France is the most popular destination for British skiers and has been for many years, though, whether it’s the best place to ski in Europe could be debated for hours on end. But there’s no denying that the vast ski areas and stunning scenery, as well as excellent snow conditions, solidify its position as a fantastic place to book a ski holiday. From traditional Alpine charm to the snow-sure, high-altitude ski resorts, we have selected the top 10 best ski resorts in France for you below:
1. Val d’Isere
300km of pistes - 158 runs (Espace Killy Ski Area)
Best for: Everyone, beginners to expert skiers and party animals
Val d'Isere has been a firm favourite amongst Iglu customers year on year for numerous reasons; the vast Espace Killy Ski area with 300km of piste to explore including the famous Olympic downhill run - La Face to the miles of cruisy reds and blues. Aside from world-class skiing, the pretty town of Val d’Isere has a fantastic après scene, home to the first Folie Douce and Cocoriccos there are plenty of stops to wine down (pun intended) after a day on the mountain. To top it all off, Val d’Isere is home to some amazing restaurants, serving up typical Savoyard cuisine at a range of price points, there’s something for everyone!
View ski holidays to Val d'Isere here
2. Meribel
600km of pistes - 335 runs (3 Valleys Ski Area)
Best for: People who love a chalet holiday and families
Founded by a Brit in 1938, they haven’t stopped returning since then. With access to the massive 3 Valleys ski area and its 600kms of pistes (the largest linked ski area in the World by the way), the skiing in Meribel alone is expansive with 150kms to explore. Depending on the time of year, you might be more inclined to spend more time skiing at the higher altitudes found near Val Thorens. It may not have the glitz and glamour of Courchevel, but the culinary offerings in Meribel are second to very few ski resorts. If you’re looking for an après bar, you’ll want to head to Ronnie’s a firm favourite among all those who visit Meribel.
View ski holidays to Meribel here
3. La Plagne
425km of pistes - 260 runs Paradiski Ski Area
Best for: 10 small villages means there's something for everyone
La Plagne is made up of ten villages, each with a different atmosphere - watch the sunset over Mt Blanc in Aime la Plagne or if you're new to skiing or travelling with your family Montchavin might be more suited with its sledge area and snow garden if you're after a lively scene than Belle Plagne or Plagne Centre will be perfect for you with some excellent bars and late night clubs. La Plagne makes up half of the Paradiski ski area, so even with the local pass, you'll still have access to 200km of pistes. Another big plus of La Plagne is that 70% of the slopes are above 2000m so snow conditions are good here.
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4. Les Deux Alpes
220km of pistes - 85 runs
Best for: Beginners, Intermediates & après enthusiasts
Les Deux Alpes is home to the largest skiable glacier in Europe, and at 3,600m you are always sure to find good snow up there. You can also ski from the very top all the way down to 1,300m, but we’d certainly recommend stopping at points to enjoy the views and allow your legs to recover! You might be shocked when you first arrive/look at the piste map as it appears to be upside down, all the beginner runs are near the top while the steep reds and black and mainly down into town. But don’t fret beginners can also ski down on a gentle green. This lively resort has a fantastic selection of après bars, including the famous Pano bar!
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5. Val Thorens
600km of pistes - 335 runs (3 Valleys Ski Area)
Best for: Early and late-season skiers
The highest ski resort in Europe (2,300m high) and part of the massive Trois Vallees ski area, you’ll have access to some of the best skiing in France. Val Thorens is particularly popular in the early months of the season and towards the end due to its great snow history. If you really want to challenge yourself, head to Cime de Caron and La Masse for the difficult mogul fields. With close to 40 bars across the resort, Val Thorens is a party animals paradise, but if that’s not your thing, don’t be put off, there are even more restaurants in the resort.
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6. Les Gets
650km of pistes - 214 runs (Portes du Soleil Ski Area)
Best for: Weekend/Short Ski Breaks & families
With access to the massive Portes du Soleil, you’ll be able to ski in France and Switzerland on your ski holiday to Les Gets. But what really sets this resort apart from many others and why it’s in our top 10 is its proximity to Geneva airport, it’s less than a 90-minute transfer - what more could you want at the start/end of your trip. The resort itself is full of character, growing from a 12th-century farming village, it has maintained that originally charm that some of the more modern French resorts lack. Typical Savoyard shops and traditional style chalets and hotels only help to maintain the rustic and picturesque resort today.
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7. La Rosière
152km of pistes - 80 runs
Best for: Quiet slopes and great value accommodation
Despite being quite a new resort compared with others on our list (built in the 1950s), don’t let that put you off considering this as a great place to ski, the vast majority of the buildings were built with locally-sourced materials. Being a smaller village also means that most accommodations are located very close to the slope, but the biggest plus is that there is a relatively low number of tourist beds here means that the slopes are rarely busy. Back in 2019, over £10m was invested into La Rosière and the surrounding area, including several new ski lifts and 5 new red runs, so if you’ve visited before 2019 it’s definitely worth returning.
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8. Alpe d’Huez
249km of pistes - 135 runs
Best for: Beginners and Advanced skiers and snowboarders
Alpe d’Huez is the perfect resort for Beginners and Advanced skiers alike. Newbies will enjoy having the pick of the largest selection of beginner slopes in the whole of the Alps, including some fantastic long and wide pistes. Experts can explore over 60km of black runs alone, including the longest black run in Europe - La Sarenne (which is a whopping 16km long). With an average of 300 days of sunshine per year and skiing up to 3600m, it’s easy to see why Alpe d’Huez has made it onto our top 10 list for ski resorts in France. Oh, and it’s also got a Nightclub called l’Igloo (shame about the spelling).
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9. Morzine
650km of pistes - 214 runs (Portes du Soleil Ski Area)
Best for: People after a huge ski area and excellent value for money
Located in the centre of the gigantic Portes du Soleil ski area, is the traditional town of Morzine. Being based here means you’ll be able to ski in both France and Switzerland on the same day as well as benefit from a short transfer time from Geneva. The resort is full of traditional chalets and a historical town centre, including a 19th century Church. If the prospect of over 600km of skiing is too much, the local pass still gives you access to 120km of pistes which is perfect for beginners or people looking to enjoy the many bars, shops and restaurants in town. It’s easy to see why so many people think this is one of the best ski resorts in France.
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10. Chamonix
150km of pistes - 74 runs
Best for: Everyone, beginners to expert skiers and party animals
Chamonix hosted the very first Winter Olympics in 1924 and is located a mere 90 minutes from Geneva, making it perfect for people looking for a short break ski holiday, although don’t let that put you off going for a full week. On top of the lively town, with plenty of shops, restaurants and bars, the views of Mont Blanc will have you wanting to stay for days! We absolutely love the pedestrianised centre as well. Off-piste skiing is fantastic here and each season the Free Ride World Tour stops here - we wouldn’t recommend copying their lines. There's plenty of skiing for one week but there's also the possibility to ski in Italy, with a short drive over to Courmayeur.
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Discover more about ski resorts in France here.
