There’s no better place to ski than the land of wine and cheese! Oh, and powder snow! Thanks to its massive linked ski areas, its world-class off-piste terrain and its lively ski villages, France is one of our favourite places to ski. Here are ten reasons why!
For the French, ski areas only really get interesting when they have hundreds of kilometres of pistes. France is home to the two biggest linked ski areas in Europe, Les Trois Vallées and Les Portes du Soleil, each of which have more than 600km of pistes! That’s a lot of skiing.
French cuisine is internationally renowned and this standard applies to après-ski food as well. Start the day off right with a fresh croissant. For your lunch break, there’s nothing better than finding a cosy mountain restaurant and tucking into a hearty tartiflette or a croûte au fromage.
Cheese-loving skiers in France are in heaven
There’s no point in having the largest ski areas in Europe if the snow conditions are rotten. Fortunately, this isn’t a problem in France. You can always count on snow on the glaciers at Tignes and Les Deux Alpes, and Val Thorens is actually the highest-altitude ski resort village in Europe.
In the Alpes Maritimes, France’s southernmost snow sports region, the ski resorts are blessed with more than 300 days of sunshine a year! Alpe d'Huez has even given itself the moniker “Island in the Sun” in honour of all those bluebird days. Don’t forget to pack sunscreen for your French ski holiday!
The abundance of green slopes in France make it the perfect place for beginners to try their first turns. Pair this with the trusty Ecole de Ski Français and voilà! You have the ideal destination for beginner skiers and snowboarders.
How great is it to click into your skis in the morning and find yourself already on the slopes? France has a wealth of ski-in, ski-out accommodation that is guaranteed to make your ski holiday infinitely better. Whether you’re looking for a budget apartment or a luxury hotel, you should be able to find slope-side accommodation no problem in France.
Ski-in, ski-out apartment at Superdévoluy
France is also a fantastic destination for non-skiers. Go ice-diving in Tignes, ride the virtual reality roller coaster at Alpe d'Huez or check out the avalanche simulator at Les Deux Alpes. And, of course, there are all the regular activities like hiking, ice skating, ice climbing, paragliding and snowtubing. You definitely won’t get bored in the French Alps!
Forget the tacky Austrian après-ski scene, French après-ski is a notch classier! Since La Folie Douce arrived on the scene, the French have mastered the art of throwing a daily outdoor party right on the slopes, complete with DJ and free-flowing pints. After all, après-ski is a French word!
La Folie Douce at L'Alpe d'Huez
The myriads of ski areas in France and the popularity of just half a dozen of them mean that you have loads of options if you’re looking for a quieter, cheaper ski resort off the beaten path. Try Superdévoluy, Valfréjus or La Norma for cheap and cheerful ski holidays, or see this article for more French ski resorts off the beaten path >
France's La Grave - La Meije is one of Europe’s most legendary off-piste destinations. With only one lift, it’s virtually an entire freeriding mountain for expert skiers and snowboarders only. For something a little more accessible, try your skills on Le Tunnel at L’Alpe d’Huez.
Skiing off-piste in Les Portes du Soleil
Wondering how to get to your French ski holidays? It’s easy to take a budget flight to Lyon, Grenoble or Chambéry, or even drive or take the Eurostar.
There’s no better place to ski than the land of wine and cheese! Oh, and powder snow! Thanks to its massive linked ski areas, its world-class off-piste terrain and its lively ski villages, France is one of our favourite places to ski. Here are ten reasons why!
For the French, ski areas only really get interesting when they have hundreds of kilometres of pistes. France is home to the two biggest linked ski areas in Europe, Les Trois Vallées and Les Portes du Soleil, each of which have more than 600km of pistes! That’s a lot of skiing.
French cuisine is internationally renowned and this standard applies to après-ski food as well. Start the day off right with a fresh croissant. For your lunch break, there’s nothing better than finding a cosy mountain restaurant and tucking into a hearty tartiflette or a croûte au fromage.
Cheese-loving skiers in France are in heaven
There’s no point in having the largest ski areas in Europe if the snow conditions are rotten. Fortunately, this isn’t a problem in France. You can always count on snow on the glaciers at Tignes and Les Deux Alpes, and Val Thorens is actually the highest-altitude ski resort village in Europe.
In the Alpes Maritimes, France’s southernmost snow sports region, the ski resorts are blessed with more than 300 days of sunshine a year! Alpe d'Huez has even given itself the moniker “Island in the Sun” in honour of all those bluebird days. Don’t forget to pack sunscreen for your French ski holiday!
The abundance of green slopes in France make it the perfect place for beginners to try their first turns. Pair this with the trusty Ecole de Ski Français and voilà! You have the ideal destination for beginner skiers and snowboarders.
How great is it to click into your skis in the morning and find yourself already on the slopes? France has a wealth of ski-in, ski-out accommodation that is guaranteed to make your ski holiday infinitely better. Whether you’re looking for a budget apartment or a luxury hotel, you should be able to find slope-side accommodation no problem in France.
Ski-in, ski-out apartment at Superdévoluy
France is also a fantastic destination for non-skiers. Go ice-diving in Tignes, ride the virtual reality roller coaster at Alpe d'Huez or check out the avalanche simulator at Les Deux Alpes. And, of course, there are all the regular activities like hiking, ice skating, ice climbing, paragliding and snowtubing. You definitely won’t get bored in the French Alps!
Forget the tacky Austrian après-ski scene, French après-ski is a notch classier! Since La Folie Douce arrived on the scene, the French have mastered the art of throwing a daily outdoor party right on the slopes, complete with DJ and free-flowing pints. After all, après-ski is a French word!
La Folie Douce at L'Alpe d'Huez
The myriads of ski areas in France and the popularity of just half a dozen of them mean that you have loads of options if you’re looking for a quieter, cheaper ski resort off the beaten path. Try Superdévoluy, Valfréjus or La Norma for cheap and cheerful ski holidays, or see this article for more French ski resorts off the beaten path >
France's La Grave - La Meije is one of Europe’s most legendary off-piste destinations. With only one lift, it’s virtually an entire freeriding mountain for expert skiers and snowboarders only. For something a little more accessible, try your skills on Le Tunnel at L’Alpe d’Huez.
Skiing off-piste in Les Portes du Soleil
Born and raised in the ski paradise of Vancouver, Canada, I learned to ski before I can remember, balancing precariously on my parents’ skis as they sailed down the hill. I started snowboarding in my teens and am now delighted to be exploring everything Europe’s ski scene has to offer!
