Megève | Ski Resort Review

Megève in the Northern French Alps is a hidden gem for British skiers because visitors here tend to be French. While best suited to intermediates, the resort offers enough to appeal to experts, freeriders, snowboarders, and beginners (although it's not one of our highest recommended resorts for beginners).

There are also loads of off-slope activities, and it's one of the ski resorts with the shortest transfer time from Geneva airport, making it great for a weekend or short break.

"Made popular in the early 1900s by the Rothschild family, Megève is still one of the most chic resorts in France"

If you’re used to purpose-built ski resorts such as Les Arcs, Val Thorens, or La Plagne, Megève will come as a surprise. Made fashionable in the early 1900s by the Rothschild family, it has a well-preserved medieval centre with a picturesque 13th-century church. Its horse-drawn sleighs and cobbled streets simply ooze charm. It may not be as popular as it was at its peak in the 1960s but it’s still one of the most chic resorts in France with smart shops selling antiques and jewellery.

Megève has a low altitude, with the summit at just over 2,300m and the town itself at 1,100. Although the terrain here is grassy, so not a lot of snow cover is needed, it's worth picking your week carefully. 

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Megève - Ski Map & Pistes:

Megève’s mellow terrain lends itself to skiing, with skiable gradients facing all points of the compass. Most of the slopes will suit good intermediates and there’s so much choice that you'll have no chance of getting bored. The resort still has some old, slow lifts but the mileage-hungry can plan their day around the faster lifts.

The slopes in Megève are set out on three different mountains – Rochebrune, Mont d’Arbois and Le Jaillet. These are mainly wooded, making them great if the weather is poor. Confident intermediates will eat up the miles in Megève, but there are loads of beautiful, cruisey blues for the less-experienced skier.

Experts and beginners will get on fine too, and mixed ability groups won’t have a problem here. Plus, if you like a good lunch on the hill, there are some impressive mountain restaurants to choose from. A gondola takes you up from the centre of town to the Rochebrune area, which is connected to Mt Arbois by cable car. These ski areas are fantastic, with plenty of motorway runs and tree-lined slopes ranging from speedy reds for confident intermediates to cruisy blues on Mont d'Arbois for the more timid.

Of note for the confident are the shady reds on the back of Mt Arbois, and the runs at the front of Rochebrune. A popular descent is the Epaule red on Mont Joly down to the village of St Nicolas de Veroce – just don’t forget to stop and gaze at the breathtaking views of Mont Blanc on the way.

The nursery slopes are down in the valley but once beginners have found their ski legs, they can progress to higher slopes on each mountain and then cruise the lovely greens. For the least crowded slopes, head towards La Giettaz or down to La Combloux. 

Megève also has three terrain parks, with the biggest and the best on Mt Joux—a pretty good effort by any standards. The Megève resort is also excellent for cross country skiing with 40km of varied trails. In a change from the norm, not all are on the valley floor—so if you’re in a mixed group you can still meet your Alpine skiing friends on the mountain for lunch.

If you want to stretch your legs beyond Megève itself, grab an Evasion Mont Blanc pass which includes neighbouring Les Contamines and St Gervais, or a Mont Blanc Unlimited pass which adds on Chamonix and Courmayeur as well.

Megève - Off-Piste, Backcountry & Ski Touring:

While its relatively low altitude means it's never going to rank among the world's best powder skiing hotspots, there is plenty in Megève for skiers eager to get in some good off-piste.

And actually, it's something of a hidden gem following a dump—many local freeriders understandably head for the nearby powder fields of Chamonix, meaning the off-piste skiing in Megève often remains largely untouched. A clutch of 'normal' runs are left un-groomed, especially on Mt Arbois, and if it's cold enough, the powder can stick around for several days.

"If you enjoy a bit of tree skiing, head to La Giettaz or find your way to the slopes below the Princesse cable car"

From Mt Arbois, you can make your way over to the Mont Joly and Mt Joux sectors where you’ll find the steepest slopes in the ski resort. Plus, there is some serious off piste terrain down the back. Below this, the Epaule chairlift gives access to some great off-piste skiing and there are some excellent short drops from Côte 2000. If you enjoy a bit of tree skiing, head to La Giettaz or find your way to the slopes below the Princesse cable car.

As always, if you're unfamiliar with the area, you should book a backcountry guide if venturing off piste, and ensure you're carrying the necessary avalanche rescue kit. Various local ski schools offer guiding, as does the Megève Bureau des Guides. 

Megève - Restaurants, Bars & The Town:

Megève is small enough that it’s easy to meet non-skiing friends up the mountain at one of the restaurants. And this being a resort that's used to welcoming both wealthy clients and local French families, there are a range of options to suit all budgets. 

As you might expect in a chic resort like Megève, there are several hotels with spas and the fantastic sports centre has a new one too. Tone your tired muscles in the pool, then relax in the sauna or Turkish bath before indulging in a spa treatment.

"Seasonaire favourite, the Cocoon Club stays open until 5am on weekends!"  

There are so many off-slope activities available in Megève, so non-skiers are guaranteed a brilliant holiday. There are indoor and outdoor ice rinks, dog sledding, snowshoeing, 50km of cleared paths for walking, paragliding, horse-drawn carriage rides, ballooning. There's also a range of indoor pursuits such as a climbing wall, gym, cinemas, concerts, exhibitions and painting courses. You'll certainly never be bored here.

Megève won’t set the world alight regarding après ski bars and clubs but the 5 Rues is a cool jazz club/cocktail bar that's been open since 1952, and attracts some big-name musicians. Or you could pop into seasonaire favourite, the Cocoon Club, which has live music and sports TV, and stays open until 5am on weekends! 

Megève - Ski Hire:

Options for ski hire include the long-established local outlet Henry Sports, as well as branches of franchises like Intersport and Skiset. 

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Megève - Ski School & Skiing Lessons:

The primary ski school in Megève, France, is the ESF, but you'll also find the branches of Oxygène, and Megève Ski Escape.