Check out our selection of the best ski resorts in France — now it's your turn to choose!
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The Alps
The Alps are a mountain range stretching across Europe, covering the northern border of Italy, south-eastern France, Monaco, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria, southern Germany and Slovenia. The Alps reach their highest point at 4,808 metres at Mont Blanc. The Alps form a 1,200-kilometre barrier between the Mediterranean Sea and the Danube.
Photo by Guillaume Marques on Unsplash
Chamonix
Our favourite resort in the Alps, Chamonix is located in the northern Alps, at the foot of the Mont-Blanc massif, close to the point where France, Switzerland and Italy meet. Reflecting the many varied terrains that shape the valley, the Chamonix ski area lets you explore and alternate — with family or friends — every pleasure the mountain has to offer. With 119 runs and a wide range of activities: piste skiing, snowboarding, freeride, freestyle, snowpark, speedriding, beginner skiing, off-piste… Internationally renowned ski areas (Les Grands Montets, Le Brévent, La Flégère), and iconic tourist landmarks (the Aiguille du Midi, the Montenvers, the Tramway du Mont-Blanc...).
Val Thorens – Les 3 Vallées
Val Thorens is the highest resort in Europe and has been recognised multiple times at the World Ski Awards, winning titles including Best Ski Resort in the World and Best Ski Resort in France. Whether with family or friends, skiers or non-skiers, you'll make the most of your snow holiday in the great outdoors. Val Thorens offers a huge range of activities and entertainment to enjoy throughout your stay. You can ski and ride across several hundred kilometres of the vast 3 Vallées ski area. Off the slopes, enjoy wide open spaces on snowshoes, fat bikes on snow, toboggans or snowmobiles.
Val d'Isère
In Savoie at the top of the Haute-Tarentaise valley, Val d'Isère is a mountain village sitting at 1,850 metres above sea level. The ski area spans the communes of Val d'Isère and Tignes. 2 glaciers: the Pissaillas (Val d'Isère) and the Grande Motte (Tignes). 153 runs covering 300 km in total with 1,900 m of vertical drop: 20 greens, 67 blues, 40 reds, 26 blacks, 2 snowparks, 4 boardercross tracks. Snowshoe routes and 6 cross-country skiing trails. Expect varied scenery across glaciers, forests and valleys. For après-ski, the resort offers a wealth of sporting events, competitions, festivals and more. For your evenings, check out what shows and concerts are on.
Megève
Megève is the go-to ski resort for beginners, leisure skiers and experts who love to come together to ski, share, celebrate and above all have fun. The birthplace of skiing in France, with 400 km of runs spread across 4 massifs and 7 freestyle areas. Renowned for their rich and varied natural environment, where authenticity, modernity, a family spirit and breathtaking views reign supreme. Megève and Courchevel are the most sought-after French ski resorts among the global elite. The Megève – Évasion Mont-Blanc ski area is vast: 219 runs with a total length of 445 km.
Avoriaz
Just a stone's throw from Switzerland, Avoriaz is a relatively "small" ski resort — the Avoriaz area features 50 alpine skiing runs ranging from 974 to 2,276 m in altitude. The resort has developed the "Avoriaz Up&Down" app, delivering real-time information: run status, weather, snow conditions, avalanche risk, webcam feeds, live lift traffic, a geolocated interactive trail map to help you find your way on the slopes, and detailed stats on your skiing activity.
Avoriaz is also part of the "Les Portes du Soleil" ski area, with its 12 resorts — the second largest ski area in the world after the 3 Vallées. In figures, Les Portes du Soleil comprises 283 alpine skiing runs totalling 600 km across two countries (France and Switzerland). After a day on the slopes, you can unwind at the Aquariaz, a vast tropical aquatic centre where the water is heated to 29°C. If you're heading to the slopes with family, we recommend experiencing the Christmas magic at this Alpine ski resort.
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The Pyrenees
The Pyrenees are a mountain range in south-western Europe. They stretch for 430 kilometres from the Mediterranean Sea to the Gulf of Biscay. The Pyrenees reach their highest point at 3,404 metres at Pic d'Aneto. They form the border between Spain and France and are also home to the principality of Andorra.
Photo by Samuel Ferrara on Unsplash
Saint Lary Soulan
Set in a small mountain village in the Hautes-Pyrénées department, the resort comprises 56 runs spread across three sectors: Pla d'Adet, Espiaube and Vallon du Portet, ranging from 1,700 to 2,515 metres in altitude, with a total length of 100 kilometres. There are 9 black runs, 14 reds, 26 blues and 7 greens — a great resort for intermediate skiers and families alike.
Ax 3 Domaines
With its 3 areas — Saquet, Les Campels, and Bonascre — Ax 3 Domaines is the largest ski area in Ariège, home to 37 ski runs covering a total of 80 kilometres. In addition to its alpine skiing area, this Pyrenean ski resort also offers cross-country skiing trails and thermal baths (Ax-les-Thermes). It is particularly well suited to families and is just 1.5 hours by car from Toulouse — perfect for a ski weekend in the Pyrenees!
Grand Tourmalet
Our favourite resort in the Pyrenees, Grand Tourmalet sits across the communes of La Mongie and Barèges, at the heart of the southern Hautes-Pyrénées. The ski area extends from 1,400 to 2,500 metres in altitude at the Col du Tourmalet. The resort counts 69 runs totalling 100 kilometres. If you want to go even higher, head to the summit of the Pic du Midi observatory (ranked among the 50 most beautiful freeride sites in the world). The resort offers the Npy Flex pass: it makes learning to ski easier with a pass that automatically adjusts pricing based on the lifts you use!
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The Massif Central
The Massif Central is a mountainous massif occupying the centre of the southern half of France. Covering an area of 85,000 km², roughly 15% of metropolitan France, it is the country's largest massif. Its highest point is 1,885 metres at the volcanic summit of Puy de Sancy. The Massif Central is home to the vast majority of France's volcanoes.
Image by Sophie ML from Pixabay
Besse Super Besse
Our favourite resort in the Massif Central. In the commune of Besse-et-Saint-Anastaise, this resort perched on the southern slopes of the Sancy offers breathtaking views over the surrounding volcanoes and lakes. From 1,350 to 1,850 metres in altitude, the Super Besse ski area offers 40 kilometres of varied runs suitable for all levels. With 27 runs adapted for experienced skiers as well as children just starting out on the slopes.
Le Mont Dore
On the northern slopes of the Sancy, the Auvergne ski resort of Mont-Dore is a historic resort with a strong family focus. Of its 30 runs, 22 are green or blue — making it ideal for those just starting out on the slopes. The resort also features a Sancy Park area, right next to the ski runs, offering a fun zone with 3 purpose-built and secured toboggan runs and an electric snowmobile circuit.
Chastreix Sancy
Freedom and wide open spaces — that's what awaits you on a ski holiday in this Auvergne resort. On the western side of the Sancy, the Chastreix resort reaches 1,400 metres in altitude, offering visitors breathtaking landscapes. The area counts 18 runs across 16 kilometres, welcoming both experienced skiers seeking thrills and families. Chastreix is located in the backcountry, one hour from Clermont-Ferrand.
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The Vosges
The Vosges is a range of mid-altitude mountains in north-eastern France, separating the Lorraine plateau from the Alsace plain. Its highest point reaches 1,424 metres at the Grand Ballon.
Image by Florito from Pixabay
Gérardmer
Our favourite resort in the Vosges, Gérardmer is nestled on the shores of a lake, with runs lined by fir trees and close to a charming town at the crossroads of Alsace and Lorraine. Peaceful and unspoilt. The resort offers 40 km of alpine skiing runs across 21 pistes, 30 km of Nordic skiing trails — some dedicated to night skiing with illuminated and sound-equipped runs — as well as a snowpark. Since 2013, Gérardmer has held the Famille Plus quality label.
La Bresse
At the heart of the Ballons des Vosges Natural Park, amid enchanting landscapes of mountain passes, lakes, ridges and forests, La Bresse-Hohneck is an ideal resort for families or groups of friends. This ski area has something for every type of skier: fun runs, a boardercross area, gentle and steeper slopes, ranging from 900 m to 1,350 m in altitude. With 33 green, blue, red and even one black run, a slalom stadium and 8 runs equipped for night skiing, plus a vast Nordic area.
Lac Blanc
On the Alsatian side of the Vosges massif, in the Kaysersberg valley, you'll find the Lac Blanc ski area. Here you'll find five green runs, one blue, six reds, one black run — and for evening sessions, you can work on your slalom under the stars four nights a week. Cross-country skiing is well catered for too, and fans of monoskiing, snowshoes and snowboarding can test their endurance on the ridges of the Ballons des Vosges natural park. As dynamic as it is welcoming, this Vosges resort offers a complete experience — with the added bonus of tasting local produce at its excellent restaurants.
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Le Jura
The Jura is a mountain range in Europe, running mainly along the Franco-Swiss border, to the north-west of the Alps. It stretches over 360 kilometres between Dielsdorf and Foreppe along the curve of the Alpine arc. Its highest peak, the Crêt de la Neige, reaches 1,720 metres in altitude.
Photo by Melvin Trav on Unsplash
Les Rousses
The Les Rousses ski area covers nearly 52 kilometres of runs. Les Rousses, Bois-d'Amont, Lamoura and Prémanon offer plenty of runs accessible to beginners. More experienced skiers will enjoy the 5 black runs and 14 reds winding through the forests. Thrill-seeking athletes will have access to boardercross and slide parks on the La Serra massif and at the Les Tuffes resort. Nordic skiing is also well represented, with 220 kilometres of dedicated trails. For those keen to discover the local wildlife and flora, the area offers a 13-kilometre circuit called the "Baladaski". Notably, Les Rousses holds the Flocon Vert label, awarded for its commitment to environmental responsibility.
Monts Jura
Our favourite resort in the Jura. The largest ski area in the region, the Monts Jura resort extends through the Haut-Jura natural park. This is where you truly gain altitude — home to the highest runs in the entire massif, topping out at 1,680 metres. The resort features 49 alpine skiing runs across 60 kilometres. The smaller resorts of Mijoux, Lélex and Chézery make up the Monts Jura. The summit scenery is breathtaking: on clear days, you can take in stunning views of the Écrins massif, Mont Blanc, Lake Geneva and the Swiss Alps. Cross-country skiing enthusiasts can enjoy hiking across more than 140 kilometres of trails, including on the Vattay-Valserine area. Other activities on offer include toboggan runs, snowshoe trails, husky sledding, paintball and a covered ice rink.
Métabief Mont d'Or
Easily accessible from Besançon, the Métabief resort spans 6 villages and offers breathtaking views of the Alps from the summit of Mont d'Or. Alpine skiers of all levels can enjoy 37 kilometres of snow-covered descents between 950 and 1,430 metres. The interconnected and varied runs include 9 greens, 12 blues, 11 reds and 3 blacks. Hikers and trail enthusiasts can explore 120 kilometres of cross-country skiing trails and 56 kilometres of snowshoe paths in unspoilt nature. Dog sledding, an ice rink and a water sports complex round out the activities on offer.
