Guide to Morzine, French Alps

Morzine is a charming chalet-style mountain town, spread out wide from a wooded river gorge in France’s Haute Savoie region. This long-established ski resort forms part of the enormous Portes du Soleil ski area, which covers 650kms of pistes in France and Switzerland. Morzine is lift-linked to the purpose-built ski resort of Avoriaz (with its guaranteed snow record) and to the Les Gets ski area. Numerous routes run down from Le Pleney and there are wide nursery slopes at the village. Intermediate skiers are spoilt for choice in Morzine, but there are also some challenging routes from Pointe de Nyon, Chamossiere and Mont Chery. For children, there is good day care with ski lessons. Morzine is also a very attractive shopping and market town.

Mountain Information Morzine

	Resort Altitude	1000 m
	Vertical Drop	1400 m
	Top Lift	2400m
	Lifts	55
	Total Runs	42
	Longest Run	6 km
	Advanced Runs	10
	Intermediate Runs	19
	Beginner	13
	Cross Country	47 km

Getting to Morzine

The nearest airports to Morzine ski resort are Geneva (47 miles), Chambery (80 miles), or Lyon(120 miles). Travelling from Geneva Central rail station, Thonon-les-Bains and Cluses are the closest train stations to Morzine and buses and taxis run from here to the ski resort. A daily shuttle bus also runs direct from Geneva airport. By car, take the Geneva - Mont Blanc autoroute to exit 18 Morzine/Avoriaz. Free parking is in the Morzine lot at the bottom of the cable car, but roads are congested and the one way system complicated. Free buses run around the resort.

Accommodation in Morzine

Morzine has around 17000 beds but accommodation is widely scattered, so check the position before booking. Most hotels are simple chalet-style with plenty of 1 or 2 star and a handful of 3 stars, prices vary a lot. The 3 star Les Airelles is comfortable and central, Hotel Fleur de Neiges is a nice 2 star chalet hotel with good food, or look at Le Dahu, Le Tremplin, or La Neige et Roc. There is also a wide choice of chalets and an excellent youth hostel close to the lifts (not bookable online). Free buses connect the centre of Morzine with all the lift systems. Some recommended apartments are Telemark and Udrezants. Further down at Les Gets most accommodation is in chalets, with some dated apartments also to let.

Bars, restaurants and après ski

As for nightlife, there is plenty to do here with lots of friendly small bars, a few discos and nightclubs and 2 cinemas. Good reports come from the India Bar, the Boudha, the Cavern. The Dixie piano bar has TV sport, Opéra Rock disco attracts locals and young people. Late hangouts are l'Opera and Le Paradis du Laury. There is a reasonably good choice of restaurants in Morzine. L’Etale is the one for traditional raclette and fondue, Les Cretes de Zorre offers hearty and inexpensive local food, Le Tremplin is also popular. More upmarket are La Chamade, or La Grange with its beautiful view of Lake Montriond.

Activities

The excellent ice rink hosts skating galas, curling, and ice hockey. Other non skiing activities are horse-drawn carriage tours, dog sleigh rides, pretty walks, helicopter tours, snow mountain biking, paragliding, swimming pool, cinema, bowling alley, fitness centre, attractive shopping area. Car drivers can visit Geneva, Montreux or Annecy. For snowboarders, there is a new boarder cross course at d’Atray near Morzine, but most snowboarders should head to the large snowfields above Avoriaz, where there are 2 snowparks and halfpipes to keep riders very busy.