We recently visited Val D’Isere for a week-long ski trip. Dan and I have been skiing since we were young. I first learnt to ski when I was 3 and Dan first went when he was 9. Skiing is a big part of our lives and we both just love the atmosphere of ski resorts, the skiing itself, and of course Apres Ski!

Val D’Isere is a large resort that is connected via ski slopes to nearby areas, such as Tignes and La Daille, meaning the ski area is also pretty huge. Val D’Isere is one of the most famous resorts in the world and is one of the oldest in Europe. It is known for its large ski area, off piste opportunities and very lively apres ski.

Apres Ski

Folie Douce

Probably the most famous chain of apres bars is Folie Douce. You can find one in some of the more major resorts around France, such as Val Thorens, Meribel, and Chamonix. The premise of Folie Douce is that it is an outside club on a ski slope. They have live music, dancers, and DJ sets there pretty much every single day.

To get there you will need to ski down to it on the Diebold Blue run.

Cocorico

Cocorico’s is a great spot to come to once you have finished your day of skiing as it is found at the bottom of the Val D’Isere major ski lifts. They have live music from 4 pm to 8 pm there every day. They then have a DJ set that goes on after that. At Cocorico’s they sell some amazing street food as well which is served until 9 pm. Cocorico’s can get very busy and it is quite an enclosed space, which means there is often a line to get in, so get there early if you think it’s going to be a busy day!

Bananas

Bananas is situated at the bottom of the Val D’Isere ski lifts and is quite a small establishment, that has a long happy hour. In the day you can find people chilling in their ski boots and ski jackets and then later on in the night it becomes more of a bustling club.

Le Petit Danois

Let Petit Danois is a great party bar in Val D’Isere and is open until 2 am every day, with live music kicking off in the afternoon. They have two happy hours and from 17:00 to 19:00 you are given a free shot with every drink.

Underground Cafe

The Underground Café was actually situated right underneath our hotel, Alpina Lodge. We found that in the earlier hours of the night this was a chilled bar with a pool table and plenty of rock memorabilia. The later it got the rowdier it got. They have live music here often until 10 pm and then there are DJ sets. They are open until 4 am on Fridays and Saturdays and until 2 am during the week.  

Our verdict on Val D’Isere Apres Ski: There is no denying that Val D’Isere is a great area for Apres, however, it all depends on what type of after-party you are looking for. We found that Folie Douce was really the only on-piste apres place to visit that has music and a lively atmosphere, which is a lot less than other resorts we have been to. Similarly, we found that there seemed to be only two establishments at the bottom of the Val D’Isere skiing area, which gave proper apres vibes, and by this we mean turn up in your ski boots and helmet and dance. However, we did think that there were more options to go for drinks or go out in the actual town after hours and perhaps not in your ski attire!

Restaurants

The Fondue Factory

Jean-Claude Killy, a famous French skiing champion who has two nephews that opened this restaurant a few years ago. It is a fantastic restaurant with a beautiful interior, delicious food, and a great wine selection. They are most famous for their cheese and meat fondues. The entranceway of the restaurant also doubles as a museum for the family’s ski and boot collection. It is fascinating to see all the old skis and how they have progressed.

L’Atelier D’Edmond

L’Atelier D’Edmond is Val D’Isere’s first fine dining experience. It is located in what was once an ancient wooden barn in the outlying hamlet of Le Fornet and is conveniently located close to the cable-car station and bus stop. Here their Chef, Benoît Vidal, already has two Michelin stars and is on the lookout for number three. Their specialties include crayfish cooked in preserved lemon, barbecued Savoie trout, Arctic car with saffron, and local saddle of lamb. The food here is very expensive, so you might want to just reserve it for special nights.

Restaurant 1789

When we were looking at restaurants to visit whilst in Val D’Isere we didn’t see Restaurant 1789 on any list. After visiting there we are shocked! The food and service here were incredible. The restaurant itself is quite small, but it was completely full and clear to see that everyone was enjoying their food. They serve authentic French cuisine, including an incredible French Onion Soup, which is probably the best onion soup I have ever had.

Things to do if you aren’t skiing

Take a hike

There are plenty of hiking opportunities in Val D’Isere, whether you are looking for a leisurely stroll or something a bit more intense. For an easy route, you can go up the Fornet Valley, along a stretch of the Col de l’Iseran (the highest paved mountain pass in the Alps). Another route is the path along the Isere river which is a complete sun trap, which provides a fantastic opportunity to see down the valley and into the centre of town. If you are wanting to get up higher on the mountain then you can buy a reduced-priced ski pass which can give you access to the Solaise, Olympique, Fornet, La Daille, and Le Vallon Cable cars/gondolas, from where you are able to walk much higher up.

Shopping

One of the big things we noticed about Val D’Isere is that there is a lot of shopping opportunities there. They have sweet shops, designer clothing, and cheese and wine establishments. There are also plenty of ski shops there to buy equipment, clothing, and accessories.

Aquasportif

The Aquasportif has a large pool, spa, squash, and tennis courts which is a perfect place to wind down after swimming or get a dose of your daily exercise. Here you can also find a climbing wall which is great for all ages.

Outdoor Ice Rink

Val D’Isere has its very own outdoor ice rink which is located on the road between Dick’s Tea Bar and Main Road. It is a great place to visit for all ages, where you can hire skates and enjoy the experience between 2 pm and 7 pm.

Jump on the bus to explore nearby resorts of Tignes and La Daille

There are some fantastic links to nearby resorts just by jumping on the free bus service. This gives you a chance to explore new areas, some of which are higher up on the mountain and will offer different walking routes.

Husky Sledging 

You can learn to be a “musher” in Val D’Isere and drive a pack of husky dogs, for a full or half-day. Evolution 2 organises the mini-trips in Val d’Isere, the price for a half-day is approximately €110 per person. Husky-drawn sleigh rides have between 6 and 12 huskies drawing the sleigh, and they can cover from 30 to 60 km a day at 10km an hour. Some rides even include dinner in a typical alpine restaurant. 

Paragliding 

You can experience the nearest feeling to flying you can get; ski off from the top of the Solaise summit you can tandem paraglide down to the bottom of the valley, enjoying all the breathtaking views. Make sure you go on a sunny day in order to ensure you get the best out of your experience.