Towns & Villages in Alpe d'Huez — 3 of Our Favourites

Vaujany is a charming Alpine village set at 1,250m, just a short lift ride from the centre of Alpe d’Huez. Nestled on one side of a valley above the Allemont reservoir, it offers stunning views and a lovely mix of traditional Alpine architecture alongside newer hotels designed to blend in beautifully.

As part of the Oz-Vaujany ski area, it’s connected to the vast Grande Domaine by the Vaujany-Alpette cable car, affectionately known as the ‘James Bond Gondola car’. Despite its small size, Vaujany has a good selection of chalets, hotels and attractive apartments, all within easy reach of the village’s facilities and ski lifts.

If you want a peaceful Alpine base with quick access to the slopes, Vaujany fits the bill perfectly. The village also has a handful of good restaurants and a few bars for some relaxed après-ski, making it ideal if you prefer a quieter, more traditional mountain experience. For everything else, the nearby market town of Bourg d’Oisans is just a 25-minute drive away, with plenty of shops, supermarkets, medical services and more to stock up and keep you well looked after during your stay.

Alpe d'Huez

Alpe d’Huez is a lively year-round resort made up of several distinct quartiers, each with its own character. The oldest area, Quartier des Vieil Alpe, is peaceful and full of traditional buildings and family-run restaurants, offering a charming village feel. Quartier des Jeux is the bustling centre with most of the bars, shops and restaurants, perfect if you want to be close to the action. Quartier des Bergers is more modern and mainly self-catered apartments, with plenty of places to eat, drink and shop nearby.

Other quieter residential areas like Passeaux, Eclose and Outaris sit at the bottom of the resort, while Cognet at the top hosts most of the hotels along the base of the Signal piste, offering great ski-in ski-out access and stunning views.

Getting around Alpe d’Huez is easy thanks to free shuttle buses and lifts, so wherever you stay, you’ll be well connected. Staying in the centre means you’ll be close to lifts, ski schools and nightlife, perfect if you want to be first on the slopes and last out of the bars. With such a variety of areas to choose from, Alpe d’Huez suits all tastes and group sizes.

Huez

Huez is a small traditional village just below Alpe d’Huez, sitting at 1,450 metres. It’s a great choice if you’re after a quieter holiday away from the lively après-ski scene of the main resort. With a few hotels and bars, Huez is linked to Alpe d’Huez by the Télévillage gondola, which drops you right near the resort’s charming Vieil Alpe quarter.

Auris en Oisans

Auris en Oisans sits on the south-facing slope of the same valley as Alpe d’Huez, at 1,600 metres. It’s a small resort connected to Alpe d’Huez by the Alpauris chairlift, also known as the ‘Scare Chair’. If you’re holidaying with your family and want something a bit quieter and more intimate than Alpe d’Huez, Auris is a great choice, with all residences close to the lifts and local facilities.

Villard Reculas

Villard Reculas is a traditional village at 1,500 metres, part of the Grande Domaine ski area and linked to Alpe d’Huez by the Le Villarais lift. If you’re after peace and quiet in a charming Alpine setting, this is the spot for you, with wood and stone chalets and traditional hotels. Wherever you stay, you’ll never be more than 300 metres from the nearest lift.

Oz en Oisans is a small, purpose-built ski resort set at 1,650m, just above the tiny village of Oz. Mostly north-facing, it offers excellent lift access and a peaceful, traffic-free environment designed for pedestrians. The resort has a handful of apartments, chalets and hotels, making it a great choice if you’re after a quiet family or group getaway with easy access to the slopes. Oz en Oisans is part of the Oz-Vaujany ski area and linked to the Grande Domaine by the Poutran lift. For anything else you might need, the nearby market town of Bourg d’Oisans is just a 20-minute drive away, with shops, restaurants, a supermarket and plenty of local amenities.