The Pic du Midi de Bigorre (2,877 m / 9,439 ft), in the Hautes-Pyrénées, is reached by cable car from La Mongie: a 15-minute ride, departures every quarter of an hour. The site is open almost all year, except in May and November (maintenance); in 2026, the summer season runs from May 30 to November 1, and the winter season from December 5, 2026 to April 11, 2027. The dated online ticket starts at €34, the Liberté ticket (no reservation) at €54. Allow about 2 hours for the visit at the summit. This page adds a calculation you will not find elsewhere: the temperature gap between the summit and the Tarbes plain, month by month.
The Pic du Midi is about 2 h 20 from Toulouse according to the official site. To combine it with the “pink city”, see our guide to visiting Toulouse and our page on travel to France.
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Pic du Midi: key facts
- 2026 opening: May 23–25 (Pentecost), then 7 days a week from May 30 to November 1, 2026; winter from December 5, 2026 to April 11, 2027; technical closure in May and November — checked on 23 October 2026 on picdumidi.com
- Hours: departures from 9:30 am to 4 pm, last return 5:30 pm, break from 12:30 pm to 2 pm; from July 4 to August 30, departures from 9 am to 4:30 pm; winter 9:30 am–4 pm, closed from 12:30 pm to 2 pm
- Price: dated visit ticket from €34 (up to 25% off when booking early); Liberté ticket from €54; disability rate €53 (companion too); planetarium €8 extra — checked on 23 October 2026 on picdumidi.com
- Booking: advised in busy periods; on site, subject to availability
- Duration: about 2 hours, plus 1 hour for the planetarium
Tickets and booking
The dated online ticket reserves a departure time: arrive at the cable car station 10 minutes before. It cannot be exchanged, changed or refunded. The more expensive Liberté ticket is valid for a year, on the date and at the time of your choice, with no reservation. On site, the La Mongie ticket office sells same-day tickets, subject to availability.
The ticket includes the round trip by cable car and the visit: panoramic terraces, the Ponton dans le ciel (“Pontoon in the Sky”), the experience area, the observatory dome. The planetarium, presented as the highest in Europe, costs extra.
What to see at the summit
- The cable car: two sections, changing at the Taoulet intermediate station; the second flies over the void to a height of 320 meters (1,050 ft). 45-person cabins, wheelchair accessible.
- The panoramic terraces: views of the Pyrenees range, which stretches over 300 km (186 mi) according to the site, with orientation tables and presentations by the guides.
- The Ponton dans le ciel: a 12-meter (39 ft) metal walkway suspended over the void, with a glass end, free access.
- The experience area: the Sun, cosmic rays, stars, the atmosphere, meteorites; Histopad tablets on the history of the observatory.
- The planetarium: under the Baillaud dome, the observatory’s oldest astronomical installation, hauled to the summit in 1907–1908.
- Food: Le 2877 restaurant (booking recommended) and BistrO Snack all day.
What is the weather like at the summit? The gap with the plain
At the summit, temperatures have nothing to do with those in the valley. We calculated the 1991–2020 averages from the Météo-France observatory station (2,880 m / 9,449 ft) and compared them with the Tarbes station (360 m / 1,181 ft):
| Month | Average max at the summit | Average min at the summit | Average max in Tarbes | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | -3.6 °C (26 °F) | -9.1 °C (16 °F) | 10.5 °C (51 °F) | 14.1 °C (25 °F) |
| February | -3.9 °C (25 °F) | -9.6 °C (15 °F) | 11.5 °C (53 °F) | 15.4 °C (28 °F) |
| March | -2.1 °C (28 °F) | -7.9 °C (18 °F) | 14.6 °C (58 °F) | 16.7 °C (30 °F) |
| April | -0.2 °C (32 °F) | -6.1 °C (21 °F) | 16.5 °C (62 °F) | 16.7 °C (30 °F) |
| May | 3.8 °C (39 °F) | -2.3 °C (28 °F) | 19.9 °C (68 °F) | 16.1 °C (29 °F) |
| June | 8.5 °C (47 °F) | 2.1 °C (36 °F) | 23.3 °C (74 °F) | 14.8 °C (27 °F) |
| July | 11.6 °C (53 °F) | 5.0 °C (41 °F) | 25.2 °C (77 °F) | 13.6 °C (24 °F) |
| August | 11.5 °C (53 °F) | 5.0 °C (41 °F) | 25.7 °C (78 °F) | 14.2 °C (26 °F) |
| September | 7.7 °C (46 °F) | 1.4 °C (35 °F) | 23.0 °C (73 °F) | 15.3 °C (28 °F) |
| October | 4.0 °C (39 °F) | -1.4 °C (29 °F) | 19.3 °C (67 °F) | 15.3 °C (28 °F) |
| November | -1.0 °C (30 °F) | -6.1 °C (21 °F) | 13.9 °C (57 °F) | 14.9 °C (27 °F) |
| December | -2.3 °C (28 °F) | -8.0 °C (18 °F) | 11.4 °C (53 °F) | 13.7 °C (25 °F) |
Our reading: it is on average 13 to 18 °C (23 to 32 °F) colder at the summit than in Tarbes. Even in July and August, the average maximum barely exceeds 11 °C (52 °F) and the minimum stays around 5 °C (41 °F); from November to April, the average maximum is below zero. Bring a warm jacket, a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen all year. Whether the site is open depends on the weather each day: the teams check the installations before announcing opening, and the site may close in extreme conditions.
A night at the summit and the Hôtellerie des Laquets
Two options let you stay after the visitors leave:
- Night at the summit (from €529): sunset and sunrise, dinner, stargazing at the Charvin dome (400 mm / 16 in telescope), tour of the scientific domes in the morning. Maximum 27 people per night (12 double rooms, 3 single), booking several months or even years ahead: the site announced bookings from May 2027. No children under 8, rooms not wheelchair accessible.
- Hôtellerie des Laquets (from €599): hotel at 2,620 m (8,596 ft), renovated in 2026, with dinner and breakfast; announced full until May 2027 on the day of our check; one room adapted for people with reduced mobility.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Sunset |
|---|---|---|
| January | 8:27 | 17:49 |
| February | 7:57 | 18:30 |
| March | 7:12 | 19:05 |
| April | 7:18 | 20:41 |
| May | 6:36 | 21:15 |
| June | 6:19 | 21:40 |
| July | 6:33 | 21:36 |
| August | 7:05 | 21:02 |
| September | 7:38 | 20:10 |
| October | 8:12 | 19:17 |
| November | 7:51 | 17:36 |
| December | 8:23 | 17:25 |
These times matter mostly for nights at the summit: sunset is around 9:40 pm in mid-June and before 5:30 pm in mid-December. During the day, the last cable car return is at 5:30 pm.
How to get to the Pic du Midi
- By car: La Mongie (1,800 m / 5,906 ft) via the D918 from Bagnères-de-Bigorre all year; via the Col du Tourmalet in summer only. Winter equipment compulsory from November 1 to March 31. Free parking at La Mongie.
- By train: Tarbes station, then a bus to La Mongie; TGV Paris – Tarbes/Lourdes and night trains according to the site.
- Bagnères – La Mongie shuttle: from June 6 to August 31, 2026, by reservation only on the French freephone number 0 805 60 81 00, until 4 pm the day before; regular service afterwards.
- By air: Tarbes-Lourdes-Pyrénées airport (1 hour from the Pic according to the site) or Toulouse-Blagnac (2 h 20). The flights cited by the site (including Paris-Orly with Volotea) should be checked on the airport’s page.
- On foot: possible in summer 2026 on snow-free trails; high-mountain terrain.
Health and accessibility
- Children under 3: the ascent is not recommended; the 1,077 m (3,533 ft) elevation gain is covered in under 15 minutes.
- Pregnancy: access strongly discouraged because of the altitude.
- Heart problems: access not recommended; seek medical advice.
- Wheelchair: site accessible during the day (adapted lift, step-free access), drop-off point and reserved parking behind the station.
- Animals: prohibited in the cable car and at the summit, except guide dogs.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to go up the Pic du Midi?
The dated online visit ticket starts at €34 (up to 25% off when booking early), the Liberté ticket at €54. It includes the round-trip cable car and the visit.
When is the Pic du Midi open?
Almost all year, except in May and November for maintenance. In 2026: from May 30 to November 1, then from December 5, 2026 to April 11, 2027.
How do you get up the Pic du Midi?
By cable car from La Mongie, in two sections and about 15 minutes, with a departure every quarter of an hour.
What is the temperature at the top of the Pic du Midi?
About 11 to 12 °C (52 to 54 °F) average maximum in July–August and below 0 °C (32 °F) from November to April, according to our calculation on Météo-France 1991–2020 data.
Can you sleep at the Pic du Midi?
Yes, with the Night at the summit (27 people per night, from €529) or at the Hôtellerie des Laquets (2,620 m / 8,596 ft). Booking is made months ahead.
What is the difference between the Pic du Midi and the Aiguille du Midi?
The Pic du Midi de Bigorre (2,877 m / 9,439 ft) is in the Pyrenees; the Aiguille du Midi, above Chamonix, is in the Mont Blanc massif. They are two separate sites.
Our sources
- Pic du Midi (picdumidi.com): hours and periods, ticket office, how to get there, your day, night at the summit, FAQ, accessibility, consulted on 23 October 2026
- Météo-France: monthly climatological data from the Pic du Midi – Observatoire station (65059001, 2,880 m), file MENSQ_65 (meteo.data.gouv.fr); 1991–2020 averages calculated by Destination de Voyage over 26 to 28 available years depending on the month
- Météo-France: climate sheet, 1991–2020 statistics, Tarbes-Lourdes-Pyrénées station (65344001, 360 m)
- Astronomical calculations: NOAA solar algorithm, applied by Destination de Voyage to the coordinates of the observatory station (15th of each month, year 2027)
- Our methodology
Updated November 2026. Prices and hours may change: check the official website before you go.