The French ski resort of Morzine is located at an altitude of 1000 m, near the border with Switzerland. Despite the high attendance, it has managed to preserve its historical appearance and the atmosphere of a cozy alpine village – with picturesque streets, an old church and traditional wooden chalets. At the same time, the resort has at its disposal all modern amenities: the ski slopes start right at the doorstep of the hotels, and in the evening, numerous restaurants, shops, sports centers and spa salons await tourists. It should be noted that the resort has been awarded the Famille Plus family mark, which guarantees a wonderful vacation for guests of any age.
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Morzine is part of the large skiing region of Port du Soleil (“Gate of the Sun”). It includes about 650 km of tracks of varying degrees of difficulty (including descents from the legendary “Swiss Wall”), accessible with a single ski pass. True, it is impossible to move between the zones of Port du Soleil “without taking off your skis”: some areas have to be covered on foot or by ski bus.
Weather in Morzine
If you do not know when it is better to go to the ski resort of Morzine, then the tourist season here begins in December and ends in April. The weather in Morzine during this period is most favorable for cross-country skiing, snowmobiling and other winter equipment.
The climate of the local mountain area is quite mild and favorable for skiing on snowy slopes even in severe winter. If you look at the weather forecast in Morzine in winter, you will see that during the day and at night it does not drop to minus marks. Knowing the weather in Morzine for 5 days in the summer, you can understand that the snowy slopes during this period turn into green hills and meadows, no less beautiful than in the cold season.
Arriving at this ski resort in winter, it is necessary to check the weather in Morzine every 3 days to avoid sharp gusts of wind and snowfall, which can cause an avalanche.
Ski passes in Morzine
In order to fully enjoy all the mountain beauties of the snowy resort, it is necessary to visit as many of the highest points as possible. If you don’t intend to spend a lot of money on lift tickets, you can buy a ski pass in Morzine. Its presence will give you the right to unlimited skiing on all lifts. You can buy a ski pass for one day, for several or for the entire period of stay at the ski resort.
If you want to invest money as profitably as possible, you can purchase a ski pass for the area of all resorts located in Port du Soleil. The cost of such a ski pass for one day for an adult will be 43 EUR, for a child – 32 EUR, for teenagers and pensioners – 39 EUR.
In addition, it is possible to purchase a Morzine ski pass for individual sectors and skiing areas for five hours, for half a day and for 5 days of five hours. The price of the ski pass will be significantly reduced if you purchase it at the end of the ski season.
In addition, the ski resort offers discounts of 10% for early booking of a ski pass, as well as regular promotions when buying it for the whole family or a group of people. During the Christmas holidays, children under 12 have the right to ride on all lifts for free.
Tracks, slopes, lifts
The Morzine ski resort offers everyone 308 ski slopes, which are covered with snow from December to the end of April. Studying the ski slopes of Morzine in more detail, one cannot fail to notice the amazing view that opens from the peaks of the mountain area.
Direct ski slopes are located at an altitude of 1000 to 2460 m above sea level. This means that the height difference is 1460 m. As for the length of the slopes, the length of the largest ski track is 11 km. All ski runs in Morzine are 107 km long. As for the difficulty of the trails, there are mostly trails for beginners. Routes of medium difficulty take the second place, and the most dangerous and winding ones take the third place.
Arriving in this picturesque resort, you will see that the ski slopes in Morzine are quite diverse, many of them are suitable directly to the hotels.
The skiing area of Morzine consists of three sectors – Pleney, Nyon-Chamossierre and Super Morzine, which have a total of 69 ski slopes (9 black, 27 red, 23 blue and 5 green).
Easy trails for beginners are concentrated on the Pleney plateau (by the way, this is where most of the training grounds are located) and descend to Morzine. On the slope of Pleney runs a long red track, ending in a spacious slalom stadium, where ski shows and night skiing in the light of neon lamps are regularly held.
The Nyon area has both blue and more interesting red pistes: descents leading to the nearby village of Les Gêts, the Pointe de Nyon pistes with treacherous hilly sections, etc. From the Nyon plateau, you can reach the top of Chamossiere, from where the wide red Arbis track and the steep black Creux start, to the right of which is an excellent wilderness for fans of off-piste skiing.
The Super Morzine sector consists of gentle sections leading to Avoriaz , a resort that, together with Morzine, Les Gêtres and a number of other French and Swiss villages, forms a single skiing region, The Portes du Soleil.
Snowboarders, in addition to the tracks, can ride in one of three snow parks. And several ski schools are open for beginners: EFS, Easy2Ride and Handisport (the latter specializes in teaching people with physical disabilities).
Morzine lifts
If you are going to ski in Morzine, you definitely need to know the types and cost of local lifts.
To explore the entire territory of the Morzine ski resort more thoroughly, you cannot do without the help of lifts. When you get on the Morzine ski lift, you will have a wonderful view of the snow-covered mountain ranges and valleys. There are a total of 55 lifts in this area. Of them, 2 carriages, 3 gondolas, 22 armchairs and 28 bugle. All of them are located in such a way that you can reach the peaks of snow-capped mountains without going far from your hotel.
If you equate yourself to an experienced skier or snowboarder, actively skiing throughout the day, then it makes sense for you to purchase a ski pass. The one-time cost of the ski lift in Morzine will cost everyone who wants everything for a few euros, which once again speaks of the democracy and accessibility of the resort.
Ski schools of Morzine
In the height of the tourist season, six ski schools operate in Morzine, in which professional ski instructors will give lessons in alpine skiing, snowboarding, and also teach how to perform standard tricks.
In order to learn the basics of downhill skiing, you need to buy a ski school pass for not one, but several days. Group classes are considered more accessible.
Equipment rental in Morzine
Ski rental shops in Morzine can be found everywhere. It is very convenient because you no longer need to spend a lot of money on its purchase and carry important suitcases with you from home.
Tourists can rent mountain skis and snowboards of well-known brands, which are of high quality and absolutely safe to drive. In some Morzine hotels, you can rent snowboards without going outside. A qualified administrator will select the most comfortable and high-quality equipment especially for you, which will not restrict your movements and is easy to wear.
If you bought a season ticket to a ski school, some of them provide ski rental in Morzine for free. For children, the price of the ticket includes not only ski rental, but also all equipment.
Entertainment and active recreation
The resort of Morzine in France offers a bright palette of winter activities: snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling and dog sledding, paragliding or hot air ballooning, as well as very exotic options ¬- for example, ice diving on Lake Montrion or climbing on the frozen waterfall In the village there are two ice rinks, where you can not only skate, but also watch a hockey match or ballet on ice, spa salons (Socon au Pays des Flocons, Massages du Monde), fitness centers, etc.
Local cuisine and wines
Morzine in France has several dozen restaurants specializing in Savoy, French, Italian or international cuisine.
Several establishments are located in the mountains: the self-service restaurant Snack du Pléney, Les Mouilles with a huge terrace, the cozy mountain hut L’Atray des Neiges, etc. But most of the restaurants are concentrated in the center of the resort: La Flamme with home cooking and pizza, a restaurant for gourmet restaurant Le Chamade, gourmet restaurant Le Restaurant du Chalet Philibert, La Grange with a fireplace and an excellent selection of drinks, etc. In the evening, popular bars with live music, billiards, bowling and sports broadcasts (Coyote Bar, Cavern, Dixie Bar), beer pubs and nightclubs l’Opera and Le Paradis du Laury’s.
An overview of restaurants and cafes in Morzine, where the most delicious dishes are served.
The best restaurants in Morzine are located not only at the foot of the slopes, but also on the slopes. They are mostly dominated by alpine cuisine. If you’re a gourmet, you can’t go past Assorti Port du Soleil, where they serve cured and smoked meats, cheeses and sausages with a special vinegar. Prices in Morzine restaurants of this level will not exceed 15 EUR for a set lunch.
Those vacationers who prefer to visit Morzine’s restaurants regularly can take advantage of the Pass’Gourmet special bonus program. With its help, food in 33 restaurants of the resort will cost you much cheaper. In addition, by collecting six stamps after lunch or dinner, each card holder will be able to take part in a draw for a free ticket or ski pass.
To understand which Morzine restaurants are the best, you should read the reviews on the resort’s websites. Prices in restaurants in Morzine are surprisingly affordable. Even in the most elite restaurant, the average check will not exceed 12-14 EUR. Cafes in Morzine are no less suitable for recreation, the prices of which are affordable even for budget tourists. Having visited the best cafes of Morzine, you can satisfy any of your gastronomic passions.
Family vacation
The Morzine resort is an excellent place to relax with children, marked by the European “quality mark” Famille Plus. There is L’Outa Nursery, designed for children from 3 months to 3 years, Piou-Piou’s club at the ESF ski school (3-14 years), Nyon children’s snow park, attractions and the Merry-go- ground in the center of the resort. In addition, small guests of the resort are offered tobogganing and sledding, carpentry workshops and entertainment shows held during holidays and weekends.
Where to stay
The most common accommodation options in French Morzine are 2-3 * mini-hotels, traditional alpine chalets and residences.
Hôtel Beauregard, Montagne à Morzine 3-star hotel
Hotel Beauregard is located on a hillside surrounded by trees and mountains in the village of Morzine. A heated swimming pool, a sauna and a terrace are available. WiFi is available free of charge in all public areas of Hotel Beauregard.
The rooms have a TV and a private bathroom. The rooms can be reached by elevator. Some rooms offer views of the surroundings.
Beauregard Hotel’s dining room offers traditional local cuisine with panoramic mountain views. The hotel has a bar and an equipped lounge with a TV.
In winter, a ski bus stops next to the hotel to take you to the nearby Super Morzine cable car, which takes you to the Port du Soleil ski area.
A bicycle storage room, a bicycle dryer and a clothes drying room are at guests’ disposal.
Chalet Hotel Alpina 3-star hotel
The Logis Alpina Hotel is located in the resort of Morzine , 200 meters from the Super Morzine gondola lift, which connects the resorts of Avoriaz and Port du Soleil. The distance to the center of the resort is 350 meters.
The rooms are furnished in a chalet style and decorated in a traditional Savoy style. This hotel provides free Wi-Fi.
Guests can relax in the sauna and hot tub.
Enjoy a drink with friends by the Logis Alpina’s fireplace. The restaurant serves home-made specialties of winter Savoyard cuisine.
Le Petit Chalet 3 star hotel
Located in Morzine, 600 meters from TC du Pluny Ski Lift, Chalet Le Petit features a garden, free WiFi and a 24-hour front desk. The windows offer a view of the garden and the mountains. The distance to the TS de la Cruz ski lift is 700 m.
The chalet has 2 bedrooms, a flat-screen TV, an equipped kitchen with a dishwasher and a microwave, a washing machine, and 1 bathroom with a shower. Guests who wish to travel can use towels and bed linen for an additional fee.
Guests of the chalet can relax on the sun terrace.
Popular attractions near Le Petit Chalet include Morzine Ski School, Super Morzine and Nyon ski lifts. The distance to Meitet Airport is 85 km.
Chalet Chantelle 4 star hotel
Chalet Chantelle B&B is just 300 meters from Morzine town center and the ski lifts. Guests have a balcony with a view of the mountains. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the chalet and parking is available for guests traveling by car.
The chalet has a cozy corner, a TV and a hot tub. There is also a fully equipped kitchenette with an electric kettle and a toaster. The private bathroom comes with a bath or shower and free toiletries.
Skiing can be enjoyed in the surroundings, and the distance to the ski lift TC Du Plenay is only 700 meters. The hotel has a ski storage room.
Geneva Airport is 88 km from the chalet.
What to bring
In the vicinity of Morzine, there are several dairy farms and cheese factories producing authentic French cheeses of Reblochon, Tom and Abundance. Savoyard ceramics or wooden sculptures by local craftsmen will be a good souvenir.
How to get there
To get to the snow-covered ski resort by plane, you need to land at Geneva Airport, which is 75 km from the tourist facility. By visiting the official website of the Geneva airport, you will be able to see the map of the Quantran airport, the locations of the terminals and the departure times of the flights you need.
Having chosen the Geneva airport to arrive at the Morzine ski resort, the air flight will take place on a comfortable airliner. Every action in it is brought to automaticity so that the traveler does not feel discomfort and is able to arrive at the place he needs at a clearly established time.
You can get to the ski resort of Morzine in different ways. If you don’t know how to get to Morzine on your own, local hotels offer transfers from the airport by car, bus or helicopter, but you need to make a reservation.
In the immediate vicinity of the resort are: Coantran Airport (Geneva) – 75 km, Saint Exupery Airport (Lyon) – 200 km and Annecy Airport – 65 km.
If you are used to traveling by train, then you need to get to Cluses or Thonon-les-Bains station, and then use the services of a bus or taxi. In addition, you can rent a car, on which you need to leave Geneva airport on the Autoroute Blance highway (A41 / E25) and exit at the Bonneville or Cluses sign.