Winter Wonderland in the French Alps - Megève
Megève, a charming alpine village located in the Haute-Savoie region of the French Alps, has been a popular destination for winter getaways since the Rothschild family made it fashionable in the early 1900s. It is known for its picturesque streets lined with traditional chalets, delicious local cuisine, and world-class skiing.
How to Get to Megève
Closest Airport: Geneva, which is just over an hour away with convenient airport transfer services available. Chambery and Grenoble airports are also within two hours' drive.
By rail: The train station Sallanches-Combloux-Megève is only 12kms from Megève.
Where to Stay
This beautiful boutique hotel has 12 sumptuous and spacious alpine chalet style rooms and suites, which also have a balcony or terrace overlooking the snow-peaked mountains and the village of Megève. We stayed at the beautiful Chalet 1, which is perfect for a family of four. The chalet has a cosy sitting area with fireplace, a dining space, a corder office with desk (with a breathtaking view!). The large and open ensuite bathroom to the main bedroom, which also has same beautiful view, is a big bonus.
The hotel has a gourmet restaurant “La Ferme de mon Père”. Every evening, the candle-lit restaurant serves its guests simple, but distinguished French mountain cuisine in a cosy and warm atmosphere. Most dishes are based around vegetables, prepared from seasonal ingredients sourced locally and with the finest French products.
During your stay, definitely don’t miss daily complimentary afternoon tea from 5 pm on. Their amazing Mixologist will brew a house-blend tea of your choice, add some house-made syrup and then serve you some best French pastries in town. Our favourite tea is the Rooibos with Lemongrass syrup. It is the perfect way to relax and warm up after a day of skiing.
Another highlight of our stay is our treatments at the serene and calm spa area. The space has an indoor relaxing pool, a steam room, a sauna and a relaxing lounge. We absolutely love their 60 minutes deep-tissue massage, which is both relaxing and rejuvenating.
Zannier Le Chalet also offers complimentary shuttle services to the ski lifts and Megève village, so the guests do not have to worry about finding parking spaces. Simple leave the cars at the hotel with the valets and they will take care of everything for you.
Just a few minutes away from the Megève village centre, the Four Seasons Hotel Megève is located on the slopes of Mont d’Arbois, one of the very few properties in Megève that provide direct ski-in and ski-out access. The hotel is built in an elegant chalet style with large windows that frame an undisturbed view to the French Alps.
One of the highlights of a stay at Four Seasons Megève is the dining experience. The property offers several options for guests to choose from. One of the most popular and our absolute favoriate is Kaito, the hotel's Asian-inspired restaurant. Kaito serves a range of dishes from Japan, China, and Southeast Asia, and also boasts an extensive sake selection. The restaurant's menu features both classic and contemporary dishes, such as the miso-marinated cod and the crispy duck with pancakes. We simply could not get enough of their Sushi rolls. We also love the restaurant's stylish decor, which features dark woods and soft lighting and creates a sophisticated and intimate atmosphere.
For those who love cheese, definitely do not miss out the dining experience at “La Table de Noémie”, which is located in the Les Chalets du Mont d'Arbois, another Four Seasons Megève property. Their three-cheese fondue is to die for.
L’Alpaga’s is a small boutique hotel located just outside of Megève. It has intimate rooms, family suites and even some individual chalets built in modern chalet style. Their beds are very cosy and comfortable and the bathrooms are modern and stylish. Afternoon tea is something you definitely want to try during your stay. Drawing inspirations from her childhood memories with her English grandmother, Tess Evans-Mialet creates a series of delicious afternoon tea pastries with British and French influences.
Another highlight of our stay was the gourmet dinner at the Michelin-starred “ La Table de L’Alpaga” with chef Alexandre Baule. Using mainly regional ingredients, he crafts a menu that takes the diners onto a unforgettable and powerful gourmet culinary journey.
Where to Eat
Lunch on the Slopes:
Idéal 1850: Located on the heights of Megève, this restaurant offers one of the best panoramic views to Mont Blanc and neighbouring peaks in the entire valley. Definitely sit on the terrace when the weather permits. Must-try dishes are: Truffle Pizza, Lobster spaghetti in creamy bisque and the famous The McRothschild burger.
Rural by Marc Veyrat: This brand new restaurant, opened just before Christmas in 2022, has already gained some loyal diners. Using locally sourced ingredients, Rural serves some of the best Fresh Alpen dishes. Grilled bavette Choron and cote de boeuf Choron are the must-try dishes. The freshly made and baked pizzas are extremely popular, too.
Lunch in Megève Village Center
Le Coeur Megève: This is a lively venue open onto the main street of the village. The restaurant offers an elegant and tasty local cuisine of the Savoy region. Their Scallops on Arve Balls is amazing. And then finish the meal with some hot chocolate fondue.
Cosa Papa Megeve: This is our favourite Italian restaurant in Megève. Located in the old Casino, this retro style Italian trattoria with chic bowling alley is one of the local and visitor’s favourites. they serve a great selection of antipasti and 100% authentic Neapolitan pizzas. The staff here is super friendly and fun, too. Make sure you reserve a game track as soon as you arrive at the restaurant to secure a slot after dinner. It is such a fun game to play with family and friendly.
La Chocolaterie de Megève: Located inside at Grand Hôtel du Soleil d’Or, this is the perfect place to take a break from the winter cold and savour a cup of delicious hot chocolate with some house made pastries and cakes. Definitely watch how they make the hot chocolate from scratch in the traditional French way. So fun!
What to Do
Skiing: In the winter, Megève is a skier's paradise. The village is home to three ski areas - Rochebrune, Mont d'Arbois, and Cote 2000 - which offer a combined total of over 300 kilometers of ski runs for all levels of skiers and snowboarders. The ski runs are well-groomed and offer spectacular views of the surrounding mountains.
Epic Flight over French Alps with Aerocrime : Taking off from the Megève altiport, we enjoy a scenic flights over some of the most beautiful peaks in the French Alps, including Mont Blanc. The plane can seat three passengers under its panoramic canopy. Our pilot is a very experienced and we feel very safe during our flights. Make sure you book the 30 mins flying time to see the Alps property. I promise it will be a very memorable experience.
Jaillet 4S Luge : For the thrill seekers, this toboggan offers long rails, tight turns, variations in altitudes and speed and beautiful view to the French Alps. It is one of our favourite family activities in Megève. PS: It is very safe.
Le Palais Megève: This is not just a recreation centre, but a very well designed and equipped one. Balneo is a great place for an outdoor soak, especially during sunset. There is also a climbing wall speed across 740m² with various difficulty levels.
Evolution 2 Megève: riding mountain E-scooters with magnificent mountain landscape is something definitely worth experiencing. Ask for Laurent as your guide as he is super experienced and a very nice person.
Walking Around: The village of Megève itself is also a must-see destination. The charming streets are lined with quaint shops and art galleries. The village also has a rich cultural heritage, with several churches and chapels dating back to the Middle Ages.
Overall, Megève is the perfect destination for anyone looking for a beautiful, authentic alpine village experience, with a wide range of activities and attractions to enjoy year-round. Whether you're looking for an action-packed ski holiday or a relaxing summer getaway, Megève has something for everyone.