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PLAN YOUR MERIBEL SKI HOLIDAY
Looking for the right stay in Méribel?
Top Snow Travel can help you choose the right accommodation, village location, dates, transfers, ski lessons and extras for a seamless France ski holiday.
Choosing the Right Accommodation in Méribel
Meribel is located in the heart of the 3 Valleys in France and is made up of 5 villages, Meribel Village, Meribel Centre, Meribel Mottaret, Les Allues and Brides les Bains.
It’s the best resort to stay in for experiencing this vast ski area with 600km of pistes. Meribel is linked with Val Thorens, Courchevel, Les Menuires, St Martin de Belleville, and Orelle, so there’s plenty to experience during your visit.
Throughout the terrain accessible from Méribel, you can expect an outstanding variety of skiing and snowboarding, both on and off-piste. If you stay within the confines of Meribel, you’ll be treated to 150km of pistes. The slopes are often wide and meticulously well looked after.
If you’re an intermediate who likes to cruise for long distances, Meribel is an excellent choice. You can drop up to 1,500 meters if you pick the correct route. Beginners can also enjoy a visit to Meribel, as most of the runs are considered easy, and the lift system is user-friendly.
Advanced skiers may not find the on-piste terrain very challenging. But, there are some excellent off-piste and freeride spots to keep you entertained. You can easily find steep off-piste areas, but a guide will take you to the best places.
If you want to improve your freestyle, the DC Area 43 has everything you need. This well-thought-out snowpark allows you to progress from the rookie zone to bigger features, including the halfpipe, rails, and jumps.
Meribel is well-known for its excellent après and nightlife scene. The fun usually starts at La Folie Douce, but you can also enjoy many bars and even Michelin-Star restaurants in the evenings.
The range of luxury accommodations available in Meribel includes stunning hotels, chalets, and apartments. All feature impeccable service, elegant decor, and cosy surroundings.
Méribel can be an excellent choice depending on your dates, group profile, skiing level and accommodation expectations. If you are still exploring options, browse our French ski resorts page to discover more of the resorts we recommend across the French Alps.
Meribel with its picture-perfect wooden alpine chalets, is located in the very heart of the largest linked ski area in the world – The 3 Valleys.
This equally gives Meribel guests easy access to the nearby world-class ski resorts of Courchevel and Val Thorens, all on the one lift pass.
Meribel is spread across 5 main villages and is one of the most tastefully-designed, purpose-built ski resorts in France. You’ll find everything you need in this buzzing and beautiful resort.
Families looking for a truly magical alpine setting combined with the convenience of easy access to all the slopes and resorts of The 3 Valleys linked ski area will love Meribel.
Méribel also boasts one of the best après-ski scenes in all of France and attracts many English visitors, so you will have no problem fitting in or understanding the language. When the lifts close, Méribel comes alive with live bands and bars, open until the small hours.
There’s also a huge selection of restaurants offering everything from Michelin-starred fine dining to traditional Savoyard specialities and trendy on-mountain eateries.
Meribel’s non-ski activities include horse sleigh tours, ski joering, hot air ballooning, dog sledding, snow shoeing, an Olympic Park and Spa with a fitness area, ice rink, swimming pool, indoor climbing.. and the list goes on.
Kids love the Yéti Park and outdoor games on offer at the Inuit Piste Village, with entertainment including an eagle show and huskies.
In the evening, the sledging from Meribel Mottaret is lots of fun, as are the night-time quad bike and snowmobiling tours. A cabaret kicks off the party at après ski bar la Folie Douce at 2pm every day.
For foodies there are plenty of fine-dining and gourmet restaurants to discover such as the Michelin-starred L’Ekrin or the Chalet Restaurant Le Clos Bernard, located in the heart of the Altiport Forest and accessible only by ski, foot or horse-drawn carriage. There are also plenty of local rustic restaurants serving traditional dishes such as cheese fondue, raclettes and good quality local produce and wines without the silver service.
A breath-taking yet very affordable highlight is catching a 15min scenic flight from Méribel’s altiport (tiny alpine airport) over the entire 3 Valleys.
Meribel is a 2 hour drive by private transfer from either Lyon or Geneva Airport.
It’s a 25min drive from Moutiers train station, the closest train station in France to Meribel.
A shared shuttle transfer from Geneva will take over 4hrs and will only drop you off at the village bus stop, not at your accommodation – not ideal if you are travelling with ski gear and luggage and don’t know your way around.
Top Snow Travel can also arrange transfers by helicopter from any of the regional airports or altiports.
Whether you are holidaying with your family, partner or friends, Méribel offers a wealth of varied and original activities to enliven your holidays. With the “Méribel In Lights” atmospheric Christmas celebrations, the New Year’s Eve outdoor disco and Russian Christmas, the holiday season will be particularly festive!
If you enjoy show-style entertainment, you’ll be delighted by the Piste Bash Festival, Soundclash, Jib Session or the Winter Film Festival.
Snow sports fans can watch major events such as the Men’s Europa Cup Giant Slalom, the French Moguls Championships, the Roc de Fer Challenge, the 3 Vallées Enduro, or the French Under-16 Alpine Ski Championships.
You can also explore the Vanoise National Park and Méribel’s wild spaces through outdoor activities during the Mountain Bike Winter Tour, the Yooni Moon Trail Run, the Zen Altitude theme fortnight, the Olympe Challenge or the Mountain Restaurant Nights.
Next winter, Meribel Ski Resort is scheduled to open from December 5th 2026 to April 18th 2027.
NEW HOSTED JOURNEY
3 Vallées Ski Safari
Ski from village to village across the world's largest linked ski area, fully hosted by Gilles Riou, while your luggage is transferred ahead between three handpicked luxury hotels in Courchevel, Méribel and Saint-Martin-de-Belleville.
10 January 2027
Limited to 10 guests
11 nights
3 exceptional stays
- Luggage transferred ahead
- Fully hosted
Ski Information
Season
December 05, 2026 – April 18, 2027
Ski area
Resorts altitude: 1,400m (Meribel Centre) to 1,750m (Meribel Mottaret)
The Meribel Valley has 144 kilometres of terrain at an altitude of 1,100 to 2,952 metres and 23 lifts. It includes six green trails, 16 blue trails, nine red trails and four blacks.
The terrain park Element Park has four zones catering to all levels.
DC Area 43 has everything from a rookie zone to a pro zone for experienced freestylers, with kickers, rails and a superpipe.
On-mountain restaurant, Le Clos Bernard is a lovely place to enjoy a long lunch in the sunshine.
Linked ski area
The 3 Valleys (7 resorts): Courchevel, Bride-les-Bains, Meribel, Les Menuires, St Martin de Belleville, Val Thorens, Orelle
- 600 km – 327 runs (17% greens, 39% blues, 33% reds, 11% blacks)
- 166 lifts
Transfer time to Meribel
- Moutiers train station (closest): 25min*
- Chambéry airport: 1hr 15min*
- Geneva airport: 2hrs*
- Lyon airport: 2hrs*
*Transfer time is approximate, by private transfer vehicle and subject to traffic, weather and road conditions. Shared shuttle/bus transfers have set departure times, take much longer to travel and don’t offer door to door service which is why we recommend and only book private transfers.
Activities & Location
Non-ski activities
Meribel does cater to non-skiers and skiers that fancy a day off the mountain, with some alternative activities.
Those that are not skiing or snowboarding can enjoy the fantastic facilities at the Meribel Olympic Sports Centre. Here you will find a very nice swimming pool, ten-pin bowling, ice-skating and a climbing wall. These are all great for families and for people wanting to sample some of the other things Méribel has to offer.
Twice a week, Méribel market offers a range of stalls displaying a selection of cheeses, cured meats and confectionery. This is perfect for self-catered guests that want to cook with local produce.
There is a cinema which plays VO films (Version Original), so you don’t need to worry about the language barrier. There are also many high-end clothes and gift shops to flex your credit card in.
How to get to Méribel
Meribel ski season STARTS in…
Meribel Ski Resort Video
Meribel is located in the very heart of the largest linked ski area in the world, the 3 Valleys. With wood clad and chalet-style buildings spread across the valley, it is one of the most tastefully designed of all French purpose-built ski resorts, with lots of fun for families and great nightlife.
Watch this video to find out more…
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