10 Best Ski Resorts in the French Alps
Where to Go Skiing in France this Winter?
The best ski resorts in the French Alps make memorable holidays on one of the most impressive mountain chains in western Europe. Besides the tallest mountain in France, Mont Blanc, the Alpes du Nord has the highest concentration of ski resorts in Europe. It hosts skiable domains like the 3-Valley, the Portes du Soleil, and the Espace Killy which offer hundreds of kilometres of ski slopes.
The extensive ski domains of the best Alps ski resorts, which are interlaced in some occasions, are the only common point they share. Each ski resort has its own architecture and atmosphere, which is why the short descriptions you’ll read below could help you to find the right ski resort for you.
1. Morzine
One of the largest ski domains in Europe
Aanbevolen voor: Luxueus, Avontuur
Part of the Portes du Soleil, which translates to ‘the doors of the sun’, Morzine gives you the opportunity to ski back and forth between France and Switzerland on the same day. The village of Morzine is located at an altitude of about 1,000 metres, a mere one hour’s drive from Geneva Airport.
Established since the Middle Ages, Morzine has retained a genuine vintage style that makes it a very charming place to stay. The atmosphere is very festive in winter in Morzine: live bands play outdoor for the Rock des Pistes festival and many bars host DJs to rock the nights in the ski resort.
Locatie: 74110, France
Morzine
2. Avoriaz
A French ski resort with an incredibly original design
Aanbevolen voor: Luxueus, Avontuur
Located a short distance from Morzine and part of the Portes du Soleil ski domain, Avoriaz offers over 650 km of skiable area. As cars are forbidden in the ski resort, it’s fully skiable from top to bottom, and horse-drawn sledge is the only mode of transportation at hand besides walking and skiing.
Avoriaz is a ski resort bustling with activities: music festivals, a skating rink, water park, squash courts and more. You’ll have plenty of options to have fun once you’ve finished up on the slopes.
Locatie: 74110, France
Avoriaz
3. Méribel
Picturesque holiday spot
Aanbevolen voor: Luxueus, Avontuur
Part of the Vanoise National Park and located in the Tarentaise Valley, Méribel is a quaint ski resort that features a genuine wooden chalet-style architecture in a family-friendly village atmosphere. Ski enthusiasts will find plenty of slopes to hit as Méribel belongs to the 3-Valley domain. There’s a range of difficulties to conquer, whether you’re a beginner or an expert.
Established in 1938, this popular vacation resort offers a multitude of options for entertainment. Dine on traditional French cuisine before enriching your stay at night clubs or shopping venues. Don’t forget to take advantage of the leisure facilities too, such as the swimming pool, indoor ice rink and fitness centre.
Locatie: 73550 Les Allues, France
Méribel
4. Chamonix
Nestled in the shade of the mighty Mont Blanc
Aanbevolen voor: Luxueus, Avontuur
Officially named Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, Chamonix is the site that held the first ever Winter Olympic Games in 1924. One of the oldest ski resorts in France, it gives you access to 119 km of ski pistes, including one run of 19 km from top to bottom. There are plenty of beginner slopes, but Chamonix is famed for its steep and challenging pistes.
Chamonix is a very cosmopolitan town, and its proximity to the highest mountain in Europe, Mont Blanc, means the alpine backdrop is incredible. With extra activities from museums to casinos and theme parks to dogsledding, Chamonix makes a perfect choice for your next skiing holiday.
Locatie: 74400, France
Chamonix
5. Val d’Isère
Where Olympians are made
Aanbevolen voor: Luxueus, Avontuur
Val d’Isère is a stylish ski resort located 5 km from the border with Italy in the Vanoise Natural Park. From west to east, the resort slowly transforms from vintage traditional chalets to modern architecture. It shares with nearby resort Tignes the Espace Killy, a ski domain which hosts over 300 km of pistes.
Golf, film festivals, aqua-sports and ice skating are just a few of the events and activities at hand in Val d’Isère in winter. As for dining, from fast food to gastronomic cuisine to local specialties, Val d’Isère has an eclectic range of options to please any palate.
Locatie: 73150, France
Val d’Isère
6. Val Thorens
One of the highest ski resorts in Europe
Aanbevolen voor: Stellen, Gezinnen, Foto, Avontuur
Located 60 km southwest of Chambéry, Val Thorens is one of the highest ski resorts in Europe. It sits at an altitude of 2,300 metres and is part of the 3-Valley ski domain. The height offers perfect snow conditions and has 150 km of tracks for you to try.
From ice diving at the frozen Lac du Lou to benefitting from balneotherapy at the Aqua Spa, Val Thorens is a dynamic ski resort which offers a great choice of things to do besides skiing. With venues like Chalet de la Marine and Chalet Chez Pépé Nicolas, to name just a few, Val Thorens also hosts a lively dining scene for different tastes and budgets.
Locatie: 73440 Les Belleville, France
Val Thorens
7. Tignes
Miles of thrilling ski runs
Aanbevolen voor: Luxueus, Avontuur
Tignes is perfectly placed near 2 lakes, Tignes and Chevril, at the foot of a hydro-electric dam. The ski resort features 5 distinct areas, from quiet and tranquil districts to vibrant party hubs: Les Brevières, Lavachet, Tignes 1800, the Lake and Val Claret. You’ll find a diverse selection of dining, shopping and leisure entertainment to make the most of your holiday between hitting the slopes.
Sharing the Espace Killy ski domain with the nearby Val d’Isère resort, a classy Tignes offers you the choice of an impressive 154 runs, green, blue, red and black, plus 44 km of cross-country skiing tracks.
Locatie: 73320, France
Tignes
8. Alpe d’Huez
An incredibly sunny skiing spot
Aanbevolen voor: Luxueus, Avontuur
Alpes d’Huez is almost as famous as a ski resort as it is as a regular stage of the Tour de France cycling race. Located about 60 km southeast of Grenoble, Alpes d’Huez is part of a quaint and peaceful village that has been here since the 11th century. It’s remarkably sunny and can receive up to 11 hours of sun a day in April.
Awarded an official family-friendly label by the French Tourism Organization, Alpes d’Huez features almost 250 km of marked ski slopes for all levels. From live music to motor racing on ice, relaxing spa treatments to helicopter sightseeing tours, Alpes d’Huez has several cool activities to enjoy besides skiing and snowboarding.
Locatie: 38750 Huez, France
Alpe d’Huez
9. La Plagne
A hundred square metres of exciting ski tracks await
Aanbevolen voor: Stellen, Gezinnen, Luxueus
Featuring over 200 km of marked slopes plus a large off-piste skiing area, La Plagne has all you need to spend an exciting time on your skis. Tracks run through forests, sinkholes and glaciers to provide a challenging, yet scenic, session in the snow.
One of the most popular French ski resorts, La Plagne features 6 distinct areas for accommodation, each between 1,800 and 2,100 meters of altitude. Built in 1961, La Plagne Centre is the main spot if you’re looking for a busy atmosphere. No matter where you choose to stay, you’ll find lively dining and shopping scenes as well as a good range of indoor and outdoor activities.
Locatie: 73210 La Plagne-Tarentaise, France
La Plagne
10. Megève
An authentic French Alps village
Aanbevolen voor: Luxueus, Avontuur
The first ski resort built in the French Alps in the 1910s, Megève is an upscale ski resort favoured by a wealthy set of trendsetters and a prime spot if you want more than a little luxury. Located a mere 20 km from Mont Blanc, the highest mountain in the Alps, Megève’s skiable domain covers almost 450 km of ski slopes plus 95 km of cross-country ski trails.
The main asset of Megève is that its village has retained a genuine French Alps village atmosphere. You’ll find top-notch restaurants and trendy boutiques in the centre of the village, in addition to many sport shops for any skiing gear you might need.
Locatie: 74120, France
Megève
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