The best ski resorts in France

The Alps is a sprawling winter (and summer) playground. With over 1,200 ski resorts across six countries, there’s so much to take in that it’s impossible to choose the perfect resort without a research session. Luckily, we’re snow addicts, travel experts, and ski-industry aficionados who’ve hit all the resorts on this list – and more! So, if you decide to go skiing in France, we can say with confidence there’s something for everyone.

We’ve hand-picked each ski resort below. And we run down exactly what makes them special and worth visiting – from powder paradises and sprawling winter playgrounds to family-friendly getaways and bouncing après hotspots. Plus, we’d happily go back to each one time and time again. 

So, if you’re ready, let’s get to it. But before we do, why not pair exploring a new ski resort with some new ski kit? Check out the latest drop of ski bibs and ski jackets and find your perfect combo with our awesome Stylecreator.

Best ski resorts in France: the list

Chamonix

It’s no surprise Chamonix tops the list of the best ski resorts in France. There’s an extensive range of riding available, including the legendary Brévent-Flégère zone, packed with long, expertly groomed trails. Don’t forget the freeriding at Argentière and access to Verbier – all included with the same area pass. Chamonix offers more bang for your buck than almost any other French ski resort.

When choosing Chamonix, you need first to decide where you’ll stay. Chamonix proper is a sprawling winter town packed with great nightlife, shopping, and lots of activities. There are also the Planpraz and Flégèr gondolas, heading out of town and to the resort area. And you’ll discover the Téléphérique de l'Aiguille du Midi cable car that whisks you up to the Aiguille du Midi viewpoint below the Mont Blanc peak. 

As for the riding, there’s so much to say. Brévent-Flégère is legendary and offers an impressive network of trails to explore, while there’s some of the best freeriding in town available from Argentière. Chamonix has a few home runs and a small learner area in town, but it doesn’t have a lot of ‘ski to the door’ accommodation options. And you can wait a good while to get on the gondolas in the morning if it's busy. However, the pay-off is a vibrant, lively town, perfect for those wanting to have as much fun off the mountain as on it.

Val Thorens

Val Thorens is the jewel of the Alps, sitting at 2,300 meters (7,546 feet) and owning the title of the highest ski resort in France. Because of this altitude, it’s also extremely snow-sure, with a long season and lots of high-altitude riding. As a purpose-built resort, Val Thorens isn’t as charming as others. Still, it more than makes up for this with a plethora of amazing upmarket hotels, restaurants, and shopping opportunities. Luxury and freeriding are the two things that Val Thorens is known for! That, and being part of the Les 3 Vallées/3 Valleys ski area, the ‘largest ski area in the world’.

Of course, if you want to stay somewhere with a little more charm or a little less glitz (and somewhere more affordable), there are lots of options, each with its own character. Les Menuires is just below VT and has the best access to Val Thorens' terrain and lift network. It has a daytime après scene, too, with a ski trail connecting the two resorts. Les Menuires is where a lot of the seasonaires working at Val Thorens stay. Overall, it has a more laid-back vibe with a solid selection of pubs and bars. 

The other valleys include options to stay at Courchevel — a luxury resort with lots of upmarket hotels and restaurants — and Meribel — a family-friendly resort with plenty to do on and off the hill. Both are beautiful, traditional resort towns with lots of riding at stellar altitudes. So they’re both snow-sure (but not as snowy as Val Thorens). Every resort has good beginner and learner zones, perfect for first-timers. However, Val Thorens and Les Menuires have the most to offer those looking for more advanced skiing and freeride opportunities.

Avoriaz ski resort

We couldn’t make this list without including the snowiest resort in the French Alps! Avoriaz is a purpose-built, car-free powder paradise oozing with charm, après, great food, great riding, and much more. It forms part of the legendary Portes Du Soleil circuit, connecting 12 resorts across Switzerland and France to create one epic resort network that serves up amazing terrain and even better nightlife.

To ride Avoriaz’s ski area, stay in Avoriaz or down in Morzine. Avoriaz perches up on a plateau at 1,800 meters (5,905.5 feet). When you approach by road, you park in a sprawling underground parking lot and take a snowcat or horse-drawn carriage to your accommodation. The streets are lined with snow, and the resort is arranged so you can ride through the whole thing at the end of the day (or the beginning) to access your hotel/apartment (or the lifts).

You’ll find lots of great après bars and restaurants in Avoriaz, along with some incredible powder riding on the surrounding slopes. There’s also a rich freestyle heritage here with an extensive park right next to the resort, a pro-grade park above it, and a Burton Stash set-up in the forest off the Tour/Prolays lift. There’s an official Burton store in the resort, too. So, if you’re looking for jumps and jibs (and pow riding), Avoriaz is the place to be!

Les Arcs

The mighty Les Arcs has it all – from the freeride mecca of Arc 2000, the super luxurious Arc 1950, and the bustling après and activity center of Arc 1800, to the original, family-friendly Arc 1600. There’s truly something for everyone. Oh, and how could we forget some of the best freeriding in France? Ride up to 3,226 meters (10,583 feet) and access the frankly insane Paradiski area and the La Plagne network via the Vanoise Express cable car. 

Through the years, Les Arcs has gone through several transformations. This includes the construction of new resort bases, expansions of the lift and piste network, and improved infrastructure all around. For those wanting to ride the best freeriding, staying at Arc 2000 is the easiest choice. Here, you’ll be able to whizz up to the Aiguille Rouge peak at 3,226 meters (10,583 feet) and the Grand Col and Col de la Chal, which gives access to a huge, open area of off-piste and powder.

Want to stay in a five-star hotel, eat amazing food, and sip champagne slopeside? Arc 1950, the newest addition, is what you want. Here, you’ll have the same links to the slopes as Arc 2000, but with some extra lavishness on top. Arc 1600 and 1800 are over the ridge, and while they have amazing riding – including lots more tree skiing – you can’t get up as high. Still, both are great picks, especially if you want to head for the best après in the resort. Yes, in Arc 1800, you’ll find the likes of L’Arpette for Happy Hour DJ sets on the mountain. There’s also a Folie Douce here, which needs no introduction, along with the Jungle Cafe and‌ Ambiente Cafe – all legendary in their own right.

La Plagne

Just across the Vanoise cable car, you’ll find the La Plagne ski resort network. When it comes to the quality of riding, variety of accommodation, nightlife, and everything else that makes a resort awesome, La Plagne is as good a choice as Les Arcs and any other entry on this list – if not better.

Unlike Les Arcs, all the stations have a little of everything, so there’s really no bad choice. Some stations will certainly be a little quieter and feel more out of the way. For example, Plagne Villages, Plagne 1800, Champagny en Vanoise, and Montchavin Les Coches are family-friendly resorts with a more laid-back feel, quieter rhythm, and family-suited restaurants and activities to enjoy. For those looking for the best freeriding and high-altitude riding, Plagne Soleil and Plagne Villages are the highest stations at 2,050 meters (6,726 feet). But Plagne Centre, Plagne Aime 2000, and Belle Plagne offer the easiest access to the high ridges. Belle Plagne is the best place to get riders up to the Bellecôte Glacier.

Each resort has its own character, though. Plagne Aime 2000 features the unique ‘Snow Ocean Liner’ hotel (worth a Google to see). Belle Plagne brands itself as the perfect place to unwind and disconnect from the world (it’s also car-free). Plagne Soleil and Plagne Centre are the livelier hotspots on the mountain, with plenty of ski-in/ski-out accommodation options. Last but not least, Plagne Bellecôte is a modern destination, purpose-built for convenience. However, any you choose will offer the same thing: great riding, fantastic accommodation, and rock-solid nightlife!

Val d'Isère-Tignes

Okay, we know Val d'Isère-Tignes is technically an area (Val and Tignes are both separate ski resorts). However, the area is too epic not to include. Recently renamed Val d'Isère-Tignes, the former Espace Killy offers some of the most reliable early-season riding, heaviest snowfalls, and the best nightlife in France. And if riding is the main goal, the enormous network offers plenty over its 186 miles, including lifts getting up over 3,000 meters (9,842.5 feet). This includes the Grande Motte Glacier at 3,656 meters/11,995 feet in Tignes (the cable car takes you to 3,456 meters/11,339 feet) and Pointe Du Montet at 3,428 meters (11,242 feet) in Val d'Isère. 

And, like all the resorts on this list, there are several stations to stay at, each with its own personality and charm. On the Val side, you can stay in Val d'Isère proper – a sizable ski town at the base of the mountain with stunning hotels, restaurants, bars, shops, nightclubs, and lots of things to do. For a quieter locale, check out the little hamlets of Le Fornet, Le Laisinant, and La Daille, all of which have their own funiculars, gondolas, or cable cars to whisk you up the mountain.

On the Tignes side, stay in the quaint Les Brévières (1550), the ‘original’ resort with traditional chalets and quiet restaurants, ideal for family getaways. Alternatively, there’s Tignes 1800 (Tignes Les Boisses), a little further up the mountain. However, if you want to experience what put Tignes on the map, it’s likely to be found at Tignes 2100. There, you’ll find Le Lavachet, designed for families. Le Lac, the central hub, is perfect for those looking for a balance of riding and everything else. And Val Claret is ace for party animals (it even says it on the website!). However, because of its status as a true do-it-all resort, all ski areas of Tignes and Val will have plenty going on regarding après: it’s basically an institution! Together, Tignes and Val d'Isère form an unstoppable powerhouse of riding and partying.

Les Deux Alpes

A high-altitude party town with glacier riding and plenty of charm (and places to drink), Les Deux Alpes has a lot going for it. It’s ideal for riders with some skill on the slopes and the will to make the most of their time on and off the mountain.

Les 2 Alpes’s town sits in the cradle of a valley. It offers an epic, expansive skiing area stretching from 1,650 meters (5,413 feet) at resort level to 3,568 meters (11,706 feet) on the Glacier de la Girose, creating one of the longest verticals in the Alps. Because of the design of the town and how compact it is, you can walk everywhere. But it gets very busy in the mornings, with long lift lines, especially on days with awesome conditions. As such, it’s important to either be an early riser or not care about fresh lines (and be prepared to stand in line for a while!). Still, there’s plenty to do at the base, including some legendary après spots, such as the Umbrella Bar.

Once you’re up the mountain, though, it’s pretty magnificent, with so many on-piste and off-piste opportunities to explore and some epic parks. There are a lot of long freeride descents if you can time it right with fresh snow. However, expect warmer temperatures and questionable conditions in the early season because of Les Deux Alpes’ more exposed southern location. Les Deux Alpes is also best suited to more advanced riders, with little in the way of beginner terrain – except for the small learner area at the base.

Flaine

The Grand Massif ski area is a vast collection of interconnected resorts that deliver highly accessible and reliable riding with plenty of powder. Plus, you can choose to stay in the built-up, lively stations or quiet, quintessential alpine towns. One of our favorites is Flaine.

Flaine was the product of extensive research. It was commissioned in 1960 to be a ‘modernist masterpiece.’ Because it was 1960, though, that meant brutalist architecture and lots of concrete. However, they were right about one thing: the location. Built in a huge northern-facing bowl, Flaine catches lots of prevailing weather, so the snow stacks up like crazy. It’s protected from the warm southern sun, keeping it powdery and amazing to ride all season long.

The high point is at 2,480 meters (8,136 feet), and there’s a solid network of beginner, intermediate, and advanced riding. However, experts will find less to tantalize them than at the likes of Val Thorens or Chamonix. As such, Flaine is more geared towards families or those looking to make the most of the après scene, which, while not as renowned as Tignes, is still lots of fun. Aim for February for the best of the snow and everything else!

La Grave

La Grave (full name La Grave La Meije) may not be an actual ski resort. However, it does offer 2,100 meters (6,890 feet) of vertical, guided skiing, and some of the most perilous freeriding in the whole world. La Grave really is only for the best of the best. So, naturally, we couldn’t leave it off the list. However, be warned – La Grave has claimed more lives than any other resort in France. 

A two-stage gondola transports riders up to the glacier where you’ll take a button lift to 3,500 meters (11,483 feet). There, you’ll be at the top of the Glacier de la Girose (the other side of which feeds into Les Deux Alpes), and face a fabled, unmarked, unpisted, cliff-and-crevasse-filled, non-avalanche-controlled, and, frankly, deadly descent. Before choosing your line, don’t forget to take in the views of La Meije, the Écrins Massif’s majestic, mythical peak. Completely deserted in dry spells but packed on pow days, La Grave is the strangest resort you’ll likely ever go to.

With two main descent routes, you’ll need to navigate couloirs, crevasses, cliffs, and lengthy traverses. However, if you’re into this kind of riding, that’s music to your ears! Once you’ve made it down, you can sink a beer in one of the authentic French-owned bars before sleeping in an authentic French chalet. There’s little in the way of ski tourism here, so no big companies have their hooks into it. La Grave is as raw and uninhibited as things get. If you want to experience something truly ephemeral and unique in the skiing world, La Grave needs to be at the top of your list. Just make sure you have the skills to attempt it!

Alpe d’Huez

If you thought we forgot Alpe d’Huez, you’d be wrong. This famous resort nestles in the Southern Alps, near Les Deux Alpes and La Grave, and serves up another 2,000+ meters (6,500+ feet) of vertical (if you go all the way down to Vaujany). Looking for nightlife? You’ll find some truly amazing options, including the annual Tomorrowland Winter (an awesome festival)!

There’s a long history of settlement at Alpe d’Huez, stretching back to the Middle Ages. It played host to the 10th Winter Olympics (in part), and is home to the Sarenne, the longest continuous run in the Alps at just under 10 miles long. There are also numerous off-piste and freeride opportunities to be had on the higher slopes, along with heli-skiing from the resort’s altiport. Alpe d’Huez is popular with beginners, too, because of its expertly created piste network. So it certainly has something for everyone.

Purpose-built resorts benefit from good design, and Alpe d’Huez is no different. Huez and the other outlying stations offer quieter, family-focused vibes. At the same time, Alpe d’Huez proper has that livelier, built-up feel. You’ll also discover luxury hotels, great restaurants, extensive shopping opportunities, and plenty of après-ski. And we mean plenty. 

Honorable mentions

Of course, while we named the best resorts above, we can’t ignore many other incredible French ski resorts. So, if the ten above aren’t doing it for you, check these out, which all have something unique. 

We think that Serre Chevalier, Meribel, Courchevel, Megève, Montgenèvre, Les Orres, Cauterets, Isola 2000, and Valmeinier all deserve some love. They’re 100% worth exploring if you want to go somewhere a little different from the ‘big 10’ we listed here!

FAQs

Is it expensive to ski in France?

France is known as one of the most reasonably priced places in Europe to ski, thanks to the abundance of resorts you can find here. With more than 600 to choose from, there are lots of great resorts known for their value for money, with Flaine and Morzine being great examples of affordable options, close to airports to minimise transfer costs, and with access to top-class skiing. Some resorts, like Val Thorens, Courchevel, and Val D'Isere are known for their luxury and price, however, so you'll need to be careful!

What are the best places in the French alps for advanced and off-piste skiing?

There are plenty of amazing resorts for freeriding in France. The Mont Blanc Circuit, with Chamonix at its centre, is a great choice, with great skiing in the Brevent and Flegere areas, as well as further up the valley. Le Tour and Argentiere are both known for their excellent freeriding, and attract skiers from all around the world. Mont Blanc itself can also be skied from the top with a guide, and if you're looking for something completely white-knuckle, then La Grave is definitely the most thrilling choice.

Wrapping up

Well, that’s it: the definitive guide to the best ski resorts in France! It’s subjective, and we’ve likely missed some favorites here. But, hey – there’s only so many we can ride in one lifetime, and if you knock off all ten of these, you’re doing pretty well. 

Of course, there’s also Switzerland, Austria, Italy, and Slovenia to consider, all of which are worth checking out. And we haven’t even mentioned the French Pyrenees, the Spanish Pyrenees, or Andorra. Heck, winter can’t come soon enough.

Agree or disagree with our choices? Hitting one of these resorts this season? Let us know at crew@montecwear.com or tag us on socials!

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