Ski holidays
Best ski resorts in France: 10 resorts ranked, and where to stay
France has the biggest ski areas in the Alps and the highest resorts in Europe. These are the ten we would choose, from Mont Blanc to Les 3 Vallées.
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In short
The best ski resort in France for experienced skiers is Chamonix, with Grand Hôtel des Alpes as our first choice. For big, snow-sure skiing, Val Thorens in Les 3 Vallées, Europe’s highest resort, is the safest bet. Families get the most from La Plagne or Les Arcs. We have ranked 10 resorts in total.
Our first choice: Grand Hôtel des Alpes in Chamonix. Check availability and prices
At half past eight in the morning the queue is already forming at the Aiguille du Midi in Chamonix, ice axes strapped to rucksacks. Three hours south, others ski out of their hotel door in Val Thorens, more than 2,000 metres up, and can ski all day without taking the same lift twice.
France has some of the largest linked ski areas in the world, and many of its resorts were built for ski-in ski-out. We have ranked them on terrain and snow, and chosen one hotel we would stay at in each.
1. Chamonix: beneath Mont Blanc
Chamonix hosted the first Winter Olympics in 1924 and is still a capital of mountain sports. From the Aiguille du Midi, the long off-piste Vallée Blanche runs down the glacier, with a guide. The ski areas are spread around the valley, so beginners have better places to choose.
Where to stay: Grand Hôtel des Alpes is in the centre of Chamonix, a short walk from the restaurants and the ski bus.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Grand Hôtel des Alpes
Read the full guide: Chamonix: dream conditions in thin mountain air
2. Val Thorens: Europe’s highest resort
Val Thorens sits around 2,300 metres above sea level and is the highest ski resort in Europe. That means snow from early December into May. It is part of Les 3 Vallées, and almost all the accommodation is ski-in ski-out.
Where to stay: Altapura sits at the top of Val Thorens, with ski-in ski-out access and a spa.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Altapura Hôtel & Spa
Read the full guide: Val Thorens: skiing in Europe’s highest ski resort and where to stay
3. Courchevel: luxury in Les 3 Vallées
Courchevel is the most exclusive resort in France, with its own mountain airstrip and some of the most expensive hotels in the Alps. The pistes are beautifully groomed, and many suit intermediate skiers. Prices are high, but so are the standards.
Where to stay: Rosewood Courchevel Le Jardin Alpin is in Courchevel 1850, with ski-in ski-out access.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Rosewood Courchevel Le Jardin Alpin
Read the full guide: Courchevel: luxury skiing in Les 3 Vallées and where to stay
Courchevel
A sunny terrace looking out at snowy peaks in Courchevel.
4. Val d’Isère: steep and snow-sure
Val d’Isère shares its ski area with Tignes, and together they cover a vast high-mountain domain. The La Face downhill was used at the 1992 Olympics. The town has a real village heart and lively nightlife, and the terrain suits those who can already ski well.
Where to stay: Hôtel Barmes de l’Ours stands near the foot of La Face and has a large spa.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Hôtel Barmes de l’Ours
Read the full guide: Val d’Isère: skiing in Espace Killy and where to stay
5. Méribel: the heart of Les 3 Vallées
Méribel sits in the middle of Les 3 Vallées, a short ski from both Courchevel and Val Thorens. The village is built of wood and stone, and many British families have chalets here. That makes it friendly and easy to find your way around.
Where to stay: Hôtel Le Kaïla is in the centre of Méribel and has a spa with a pool.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Hôtel Le Kaïla
Read the full guide: Méribel: skiing at the heart of Les 3 Vallées and where to stay
Méribel
An outdoor hot tub surrounded by snow at a hotel in Méribel.
6. Tignes: the glacier and the lake
Tignes sits high around a lake and has the Grande Motte glacier, so snow is reliable for much of the year. Its ski area links with Val d’Isère. The buildings are more modern than in its neighbour, but most hotels put you straight onto the slopes.
Where to stay: Le Lodge des Neiges has a spa and pool and suits families who want space.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Le Lodge des Neiges
Read the full guide: Tignes: snow-sure skiing by the glacier and where to stay
7. Les Arcs: ski from the station
Les Arcs is part of Paradiski, where the Vanoise Express cable car links Les Arcs and La Plagne. From the train station at Bourg-Saint-Maurice, a funicular takes you straight up to the resort. Arc 1950 is built as a car-free village and works well for families.
Where to stay: Hôtel du Golf is in Arc 1800, with ski-in ski-out access.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Hôtel du Golf
Read the full guide: Les Arcs: skiing with Mont Blanc views and where to stay
8. La Plagne: for families
La Plagne has plenty of gentle, wide slopes, and several of its villages are built so children can walk from the door to ski school. Paradiski still offers enough terrain for adults who want a challenge. That makes La Plagne one of the best family resorts in France.
Where to stay: Le Terra Nova is in Plagne Centre, a short walk from the lifts.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Le Terra Nova
Read the full guide: La Plagne: family skiing in Paradiski and where to stay
La Plagne
A snow-bound hotel in La Plagne, where families stay close to the slopes.
9. Morzine: an Alpine village near Geneva
Morzine is a proper Alpine village with a church spire and wooden chalets, and it is a short transfer from Geneva. Its ski area is part of the Portes du Soleil, which stretches across the border into Switzerland. One thing to know: Morzine sits low, so snow is less reliable than in the Tarentaise.
Where to stay: Le Petit Dru is in the middle of the village.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Le Petit Dru
Read the full guide: Morzine: skiing in a real Alpine town and where to stay
10. Megève: elegance and views
Megève was developed as a ski resort by the Rothschild family in the 1920s, and it still shows. The medieval centre is car-free, and many come as much for the food and hotels as for the skiing. The views of Mont Blanc are among the finest in the Alps.
Where to stay: Four Seasons Resort Megève sits on Mont d’Arbois, with ski-in ski-out access.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Four Seasons Resort Megève
Read the full guide: Megève: elegant skiing beneath Mont Blanc and where to stay
Other French resorts we cover include Avoriaz, Alpe d’Huez, La Clusaz, Flaine and Serre Chevalier.
Which resort suits you?
Experienced skiers: Chamonix or Val d’Isère.
Reliable snow: Val Thorens or Tignes.
Luxury: Courchevel or Megève.
Families: La Plagne or Les Arcs.
Short transfer from Geneva: Morzine, Chamonix or Megève.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best ski resort in France?
For experienced skiers, Chamonix is the best ski resort in France, with challenging terrain and the Vallée Blanche. For the most reliable snow, Val Thorens is the safest choice because it is the highest resort in Europe. Families get the most from La Plagne or Les Arcs, with wide slopes and ski school close by.
What is Les 3 Vallées?
Les 3 Vallées is one of the largest linked ski areas in the world, with Courchevel, Méribel and Val Thorens on one lift pass. You can ski between the valleys without taking your skis off. It suits all levels, but the highest parts around Val Thorens have the most reliable snow throughout the season.
Which airport do you fly to for skiing in France?
Geneva is the most common airport for ski holidays in France, with short transfers to Chamonix, Morzine and Megève. To Les 3 Vallées, Tignes and Les Arcs, the transfer from Geneva is usually two to three hours. Lyon and Chambéry are alternatives, and many travel by train right to Moûtiers or Bourg-Saint-Maurice.
When is the best snow in the French Alps?
Snow is usually best from January to March in the French Alps. High resorts such as Val Thorens and Tignes often have good snow from December until late April. Lower villages such as Morzine and Megève can be less reliable early and late in the season, so choose your altitude to match when you travel.
Is skiing in France expensive?
France ranges from some of the most expensive resorts in the Alps, such as Courchevel and Megève, to places where apartments keep costs down. La Plagne and Les Arcs give plenty of skiing for your money, especially for families who self-cater. Lift passes for big areas such as Les 3 Vallées cost more but cover far more terrain.