What’s the Best ski Resort in France?

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Ski season is just around the corner. In case you’re still unsure which European ski resort is right for you, consider France. As a result of a flurry of new hotels and restaurants hitting the slopes and Eurostar’s direct ski train on Saturday, French ski resorts are at their best.

We’ve selected some of our favorites French ski resorts worth checking out, whether you’re looking to master parallel turns or glide through pristine powder, eat long lobster lunches or stay in enchanting mountain villages straight from a postcard.

Val d’Isère has all the trappings of the perfect resort: world-class skiing, accommodation options ranging from simple self-catering digs to sumptuous hotels, buzzing nightlife (Dick’s Tea Bar is an Alpine institution), and a church tucked away among the snow-dusted chalets that rise to a storybook height.

As the best snow-sure resort in Europe, it covers more ground than Whistler, North America’s largest ski resort, during its extended season that lasts from late November to early May. Skiers who are seeking black runs, waist-high moguls, and steep slopes will find this a good choice, even if it shouldn’t be the first choice for first-timers.

Foodies will enjoy L’Edelweiss, accessible only by skis, which offers some of the best charcuterie dishes in the area, while Michelin-starred L’Atelier d’Edmond fulfills all white tablecloth desires. In just a few years, LouLou at Airelles Val d’Isère has become one of the resort’s hottest spots.

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La Clusaz, located just halfway between Annecy and Geneva, is one of France’s best-kept secrets, just a short drive from the picturesque lakeside town of Annecy. Many Brits have purchased apartments or chalets here due to its proximity to the airport, but the unspoiled French village still retains a refreshingly Gallic feel.

La Clusaz has shaken off its sleepy, beginner-focused reputation thanks to local celebrity Candide Thovex, who offers extensive avalanche-controlled off-piste in the challenging Col de Balme area.

There are nearly 93 miles of pistes here in combination with nearby Le Grand Bornard, and it’s not the highest resort (get there mid-season for the best snow). As Reblochon’s birthplace, the city offers affordable accommodation and restaurants. If you’re looking for artery-clogging tartiflette, this is the place for you.

Courchevel is not for the faint of heart, so you’ll need deep pockets to see it at its finest. Hobnobbing oligarchs and new-moneyed set flock to this winter playground to flaunt their Chanel ski suits or pay $75 for a cheeseburger.

Few places can compare to it when it comes to sensational skiing and long, rose-fueled lunches. Courchevel alone has 93 miles of groomed pistes; beyond that, the Trois Vallées-the mothership of European skiing-offers 373 more. By lunchtime, chances of water skiing are low due to north-facing slopes.

It’s also an ideal ski resort for beginners because of its gentle runs in Moriond and Le Praz, two pockets that are marginally less trendy. There are plenty of activities for non-skiers in this resort, thanks to its heated sidewalks lined with plush spas and smart boutiques. An altiport makes it easy to get in and out.

Courchevel has more five-star hotels than any other French resort. Aman, Cheval Blanc, and Six Senses all have established roots here, while Portetta, the little sister of the Pig Hotels, offers luxury at a more affordable price. It’s easy to find Uber ski chalets these days – some cost as much as $284,912.

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Jacques Labro built a resort inspired by Le Corbusier named Avoriaz in the 1960s, and it proved to be the ultimate marmite resort. Many critics criticized its angular gray high-rises for being too avant-garde for such a picturesque spot in the French Alps. There aren’t many resorts that are more hassle-free than this one.

Skiers can cover all the terrain in the entire Portes du Soleil ski area, which includes Morzine, Les Gets, and Chatel, from Avoriaz on skis. Snowboarding and freestylers will find a feast of gnarly rails and runs at Avoriaz, which straddles the Swiss border.

It’s at the forefront of eco-friendly ski tourism; the entire resort runs on biofuel, horse-drawn sleighs replace polluting vehicles, and fallen trees were used to construct the Stash, a fun snow park hidden in the forest.

Cobbled, car-free, and as idyllic as they come, Megève has long been one of France’s most exclusive and romantic ski resorts. Baroness de Rothschild put the resort on the map in the 1920s, but it has more modern roots under its medieval aesthetic.

Megève used to be a stomping ground for Parisian royalty; today, it welcomes a mainly Francophile crowd and is the perfect starting point for intermediate skiers.

In the event of heavy snow, you’d be better off heading to Chamonix after Megève’s relatively low altitude; however, the slopes below Mont Joly and Cote 2000 are challenging enough to satisfy experts.

After skiing, there are many jazz clubs and fine dining restaurants (Flocons de Sel is a Michelin-starred restaurant in the Alps), but there is also a Folie Douce for those who don’t want to wear ski boots.

Chamonix is without a doubt the winter sports capital of Europe for anyone who loves skiing. Although you can ski blues and reds here, that sort of misses the point, since skiing here is practically a religion.

In the shadow of Mount Blanc, there are breathtaking views from all angles, and hiring a guide allows you to discover the resort’s off-piste and hidden gems.

In the mythical Vallee Blanche, 12 miles of thigh-burningly tough trails await those who want to hike up the vertiginous cliffs or heli-ski in the vast wilderness. What’s the downside?

The lift system can’t keep up with adventure’s pace, so you’ll need to unclip your skis and board several buses during your day. Layback seasonaires throng the town, eager to swap tales of the day’s exploits before reemerging each morning bright-eyed and bushy-tailed.

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Les Arcs is a great place to avoid carbon-emitting flights. Eurostar ski train roars straight into Bourg St Maurice, which is just seven minutes’ drive up the mountainside to Arc 1600, one of four satellite villages within this down-to-earth French ski resort.

Car-free centers, easy ski-in/ski-out access, gentle wooded runs, and steep, high-altitude terrain offer something for everyone.

A double-decker cable car directly connects the resort to the neighboring resort of La Plagne and the vast Paradiski area, where thrill-seekers are able to leap off the hair-raising 10,587-foot summit of Aiguille Rouge.

There are regular music festivals, ski competitions, and buzzing nightlife in this resort, which caters to park rats. The bustling Arc 1800 includes the Mille8 freestyle snow park, which holds light and sound shows.

In Arc 1950, Penthouse Misha masquerades as a full-service chalet but boasts all the amenities of a hotel, such as nanny-supervised playrooms, for larger groups and families.

Nestled in the southernmost part of the French Alps, Serre Chevalier is not so much one resort as a series of interconnected villages that remain relatively unknown to foreign tourists. This ski resort, nestled along the Italian border, offers something for every skill level and offers some of the most spectacular scenery in the Alps.

As the lift system is rapidly modernized, it links the four main ski hubs: Briancon, the UNESCO-protected ancient walled city, Chantemerie, Villeneuve, an elegant family resort, and Montier les Bains, a romantic ski resort.

During the summer, two-thirds of the pistes have pine forests reminiscent of Narnia; there are 300 days of sunshine every year. In each village, there are a few cozy bars, family-run restaurants, and basic B&Bs, but you can do more than just skiing here, including dog-sledding and ice climbing.

Meribel, one of the most popular British resorts, is visited year after year by the same loyal visitors. Family-friendly resorts like this one are known for their large footprints. Located in the heart of the biggest ski area in the world, it offers 373 miles of sun-dappled pistes extending from the lofty peaks of Val Thorens to the sybarite’s paradise of Courchevel.

Altiport is an unpretentious resort where beginners can find their feet on sheltered slopes, rather than showing off. The resort’s off-piste and hair-raising drops are a hit with powder hunters.

The huge La Face slope was built for the Winter Olympics, and the Roc des Trois Marches offers some pretty terrifying descents. In the afternoon, skiers leave their skis in the Folie Douce or Ronnie for table-stomping, followed by burgers, beer, and dancing into the night.

Meribel’s accommodation is mostly made up of high-end chalets, but if you prefer a hotel, try Le Coucou. It is owned by the same family that owns Crillon Le Brave in Provence and Lou Pinet in St Tropez, and its interiors are designed by French designer Pierre Yovanovitch. The Tata Harper spa is a welcome relief after a long day on the ski slopes.

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French Olympic ski champion Christine Goitschel described Val Thorens as “like living in the Wild West” when it first opened to visitors in the 1970s. In the past few decades, this mountain resort in the French Alps has evolved into one of the most luxurious resorts in Europe, boasting Michelin-starred restaurants, fresh-faced hotels, and great snow and terrain.

A growing number of resorts are suffering from the effects of rising temperatures, and Val Thorens is one of the first to open every season and one of the last to close—and while visibility is somewhat limited during heavy blizzards (most of the slopes are steep, treeless bowls), a Trois Vallées lift pass allows you to retreat to Meribel or Courchevel for more protected slopes.

As a party town, the resort’s reputation will continue to endure, so those who enjoy the after-parties can enjoy them.

Scandi-inspired Altapura was Val Thorens’ first five-star hotel, and it remains one of the most impressive. Choose a room facing the slopes, and you’ll be able to reach the nearest chairlift in no time.

Ski resorts in France cater to every type of traveler, offering some of the best in the world. You can enjoy luxury experiences, family-friendly resorts, or quiet, off-the-beaten-path holidays in France. Let your skis do the talking and discover why France is the ideal winter sports destination.

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