Shopping in Tignes

There are plenty of small supermarkets scattered around Tignes, which are fine for stoking up on general groceries.

If you're after some local and regional produce on your shopping trip then we suggest you head to one of the regional produce stores, here you will find cheeses, saucisson, wine, beer, biscuits and lots of other culinary treats. You'll find a couple of the local supermarkets also have a meat counter that offers Savoyard specialities and more for an authentic cooking experience when you return home.

If it's souvenirs, gifts or toys you are after then there are plenty of shops where you can pick up bits and pieces. Many of the Tabacs dotted over the Tignes resorts will sell knick-knacks such as resort themed magnets, mugs and ornaments.

Val Claret is the place to head to if it is regular, high street style attire that you’re after. There are a handful of shops offering top quality clothing and shoes at a slightly higher price than the shops back home.

You can also pop out and enjoy a range of beauty stores and pharmacies offering a vast line of beauty products and, with French pharmacies known for their array of great products that are unavailable in the UK, you can shop until you drop and your purse is empty.

The markets in Tignes are usually in full swing over Christmas and other holidays, however there is a small food and souvenir market in Le Lac that is on every other week. The market sets up on the road towards Lavachet, between Maison Tignes and the Maison Chevallot bakery every Thursday and Sunday. Open all day, you can stroll along under the awnings and investigate the different products on offer. From fresh fruits and vegetables, to artisanal cheeses and even the occasional fur hat.

As you would expect from an outdoor and sports Mecca such as Tignes, there are plenty sports stores where you can get your hands on some of the top mountaineering brands and also some great deals, such as The North Face, Black Diamond, Salomon and Burton to name a few.

If you're planning on shopping during the sales to pick up a discounted Gore-Tex jacket or designer handbag, you need to plan your visit to a very specific time of year. Unlike the UK when it appears that shops have almost permanent sales on, sale or “solde” time in France is strictly regulated and shop owners are not allowed to discount their products at any other time. End of the line (“fin de serie”) and “Promo” is acceptable but the real bargains are to be found at the specifically designated sale times, when you can get your hands on all the big brands for 40-70% less than the normal retail price.

Opening hours vary to the UK with many shops and all service providers (banks, post office etc) closing for lunch.

You'll also find the banks are closed on Mondays, although they are open for business on Saturday morning to compensate. Most of the shops open between 09:00-10:00 and then close from 12.30 until 14:00 or 15:00 for lunch, re-opening again until 19:00 or 19:30, which allows you to browse the shops of an evening or on your way to dinner.