Morzine in Winter

The Portes du Soleil Ski Area

The Portes du Soleil is Europe’s second largest ski area with 650km of pistes spanning across France and Switzerland. The 316 slopes are spread across the 12 areas of the resort, the main ones being Morzine, Avoriaz, Chatel, Les Gets and Champery. The area boasts 197 lifts which service a good breadth of beginner, intermediate and expert pistes as well as a host of off piste areas. Some of the most famous routes include the Swiss Wall and the Portes du Soleil circuit.

Morzine sits right at the heart of the ski area and provides easy access to both sides of it. Taking the Pleney lift out of the western side of the town will whisk you up into the Morzine and Les Gets slopes. Many of the local ski schools meet at the top of the Pleney lift and the ski area here offers an abundance of pistes to suit all abilities. A pleasant traverse across the hill provides access to the Les Gets slopes which encompasses the Chevannes area and the larger Ranfolly bowl. A short ride on the petit train or ski bus across the pretty town of Les Gets will get you to Mont Chery. The slopes here are generally quieter and offer some of the best views in the Portes du Soleil.

Taking the Super Morzine telecabine out of the eastern side of the town provides access to the Avoriaz, Chatel and Swiss ski areas. Avoriaz sits at an altitude of 1800 metres and is therefore a very snow sure resort. The ski area here is vast and has a fantastic offering for beginners with many nursery slopes around the village. As you head higher on the lifts out of the village there is a wide range of more advanced slopes and snowparks as well as some easily accessible off piste areas. You can easily ski across from Avoriaz into Linderets then across into Chatel or head down off the back of Avoriaz into the Swiss side.

You can also access the Avoriaz side by jumping on the ski bus from outside the Pleney lift station which will drop you at the Prodain lift which is a large lift that gets you up to Avoriaz in super fast time.

The Portes de Soleil prides itself in its investment and is constantly expanding and improving the ski area.

To see the piste map click here 

Location & Logistics

Located in the Rhone Alps region of France in the northern alps, Morzine is incredibly accessible. The closest airport is Geneva which is serviced by a whole host of UK and international airports. The drive up from Geneva is a mere 1 hour 15 minutes and there is an abundance of transfer companies making it quick and easy to get to town (of course we work with the best of the transfer companies and our concierge team can arrange this for you).

Driving is also an option for some and its possible to reach Morzine by car in around 8 hours from Calais. However the roads can sometimes get treacherous during periods of heavy snow so we don’t recommend this option for those without snow tires and chains.

Morzine occupies a prime location within the Portes du Soleil ski resort. Sitting right slap bang in the middle of it, logistically it’s the most desirable village to base yourself. It offers quick and easy access to the entire ski area and is also the largest and liveliest village in the area. The Morzine and Les Gets ski area sits to one side of the village and the Avoriaz/Chatel/Swiss side is the other, all connected with free ski busses, it couldn’t be easier to get around the resort.

The Village

Morzine is a relatively large alpine town with a lot of history. The town is a perfect mix of chocolate box chalets and modern contemporary alpine architecture all surrounded by tree lined, snow capped mountains.

As well as the amazing skiing, Morzine is a lively town and has everything you could need including an abundance of shops, bars and restaurants. The cinema, large swimming complex and ice rink help to keep those non skiers entertained and Morzine has its very own, very competitive ice hockey team the Penguins. If they’re playing during your stay we highly recommend you go and watch a match.

Stocking your kitchen is easy as Morzine is home to 3 well stocked supermarkets. There is a large Carrefour in the centre of town, a medium sized Casino along Route de la Plagne and a smaller Spar supermarket located between the tourist office and the Super Morzine lift. The Carrefour has the widest selection and the best bet for an initial stock up and the other two will keep you topped up nicely throughout the week. All of the Super Markets have convenient bus stops near by making it easy to get your supplies home.

The wide range of restaurants offer everything from Michelin starred gastronomy to cheap and cheerful burger places. Many of the restaurants are owned and operated by local families offering traditional Savoyard fare as well as wider menus. The local restaurateurs are keen to keep up with modern tastes so you will find that guests with dietary requirements are welcomed and well catered for. We regularly review village and mountain restaurants in our blog.

Getting around the village on foot is very easy and the main town centre is relatively flat. There is also a very efficient free bus system that accesses all of the main lift stations and covers most areas of the village. In the town centre there is also the petit train which loops the main town centre which is perfect for getting between the Pleney and Super Morzine lifts.