February in Tignes: What's on and weather

There is still regular snowfall, and like January, the average daily temperatures generally fall between a high of 0ºC and a low of -9ºC, with around just over five hours of sunshine. Still very much a time for wearing a thermal under-layer.

Occupying the middle month of the season, February benefits from all the early-season snow whilst suffering none of the inevitable melt-off that occurs towards springtime. The snow has already arrived by February and it is about as snowy as the season gets, leading to pleasantly predictable conditions on-piste, the finest coverage off-piste (and thus options for exploration) and the perfect balance between winter’s cold and the sunnier, slightly longer days. Historically there are more powder and bluebird days than in any other month of the year.

Valentine's Day
For this 14 February, take your pick of the best in town or if this is beyond the budget, worry not, Tignes is full of great gourmet options. If you are after some entertainment while you eat, many places will put on live music, or you could head out after your dinner. Valentine’s Day is a big deal in France – it is the country famed for romance and love after all – so what better way to celebrate than to treat your better half to a romantic dinner in one of the resort’s many excellent restaurants?

Six Nations Rugby
Tignes is the kind of resort where every nation of the Six Nations can peacefully watch the rugby in unison. It’s a great excuse for the pubs to extend happy hours during the games, such as at The Marmot Arms and Loop Bar in Le Lac.

February is a popular month for families so the slopes are noticeably busier as soon as the four-week French holidays begin. Fortunately, the Tignes-Val d'Isère valley ski area is so vast, that even in high season you can find quiet slopes and minimal lift queues. Here are our insider's top tips for the school holidays:

1. It will be almost impossible to book private lessons over this period, group lessons are the best option. Make sure to get your ski and snowboard lessons booked well in advance to avoid disappointment.
2. If you're not in ski school, be an early bird. Arrive at the lifts before they open so that you get up and away before the ski school classes set out around 09:15.
3. Ski over lunchtime. The slopes are calmer between 12:00 and 14:00 while the French take a leisurely lunch break.
4. Pre-book your lunch and avoid the queues. Some restaurants offer a Click & Collect service. It's the best way to avoid the queues and make the most of your time in the mountains.
5. Seek out the peripheral areas. Try to avoid the busy main ski areas closer to the resorts and head to the edges of the valley. A bit of exploring never hurt anyone and you may find quieter lifts outside the main hubs
6. Get off-piste. Competent off-piste skiers can book a local mountain guide and explore the vast off-piste areas in the valley or even go touring to find complete solitude in the backcountry.

February family fun
The piste isn’t just amazing for skiing and sledging this month, it is great for 'Pala'fou'. The toboggan run is a thrill-seeking adventure that runs from the Palafour lift in Le Lac each evening. The 3km track, including a 40-metre tunnel, isn’t for the faint-hearted, as you will discover the exhilarating speeds that can be reached on a sledge. The experience includes the hire of the sled and a torchlit helmet in the fee.

If tobogganing sounds a little frightening to you, head up to Val Claret where the snowtubing course is located. This track is more child-friendly as the giant buoys are suitable for kids from three years old, and can hold multiple participants. Although, once you have left the start line, there is no way of braking and you can speed up to 45km/h.

Try the ESF 'snake glisse' this snake like toboggan is suitable for children from six years old. This activity takes place after the lifts close. Head to the foot of the Tufs chairlift, where you climb by lift to the top of Toviere. Need to book with ESF ski school.

ESF torchlit descent
Head to Le Lac to watch the local children and ESF instructors skiing down the mountain with flaming torches, you can tuck into the vin chaud or chocolat chaud to keep warm.

For more ideas of what activities you can partake in, take a look at our guide.

If, like most people, you like to follow several hours of exercise with several hours of drinking, you can hit up any of a number of local après-ski sessions.

Fun at La Folie Douce
Tignes has a reputation for crazy clubbing and La Folie Douce is party central on the slopes. Enjoy one of their many themed parties after you've tucked into some delicious oysters or steak tartare at their La Fruitière restaurant.