Megève 

France

Megève is one of France’s oldest and best-known ski resorts and also one of its most upmarket, vying with Courchevel for the attention of well-heeled Parisians and the international jet-set.

However, Megève has much more to offer than just luxury hotels and designer shops, starting with a beautifully preserved medieval town centre and an enticing ski area that is a great deal larger you might expect. Short transfers also add to the resort’s appeal – you can get to your hotel in less than an hour from Geneva airport if the traffic is kind.

The resort’s relatively low altitude can mean that good snow quality is not always guaranteed, however, a holiday in Megève is about so much more than just skiing, and there are few better all-round winter destinations in France. 

Transfer time:  Geneva - 1hr

Megève is in the northern French Alps in the Haute-Savoie department, barely an hour’s drive from Geneva airport. 

Resort height:  1520m

Megève is a small town, beautifully set in a wide sunny valley high above the Arve Valley. It is one of the closest major ski resorts to Geneva airport, which is reachable by car in less than one hour.

The centre of the resort retains a considerable degree of historic charm, with a beautifully preserved medieval centre, and is a delightful place for an early evening stroll with lots of interesting shops, cafés, bars and restaurants. 

Altitude:   850-2355m
Pistes:      325km

Megève’s vast ski area is spread over three main mountains, with numerous sub-sectors on or linking to each mountain. Its largest ski area is Mont d’Arbois, which offers a huge area of mostly gentle tree-lined runs linked to the spa resort of St Gervais. Mont d’Arbois directly links to Mont Joux and from there to Mont Joly, which offers tougher more open terrain and Megève’s highest run, topping out at 2355m.

Linked by lift (but not piste) to Mont d’Arbois is the Rochbrune/Côte 2000 sector, which offers more mostly gentle intermediate terrain and (at Côte 2000) some of Megève’s most reliable snow conditions.

On the other side of town is Megève’s third main ski area, Le Jaillet, which is linked to two further resorts (Combloux and Le Giettaz), all of which add up to another sizeable area of mostly intermediate skiing. 

Our snow rating: ☆☆☆☆☆

Snow conditions in Megève may not be the most reliable in France, but snow cover doesn’t actually need to be that deep for the pistes to be skiable here thanks to the nature of the terrain, with slopes that are generally grassy underneath.

Snowfall can be abundant in Megève when the weather is cold and unsettled, and the wind is coming from the north-west. However, as most of its slopes are below 2000m, snow conditions can be highly variable, and later in the season snow can quickly disappear from the valley.

Generally speaking, the best snow conditions in Megève can be found on the shady slopes of Côte 2000, which is also the last sector in the ski area to close at the end of the season. 

All three of Megève’s ski areas have plenty of tree-lines slopes for bad weather days but the densest forests can be found on Mont d’Arbois.

Our rating: ☆☆☆☆☆

Much of Megève’s considerable ski area is quite gentle, but there are some challenges dotted around. The steepest pistes are in the Mont Joux and Mont Joly sectors, where is there is a genuinely testing black run (the Chamois) off the top chair. You can also find some steep, testing runs in both the Jaillet sector at Le Christomet and in La Giettaz.

Megève also offes plenty of scope for off-piste, and far less competition for powder than in nearby resorts such as Chamonix. Some of the most testing off-piste can be found off the back of Mont Joly, but in good snow conditions both the Mont d’Arbois and La Giettaz sectors also offer some great tree skiing, which can be particularly useful in poor weather.

Our rating: ☆☆☆☆☆

Megève is an intermediate’s paradise with an extensive and varied network of red, blue and (for the particularly nervous) green pistes in all sectors. Leisurely intermediates can get around most of the area without any great difficulty and will particularly enjoy the wide gentle pistes between Mont d’Arbois and Le Bettex.

There are also plenty of options for stronger intermediates, with some of the most satisfying reds to be found in the Christomet and La Giettaz sectors. Another good area for confident intermediates to aim for is Mont Joly and, below it, L’Épaule, from where you will find some particularly enjoyable runs down to Saint-Nicholas-de-Véroce. 

Our rating: ☆☆☆☆☆

Megève is an excellent ski resort for beginners, with nursery slopes at all the main lift bases, the biggest and best of which is located just above the village at the bottom of Mont d’Arbois.

There are also lots of easy greens and blues to progress to, with the greatest concentration of gentle improver slopes to be found between Mont d’Arbois and Mont Joux. 

Megève is an excellent resort for cross-country skiers, with over 40km of marked runs both in the valley and at altitude. 

Megève has the greatest selection of mountain restaurants of any ski resort in France, with something to suit most budgets - from the chic, expensive and gourmet to more laid-back, self-service options.

One of our favourites is La Ravière, a tiny rustic hut tucked away in the woods near the Croix chairlift on the Mont d’Arbois side of the ski area. Although there is only a small choice of dishes on its menu, the food is unerringly excellent and pre-booking is essential.

Also recommended in the Mont d’Arbois sector, above Saint-Nicholas-de-Véroce, are Le Gouet, a rustic hut serving simple Alpine cuisine, and the Refuge de Porcherey, also serving traditional cuisine, with panoramic views. 

For those after a lively dining experience, Mont d'Arbois is also home to the infamous Folie Douce, which offers two dining options alongside its legendary après-ski parties - the gourmet La Fruitière serving Savoyarde delicacies, and La Petite Cuisine which offers a lighter menu.

Over in the Jaillet sector, the stand-out choice is Auberge Bonjournal, an authentic Alpine chalet serving traditional Savoyarde specialities, while in Rochebrune, the upmarket Arpette and more rustic Forestier also come highly recommended. 

Our rating: ☆☆☆☆☆

Megève has a lot to offer non-skiers, including a beautifully preserved medieval town centre full of interesting shops, bars, cafés and restaurants. There are also plenty of activities off the slopes, including two toboggan runs, a large outdoor ice-rink in the town centre, and one of the biggest sports centres in the Alps.

The resort also has many winter walks and pedestrian-friendly lifts, which allow skiers and non-skiers to meet up in one of the ski area’s numerous mountain restaurants. 

Our rating: ☆☆☆☆☆

Après-ski in Megève has traditionally had a reputation for being upmarket and civilised, but there is now one notable exception - up the mountain at the infamous Folie Douce, where it can get very lively towards the end of the day. Already an institution in other French resorts like Val d’Isère and Méribel, the Folie Douce opened its doors in Megève in 2014, and offers legendary après-ski parties featuring live bands and DJs.

Back in town, Bar St Paul is one of the most popular après-ski spots for locals, while Wake Up, Cocoon and Le Nano Caffè are other recommended options.

Megève offers a wide choice of restaurants, including several high-end establishments. Just outside of town, the three-Michelin star Flocons des Sel is one of the best restaurants in the Alps. It also has a more ‘budget’ sister restaurant, the Flocons Village bistro, back in the centre of the resort.

La Table du Trappeur is a good mid-range option at the edge of the village centre, offering delicious French and European cuisine in a relaxed atmosphere. If you’re looking for something a little simpler, you could also try the Spaggiari Pizzeria. 

Megève has perhaps the greatest range of luxury hotels of any ski resort in France, together with some remarkably high quality mid-range alternatives.

We offer tailor-made luxury ski holidays at the award-winning and world famous 5 star Les Fermes de Marie, the ultimate in rustic chic, and the charming 3 star Grange d’Arly, one of our favourite boutique hotels in France. 

Prices start from £2495 per person at Les Fermes de Marie and from £1395 per person at the Grange d'Arly, including flights, private transfers and breakfast.

If you enjoy high-speed cruising on fast empty red runs, head towards the less visited La Giettaz sector, at the far western end of the Megève ski area.

Considering a luxury ski holiday
or short break in Megève?

Call us on: +44 (0)20 3397 8450

Email us at: info@snow-wise.com

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