8 of the Top French Ski Resorts For Every Type of Skier

Courchevel is in the Les 3 Vallées ski area, which also includes Méribel and Val Thorens. This resort never sleeps—arrive at night, and you’d be forgiven for thinking you’ve stumbled across an alpine version of Las Vegas.

Here, you’ll find slope-side neon-drenched nightclubs, Michelin-starred restaurants, and cozy wine bars. This is a place where you can ride the last lift of the day then head straight to the tables at clubs like Le Bubble Bar, splurge on vintage Champagne at intimate venues like Les Caves, or brag about nailing that black (expert) run over a pint at L’Elephant.

Taking to skis for the first time? La Plagne is a great place to start. Although it’s one of France’s largest ski resorts, its logical layout and abundance of blue (beginner) and red (intermediate) slopes makes it a great option for those just starting out. There’s also little chance of getting bored—the resort is made up of 11 separate villages connected by a free shuttle service, and each one has its own beginners’ area.

For your first time, base yourself at Plagne Bellecôte. This particular village is close to the center of La Plagne and has the largest number of beginner slopes, along with easy access to slightly tougher runs for when you want to really test your new-found skills.

Tignes, which is part of the legendary Espace Killy ski area, has it all: terrifying black runs, couloirs carved into its steepest mountains, and some of the world’s top ski instructors. For the ultimate adrenaline rush, look for the so-called “naturide” runs—red and black runs that have been left ungroomed. Opt for the red runs that streak down the side of the Grande Motte glacier; they’re steep, twisting, and challenging, and there are fantastic views to soak up as you speed down the mountain.

Val Thorens, one of Europe’s top skiing spots, receives fantastic snow coverage (especially on off-piste areas) so there's plenty of powder to cushion any tumbles. Just be prepared for some early starts; Val Thorens’ locals are brilliant skiers known for getting up at the crack of dawn to bag first tracks. Popular off-piste spots include the area above the Col chairlift and the Vallée des Encombres section of the resort.

Fancy skiing in the shadow of Mont Blanc, hopping on a cogwheel train to the base of Europe’s largest glacier, or gazing across the French border into Italy? You can do all of this in Chamonix, where you’ll find some of France’s highest peaks—many of which can be skied. For pit-stop perfection, we recommend Le Panoramic, a slope-side restaurant with an enormous, curved patio area offering gorgeous views of Mont Blanc. You’ll find it on the summit of Le Brévent mountain, 8,202 feet (2,500 meters) above sea level.

Often referred to as the food capital of the French Alps, Megève is a small resort that has more than its fair share of Michelin stars, distributed between four of its best restaurants. There’s a real focus on organic, local cuisine here, so don’t be surprised to see chefs such as Emmanuel Renaut (head chef at the Flocons de Sel, one of just 27 restaurants in France to hold three Michelin stars) scouring forest paths for edible mushrooms and herbs.

Getting to Les Arcs is a breeze, especially for skiers who don’t have their own vehicle. It takes just seven minutes to get to the resort from the town of Bourg-Saint-Maurice using the funicular, which whisks skiers to the Arcs 1600 area. From there, you’re connected to the rest of the resort by one of France’s most comprehensive networks of ski lifts. Access to nearby resorts is refreshingly easy, too; Les Arcs is connected to La Plagne via the Vanoise Express cable car.

Bigger isn’t necessarily better when it comes to family ski trips. Huge, never-ending ski areas can seem intimidating to younger skiers, and lift passes in resorts with a huge number of runs can be more expensive than at other spots. Instead, head to Pays de Gex, one of France’s smaller resorts, which boasts just three easily navigable ski areas. It’s ideal for beginners as well as families, but there’s still plenty of room to roam. The resort is also easy to get to, just a 30-minute drive from Geneva Airport (so you won’t have to worry about the dreaded chorus of “are we there yet?”).

Pays de Gex also offers a brilliant range of off-piste activities. Children can learn how to build a snow shelter or fly along the resort’s zip line, and there’s a climbing wall and an escape room, too, if you want some indoor fun.