There’s nothing quite as magical as a family ski holiday.
Picture the children waking up to see fresh snow, raring to get outside. You and the kids warming up on hot chocolates in cosy mountain lodges, family snowball fights, the kids making new friends at ski school, and falling into bed each night exhausted but excited for what the next day will bring.
You’ll be too busy to even compare the mountains to the grey skies back at home!
Family ski holidays really are some of the best times of your life - but it’s important that you pick the right resort for you.
We’ve dug into the details and liaised with our experts behind the scenes to give you a rundown of the top family ski resorts in France.
We’ll tell you about the quality of skiing, family lift pass deals, activities off the piste for children to enjoy, and much more.
What to look out for when considering a family ski resort
We’ve broken our research down into various factors to think about.
The number of green and blue slopes is high on the priority list, as the children (and possibly the adults!) need somewhere to either learn, or regain familiarity on the skis.
Some resorts offer a number of free beginner lifts, which is really handy as it means you can delay buying a lift pass until you’re ready.
Similarly, there are often family discounts on lift passes to be had. Daily lift pass prices can also vary, too - and most resorts even offer completely free lift passes to children under a certain age.
We’ve also looked at the transfer time from airport to resort, and the costs of ski lessons for adults and children.
Finally, certain resorts will have more non-ski activities that children will enjoy - time away from the slopes can really make or break your trip.
All of the resorts below are very popular with Brits. They are all safe to ski in, and have good quality ski schools - plus they all have quiet areas of town to stay in.
Have a look at our table below to see the stats in full, and continue after that for more details.
France's most family-friendly ski resorts are:
- Tignes
- Alpe d'Huez
- La Plagne
- Morzine/Les Gets
- Les Arcs
- Val Thorens
- Serre Chevalier
- Courchevel
- Les Deux Alpes
- Val d'Isère
| Resort | Green slopes | Blue Slopes | Adult private lesson (hour) | Child group lesson (hour) | Number of free lifts | Local lift pass cost (day) | Free child lift pass | Discounted family lift passes | Transfer time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tignes | 10 | 37 | €63 | €15.50 | 9 | €61 | Under 8 | Yes | 2h 15m |
| Alpe d'Huez | 31 | 31 | €64 | €26 | 4 | €42 | Under 5 | Yes | 2h |
| La Plagne | 4 | 67 | €58 | €32 | 16 | €65 | Under 5 | No | 2h |
| Morzine/Les Gets | 6 | 28 | €54 | €20 | 0 | €46 | Under 5 | Yes | 1h 30m |
| Les Arcs | 5 | 45 | €60 | €28 | 11 | €65 | Under 5 | No | 2h 40m |
| Val Thorens | 10 | 33 | €64 | €17 | 4 | €65 | Under 5 | Yes | 3h |
| Serre Chevalier | 21 | 26 | €55 | €15 | 2 | €60 | Under 6 | No | 2h |
| Courchevel | 20 | 39 | €81 | €22 | 12 | €68 | Under 5 | Yes | 2h 40m |
| Les Deux Alpes | 14 | 46 | €68 | €15 | 5 | €60 | Under 5 | Yes | 2h 30m |
| Val d'Isère | 12 | 24 | €75 | €22 | 7 | €54 | Under 8 | Yes | 2h |
| Méribel | 8 | 26 | €95 | €28 | 8 | €64 | Under 5 | Yes | 2h 45m |
| Avoriaz | 7 | 28 | €58 | €15 | 0 | €50 | Under 5 | Yes | 1h 40m |
| Flaine | 8 | 26 | €55 | €15 | 4 | €53 | Under 8 | No | 1h 50m |
Please remember that this research is based on the 2023-2024 season, meaning the 2024-2025 season could be different.
Find out more about these top resorts in the next section.
1. Tignes
Free beginner lifts: 9
Green slopes: 10
Blue slopes: 37
Discounted family lift pass: Yes
Free child lift pass: Under 8
Local adult lift pass cost/day: €61
Transfer time: 2h 15m
Adult private ski lesson average cost/hour: €63
Child group ski lesson average cost/hour: €16
Tignes is a household name in French skiing, and its high ranking here is because it scores strongly in all departments.
Nine free lifts - including magic carpets and buttons - allow first time skiers to really get good at the basics before having to pay for the full lift pass. These are dotted about the various villages, notably with a magic carpet in Val Claret and Tignes Centre, as well as a teleski in Lavachet. You can also have some fun with your children here before you wave them off with their ski school for the morning or afternoon.
All the resorts in France have good ski schools, and Tignes is no exception - also coming with very decent prices as detailed above.
A combined 47 green and blue runs in the local area will keep you and the children busy for a good while. Once they’re confident enough, they can also explore the Espace Killy, which is the entire Tignes area, plus the entire Val d’Isère area - boasting a whopping 300km of runs.
Meanwhile, if your children are under the age of 8, they can get a free lift pass for the local Tignes area. There’s also a great family lift pass deal to be had for the Espace Killy: if you buy at least four six-day lift passes at once (including two adults, and two children), then everyone will get a seventh day for free.
The children certainly won’t get bored off the slopes either - the Le Lagon swimming centre in Tignes Le Lac has slides and whirlpools (and lots of lovely saunas and serious swimming pools for mum and dad).
As with most resorts, you can do lots of sledding, and other activities like snowshoeing. If things get a bit too cold, then go to the cinema in Val Claret and watch one of the English-language films (look out for VO, meaning version originale).
To top it off, Tignes has a fairly short transfer time at just 2 hours and 15 minutes from Chambery Airport.
Read more
Tignes really does have great skiing - it ranks highly on Iglu Ski's list of the most snow sure resorts in France.
2. Alpe d'Huez
Free beginner lifts: 4
Green slopes: 31
Blue slopes: 31
Discounted family lift pass: Yes
Free child lift pass: Under 5
Local adult lift pass cost/day: €42
Transfer time: 2h
Adult private ski lesson average cost/hour: €64
Child group ski lesson average cost/hour: €26
Alpe d’Huez is also a strong contender for your family ski holiday. A quick 2 hour transfer (if not quicker) from a number of airports, the popular resort has 4 free lifts, while its lift pass prices are very cheap at just €42 for an adult.
The resort also has a great family lift pass offer - a minimum of two adults and two children can get a family pass, meaning everyone pays the child rates. This’ll save you €146 if you get a 6 day pass. That being said, if the kids are under 5, they’ll get their passes entirely free anyway.
The vast amount of green and blue slopes is a serious pull, while ski school prices are relatively average.
Off the slopes, you can keep the children interested at the Palais des Sports centre swimming pool, or the outdoor swimming pool in the centre of town. The latter has incredible mountain views, and is also attached to a massive sports centre which has a climbing wall, badminton and squash courts, and a gym area with yoga and pilates classes for the parents.
The town also has a cinema with English language films (look out for VO for version originale), while there’s also a museum, and plenty of sledding and other snow-based activities to enjoy.
3. La Plagne
Free beginner lifts: 16
Green slopes: 4
Blue slopes: 67
Discounted family lift pass: No
Free child lift pass: Under 5
Local adult lift pass cost/day: €65
Transfer time: 2h
Adult private ski lesson average cost/hour: €58
Child group ski lesson average cost/hour: €32
La Plagne is another great choice. The 2 hour journey from the airport is certainly bearable, and there are a huge amount of blue slopes, as well as a few green slopes. Remember, not all blue slopes will be a great deal harder than green ones - and if you have absolute beginners on your trip then there are 16 free lifts to help you get to grips with it all.
La Plagne’s activities off the slopes are also really strong - there’s a leisure centre with a bowling alley to enjoy, as well as an outdoor heated pool (the Magic Pool). The Deep Nature Spa also has family pools, while offering adult-only areas too, including jacuzzis, saunas, steam rooms and spa treatments.
Thrill seekers should try the zipline for an unforgettable adrenaline rush as you fly above the trees. La Plagne has two zipline courses, including 9 zipwires and a 9-metre jump. There’s also the Supertyro zipline which hurtles you 600m down the mountain at speeds of 90km/h - all with incredible views of Mont Blanc.
We’re not done yet - there’s also escape rooms down at Plagne Bellecote. One of them is suitable for families (Hunting the Chuppa Yeti), while there’s also one recommended for 16 year olds and over which is set in a post-apocalyptic environment.
The caveat to this great off-slope offering is that there is no family lift pass offer, and the local lift pass isn’t one of the cheapest we’ve found. That being said, if you and the children are fast learners, then you’ve got the whole of the Paradiski to explore.
4. Morzine/Les Gets
Free beginner lifts: 0
Green slopes: 6
Blue slopes: 28
Discounted family lift pass: Yes
Free child lift pass: Under 5
Local adult lift pass cost/day: €46
Transfer time: 1h 30m
Adult private ski lesson average cost/hour: €54
Child group ski lesson average cost/hour: €20
Morzine and Les Gets aren’t quite as big names as some French ski resorts, but they still have plenty of attractive features for family skiing.
With a rapid 90-minute transfer time from Geneva, local lift passes are cheap at just €46 for adults, while you can also get a family lift pass deal for the larger area of the Portes du Soleil - 10% off for a minimum of two adults and two children.
Ski lessons are relatively cheap, and Under 5s get a free lift pass. There are also a handy 6 green runs and 28 blue runs - although no free beginner lifts mean that absolute first-timers might prefer elsewhere. Read our guide on beginner skiing in Morzine for more information!
Off the slopes, you can enjoy the outdoor and indoor ice rinks in Morzine, or the outdoor one in Les Gets. There’s a huge sports centre in Morzine with tennis, indoor climbing and swimming, while a short bus ride to Avoriaz will take you to the wonderful “Aquariaz”, an indoor swimming centre with heated pools, a ten-metre slide, a lazy river, bubble-massage seats, and much more (including more water slides!).
5. Les Arcs
Free beginner lifts: 11
Green slopes: 5
Blue slopes: 45
Discounted family lift pass: No
Free child lift pass: Under 5
Local adult lift pass cost/day: €65
Transfer time: 2h 40m
Adult private ski lesson average cost/hour: €60
Child group ski lesson average cost/hour: €28
Similar to La Plagne, Les Arcs has some great non-ski activities on offer - as well as its strong 11 free beginner lifts and fifty green and blue slopes combined. This is great news for beginners in Les Arcs.
While the transfer time from Lyon or Geneva isn’t the greatest, some pros include that Under 5s ski for free, and ski lessons aren’t too expensive.
The skiing in Les Arcs, and the grander Paradiski area is brilliant, and once that’s tired you out you can get down to the various aquatic centres in town. Arc 1800’s brilliant Mille8 Aquatic and Fitness Centre has a huge indoor and outdoor swimming pool, with attached water massage jets, bubble beds, fitness rooms and saunas and steam rooms.
There’s also the Aiguille Rouge zipline, which throws you down the mountain (solo or duo) at a speed of 130km/h, from the top of the Varet cable car. A separate zip line course lets you fly between the trees, and may be much more suitable for the younger children.
There are also bowling alleys in Arc 2000 and 1800, and a mountain animal museum at the top of the Vallandry cable car to enjoy (a great place to warm up and have a break!) - and you can also get the funicular down to Bourg-Saint-Maurice to enjoy a spot of mini golf. The family might also have fun trying the laser rifle shooting in town.
6. Val Thorens
Free beginner lifts: 4
Green slopes: 10
Blue slopes: 33
Discounted family lift pass: Yes
Free child lift pass: Under 5
Local adult lift pass cost/day: €65
Transfer time: 3h
Adult private ski lesson average cost/hour: €64
Child group ski lesson average cost/hour: €17
Val Thorens scores well in various factors, thanks to its well-priced ski lessons compared to other key resorts in the Three Valleys - the largest interconnected ski area on Earth, which has a vast range of quality skiing for all abilities.
Beginners in Val Thorens are well-catered for - in the local area, there are a decent 10 green and 33 blue slopes, with child ski lessons seeming to be particularly cheap.
The family lift pass deal is good - a minimum of two adults can pay child prices, so long as there are two children with them as well. This is particularly good considering the local lift pass rate for adults is relatively expensive compared to other major French resorts.
There are a good range of non-skiing activities to keep the children entertained. Not only are there a couple of thrilling ziplines (La Bee and The Tyrolean), you can also go snowtubing down a hill and karting round a track.
A large sports and swimming complex (The Board) with adult pools and fun family pools. After this closes at 7pm, why not grab dinner and then enjoy some time at the bowling alley?
7. Serre Chevalier
Free beginner lifts: 2
Green slopes: 21
Blue slopes: 26
Discounted family lift pass: No
Free child lift pass: Under 6
Local adult lift pass cost/day: €60
Transfer time: 2h
Adult private ski lesson average cost/hour: €55
Child group ski lesson average cost/hour: €15
A lesser-known resort to the other already mentioned, Serre Chevalier is a fine choice for a family ski holiday. With a couple of free lifts and a very good 21 green slopes, first-timers won’t have a problem learning the ropes here.
Under 6s go free on the lifts, and because it’s a relatively minor resort, lessons and lift passes tend to be much cheaper here. It’s also only a 2 hour commute from Turin.
Unfortunately there isn’t a family lift pass deal, although activities off the slopes could make up for it. You can go ice skating in the town centre, or explore the various surrounding villages, where there’s often something going on.
In town, there’s also a swimming centre, a bowling alley, a gallery, and a museum to enjoy.
8. Courchevel
Free beginner lifts: 12
Green slopes: 20
Blue slopes: 39
Discounted family lift pass: Yes
Free child lift pass: Under 5
Local adult lift pass cost/day: €68
Transfer time: 2h 40m
Adult private ski lesson average cost/hour: €81
Child group ski lesson average cost/hour: €22
Another resort in the Three Valleys, Courchevel has a strong 12 beginner lifts, 20 green slopes and 39 blues - it’s a dream destination for first timers.
As previously mentioned, Courchevel is a gateway into the largest ski area on earth in the Three Valleys, which has 600km of interconnected pistes, where you won’t have to get a bus anywhere.
If there’s two adults and two children, then the adults can get a lift pass at a child’s rate, thanks to their handy lift pass deal. This really is useful, considering it’s one of the more expensive resorts on our list.
Off the slopes, the kids can use up any remaining energy on an ice rink, or the indoor climbing centre. There’s also the Aquamotion, which has indoor and outdoor pools, an indoor surf wave experience, a restaurant, child-friendly fun pools with some slides (including one which is 110m long!) - and of course some nice relaxation areas for the parents.
9. Les Deux Alpes
Free beginner lifts: 5
Green slopes: 14
Blue slopes: 46
Discounted family lift pass: Yes
Free child lift pass: Under 5
Local adult lift pass cost/day: €60
Transfer time: 2h 30m
Adult private ski lesson average cost/hour: €68
Child group ski lesson average cost/hour: €15
Les Deux Alpes is another good choice, scoring positively in most departments. With a huge 46 blue and 14 green slopes, there’s a wide variety of skiing to tackle. Children’s ski lessons seem to be particularly cheap here, and Under 5s get to use the lifts for free.
There are only 5 free lifts for everyone, which, although lower than other resorts featured in this list, is better compared to Austria, where free lifts are a rarity. The commute from Lyon may not fit fussy children at two and a half hours, but there are some decent activities to do once you get to resort.
For a start, the huge ice rink lets those with a (minimum 2-day) lift pass in for free - two days a week it is ice gliders only, which would suit younger children. The children will love flying through the sky and landing on an airbag - they can jump into a donut-shaped toboggan and hurtle down a slope, before it scoops them in the air and they land safely onto the airbag.
If things get a bit cold, then you can watch some English-language films in the town centre’s Cinema Le Slalom. Le Strike bowling alley will also keep them entertained.
10. Val d'Isère
Free beginner lifts: 7
Green slopes: 12
Blue slopes: 24
Discounted family lift pass: Yes
Free child lift pass: Under 8
Local adult lift pass cost/day: €54
Transfer time: 2h
Adult private ski lesson average cost/hour: €75
Child group ski lesson average cost/hour: €22
Val d’Isère is a famous resort for any type of skiing - and families are no exception. ‘Val D’ lets children up to the age of 8 ski for free, and also offers a family lift pass deal which will help save valuable pounds.
The local lift pass cost is relatively cheap, and there are seven free lifts for beginners to try, before committing to a proper lift pass.
The number of green and blue slopes is slightly lower than some other resorts on this list, while lessons are also a bit more expensive.
That being said, it still offers some of the world’s most outstanding skiing - including access to the Espace Killy ski area, which links Val d’Isère with Tignes.
Once the sun goes down, there’s plenty to keep the children busy. The Centre Aquasportif, which is split into four different ‘worlds’: Beach, Spa, Wellbeing and Sports. The first of those really means water, with plenty of river currents, water cannons, massage jets and bubble baths to keep the children entertained.
The centre has a gym, climbing wall, sports hall for badminton, and plenty of relaxation rooms, spas, saunas and steam rooms.
The family might enjoy a trip to the Ferme de l’Adroit, the last dairy farm in the town. It welcomes visitors to pet the cows, look at how they make cheese and even have a go at milking cows yourself.
Book your family ski holiday to France with Iglu Ski
France is one of the top places for family ski holidays - and you don’t need to take our word for it! With just a few clicks, you could join the millions of Brits who head out to the Alps with their young ones this season.
Let us help you turn this dream into a reality - we’re the UK’s largest ski travel agency, with great prices and a massive selection of French family ski holiday deals to choose from. Don’t forget, you can refine your holiday search to find the perfect holiday for you.
And if you’d rather call, then we’ve got your back too. All of our sales team have been to plenty of French resorts - and over half of them have done seasons in France. Give them a ring on 020 3848 3700 and they’ll be happy to help.
Thinking about doing a joint ski holiday with other families? Take a look at our group booking guide if you’re stuck on the finer details.