As any skier worth their powder will tell you, it’s hard to beat the French Alps for the quantity and quality of snow. Our top picks of the best ski resorts in the French Alps include resorts for both beginners and experts.
From luxury spa destinations to fresh alpine routes, these amazing ski destinations in France are a must-visit.
Best Ski Resorts In The French Alps
How do these rankings work?
1. Courchevel
Courchevel is based in Les 3 Vallées, the largest interlinked ski area in the world. It’s a stunning setting for skiing your heart out in a variety of landscapes : from perfectly groomed pistes, to forests high in the mountain… Plus, it’s suitable for all types of skiers no matter their ability.
The Alps’ most exclusive resort is also known worldwide for its extraordinary spas.
2. Val d’Isère
For partygoers, you can’t beat Val d’Isere. The hotspot for die-hard clubbers is of course La Folie Douce. Those with stamina can start at lunch in the mountain restaurant of the same name (easy to remember), accessible by the new La Daille cable car. It also boasts the highest cabaret in the world (2,400m) where DJs, dancers and musicians come to perform all season.
3. Avoriaz
A completely pedestrianised resort with guaranteed snowfall from December to April, Avoriaz is a hugely popular destination for a skiing holiday. Skiers here have easy access to a high-altitude ski area, with opportunities every day to enjoy the magnificent views on offer from the Portes du Soleil.
4. Serre Chevalier
Want to visit one of the best ski resorts in the French Alps for spa lovers? After skiing here, the whole resort rushes to the Bain Nordique to meet friends for drinks in a vast, scented hot tub – while at the Grand Bains du Monêtier, mineral-rich spring water rich gushes forth at 44°C. Serre Chevalier is the place to indulge in that contrast between hot and cold.
5. Méribel
If you prefer cross-country skiing, this resort is a great place to go. 600 kilometres of pistes are connected via the summits of this popular resort, offering more than 62,000 vertical meters of skiing for experts, novices, families and keen sportspeople alike.
6. Alpe-d’Huez
This resort also offers a whole host of non-skiing and post skiing activities for visitors. Mountain restaurants, shops, night-clubs, etc… L’Alpe d’Huez is a resort with a unique way of life.
A truly unique experience: in L’Alpe d’Huez, you can ski down four famous runs with a total descent of around 2,000m, that you can ski down in one go without having to take a single ski lift!
7. Chamonoix-Mont-Blanc
Cham’ is a destination popular the world over. In the streets of this high-mountain town you’ll hear languages from every corner of the globe. Chamonix-Mont-Blanc also has its own festival: the pop/rock-focused Musilac Mont-Blanc. Festival-goers can ditch their skis and poles to hear the biggest names on the current scene.
