In Megève, you don’t ski on a single mountain but on several massifs surrounding the village: Mont d’Arbois, Rochebrune and the Côte 2000 on one side, the Jaillet on the other. Each has its own atmosphere, its own departure lifts and its own crowd. Knowing them well helps you choose where to stay, plan your days and avoid spending the morning on a shuttle bus.
This guide covers each sector, how to reach it from the village and what it offers families and strong skiers alike. For the Saint-Gervais side of the ski area, we have written a dedicated article on skiing in Saint-Gervais and the Évasion Mont-Blanc ski area.
Two ski areas from Megève
Megève is part of the Évasion Mont-Blanc ski area, which brings together 445 km of pistes and 110 lifts between 850 and 2,353 metres in altitude, across seven resorts, including Megève, Saint-Gervais, Saint-Nicolas-de-Véroce and Combloux.
From the village, you have access in practice to two areas:
- The Megève ski area itself, with the Mont d’Arbois, Rochebrune and Côte 2000 massifs, linked to one another and open towards Saint-Gervais;
- Les Portes du Mont-Blanc, which link the Jaillet to Combloux and La Giettaz: 66 pistes (11 green, 29 blue, 16 red and 10 black), 10 lifts and a snowpark.
The Jaillet is not linked on skis to the Rochebrune and Mont d’Arbois massifs. You travel between them on the free shuttle buses, in under ten minutes between the Rochebrune cable car and the Jaillet gondola.
The sectors, one by one
Mont d’Arbois: big skiing, towards Saint-Gervais
This is the massif that opens onto the rest of the Évasion Mont-Blanc. From its summit, the Bettex–Mont d’Arbois gondola and the pistes take you to Saint-Gervais, then on to Saint-Nicolas-de-Véroce and Mont Joly, the highest point of the ski area at 2,353 metres.
The district is also home to the grand hotels, the golf course and the Rothschild heritage, in a quieter atmosphere.
Who it suits: skiers who want to clock up the kilometres, families thanks to the Marmottons beginners’ area, and those who enjoy lunch at altitude.
Access: the Mont d’Arbois gondola, which reaches the summit in around ten minutes, or the Princesse gondola, on the Demi-Quartier side. Line 2 of the free shuttle buses serves the Mont d’Arbois departure from the centre.
Rochebrune: the birthplace of skiing in Megève
Rochebrune is the historic sector. Its cable car, which opened on 10 December 1933, was the first in France designed for skiers. It leaves around 400 metres from the centre, at about 1,150 metres, and climbs to about 1,750 metres. There is a covered car park at the foot of the station, along with the ski area’s main ticket office.
You can also reach the summit from the heart of the village on the Chamois and Caboche gondolas. The pistes, often wooded, are varied and accessible, with fine views of Mont Blanc and the Aravis.
Who it suits: families, intermediate skiers, and anyone staying in the centre or in the Rochebrune district.
The link with Mont d’Arbois: the Rocharbois cable car connects the two massifs, so you can switch from one side to the other without going back down to the village. It is also open to pedestrians.
Côte 2000: Rochebrune’s sporty extension
Linked on skis to Rochebrune, the Côte 2000 is known for its alpine ski competitions and its wilder atmosphere. Skiing here is often quieter, in an unspoilt setting.
Who it suits: strong skiers and families looking for a less busy sector.
Access: on skis from Rochebrune, or on line 2 of the free shuttle buses (Mont d’Arbois – Côte 2000).
The Jaillet: the family side, facing Mont Blanc
South-facing, the Jaillet offers open views of the Mont Blanc massif, the Fiz and the Aravis. The district is more residential, and the ski area runs straight on to Combloux and La Giettaz.
Who it suits: families, skiers who prefer pistes on a human scale, and guests staying on the Combloux side.
Access: the Jaillet gondola, around ten minutes’ walk from the bus station, with free parking limited to seven hours. Lines 1 and 2 of the free shuttle buses stop there.
Routes not to miss
Rather than any one piste, it is a handful of routes that have made Megève’s reputation:
- The Rochebrune – Mont d’Arbois crossing via Rocharbois, to ski both major massifs in a single day;
- The forest pistes of Mont d’Arbois and the Princesse, renowned for a gentle introduction to skiing and very pleasant in overcast weather, when visibility drops higher up;
- The grand loop towards Saint-Gervais, from Mont d’Arbois to Le Bettex and, for the keenest, up to Mont Joly;
- The Jaillet and Combloux, for a day facing Mont Blanc on a quieter ski area.
Family skiing and beginners
Megève is a particularly child-friendly resort.
- Les Marmottons, on Mont d’Arbois, at 1,840 metres: a beginners’ area reached by gondola, with gentle progressive slopes and a covered magic carpet, facing Mont Blanc.
- Piou-Piou clubs, notably at the Caboche and on Mont d’Arbois, for first steps on the snow with the ski schools.
- Free sledging areas at the Caboche, La Livraz and Pré Saint-Amour, and the Ours des Prés play area, on the Jaillet.
At the top of the Jaillet gondola, a panoramic playground also awaits younger children. For activities beyond skiing, see our guide to things to do in Megève.
Lunch on the Megève slopes
Megève claims one of the widest choices of on-piste restaurants in the Alps. Without going into detail, a few names come up again and again: L’Idéal 1850, Le Hibou d’Arbois and Chalet Sauvage on Mont d’Arbois, Pré Rosset on the Rochebrune side, Le Radaz at the Côte 2000.
In high season, booking is advisable. Our full selection is in the guide where to eat in Megève.
Megève lift passes
Several passes are available, depending on the sector you have in mind:
- Évasion Mont-Blanc, for the whole ski area and all seven resorts, the best choice as soon as you want to reach Saint-Gervais;
- a pass limited to the Megève ski area (Rochebrune, Côte 2000, Mont d’Arbois);
- the Portes du Mont-Blanc pass, for the Jaillet, Combloux and La Giettaz;
- Mont Blanc Unlimited, which combines several ski areas and sites across the Mont Blanc region.
Prices change every season and buying online in advance is generally better value (Megève Ski Deal, family offers, pre-sales). We recommend checking forfait.megeve.com and lesportesdumontblanc.fr directly.
For the 2026-2027 season, the general opening is scheduled for 19 December 2026, with partial openings possible from early December depending on snow cover.
Our practical tips
Choose your accommodation according to your sector. Staying in the centre or at Rochebrune: the cable car, Chamois and Caboche. On the Mont d’Arbois side: the Mont d’Arbois or Princesse gondola. Along the Combloux road: the Jaillet.
Use the shuttle buses. The Meg-Bus services are free in winter and link the bus station to the main lift departures. They save you hunting for a parking space during the school holidays.
Set off early. Being at the lifts when they open lets you enjoy freshly groomed pistes and avoid queues at the busiest departures, especially during the school holidays.
Keep an eye on the weather. The village sits at around 1,100 metres: in mild weather, favour the highest pistes, and in poor visibility, the forest runs.
Book equipment and lessons ahead. During the school holidays, ski school slots go quickly. We can arrange equipment hire and delivery to your accommodation, as well as lessons with an instructor.
FAQ – Skiing in Megève
Which Megève sector is best for beginners?
Mont d’Arbois, with the Marmottons area at 1,840 metres, and the quieter Jaillet are the two sectors best suited to beginners. Rochebrune also has easy pistes close to the village.
Can you ski from Megève to Saint-Gervais?
Yes. From Mont d’Arbois, the Bettex–Mont d’Arbois gondola and the pistes link Megève to Saint-Gervais. You need an Évasion Mont-Blanc pass to do so.
Is the Jaillet linked to Mont d’Arbois and Rochebrune?
Not on skis. The Jaillet is linked to Combloux and La Giettaz. The free shuttle buses connect it to Rochebrune in under ten minutes.
Do you need a car to ski in Megève?
Not necessarily. The free shuttle buses serve Mont d’Arbois, Rochebrune, the Côte 2000 and the Jaillet, and the Chamois and Caboche gondolas leave from the village centre.
Staying in Megève
For a ski holiday, the location of your accommodation matters as much as its comfort: a chalet near Mont d’Arbois and an apartment a few steps from the Rochebrune cable car make for quite different weeks. Our chalets and apartments are selected for their access to the slopes and the quality of the calm you come back to after skiing.
Discover our properties in Megève or find everything you need to know about the destination on our Megève page.
Sources
- Megève Domaine Skiable – Évasion Mont-Blanc ski area: forfait.megeve.com/hiver/domaine-skiable-evasion-mont-blanc/
- Megève Domaine Skiable – Rochebrune cable car: forfait.megeve.com/hiver/telepherique-megeve/
- Megève Domaine Skiable – Lift passes: forfait.megeve.com/hiver/nos-forfaits/
- Megève Tourisme – Ski areas, districts and family skiing: megeve-tourisme.fr
- Les Portes du Mont-Blanc – Ski area shuttle buses: lesportesdumontblanc.fr
- Combloux Tourist Office – Jaillet gondola: combloux.com
- Saint-Gervais Mont-Blanc – Ski areas: saintgervais.com
- Compagnie du Mont-Blanc – Megève ski area: montblancnaturalresort.com
