The Ultimate Guide to Megève

Megève - © Megève Toursime - Simon Garnier

Photo: Megève – © Megève Toursime – Simon Garnier

Megève is one of the French Alp’s best-kept secrets. It is often overlooked by the large tourist companies, which, along with its rustic charm, makes it one of the most stylish ski resorts in France.

This gorgeous ski resort is nearly 100 years old and has always been regarded as a high-end destination by skiers since the first lift was put in. Megève has a notoriety for its fine dining, excellent shopping and some of the best views in the alps. In this post, we will go into the details of where to stay and what to expect. We will also tell you about all the best things to do during a trip to Megève.

Where Is Megève In France?

Megève is in the southeastern part of France, in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. It is also situated in the Mont Blanc massif, near the border with Switzerland and Italy.

It is also about 35 kilometres from the iconic ski resort of Chamonix and 70 kilometres from the stunning Annecy. Many people reach Megève via Geneva, Switzerland’s second-largest city, about 80 kilometres northwest of Megève.

Another noteworthy city reasonably close to Megève is Lyon. This beautiful old city is approximately 180 kilometres west of Megève.

How High Is Megève?

Megève is situated at an altitude of approximately 1,110 meters above sea level. Its highest point, the summit of Mont Joly, stands at 2,350 meters, a popular spot for skiing and enjoying the stunning alpine scenery.

Although Megève isn’t the highest ski resort, it still enjoys many benefits that low-altitude resorts don’t get. The town’s elevation above sea level ensures cooler temperatures, which help maintain the snow quality and prevent rapid melting. The higher altitude of the ski slopes, such as Mont Joly, provides better snow coverage and longer-lasting skiing opportunities.

On top of this, Megève is nestled in the Mont Blanc massif, surrounded by dramatic mountain peaks. This geography creates a natural barrier that helps retain colder temperatures and captures snowfall. The mountains act as a funnel for snow-bearing winds, resulting in abundant snowfall during the winter season.

Megève - © Megève Toursime - Simon Garnier
Megève - © Megève Toursime - Simon Garnier

Megeve is a beautiful traditional old French farming village, bursting with life all year round. 

THE RESORT AND MOUNTAINS

Megève itself has a lovely ambience, thanks to its car-free cobbled streets, encircling a 1000-year-old church. But, its success has seen the development of a wide choice of accommodation, restaurants and shops. Adding to its charm are horse-drawn sleigh rides and traditional markets each Friday.

Megève has gradually merged with neighbouring villages to create the Evasion Mont Blanc ski area, with hundreds of kilometres of slopes. There is a variety of slopes on offer in Megève to suit most people. But, the majority of pistes are rated as green, blue and red, suitable for beginner and intermediates. If you are a hardcore skier or snowboarder, Megève may not be the best resort for you. Some visitors to Megève like to start there to warm themselves up for visiting more challenging resorts.

Megève is very close to Chamonix, and you can ski in both areas with the Mont Blanc Unlimited lift pass. This close proximity to Mont Blanc means that Megève is sheltered from the wind, making it less prone to bad weather. Therefore, being outside all day is safe and pleasant for beginners and kids.

The three main ski areas are called Mont D’arbois, Rochebrune and Le Jaillet. The Evasion lift pass also includes neighbouring Les Contamines, but you need a car to get there.

Most holidaymakers consider Megève to be big enough to not go elsewhere. Each area has enough terrain to explore, and you would probably only go to one area in a day. Megève is a reasonably low ski resort. Therefore, you can expect some lovely tree-lined runs that give you stunning views of the iconic Mont Blanc.

If you can, try to avoid the French holidays, as you will have deserted slopes and no lift queues.

Megève - © Megève Toursime - Simon Garnier
Megève - © Megève Toursime - Simon Garnier

The car-free medieval farming town of Megeve has cobblestone streets encircling a 1000-year-old church.

LUXURY ACCOMMODATION

Many of Megève’s chalets and hotels were designed by the same architect. The buildings’ design is heavily influenced by Megève’s original farmhouses, dating from when it was part of the Duchy of Savoy. This adds to Megève’s charm, while the town centre has a wide choice of accommodation. Here are some of our favourite luxury places to stay in Megève.

Hotel Le M de Megève

Hotel Le M de Megève is a beautiful five-star hotel located just 100 metres from Megève’s Chamois ski lift. Its style blends contemporary design with characterful Savoyard flair.

The 42 beautifully crafted timber-clad rooms and suites are comfortable and stylish. All the rooms have a balcony with beautiful views of the village or the enormous interior courtyard.

There is also a gastronomic restaurant and bistro where guests enjoy exquisite delicacies prepared by two Michelin-star Chef Edouard Loubet.

Along with the opportunity to sample fantastic food, the M prides itself on providing luxury everywhere within the building. After a day one the slopes, guests are invited to relax in the spa with a balneotherapy area and a swimming pool.

Alternatively, guests can recline in front of the roaring fire in the bar on leather sofas and armchairs. Here you are immersed in a cosy atmosphere created by exclusive fabrics, stag antlers, and fur throws.

Les Fermes de Marie

A stunning alternative five-star hotel in Megève is Les Fermes de Marie. This hotel is brimming with Savoyard charm, thanks to its lovely architecture, attention to detail, pine construction and roaring fires.

Les Fermes is not just a hotel, as it comprises of nine separate buildings. The atmosphere makes a stay here feel more like a getaway in a private lodge than a hotel.

The property is festooned with stone, rustic wooden beams, local artwork, old photos and quirky Savoyard artifacts on the walls. This creates a cozy and secluded ambience while providing intimate spaces to enjoy après cocktails or mulled wine.

The spa carries the same rustic but luxury aesthetic, with wood and river rocks throughout. This atmosphere is wonderful to relax in or while rejuvenating with one of the treatments on offer.

Les Fermes is an excellent place to stay for families, thanks to its brilliant kids’ club. This is just as thoughtfully decorated as the rest of the hotel, continuing its cosy atmosphere.

Each room of Les Fermes de Marie is picturesque and charming. They all feel like you are staying in an individual Alpine chalet. They feature high-end traditional Savoyard wooden beams, warm fabrics, and rustic character.

A stay at Les Fermes de Marie gives you the opportunity to eat at one of its several restaurants. La Salle a Manger offers lavish meals each evening, devoted to specific ingredients such as truffles.

The Alpin Restaurant serves local alpine specialties during winter featuring cheese, as well as rotisserie meats. The hotel bar is unsurprisingly cozy and is perfect for après and evening drinks.

5***** Hotel Les Fermes de Marie is laid out as a small hamlet of high mountain pasture farms several centuries old, lying in a 4-acre park in the heart of Megève.

THE BEST 4 STAR HOTELS

Hotel Mont-Blanc

Hotel Mont-Blanc is a four-star hotel located in Megève’s church square, among the horse-drawn carriages and cobbled streets. This location is picturesque, but it also makes it easy for guests to get to and from the slopes. Hotel Mont-Blanc is widely regarded as a must-stay hotel for those with good taste and a passion for embracing the high-end lifestyle of a mountain village like Megève.

This hotel puts its guests in an ultra cosy and elegant setting that reflects Megève’s past. Its 38 luxury rooms and suites are chic with a sophisticated contemporary style. After exploring the Evasion Mont Blanc ski area, there is no better place to relax with a drink than on a velvet fireside armchair in the “Le Georges” lounge.

The chic bistro, known as Les Enfants Terribles, also has an elegant and relaxed atmosphere. The menu is full of great French classics made with the finest ingredients.

The gorgeous Hôtel Mont-Blanc Spa has a design inspired by ice floes and mountains. Here guests enjoy an indoor pool swimming in natural light, a Jacuzzi, and a sauna to relieve stress, fatigue and remove toxins from the body after a day on the mountain.

Le Lodge Park

Le Lodge Park is a four-star boutique hotel in a quiet but central part of Megève. This makes it super easy for guests to get to the lift and everything Megève has to offer.

This hotel is chic and is popular with celebrities and skiers all winter. Its warm and cosy atmosphere is created by the warm decor with a Scottish inspiration. Here, you will see furniture made out of deer antlers, redwood tables, Scottish fabrics and polished leather. The hotel is also decorated with artifacts brought from all over the world.

The 49 bedrooms and suites are beautiful and very comfortable. This includes the 75 sqm Plenitude suite, set apart from the others by its contemporary furniture and stunning stone fireplace. Each room has a different decor style, and most of them have a terrace or a balcony overlooking the surrounding park.

The hotel’s restaurant, The Beef Lodge, is a fantastic steak house for all those who appreciate the finest cuts of meat. These cuts of meat are perfectly cooked and served in generous slices. You can enjoy this culinary experience at the bar too, which creates another dining experience.

Les Loges Blanches

An alternative four-star hotel in Megève, is Les Loges Blanches. This hotel is very close to Megève’s centre, allowing guests to enjoy the village ambience and easily get to the slopes.

The 61 rooms and suites are spread among 5 chalets and communicate with the main chalet. The buildings are set in a typical Savoyard hamlet style, surrounding an outdoor heated swimming pool and Nordic sauna. This setting makes Les Loges Blanche a fantastic place to stay for friends and family.

In the evenings, guests are invited to dine in the recently refurbished restaurant, La Table des Cochers or sip après drinks in the bar. Both have a warm and friendly atmosphere, while the bar provides lovely spaces both inside and outside.

L’Arboisie

The L’Arboisie is a fantastic four-star chalet style in Megève, located at the foot of Mount Arbois; the view over the village and mountains is breathtaking.

This hotel has a warm and cosy chalet ambience and the standard of what you would expect from a four-star hotel.

The hotel’s style is contemporary with traditional style queues, thanks to its decor featuring wood, slate and fabrics. Its ambience is enhanced with comforting fragrances and open fireplaces. The wooden-panelled rooms and suites are comfortable and mirror the atmosphere of the rest of the hotel.

Guests can experience delights from the hotel’s two in house restaurants. Chez Jean serves gourmet food made from local produce and has a family-friendly menu. Le Cellier offers table or bar service and a wide range of carefully selected Savoyard dishes.

In addition to all this, L’Arboisie’s beautiful spa provides the opportunity for moments of calm and relaxation around the indoor heated pool or in the hammam, sauna or gym.

Les Loges Blanches - Megève
4**** Hotel Les Loges Blanches - Megève

4**** Hotel Les Loges Blanches is charming hotel with its 5 chalets surrounding the outdoor heated swimming pool located just 500m from the centre of Megève and 200m from the Jaillet cable car.

APRÈS AND NIGHTLIFE

Après ski and nightlife in Megeve is a little more refined than other French ski resorts. You can expect more cafes and cocktail bars than rowdy pubs with people dancing on tables. Here are some of our favourite après and nightspots in Megève.

Saint-Amour Farm

The Saint-Amour Farm is in the heart of Megève, and is a restored farmhouse in a vintage style. It is a restaurant that serves fantastic food for lunch and dinner, in a friendly and warm atmosphere. However, after the second sitting has been served, everyone starts dancing with a nightclub-like character. This is one of the must-go-to places in Megeve, but be sure to book a table, as this is aa very popular venue.

La Folie Douce

The Folie Douce chain of venues is well known for its party atmosphere right on the slopes. These bars are notorious for being the most lively in ski resorts, and the Megève branch is no exception. It is located at the top of Mont Joux. It’s the place to be for outdoor music, dancing and cabaret from 2.30pm until shortly before the lifts close.

Club de Jazz les Cinq Rues

Club de Jazz Les Cinq Rues is one of the oldest jazz clubs in France. It opened just after the second world war. Ever since then, it has played host to top musicians from all over the world and is a great spot for cocktails in its cellar-like ambience.

The Lodge Bar

The Lodge Bar is beautifully designed, influenced by the style of a New England lodge. Relax in tanned leather armchairs while enjoying the cosy American atmosphere. This bar also has an outdoor heated area where you can enjoy your evening under the shelter of soft animal furs.

Megève - © Megève Toursime - Simon Garnier
Megève - © Megève Toursime - Simon Garnier

With 133 restaurants and bars to choose from, you are guaranteed to find a happy place to eat and drink

EATING IN MEGÈVE

Megève is a fantastic destination for food lovers. It has 133 restaurants and bars both on and off the mountain, holding eight Michelin stars in total. Here are some of our favourite places to eat in Megève.

Mountain Restaurants

There are many places to eat scattered all over the ski area, from high-altitude, fine dining restaurants to traditional Savoyard and convenient self-service. You will also find many snack bars and family-friendly picnic areas.

Le Radaz

Le Radaz is a beautiful, historic farm that was founded in 1944. Here, you can enjoy local specialities on the welcoming terrace or in the cosy interior. The restaurant has a very traditional Savoyard style, decorated with regional artefacts and checkered table cloths.

It is the perfect spot for a break and a bite to eat in an authentic alpine setting. You can get to it on skis when you are exploring the Cote 2000 via the Massif de Rochebrune. It sits a 1652m giving you fabulous mountain views, while Brigitte and her friendly team provide excellent service.

L’Auberge de la Cote 2000

L’Auberge de la Cote 2000 is located right at the bottom of Megève’s famous World Cup ski slope; this is an exceptional mountain dining experience. Diners can enjoy their meals in the sun on the large south-facing terrace while taking in the stunning mountain views. The menu includes local specialities such as a daily special of spit-roasted poultry and meat.

Idéal 1850

This picturesque mountain restaurant sits at 1,850 metres and providing diners with extraordinary views over the whole valley. Skiers and hikers can meet for lunch to savour poultry and meat dishes accompanied by an extensive and Compagnie Vinicole Edmond de Rothschild Heritage wine list. The incredible atmosphere, awe-inspiring views and fine dining create a fantastic dining experience on the slopes.

All 4**** & 5***** Hotels in Megève have incredible restaurants which are ideal for half-board options

In Resort Restaurants

Le 1920 at Four Seasons Hotel Megève

Le 1920 is located at the Four Seasons Hotel and is run by two Michelin star Chef Julien Gatillon. If you love to eat the very best food, Le 1920 should be a priority for you during your visit to Megève. Before dinner, you can sip a drink in cosy and contemporary Bar Edmond.

Flocons de Sel

The Flocons de Sel is a three Michelin-starred restaurant and regarded by locals as the best in the resort. It is set in a 19th-century farmhouse and owned by Emmanuel Renaut, who is also the chef Emmanuel. He serves a traditional raclette as part of a six-course meal, providing excellent value for money. Renaut’s talent makes sophisticated cooking seem simple. His asparagus tart served with egg yolk, and a light vinaigrette on a thick nutted base is something to behold.

La Ferme de Mon Pere

La Ferme de Mon Père is set in an old, wood-beamed chalet with part-glass floors, which give you a view of the room where the meat is salted and the cheese and wine cellars. The wine collection spans to more than 20,000 bottles.

The dégustation menu is popular, as it comprises of 12 exquisite courses with impeccable presentation. Food and drinks are served by attentive white-gloved waitresses in a beautiful and friendly atmosphere.

Megeve Simongarnier 311214 013
Megève - © Megève Toursime - Simon Garnier

There are plenty of winter activities to choose from in Megève including ice skating in the heart of town

NON-SKIING ACTIVITIES & EVENTS

Events

As with any good ski resort, there are plenty of other things to do off the mountain. But Megève is host to a selection of high profile events too.

In January, Megève is the venue for the Megève Polo Masters. This is part of the international polo circuit and is unique as it is held on the snow. In addition to polo on snow, Megève hosts the BMW winter golf trophy, played on a dedicated mountain golf course from late January to early February.

See The Mountains From The Air

Flying over the French Alps is an incredible experience, as you get to see them from a unique perspective. There are a few ways you can do this in Megève, and they will all make your holiday memorable.

One way is to climb into the hot air balloon’s basket and drift over the peaks in silence. Catching the thermals with a paraglider on a tandem flight is a wonderful way to see the mountains and valleys, as is a scenic helicopter flight.

Snowshoeing

Strapping on a pair of snowshoes and heading off into the forests is a more sedate way of exploring the mountains. Either hire your equipment and go solo, or book a guide to take you to the best spots. Snowshoeing often reveals parts of the landscape you wouldn’t usually see. If you are lucky, you may even see some alpine wildlife.

Visit Other Local Places

Megève’s location is great for visiting other places. It is very close to Chamonix, where you can get up close and personal with Mont Blanc and the glacial landscape. This also means you can go over the border into Italy to spend a day in Courmayeur. Annecy is a gorgeous city on the edge of the most beautiful lakes in France. It is known as the Venice of the French Alps and is just a short train ride away.

Megève - © Megève Toursime - Simon Garnier
Megève - © Megève Toursime - Simon Garnier

Megeve and the Evasion Mont-Blanc ski area truly provide stunning views of Mont-Blanc and the French Alps

How To Get To Megève

People reach Megève in a number of ways, depending on their preferences and where they’re coming from. It is common for visitors to arrive in the area by air or train, then drive a hire car or take a private transfer to Megève. Taking a private transfer is often the most convenient way. Private transfers make travelling on snowy roads much easier, and you get taken directly to the front door of your accommodation. Here are a few ways you can get to Megève:

How To Get From Paris To Megève

You can get to Megève from Paris on the excellent TGV train from Gare de Lyon to Sallanches—Combloux—Megève. These trains run directly on weekends, but you must change at Annecy if you travel on weekdays.

From Sallanches—Combloux—Megève, you will need to make your way to the resort. You can take a public bus, but we recommend booking a private transfer to Megève. The train from Paris takes about 6 hours and 30 minutes, but you need to add about 30 minutes for your transfer to the resort.

How To Get From Geneva Airport To Megève

Most international flights come into the area via Geneva Airport in Switzerland. It takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes by road between Geneva and Megève. However, it may take longer if you’re travelling during peak weeks or if it is snowing.

Some people like to have the flexibility of a hire car during their trip. You can hire a car from the airport, but remember that you will need snow chains in your vehicle or ensure it is fitted with snow tyres. Unfortunately, these aren’t always offered by car hire companies and come at extra cost.

Alternatively, if you want to speed things up, why not ask our travel experts about helicopter transfers from Geneva?

Why Book your Ski Holiday to Megève

Megève is a beautiful ski resort that attracts people that enjoy the finer things in life. Its excellent skiing, accommodation and dining create a fantastic experience to remember. But its locality to other places the Alps have to offer makes it an excellent destination for extending your trip.

Be social, share with your friends: