The 5 Best Pistes for Beginners in Tignes

Are you a beginner skier? You’re in the right place.

Tignes isn’t just for experts. It has dedicated nursery zones, mellow blues and easy download options if you get tired. 

In 5 minutes, you’ll know exactly which five Tignes pistes to try first, where to start each run, which lift to take, and how to download safely if your legs turn to jelly.

How to use this guide (1 min to confidence)

If this is your first ski holiday, a few terms will make everything clearer before you start exploring. When we say “beginner-friendly”, we mean wide greens or very mellow blues that are reliably groomed and easy to navigate. 

A ‘piste’ simply means a marked ski run – in Tignes, they’re colour-coded: green for very gentle slopes, blue for easy runs with a mild gradient, then red and black for steeper, more advanced terrain.

You’ll also see the word ‘lift’ used for anything that takes you uphill – from magic carpets (moving conveyor belts used in beginner areas) to chairlifts and gondolas. A ‘download’ means you can ride the lift back down instead of skiing, which is perfectly normal if you’re tired or the weather changes.

Each route card in this guide includes:

• Why it’s great – what makes that piste confidence-building.
• How to get there – the lifts or meeting points you’ll need.
• First lap tip – an insider hint to help you start smoothly.
• Bail-out – your safe way back down or out if you’ve had enough.
• Good times to ski it – when the slope is quietest or snow is best.

Read more: Tignes Resort Guide

Safety first – getting back down without stress

Every skier, even locals and instructors, sometimes rides the lift down instead of skiing. It’s called ‘downloading’, and it’s one of the best habits you can learn early on. There’s no prize for forcing yourself down a steep or crowded run when you’re tired, cold, or visibility drops. Using the lift to return safely saves your legs and keeps your confidence high for tomorrow.

Here’s how it works: when you reach the top of a gondola or cable car, you can take the same lift back down. You’ll see a “Download / Descente” sign or arrows showing where to queue. Most gondolas are fully enclosed, so you can sit inside with your skis still on or resting beside you. If you’re on a beginner or pedestrian ticket, single or return rides are available at the ticket office or online. This gives access to the Tovière gondola, Funicular (Perce-Neige), Les Boisses & Brévières gondolas, Chaudannes and Tichot chairs, Bollin chair, and Brévières gondola. 

Note: Not all lifts allow skiers to ride down, so it’s best to check with the lift operators first.

The Funicular and cable car provide access to the highest summit of the entire ski area, La Grande Motte (3,456 m), offering an incredible experience! You can also reach Tignes Les Brévières and Tignes Le Lac as a pedestrian using the lifts.

The five best beginner pistes in Tignes (route cards)

Le Lac – Ski area base

1. Why it’s great for first-timers: A large flat area to learn the first skills.
2. How to get there: It’s our meeting point in Tignes, Bus stop N°1 TOVIERE.
3. First lap tip: Use the free magic carpet.
4. Bail-out: Use each side of the magic carpet.
5. Good times to ski it: Avoid the schools departure time during peak weeks, as the place might be crowded.

For those staying in Val Claret, a brand-new beginner area with a long magic carpet is now located at the top of the Tichot chairlift.

Le Lavachet – Drag lift

1. Why it’s great for first-timers: Gentle green piste.
2. How to get there: From our meeting point, take the ski bridge on the right side of Maison de Tignes and let guide you by the easy piste to the drag lift. 
3. First lap tip: Use each side of the drag lift to improve your skills.
4. Bail-out: Once on top of the drag lift, take the gentle, narrow path alongside the road in the direction of le lac to complete a lovely loop.
5. Good times to ski it: Anytime.

Le Lac – Rosset piste and chairlift green and blue

1. Why it’s great for first-timers: Two options once on top, a green piste on the left and a gentle blue one on the right.
2. How to get there: Rosset chairlift or bus stop N° Rosset.
3.  Bail-out: You can easily let yourself slide back down to the ski area base at the end of each runs.
4. First lap tip: Try the green piste (left) before the blue one.
5. Bail-out: The lift only carries skiers uphill, so you’ll need to ski down. The entire run is visible from the bottom.
6. Good times to ski it: Mornings in December-January, afternoons from March.

Petit Col – Blue

1. Why it’s great for first-timers: The easiest blue piste in Tignes Le Lac.
2. How to get there: Once on top of Chaudannes chairlift, keep your the right all the way down, you’ll end up back at Le Lac.
3. First lap tip: A ski pass is needed.
4. Bail-out: The first section of the piste is the hardest part of the entire run. if you think it’s too much of a challenge, have a break at Lo Soli restaurant, enjoy the view you can take the lift back down if needed.
5. Good times to ski it: Anytime except if the visibility is poor (flat light).

For those staying in Val Claret, the Super Hero piste is a pleasant green run around the Bollin chairlift (free), with an easy blue option called Claret located under the lift..

Folie Douce tour – Greens

1. Why it’s great for first-timers: Plenty of green slopes.
2. How to get there: Tignes or Tignes + Val d’Isere ski pass if you’re up for a longer tour.
3. First lap tip: From Val Claret Bollin and Fresse chairlift Fresse piste all the way down to Folie Douce and the bottom of Tommeuses chairlift, you can go for a longer tour using Borsat, lift.
4. Bail-out: Tommeuses chairlift and Toviere gondolas back to Tignes.
5. Good times to ski it: Early afternoon, the pistes are always empty.

Common beginner pitfalls in Tignes (and fixes)

Explore the expansive green zones across Borsat, Grand Pré, Fontaine Froide, and Marmotte in Tignes–Val d’Isère. These wide, gentle slopes are ideal for practising turns, linking runs, and building confidence—always stick to the green slope markers.

Take breaks at the bottom of Grand Pré or Fontaine Froide at restaurants like L’Empreinte Avaline or Bellevarde. Enjoy the après-ski atmosphere at Folie Douce, then return safely to Tignes via the Tomesses chairlift and the Tovière gondola.

Ready for your ski trip in Tignes?

Be sure to download and save Tignes’ official interactive piste map before your trip. Booking beginner ski lessons in advance can help you secure your preferred dates and instructors. Check out our Tignes ski lessons for beginners or contact our friendly team to find out more about our beginner lessons.