ALPE D'HUEZ DESTINATION GUIDE

ABOUT THE LOCATION

At 1,860m, Alpe d’Huez has 250km of varied high-altitude skiing on the doorstep including the longest black run in Europe. We have carefully chosen the best properties for sale in Alpe d'Huez, based on location and investment potential, from large chalets, ideal for an extended time in the mountains to stylish apartments, perfect for a weekend break.

The resort has a lively summer season too with an excellent variety of activities and the Tour de France frequently passes through Alpe d’Huez’s infamous climb with 21 hairpin bends.

INVESTMENT POTENTIAL

As Alpe d’Huez is a true dual-season resort, there is the possibility to generate rental yields throughout the year. Though the end of the 2019/20 ski season was cut short due to the pandemic, Alpe d’Huez had a very positive ski season prior to the Coronavirus outbreak with a busier pre-season, Christmas, January and February than the previous year. One figure that particularly stood out was the pre-season period, the first three weeks of December. During this time 78,800 overnight stays were booked, a massive 25% increase on the year before.

Alpe d’Huez enjoyed a very busy summer in 2020. According to the latest figures from the tourism office, overall, the total number of overnight stays during the summer increased by 2.3% between 2019 and 2020. August performed especially well with over 193,000 overnight stays recorded, an amazing 27.5% year-on-year increase. See our guide on renting out ski property in France to learn more about monetising your Alpe d’Huez property.

1860m ALT.
SNOW-SURE SKIING

ADVISERS’ OPINION

Alpe d’Huez is a fantastic destination for families and is active throughout the year which makes it ideal for those who want a home away from home for sport winter and summer holidays. In addition, with plans to create a new ski lift to Les Deux Alpes, it’s a really exciting time to invest here.

WHY TO BUY

High-altitude snow sure skiing
250km of varied skiing
Lively summer season
Excellent variety of activities
True dual-season resort

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

The resort ranges from 1,250 to 3,330 metres alt.
Located in the department of Isère
It is part of the Grandes Rousses massif
Used regularly in the Tour de France cycle race
59 km (37 miles) from Grenoble

INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT

Alpe d’Huez is continually evolving and improving its offerings with new facilities, attractions and restaurants such as L’Espérance which earned a mention in the 2019 Michelin guide. There are also plans to inject around €200m into regenerating the resort. Currently being discussed, these exciting plans include a potential ski lift that would connect the resort to Les Deux Alpes in a mere 18 minutes. When complete, this new ski lift would mean that Alpe d’Huez would be part of the third-largest ski domain in France with 450km of slopes on the doorstep.

HISTORY

The Grande-Dame of the Alps, the high-altitude resort of Alpe d’Huez has many claims to fame: it was one of the first villages in France to welcome skiers (as early as 1904) and it was also where the beloved button-lift system was first invented.

After the second world war, Alpe d’Huez emerged as a trendy holiday destination for city dwellers looking for fresh mountain air, sublime scenery and, of course, plenty of sunshine. More than 30 hotels were built between 1945 and 1963 to keep up with the ever-growing demand for the resort and a few years later Alpe d’Huez was the host of the bobsleigh race during the 1968 Grenoble Winter Olympics.

THE VILLAGE TODAY

Named the Best European Ski Resort 2020 by European Best Destinations, Alpe d’Huez is a certified Famille Plus ski resort famed for its 300 days of sunshine. The resort has access to 250km of pistes which cater to all abilities and the resort is considering a brand-new ski lift that would connect the resort to the neighbouring Deux Alpes which would add access to a further 200km of pistes.

Not only is Alpe d’Huez perfect for winter ski breaks, but it is a delightful destination during the summer too with plenty of outdoor activities for the whole family to enjoy such as hiking, tobogganing, cycling, horse riding and playing a round of golf with a view. In addition, the Tour de France regularly passes through Alpe d’Huez with professionals taking on the resort’s famously challenging climb which features 21 hairpin bends.