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La Plagne summer, everything you need to know about the villages
La Plagne: 1 Resort, 10 villages
Superficially, you might think each village offers the same services. But you'd be wrong. For example, Aime 2000 is 100% on the slopes/mountain, and Plagne 1800 is not.
Belle Plagne is pretty, with cobbled streets. Bellecôte is not.
Some of the villages are much better suited to holidays with families and kids. Others are better if you're looking for livelier adult activities, such as mountain biking, bars, and nightlife.
During the day, La Plagne organises various activities, from kids' magic shows to archery, kids' yoga and more. These activities all circle around each village so you can find a timetable for what's happening and when in your village. Read on to find out more about the villages.
Top tip: Check out the ultimate La Plagne summer events guide to make sure you don't miss out on a thing this summer in La Plagne.
La Plagne Centre
- Good for easy access to mountain biking lifts.
- A nice selection of restaurants is open during the day.
- Kids' activities include trampolines, bouncy castles, and mini golf.
La Plagne Centre is a good, all-rounder village for adults and families. I would have said, historically, it was the liveliest village in La Plagne. However, not any more! This is 100% now, Bellecôte.
The centre used to be the liveliest town, but after several years of ongoing construction on ski lifts and more, it's turned into a bit of a dust bowl. Disappointingly, after putting in new ski lifts, building tennis courts for the summer and shaping the mountain biking trails, they have not re-seeded the ground so the grass has not returned. Making it seem a bit like you are still walking around a building site.
Once you've overlooked the aesthetics, Plagne Centre is still great for mountain bike access, with the Colorado, Bergerie and Grand Rochette bubble (pedestrian only) open all day, every day.
You can also do mountain carting from the Colorado lift, which is a lot of fun and has dedicated trails. A great way to see the resort in summer.
You have the large bakery open every day here, a great option for delicious breakfasts and packed lunches.
The Spar supermarket has a good selection of products and produce available. But just remember, you are always paying a ‘mountain tax' to buy things up in the resort. So if you can head to a supermarket in the valley, you'll find it much cheaper. The nearest supermarket is E le Clerc in Aime, which is about 30 mins down the mountain.
Plagne Centre: Kids Activities
The trampolines, bouncy castle etc, are open every day from 10h – 17h, closed over lunch. The fantastic Max is there every year running the show and making a relaxed area for kids to blow off some steam whilst parents can relax at the picnic tables.
Prices:
2,50€ for 15 mins on the trampolines and bouncy castle.
5€ 10 mins on the slingshot trampoline.
5€ for mini golf.
You also have the zip wire in Plagne Centre – well, it finishes in Plagne Centre, but it starts in Aime 2000. A lot of fun as you zip across the valley over a substantial drop! Much faster than taking the cable car down! It's open in both summer and winter.
Top tip: Buy a multi-pass for 20 turns. It works out as 1 free turn on the games.
Top tip: Parents, get yourself a beer or an ice cream from the Spar shop or one of the closest bars to enjoy whilst you're sat there. Even better, if your kids are old enough, you can see all the activities from the bars and restaurants on the front (Croque Neige, Vega, La Plante du Baton).
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La Plagne 1800
- Good for quieter holidays.
- Great for an ‘alpine village' atmosphere
But there are very few activities or services available in Plagne 1800. There are no mountain biking lifts open out of the village in summer, meaning you have to take the bus or cycle to the other villages with open lifts.
Plagne 1800 – Overview
Plagne 1800 has a really lovely village feel. There are some large hotels and residences. But there are also a lot of smaller chalets and independent accommodations, making the village feel more like a village.
However, in the summer, there is only the following open:
- 1 shop – Spar
- 1 bar – La Mine
- 2 restaurants – La Cantine and Loup Blanc
So you often find that people staying in 1800 get up in the morning and then leave 1800 for the day and spend their time elsewhere.
This is a shame because the restaurants and the bar are some of the best in La Plagne, which I would 100% recommend visiting.
I should also mention that there is a huge UCPA presence in the village. UCPA is a school group holiday camp. They are the dominating presence in the village and are seen overflowing on the buses and around the different services in the resort.
PLAGNE VILLAGES & SOLEIL
- Great for relaxed family holidays
I've grouped Plagne Village and Plagne Soleil together as they are two of the smaller villages and share a lot of the same facilities.
La Plagne Village & Plagne Soleil – Overview
The business owners in Plagne Soleil have put together the brilliantly named Marmotte land for this summer!
Basically, a huge blow-up play area in the outdoor square, next to Le Baryon restaurant, costs 4€ an hour for the kids to enjoy. Plus, for parents, take a seat, and someone will come take your drink orders and make sure you stay fully rehydrated!
There are some good restaurants to visit here as well – Le Baryon, which I have already mentioned with the lovely Johan and his massive dog, Neva! Also, have a look at Le Grizzli or Coin de Feu. Plus, of course, you must visit David at Monica's for great service, drinks, and pizza.
AIME 2000
- Great for cheap accommodation on the mountain
Aime 2000 is not the most attractive of the La Plagne resorts. However, the whole point of being purpose-built is that the accommodation is built directly onto the mountain.
Aime 2000 – Overview
There are not many activities happening purely in Aime 2000 apart from the rotating village activities put on by La Plagne as a whole.
There is a great selection of restaurants open in Aime 2000, and to reach them in the evening, the cable car from Plagne Centre is open until midnight. Making for some extra fun in heading up there with the kids.
BELLECÔTE
- Absolutely winning for family fun and kids' activities
The business owners in Bellecôte have grouped together this summer to hire a children's entertainer – Matthew – and he is BRILLIANT! He is organising daily daytime events and evening activities, from village fairs to car boot sales to evening hypnotism shows and more!
If you are looking for activities to do – as an adult or with kids – then Bellecôte is the answer.
Belle Côte – Overview
BelleCôte is again not the most attractive resort; it is very high-rise and quite dated. But, having said that, it means that everything is quite close together and easy to access. This makes it a perfect base for family holidays.
There is a large selection of restaurants, créperies and bars open each day, all centred around the front, adding to the fun atmosphere. Most of them are also close enough for you to sit and relax whilst the kids enjoy the organised activities.
I should also mention the Spitting Feathers English-style bar. They open each evening and they have different activities every night, hosted by Tim and Anna, the owners. They are created for both the French and English to enjoy and are family-friendly. From table football competitions to karaoke to pub quizzes, there is something different every night.
Belle Côte – Activities
- Bellecôte has the main La Plagne pool – the Magic Pool, in the centre. The open-air pool is great for swimming lengths and also has inflatable sessions for families and kids. Find out more about the best La Plagne swimming pools here.
- There is also the horse-riding centre, based in Bellecôte. The riding school spends the summer here and the winter in Landry in the village. They have a large selection of well-looked-after horses and ponies. They offer lessons (groups 25€, individual 30€), hacks (1 hr 30€ and 2 hrs (55€) and baby-riding sessions on their Shetland ponies where parents walk their kids and pony on a lead themselves (15mins 8€, 30mins 15€).
- There is a big selection of inflatable fun. From bouncy castles (15 mins 3€ 30 mins 5€) to slip and slides (30 mins 5€) – make sure to take a change of clothes for the kids. You can get multi-passes for both of these, saving you a few euros.
- The Colossus Restaurant also has a great mini golf course, at 7€ for adults and 5€ for kids.
- Up above the front – near the visible Bonnet Bar, is a space offering quad biking and smaller motorised cars for kids. It's a lot of fun and they have things suitable for 5 years and upwards. 12€ for 15 mins.
- For mountain biking, you have the Colossus lift up and running all day. Plus the Roche de Mio bubble lift (pedestrian only) is open for summer. However, it is only running to Roche de Mio and not the glacier as works are happening on the glacier bubble for the coming winter.
- Top tip: Follow the Commercants de Bellecôte account on Instagram to find out what is happening each week and for daily posts of the activities.
BELLE PLAGNE
Good for high-altitude fun and stunning scenery.
Belle Plagne is the highest of the La Plagne towns, with stunning scenery, views and great access to lots of hiking and the Via Ferrata.
Belle Plagne – Overview
Belle Plagne has a huge amount of accommodation and massive residences. However, the village is designed so that when you are walking the main streets, it feels like a quaint, old-fashioned ski village. With cobbled streets and lots of traditional restaurants and small market stalls set up each day. They also have some of the best sausage and cheese shops to pick up your gifts.
Belle Plagne – Fun & Activities
- There is a small 9-hole mini golf at the top of Belle Plagne, and the harness trampolines are open daily. Plus then, there are the circling La Plagne activities, which switch around the villages each day.
- There is the Bowling bar, which is a lot of fun and a great activity if the weather is not so great.
- Belle Plagne is also the starting point for the Via Ferrata, which is really amazing and well worth doing.
- You also have Le Bodega, which, if you know La Plagne from pre-covid times, is the Saloon bar. This is the ONLY bar open late night until 5 am. So if you want a night-time party, Bodega is the place to go.
And That's La Plagne!
I hope you've found this breakdown of all the La Plagne towns useful. Where will you stay for your next holiday?
And if you have already stayed somewhere and you think I need to know about something I haven't mentioned, then TELL ME so I can share it with the other La Plagne lovers!
DM me on Instagram, or let me know your best La Plagne advice in the comments below.
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