Megève is no purpose-built resort. It is, above all, says its tourist office, “a real mountain village that lives all year round”: a main village ringed by seventeen hamlets, chosen in 1916 by Baroness Noémie de Rothschild as the place to build a French resort that could rival St Moritz. A century on, Megève divides into distinct areas, each with its own character and its own way onto the ski area. The free Meg’Bus shuttle buses link them all. Here is how to choose yours.
Megève in practice
- Five areas, according to the tourist office: the village centre, Mont d’Arbois, Rochebrune, Le Jaillet and Cote 2000.
- Altitude: 1113m on average across the municipality, according to the town hall.
- Ski area: Rochebrune, Cote 2000 and Mont d’Arbois, linked to Saint-Gervais; Le Jaillet opens onto Les Portes du Mont-Blanc. The Évasion Mont-Blanc lift pass covers the lot.
- 2026-2027 season: full opening on 19 December 2026, closing on 4 April 2027, snow permitting; Le Jaillet closes on 21 March.
- Getting there: Sallanches-Combloux-Megève station, 12km away, then the Y83 bus.
A village shaped by the Rothschilds
Megève’s story, the tourist office points out, “has been written since the Middle Ages”. The resort itself took shape in the years after Noémie de Rothschild made her choice. The Hôtel du Mont d’Arbois opened in 1921, marking, in the town hall’s words, the “starting point of Megève’s society era”; a first golf course followed in 1923, then the Rochebrune cable car in 1933 and the Mont d’Arbois cable car in 1934.
Today the tourist office describes five areas, and the right one depends on what you want from your week: wandering on foot, skiing from the door, or quiet evenings. The quotations that follow are from the Megève tourist office.
The village centre: the historic heart
“The historic, beating heart of Megève, the pedestrian centre charms with its cobbled lanes, its church square, its secret passages and its lively atmosphere all year round.” The office sees it as “a distillation of alpine elegance on a human scale”. The Saint-Jean-Baptiste church and the chemin du Calvaire, built between 1840 and 1878, have been on the supplementary inventory of Historic Monuments since 1988, and horse-drawn carriages make their way through the centre at walking pace.
The skiing starts a few steps away: the Chamois gondola leaves from the centre for the Rochebrune sector. And when the snow comes down too hard, the Palais, “in the heart of the village”, brings together swimming pools, an Olympic ice rink, curling, climbing and a spa.
Who is it for? Those who want to do everything on foot, from shopping to dinner, and to live Megève as a village rather than a resort.
Mont d’Arbois: understated luxury
“Between tradition and prestige, Mont d’Arbois embodies understated luxury,” writes the office, adding that “the Rothschild legacy hangs over” an area “prized for its character, its tranquillity and its closeness to the golf course and the grand hotels”. The golf course, as it happens, was created in the 1920s at the baroness’s initiative.
The Mont d’Arbois gondola climbs to the ski area, and the Bettex gondola links Mont d’Arbois to Saint-Gervais. There is a 300-space covered car park at the bottom, and Meg’Bus line 2 serves the area.
Who is it for? Those after peace and prestige, with the golf course, the grand hotels and the pistes towards Saint-Gervais close at hand.
Rochebrune: nature a few minutes from the centre
“For nature, Rochebrune is ideal for lovers of unspoilt landscapes,” says the office, which counts its ski area “among the most varied and accessible in the resort” and adds: “A few minutes from the centre, you find the atmosphere of a village within the village.” Its cable car, opened in 1933, was according to the town hall the first in France built to carry skiers.
Today you reach the sector by the Rochebrune and Rocharbois cable cars and the Chamois and Caboche gondolas; the Alpette, at 1871m, tops its summits. A 400-space covered car park and Meg’Bus line 1 complete the picture.
Who is it for? Nature lovers and groups of mixed ability, on a varied ski area close to the centre.
AEC tip. In Megève, look at the gondola nearest the chalet rather than the name of the area: a chalet a few steps from the Chamois or the Jaillet spares you the car every morning, even if it is some way from the centre.
Le Jaillet: quiet and family-friendly
“South-facing”, Le Jaillet is, according to the office, “more residential” and “appeals to lovers of peace and quiet, and to families”. Its ski area “can be reached without a car” on the Jaillet gondola, and it offers a “direct link to Combloux and La Giettaz”: this is Megève’s gateway to Les Portes du Mont-Blanc, whose season this winter runs from 19 December 2026 to 21 March 2027. Meg’Bus lines 1 and 2 serve the area.
Who is it for? Families and those who prefer a sunny, residential area, with a ski area on a human scale.
Cote 2000, the Princesse and the hamlets
“Cote 2000 is the mountain within reach,” the office sums up: a “wild, unspoilt setting”, “famous for its alpine ski races”, served by the Cote 2000 and Radaz chairlifts, with a free car park. It was on this land, lent by Edmond de Rothschild, that the Megève altiport opened in December 1964, at 1470m, with its 548m runway.
The Princesse gondola, for its part, sits in the neighbouring municipality of Demi-Quartier, between Combloux and Megève; the municipality describes it as “one of the main ways into the Megève/Saint-Gervais ski area”, and there is a free 900-space car park at the bottom. Finally, around the village, more secluded hamlets such as Le Planay, facing the Mont Joly range, or Cassioz, served in winter by Meg’Bus line 3, lend themselves to quiet stays.
Megève’s areas at a glance
| Area | What the tourist office says | Lifts from the area | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Village centre | “a distillation of alpine elegance on a human scale” | Chamois gondola | Everything on foot |
| Mont d’Arbois | “embodies understated luxury” | Mont d’Arbois and Bettex gondolas | Prestige, golf |
| Rochebrune | “a village within the village” | Rochebrune and Rocharbois cable cars, Caboche gondola | Nature, varied skiing |
| Le Jaillet | “appeals to lovers of peace and quiet, and to families” | Jaillet gondola | Families, peace and quiet |
| Cote 2000 | “the mountain within reach” | Cote 2000 and Radaz chairlifts | Wild skiing, racing |
Where to stay
All our chalets and apartments in the village are gathered in our Megève rentals, and our selection of chalets for 10 people in Megève is aimed at large groups. To plan your week, see also our guide to the Megève ski area and what to do in Megève in winter; and if you are still weighing it up against another resort, our Megève or Courchevel comparison sets out the differences. For the road, the train or the altiport, see our guide on how to get to Megève.
The simplest thing is to write to us: tell us your dates and the number of guests, and our agents will send you a selection, area by area.
And in the evening, whichever area you choose, there will be the hoofbeats of a carriage on the snow of the church square.
Frequently asked questions
Which area of Megève should I stay in?
The village centre to do everything on foot; Mont d’Arbois for peace, golf and prestige; Rochebrune for nature and a varied ski area close to the centre; Le Jaillet for a residential area popular with families; Cote 2000 for a wilder sector.
Is Mont d’Arbois part of Megève?
Yes, it is one of the five areas described by the tourist office. The Hôtel du Mont d’Arbois opened there in 1921 and a first golf course in 1923, at the Rothschild family’s initiative; its gondola climbs to the ski area and the Bettex gondola runs to Saint-Gervais.
Can you get around Megève without a car?
Yes. The Meg’Bus shuttle buses are free, with three lines in winter to the hamlets and the lift stations, the centre is pedestrianised and the Chamois gondola leaves from the centre.
When does the Megève ski area open this winter?
Partial opening on 5 and 6 December, then from 12 December; full opening on 19 December 2026 and closing on 4 April 2027, snow permitting. The Jaillet sector, on Les Portes du Mont-Blanc, closes on 21 March 2027.
Which lift pass should I buy in Megève?
The Évasion Mont-Blanc lift pass covers Megève, Saint-Gervais, Saint-Nicolas-de-Véroce, Combloux, La Giettaz and Les Contamines-Hauteluce. It is free for children under 5 with proof of age, except for the hands-free card.
How do you get to Megève by train?
The nearest station is Sallanches-Combloux-Megève, 12km away; the Y83 bus links it to Megève.
Where is the Princesse gondola in Megève?
In the neighbouring municipality of Demi-Quartier, between Combloux and Megève. The municipality describes it as one of the main ways into the Megève and Saint-Gervais ski area, and there is a free 900-space car park at the bottom.
