Megeve - France
The resort of Megeve (Meh-jeve) was developed in the 1950s by the Baroness de Rothchild and has since been a regular haunt for the rich and famous. It is a traditional resort which has not lost its charm and is nowadays renowned for its dining as much as its skiing. There are over 80 restaurants in resort, including some with Michelin stars, and the romantic medieval centre also plays host to many an upmarket wine bar. It came as no surprise when Megeve became the newest member of the elite ‘Best of the Alps’ club.
With access to 400km of piste in the Espace Evasion the skiing doesn’t have to play second fiddle to the cuisine. Skiing ranges from 1100m at village level to 2350m on Mont Joly and the season lasts in to late April. Access from Geneva takes just over an hour. Megeve is also a great base if you have a car as you can easily visit any of 13 resorts in the Chamonix Valley.
At a glance
| Resort altitude | 1100m - 1100m |
|---|---|
| Highest lift | 2353m |
| Lowest lift | 850m |
| kms of piste | 325km² |
| Black pistes | 13% |
| Red pistes | 40% |
| Blue pistes | 30% |
| Green pistes | 17% |
| Snow parks | 2 |
| Glacier | No |
| Snowmaking | Yes |
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Five to try
- Stretch out those aching limbs in one of the pools or a sauna
- For something more extreme, why not try hangliding
- Dog sledding is something not to be missed in Megeve
- If you're lucky enough to time your holiday right, you can catch the snow polo in Megeve,
- Head down to one of the local ice hockey games for a great atmosphere
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Planning your trip
Geneva airport is only one hour away from Megeve and has the best all round facilities and choice of flights. However, the charter flight terminals can get very crowded. Lyon St Exupery airport is also close; though the charter section of the airport is probably the most notorious in the Alps and often referred to as more...
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Where to stay
Staying close to the centre of town has its advantages. A few minutes' stroll away and you are in the midst of everything, and whether you fancy popping into town for an aperitif or going window shopping, nothing is far away. With the ski lift in the centre of town, you are just five minutes away from being on the more...
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Food and drink
The standard of restaurants in Megeve is high, and you should expect that eating out will be more costly than in some other resorts. If you are on a budget it is possible to get a good deal at some of the pizzerias but if you are celebrating a special occasion try one of the Michelin-starred restaurants such as more...
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Things to do
For a small resort, Megeve has a lot of activities away from the slopes. At the newly refitted ice rink at the Palais des Sports, ice hockey matches are held throughout the season, and are fun to watch. Step onto the ice yourself, or go bowling or indoor rock climbing. For bracing outdoor activities you can go snow more...
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On the piste
If the slopes of Megeve were to have a weakness it would be the high number of draglifts that make it frustrating for snowboarders. Skiers will find plenty of variety both under and above the tree line but may have to look to the upper slopes at the start and end of the season. At 1100m the runs to the village can more...
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MadDogView
One of the prettiest resorts around. Quite refined and old fashioned, there are more jazz and piano bars than loud apres-ski bars. One for foodies, though don't expect any bargains.
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Map
- Download piste map
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Our favourites
La Ferme de Mon Pere
This is a magical place, a stone's throw from the medieval centre of the archetypal, fairy-tale Alpine resort of Megeve. The food is no short of amazing, courtesy of Marc Veyrat's creations, and the setting has a real 'old France' feel to it. The hotels luxury is matched only by its price tag, but is well worth every penny. -
Useful stuff
