The 10 Best French Ski Resorts For A Winter Escape
Ready to book a winter escape to one of the best French ski resorts? We have the ultimate guide to help you choose the perfect snow vacation for you.
It’s finally ski season, and France is home to some of the most exceptional ski resorts in Europe.
If you’re a lover of all things snow, France is a magical wonderland wonderland, and we have the perfect ski holiday on offer for any budget, stay style and experience level.
Challenging off-piste skiing down the peaks of Mont Blanc. Family-friendly alpine village chalet stays with slopes ideal for novices. Glamorous five-star resort stays with après-ski cocktail bars aplenty. Affordable ski resort vacations for those who simply want good powder set against mountain views to die for. And most of these locations are just as beautiful to visit in off-season, in summer.
You’re guaranteed to find what you’re looking for on our list of the 10 best French ski resorts. Many of the official websites listed also have live webcams, so you can get a first hand look at what to expect when you arrive!
1. Val Thorens
Where it is: Tarentaise Valley, Savoie, French Alps.
Peak altitude: 3230m.
How to get to Val Thorens: Fly into Geneva, Lyon or Grenoble and catch a transfer. Catch the train from Paris to Moutiers. You can also drive to Val Thorens – it is a seven hour drive from Paris.
Val Thorens is arguably one of the most world renowned French ski resorts, and for good reason. Thrilling ski bunnies for 50 years and counting, the destination is ideal for beginners to professionals, with 83 trails, 68 runs and 31 lifts. Val Thorens is a modern ski resort with endless restaurants, bars, stores and accommodations. The snow is perfect here, and the season runs from mid-November until May.
https://www.valthorens.com/en/
2. Tignes
Where it is: Tarentaise Valley, Savoie, French Alps.
Peak altitude: 3747m.
How to get to Tignes: Catch the train to Bourg St Maurice then take a taxi (fixe hour train trip from Paris), or fly into Geneva, Lyon or Grenoble and catch a transfer. It is an eight hour drive from Paris.
Tignes, located in the picture perfect French Alps, is a renowned French ski resort with something to offer everyone. The formation of three resort areas create Tignes. Spend your days skiing, snowboarding or simply enjoying the powder here on the edge of La Lac, and indulge in après ski fine dining and cocktails at the many local establishments. There are a range of chalets, hotels and apartments to stay in, and Tignes continues to be one of the most affordable French ski resorts to visit – win win! The best snow here is between December and April.
3. La Plagne
Where it is: Tarentaise Valley, Savoie, French Alps.
Peak altitude: 3250m.
How to get to La Plagne: Fly into to Geneva, Lyon or Grenoble and catch a transfer. Catch the train to Bourg St Maurice then take a taxi (five hour trip from Paris), or drive seven hours from Paris.
Gorgeous La Plagne is one of the largest ski resorts in the world, and the scenery and overall experience here shouldn’t be missed. The entire region covers 10 resorts up and down the mountain, and the slopes here are geared towards all experience levels. This family-friendly French ski resort is dotted with charming villages and nostalgic architecture. Enjoy daytime and nighttime snow activities from December through to April.
4. Méribel
Where it is: Tarentaise Valley, Savoie, French Alps.
Peak altitude: 3153m.
How to get to Méribel: Fly into to Geneva, Lyon or Grenoble and catch a transfer. Catch the train to nearby Moûtiers or take the picturesque six hour drive from Paris.
Tucked away in the awe-inspiring French Alps and dotted with cute as a button wooden chalets, Méribel is an alpine destination that offers the ultimate French ski resort experience. Ideal for singles, couples or families, Méribel not only offers sublime ski conditions, but added bells and whistles to really unwind after a long day on the mountain. There are spas, festivals and events, cosy cocktail bars and great eateries. It is also a wildly popular destination in summer, thanks to its hiking trails, golf courses and superior views. The European-style village sits at 1400m.
5. Chamonix-Mont Blanc
Where it is: Haute-Savoie. Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes.
Peak altitude: 4809m.
How to get to Chamonix: Fly to Geneva then catch a transfer. Catch the train to St. Gervais-le Fayet or drive six hours drive from Paris.
With a famous name renowned across the world, Chamonix-Mont Blanc (or simply, Chamonix) is located near the border of Italy, France and Switzerland and as such, offers up a French ski resort experience to rival any other. Mont Blanc, the highest mountain of the French Alps, towers over this beautiful commune, which held the first ever Winter Olympics back in 1924. Chamonix hasn’t lost any of its charm, and offers a French ski resort experience for any budget or experience level, from cheap snow getaways to five-star luxury stays, amateur skiers to masters. There’s no shortage of restaurants, bars, stores, spas, festivals, not to mention many enjoyable day trips. The views here are unparalleled. In summer, Chamonix is a destination for hiking, biking, golf and rock climbing.
6. Courchevel
Where it is: Tarentaise Valley, Savoie, French Alps.
Peak altitude: 2738m.
How to get to Courchevel: Fly into Geneva, Lyon or Grenoble and catch a transfer. Catch the train to Moûtiers, or drive seven hours from Paris.
Courchevel is a series of four French ski resort towns dotted across certain altitudes, and is another diamond of the outstanding Tarentaise Valley. The glam escape has long been a playground of the rich and famous, but you can enjoy a more budget-friendly holiday at the villages located further down the mountain. Courchevel boasts exceptional high altitude snow, long verticals, off-piste terrain, 58 modern lifts, lots of accommodations and some seriously chic restaurants and bars. The French ski resort destination also links with the aforementioned Méribel through its lift system and slopes.
7. Val d’Isère
Where it is: Tarentaise Valley, Savoie, French Alps.
Peak altitude: 3599m.
How to get to Val d’Isère: Fly into Geneva, catch the train to Bourg-Saint-Maurice or you can take the eight hour drive from Paris.
Dreamy Val d’Isère is often mentioned in conjunction with No.2 on our list, Tignes, and they form part of the Espace Killy ski area. There’s a reason that visitors continue to return to Val d’Isère year after year. This sprawling French ski resort perfectly blends alpine village charm with all that modern snow bunnies crave. Great powder, some of the world’s best off piste skiing, glaciers, mountain biking, hiking, rock climbing… Val d’Isère has it all! This family-friendly destination is extraordinarily popular during the ski season, but is also a gorgeous vacation option during summer. In town, there’s ice skating, spa breaks, a leisure centre with pool and a range of accommodation options from budget guesthouses to five star resort experiences.
8. St-Martin de Belleville
Where it is: Belleville Valley, Savoie, French Alps.
Peak altitude: 2400m.
How to get to St-Martin de Belleville: Fly into Geneva, Lyon or Grenoble then take a transfer, catch the train to Moûtiers or drive seven hours from Paris.
A quiet but no less impressive cousin of nearby Val Thorens, a trip to beautiful St-Martin de Belleville is like stepping back in time. The village that the French ski resort is named for is a nostalgic hamlet, peppered with stone and wood farmhouses and some small but well-stocked stores and eateries. Ideal for novices and equipped with the longest beginner runs in the Alps, St-Martin de Belleville is perfect for a family ski break. The facilities for enjoying the mountain are modern and the in-town accommodations are all affordable. No five star resorts here, so more money to spend on ski rentals, local attractions and après ski cocktails and dining.
https://st-martin-belleville.com/en/
9. Alpe d’Huez
Where it is: Huez, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes.
Peak altitude: 3330m.
How to get to Alpe d’Huez: Fly into Grenoble or catch the train to Grenoble station – both are just over 60km from Alpe d’Huez. You can also drive from Paris, it is around eight hours in the car.
Spanning 235 hectares of pristine alpine terrain, Alpe d’Huez is one of the most popular French ski resorts for beginners and intermediates. Catch a lift or one of the cable cars up the mountain and enjoy endless verticals, freeride areas, 250km of off-piste and even a glacier! The village itself sits at 1869m and offers a range of accommodations, from wooden ski chalets to apartments to luxurious five star hotels. When you’re not on the slopes, enjoy your downtime with a spa treatment, a meal at a local restaurant or a wild night out at one of the many local bars or clubs. In summer, Alpe d’Huez is just as impressive, offering superb hiking, biking, rock climbing, rafting and horse riding. Pic Blanc is the highest peak in the region, and offers jaw-dropping views and a glacier.
https://www.alpedhuez.com/en/winter/home/
10. Valmorel
Where it is: Tarentaise Valley, Savoie, French Alps.
Peak altitude: 2550m.
How to get to Valmorel: Fly into Geneva, Lyon or Grenoble and catch a transfer. Catch the train to Moûtiers or drive seven hours from Paris.
Since its establishment in 1976, beautiful Valmorel has worked hard to earn its reputation as a top French ski resort. Valmorel has remained loyal to the traditional architecture associated with an alpine ski resort – wooden buildings and few ultra-modern additions. The local snow conditions make it the ideal destination for novices or families with children, but there is some challenging terrain for the more experienced. In town, there’s a buzzing high street with everything you could possibly need- tapas bars, burger joints and, of course, restaurants serving traditional French fare. There is also live music venues, child-minding, a family snowzone, and spas. Accommodations across Valmorel are very limited (there are self-contained apartments but only one hotel in town), so booking well in advance is a must. Valmorel is one of the most underrated French ski resorts.
What is your favourite French ski resort?
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