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Altitude:
Resort — 1,750m
Max — 2,952m
Skiing:
Transfer time:
Chambery - 1h20;
Grenoble - 1h50;
Geneva - 2h20;
Accessible via the Eurostar
Best for
Smack-bang in the middle of the Three Valleys - the world's largest and one of the most impressive ski areas - you'll find this gem of a ski resort. Méribel is hands down one of the most popular ski resorts in the Alps - think huge piste variety, a lively après scene and lots of luxe accommodation options.
Thanks to the fact it's linked to Courchevel and Val Thorens by a network of modern ski lifts, Méribel skiing offers up access to over 600km of marked runs. Master the nursery slopes with an instructor, and you're ready to move up the mountain to where you'll find a plethora of wide, meandering pistes. The undulating Jerusalem in particular is a team-Packed favourite. Some real experts among you? There's miles of off-piste skiing up for grabs, too.
The resort itself is split up over three villages - Méribel Centre, Méribel Village and Méribel Mottaret. All three are attractive, and each has their own unique allure, from buzzing nightlife venues and world-class restaurants through to charming chalets with unrivalled alpine views.
Méribel ski resort
When it comes to Méribel itself, the resort is pretty large yet nicely split up over three separate villages: Méribel Centre, Méribel Village and Méribel Mottaret. Each one has its own excellent range of places to sleep, play and party, however Méribel Centre is the liveliest of the lot. There's additionally a handful of smaller villages further down the mountain which have direct bus services to the slopes.
Whether you're keen on nabbing ski-in, ski-out accommodation, want instant access to all the top nightlife venues or you're after a quieter spot where you can chill out at the end of a long day on the pistes, Méribel has got you covered.
Méribel Centre
This is the beating heart of Méribel and where you'll find the resort's top accommodation and best selection of off-piste attractions. The Chaudanne area is where most of the action takes place, from the major ski lifts to take you straight up the mountain through to après ski hotspots like Jack's Bar. Méribel Centre is also a hub of activity when it comes to non-skiing activities - think ice skating, shopping and spas.
Méribel Village
North of Méribel Centre is where you'll find Méribel Village, about a 5-minute bus ride away - a quieter spot ideal for groups who want to relax with a glass of wine and some filling, French fare. The snow coverage is great here, too, thanks to the higher altitude and you'll also have direct access to the Altiport ski area, making Méribel Village chalets perfect for first-timers or family groups with kids.
Méribel Mottaret
This is a satellite resort which sits higher up the mountains than the other Méribel areas. Its high altitude makes it a prime place to stay if you're a serious skier, with a large amount of the accommodation being ski-in, ski-out. The après scene here is low key, however there's a regular bus service to Méribel Centre, plus a gentle green slope connecting the two.
Méribel après
Lively, loud and a whole lot of fun, Méribel's après ski scene is up there with the best. The Three Valleys' resort has a range of brilliant drinking holes to duck into for a quick pint on the slopes, plus plenty to pick from in the resort itself.
One must-visit venue that's known for its crazy crowd and buzzing music scene is Le Rond Point (nicknamed Ronnie's by regulars) that's positioned at the Rond Point des Pistes ski station just above Méribel Centre. Méribel also has its very own Folie Douce for table dancing and free-flowing champagne.
Back towards Méribel Centre, you'll spot Jack's Bar at the bottom of the Chaudanne ski lifts. Their terrace is always pumping after 4pm and there's usually a major sports match being shown on the TVs inside. Later on in the evening, head over to Sully's (formerly known as Dick's Tea Bar) at the northern edge of the resort centre for shots and sets from iconic international DJs?
Restaurants in Méribel
Need to satisfy a certain craving? As well as mouthwatering French fare, Méribel's awesome selection of eateries includes options serving up dishes from all four corners of the globe.
Enjoy a curry and a pint at Tsaretta Spice, a slick Indian curry house a short bus ride from the resort centre on Route 1600. They also mix up some decent cocktails if you fancy switching beer for something more sophisticated. Prefer pizza? Don't miss Pizzeria L'Igloo in the heart of Méribel which serves up tasty, cheesy slices and French wines in a cool, igloo-inspired venue.
Next door is where you'll find cosy Aux Petits Oignons if you're keen to try some local grub - think foie gras, garlic snails and crème brûlée. Chez Kiki on the Route Morel is a great spot for meat lovers thanks to its melt-in-the-mouth lamb, duck and beef dishes. It's also lodged inside an authentic mountain chalet, with views over Méribel Centre.
Méribel nightlife
Start your night off at Jack's Bar with a few drinks, a bite to eat and some live tunes from their talented resident musicians. They also throw some legendary themed parties and have amazing drinks deals from 4pm til 5pm. Don't forget to try a shot of Jack's homemade toffee vodka, either.
Sully's is always a go-to destination for a good time thanks to its epic musical line up and late night opening hours. Pop into their sister bar La Taverne on Méribel's main square beforehand to take advantage of some of the cheapest drink prices in the Three Valleys.
Opposite La Taverne is long-time Méribel institution, Le Pub, inside the Hotel Doron. It's pretty chilled out earlier in the evening, with most punters playing pool or chatting over a few pints. By 10pm, though, it's one of the liveliest venues in the resort. If you're booking a group ski holiday at the end of the season, Le Pub's annual Beach Party is unmissable.
Mountain bites
Skiing always seems to leave us famished, and Méribel is blessed with restaurants right on the slopes where you can grab a quick bite or a slap up lunch.
Munch down on greasy, saucy and utterly delicious burgers at Mountain Burger in Méribel Mottaret, with options ranging from your classic beef patties through to fancy foie gras and regional raclette cheese.
Ticking off some of the pistes in the Altiport area? Make Le Clos Bernard your dining destination of the day. The friendly chalet-style restaurant cooks up a range of traditional Savoyard dishes and has a huge outdoor terrace.
Le Rond Point also serves tasty pizza, pasta and puddings alongside their après ski offerings, while La Fruitière shares a building with La Folie Douce and is known for its seasonal gourmet menu.
Méribel for non-skiers
Have people in your group who are keen to make your Méribel ski holiday not solely about the snow? You're in luck as the resort is teeming with attractions and activity options to suit non-skiers.
In Méribel Centre, you'll spot an indoor ice rink, a climbing wall and a water sports centre complete with a kid's pool and slides at the Méribel Olympics Complex near the Chaudanne lifts.
To make the most of the stunning winter scenery, have a go at snowshoeing, satisfy your need for speed on a snowmobile or enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime ride on the back of a horse-drawn sleigh.
The area in and around Méribel is also littered with marked walking routes if you want to soak up the stunning scenery without strapping on skis. Prefer to stay cosy indoors? Check out one of the resort's luxurious spas, one of our favourites is at Hotel L'Eterlou.
Ski Holidays in Méribel
Keen to get your classic alpine chalet experience? You couldn't have come to a better place! Méribel has an awesome range of attractive accommodation up for grabs, from high quality catered chalets through to budget-friendly apartment rentals.
Méribel accommodation is split up across all three areas of the resort, with not one high rise in sight. Instead, you'll discover traditional ski chalets and modern hotels, with the widest selection in and around Méribel Centre itself. If you're a group of 15+, Mottaret has a few large catered chalets, such as Natalia and Natalia II, which give you direct access to the slopes.
