January in Alpe d'Huez tops the year's climate scores
Best window · 9.1/10January averages -5°C (22°F) — deep-winter cold that dictates the whole trip: short outdoor stints, indoor plans on standby, and no expectation of long walking days.
At 46 mm of water-equivalent precipitation this is a snowy month at resort level — that is snowpack, not lost days — with almost no days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 8.9 hours of daylight.
On our climate-comfort scale this is the top-ranked month of the year for Alpe d'Huez at 9.1/10 — the reference point every other month on this page is measured against.
Figure on peak pricing, with this is one of the busiest months here. You are paying the year's highest rates for the year's best conditions — book early or shift a few weeks either side.
Pack insulated layers, a windproof shell, gloves and boots with grip, a packable rain layer, goggles and a helmet if you are not renting.
February is one of the strongest months in Alpe d'Huez (3rd)
Best window · 8.9/10February averages -3°C (27°F), cold enough that sightseeing works in bursts rather than in one long day on foot.
Precipitation is light at 35 mm (mostly snow at altitude), with about 3 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 10.1 hours of daylight.
A 8.9/10 puts this among the year's best months in Alpe d'Huez (3rd of 12); only January scores higher, at 9.1/10.
Figure on peak pricing, with this is one of the busiest months here. You are paying the year's highest rates for the year's best conditions — book early or shift a few weeks either side.
Pack insulated layers, a windproof shell, gloves and boots with grip, goggles and a helmet if you are not renting.
March is one of the strongest months in Alpe d'Huez (4th)
Best window · 8.5/10At -1°C (31°F) this is proper winter weather in March: layer up and split the day between outdoor highlights and indoor stops.
75 mm of water-equivalent precipitation makes this a snowy month at resort level; what falls stays as snow, with about 8 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 11.6 hours of daylight.
On our climate-comfort scale this is one of the strongest months of the year for Alpe d'Huez at 8.5/10 (4th of 12), just behind January at 9.1/10.
Expect peak pricing, and crowds are moderate.
Pack insulated layers, a windproof shell, gloves and boots with grip, a packable rain layer, goggles and a helmet if you are not renting.
April in Alpe d'Huez — reliably good (6th best month)
Good · 7.1/10April averages 2°C (35°F), cold enough that sightseeing works in bursts rather than in one long day on foot.
At 59 mm of water-equivalent precipitation this is a snowy month at resort level — that is snowpack, not lost days — with about 15 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 13.3 hours of daylight.
It scores 7.1/10 here, 6th of 12 months, against 9.1/10 in the destination's best month.
Plan for mid-season pricing, with crowds are moderate.
Pack insulated layers, a windproof shell, gloves and boots with grip, a packable rain layer, goggles and a helmet if you are not renting.
Flexible dates? January scores 2 points higher here — enough to change the trip.
May in Alpe d'Huez — the hardest end of the year
Hardest · 1.7/10Expect 7°C (45°F) in May. A good month for city streets, viewpoints and long meals; leave swimming for another season.
Budget for roughly 95 mm of rain this month — a flexible day or two helps — with about 19 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 14.7 hours of daylight to work around it.
That is 1.7/10 on the same scale — 7th of 12 months, versus 9.1/10 for the best month here.
Budget for low-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.
Pack a mid-weight jacket, long sleeves and shoes you can walk 15 km in, a packable rain layer.
If your dates are flexible, January is materially better in Alpe d'Huez — 7.4 points higher on the same scale.
June in Alpe d'Huez — off-season conditions
Hardest · 1.7/10June averages 12°C (53°F) — jacket weather. Comfortable for walking and museums, too cool for anything water-based.
Rainfall runs 99 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 25 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 15.4 hours of daylight.
It scores 1.7/10 here, 8th of 12 months, against 9.1/10 in the destination's best month.
Plan for low-season pricing, with crowds are light for this destination.
Pack a mid-weight jacket, long sleeves and shoes you can walk 15 km in, a packable rain layer.
Flexible dates? January scores 7.4 points higher here — enough to change the trip.
July in Alpe d'Huez — the hardest end of the year
Hardest · 1.7/10July averages 15°C (58°F), the range most people find easiest for walking a city all day without either overheating or losing daylight to weather.
Expect 32 mm of rain — occasional showers rather than washed-out days — alongside about 31 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 15.1 daylight hours.
It scores 1.7/10 here, 9th of 12 months, against 9.1/10 in the destination's best month.
Figure on low-season pricing, with crowds are light for this destination.
Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening.
Flexible dates? January scores 7.4 points higher here — enough to change the trip.
August in Alpe d'Huez: expect compromises
Hardest · 1.7/10Temperatures hover around 15°C (59°F) — the kind of month where neither heat nor cold forces the schedule.
Budget for roughly 48 mm of rain this month — a flexible day or two helps — with about 26 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 13.9 hours of daylight to work around it.
That is 1.7/10 on the same scale — 10th of 12 months, versus 9.1/10 for the best month here.
Budget for low-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.
Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening, a packable rain layer.
If your dates are flexible, January is materially better in Alpe d'Huez — 7.4 points higher on the same scale.
September in Alpe d'Huez — off-season conditions
Hardest · 1.6/10Expect 9°C (49°F) in September. A good month for city streets, viewpoints and long meals; leave swimming for another season.
Budget for roughly 94 mm of rain this month — a flexible day or two helps — with about 13 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 12.3 hours of daylight to work around it.
That is 1.6/10 on the same scale — 11th of 12 months, versus 9.1/10 for the best month here.
Expect low-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.
Pack a mid-weight jacket, long sleeves and shoes you can walk 15 km in, a packable rain layer.
If your dates are flexible, January is materially better in Alpe d'Huez — 7.5 points higher on the same scale.
October in Alpe d'Huez: expect compromises
Hardest · 1.3/10October averages 7°C (45°F) — jacket weather. Comfortable for walking and museums, too cool for anything water-based.
Rainfall runs 99 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 3 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 10.7 hours of daylight.
It scores 1.3/10 here, 12th of 12 months, against 9.1/10 in the destination's best month.
Plan for low-season pricing, with crowds are light for this destination.
Pack a mid-weight jacket, long sleeves and shoes you can walk 15 km in, a packable rain layer.
Flexible dates? January scores 7.8 points higher here — enough to change the trip.
November in Alpe d'Huez: strong conditions, 5th of 12
Good · 7.9/10November averages 0°C (32°F), cold enough that sightseeing works in bursts rather than in one long day on foot.
At 92 mm of water-equivalent precipitation this is a snowy month at resort level — that is snowpack, not lost days — with almost no days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 9.3 hours of daylight.
It scores 7.9/10 here, 5th of 12 months, against 9.1/10 in the destination's best month.
Figure on mid-season pricing, with crowds are moderate.
Pack insulated layers, a windproof shell, gloves and boots with grip, a packable rain layer, goggles and a helmet if you are not renting.
December ranks 2nd of 12 for Alpe d'Huez — one of the best windows
Best window · 9.1/10At -4°C (25°F) this is proper winter weather in December: layer up and split the day between outdoor highlights and indoor stops.
104 mm of water-equivalent precipitation makes this a snowy month at resort level; what falls stays as snow, with almost no days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 8.6 hours of daylight.
On our climate-comfort scale this is one of the strongest months of the year for Alpe d'Huez at 9.1/10 (2nd of 12), just behind January at 9.1/10.
Expect peak pricing, and this is one of the busiest months here. You are paying the year's highest rates for the year's best conditions — book early or shift a few weeks either side.
Pack insulated layers, a windproof shell, gloves and boots with grip, a waterproof shell rather than an umbrella, goggles and a helmet if you are not renting.
