Megève Information

Apres-ski

Not normally the place for raucous nightlife, Megève's central square and surrounding pedestrianised cobbled streets still lend themselves to fun-filled après-ski, and fortunately there are dozens of bars and cafés in which to indulge.

Le Bar Saint Paul (tel: +33 450 919 303) is one of several popular and more affordable bars in the village, where skiers gather after a day on the slopes. There are four nightclubs that continue into the early hours, the most famous of which being the chic Palo Alto (tel: +33 450 918 258; www.palo-alto.fr).

Away from the drinking and clubbing scene, there are several cinemas and a small casino (tel: +33 450 930 183; www.casino-megeve.com) for visitors to sample.

Eating out

Megève has a reputation for some of the finest dining of any ski resort, and indeed of any location in the Alps. As a consequence, a number of the village's 90 plus eateries regularly adorn the centrefolds of prestigious gourmet guides.

Emmanuel Renaut's restaurant Flocons de Sel (tel: +33 450 214 999; www.floconsdesel.com) is one of Europe's best – in fact, it is the only restaurant in an Alpine ski resort with 3-Michelin stars. Cooking lessons here are available to visitors throughout the season.

But the love of food in the village is reflected in all levels of dining, not just the gourmet establishments. The low-cost OK Burger (tel: +33 614 180 610), for example, is one of Megeve's most highly rated eateries, illustrating the resorts proclivity towards high quality produce, regardless of price bracket.

Other options include L'Alpage (tel: +33 450 213 039; www.feracheval-megeve.com), which serves regional dishes, and the traditional teashop Le Prieuré (tel: +33 450 210 179; www.leprieure-megeve.com), located in the church square. Also, don't miss the many purveyors of the local (and tasty) Tomme cheese.

Resort Information

Beyond the slopes

Megève has developed into a year-round, multi-activity resort of which skiing and boarding are only a part.

For those in need of a bit of pampering after a vigorous ski session, numerous spas and beauty salons are located in the village. The Spa Pure Altitude in the Mont Blanc hotel (tel: +33 450 212 002; www.hotelmontblanc.com) is a wellness mecca, specialising in innovative treatments and also housing an indoor pool and sauna.

For the more active, a sports centre offers curling, ice skating and swimming. While outdoors, sleigh rides, dog sledding and snowshoeing are all popular around the village. Activities that see visitors leave the ground altogether are also on offer, with paragliding, light plane flying lessons and hot air ballooning (tel: +33 450 555 060; www.alpes-montgolfiere.fr), all available for those with a head for heights.

Family fun

The village has received the official French government Family Plus Mountain award for its services to families, including activities, childcare and medical facilities. There are activities for the whole family, including a number of sledging areas in the resort.

Children aged three to five can be cared for at the École du Ski Français' (ESF) Caboche Club des Piou-Piou (tel: +33 450 589 765). This nursery is located next to the Caboche lift station, which has its own snow play garden and English-speaking instructors. There is a second club Piou-Piou in the Mont-D'arbois sector (tel: +33 450 216 586). The ESF (tel: +33 450 21 0 097; www.megeve-ski.com) also teaches children aged from three on its courses.

Retail therapy

Megève, with its 200 plus shops, is an excellent choice for visitors in search of a little retail therapy.

It's not just the volume of shops on offer that's impressive, it's the quality of the mostly locally-owned retailers that is most striking. These include La Boutique aux Chocolats (tel: +33 450 210 164) with its large selection of delicious, homemade chocolates; and unique gift stores such as Le Folklore (tel: +33 450 212 919), which has a collection of jewellery for dogs. There are also prominent designer outlets such as Hermès (tel: +33 450 210 290); but for something a little less expensive, head to the weekly market with its array of knick-knacks and local products.

Splashing out

There are few resorts better suited to getting airborne without skis or boards than Megève, with several flying-based attractions on offer.

Mont Blanc Hélicoptères (tel: +33 450 927 821; www.mbh.fr) offers perhaps the most scenic of all options with a wide variety of tours, including lunch-inclusive or full weekend trips, that provide stunning views overlooking the Mont Blanc mastiff.

Hotels

Megève has more than 40,000 guest beds in and around the village; a good reflection of its status as one of the leading ski resorts in France. Most of these are in chalets and apartments, but there are also about 20 hotels in Megève – most in the 3- or 4-star category. It's worth checking where in the village the accommodation is before booking to ensure it's convenient for the lifts and village centre.

Luxury

Moderate

Cheap