy it, of course this is weather dependent.

Between the Toviere lift and Le Lagon swimming pool is a small sledging slope, great for races on sledges with a good run-out at the bottom. Sledges can be purchased in all shapes and sizes at most ski-hire shops and if you’re lucky some chalets come with sledges/bum-boards available to use as and when the kids desire.

Weekly Events & Activities: When you arrive in your resort ask your reps or head down to Maison de Tignes to find out what’s on during your week in Tignes. With different activities/entertainment each week it’s good to get your finger on the pulse so as not to miss out. From Elf shows and Santa’s parade during Christmas, to an on-snow music concert for New Year to torchlight descents throughout the season, there’s often something special going on in resort.

children with a snowman

Find ski and snowboard hire in Tignes.


Thanks very much to the team at New Generation Tignes for this article.

New Generation Tignes Ski School Info

Children’s group ski lessons with New Generation run every morning Monday-Friday (with an optional Sunday add-on) from 9am until 13:30. This includes a break in the middle and allows group to explore the wonderful slopes of the Espace Killy without any time constraints (and allows you time to explore too!). There is also an option to extend the lesson to two full days on Tuesday and Thursday.

Lessons run from beginner to Freeride level and ages 4-13 (please specify level and age when booking so we can ensure we get the best fit group). For children age 4-5 we have shorter group lessons that run for two hours, allowing maximum fun without tiring out the little legs! Alternatively, one off private lessons for under 5’s can help them to find their love for the snow and allows more individual attention.

If you’re travelling with a few families or have a larger brood, why not share the cost of a private lesson for the children? The meeting point for private lessons can be in Le Lac or Val Claret and caters to the group’s needs (although this is not recommended if levels greatly differ).

The meeting point for our Tignes Ski School is in Le Lac between the bus stop and the top of the magic carpet. It’s easily accessible by bus (the meeting point is less than a minute’s walk from the Le Lac bus stop) or if you’re already in Le Lac it’s right in the heart, a short stroll from the hub of the resort: the Maison de Tignes.

See you on the slopes!