An alpine gem with superb skiing and epic après! From cozy chalets to luxe lodgings, it's perfect for any budget. Explore 600km of terrain and dance till dusk at Folie Douce!
Get to know Meribel
Meribel is a quaint alpine resort with some superb skiing and mega après on offer. The accommodation ranges from mad to modest, meaning there is something available for you and your budget. Well connected by bus, there is something special in every corner of the resort, while the skiing ranges from gentle to gnarly.
One lift to St Martin de Belleville and beyond, one lift to Courchevel, you really are in the heart of 600km of skiable terrain. Dreamy. Once back in Meribel, head to the Folie Douce to dance on the tables until the sun goes down, then hit the Ronnie for live music, before skiing into town for happy hour and local cuisine.
Why you might love it
Live music
Apres ski
Huge ski area
At a glance
Ski area
Three Valleys
Resort altitude
1550m
Piste range
600–3230m
Lifts
156
Green runs
48
Blue runs
135
Red runs
119
Black runs
33
More about Meribel
Why we love Meribel
Part of the expansive Three Valleys, the largest skiable area in the world, Meribel ticks all the boxes. It's not too far from the airport, it's well connected, the skiing is ace, and there are extracurricular activities for all to enjoy once you return from the slopes.
Whether it's a trip with mates, the missus or the fam, Meribel will not let you down. There are ample affordable options while the extravagance is there if that's your cup of tea. The skiing is second to none, with easy access to such a large area, you won't ski the same run twice.
Three major resorts lie on your doorstep, offering a challenge even if you're an accomplished skier. When it snows, the slopes are tip-top, but life in the town doesn't grind to a halt which is a big plus. Snow is great, but so is beer!
Skiing & Snowboarding
There’s 150-ish km of piste in just the Meribel valley and the wider area with 600km of slopes if perfect for intermediates looking to eat up some serious mileage.
Beginners have plenty to explore with around half of the slopes graded as easy so you won’t be stuck at the bottom of the mountain.
For advanced skiers the pisted slopes are all about mileage and exploration. You’ll find much more challenge off-piste, there’s heaps of it. From the Courchevel couloirs to wide open freeride terrain from Mont Vallon. Hire a guide to get the most out of it and find the quieter, less tracked spots.
Après ski in Meribel
Meribel is home to so much live music that the main bars are all anyone talks about here. Ronnys is the beating heart of the après scene. Up on the slopes above the town you have live music and flowing beers straight after your ski day. They’ll throw you out at 7pm so you can ski back to your chalet in time for tea.
The Folie Douce is another great option with their eclectic circus come performance scene and there’s plenty more in town. Everything dies down around dinner time before picking back up later in the evening.
Looking for a more authentic Meribel?
There’s plenty to explore beside the big name bars, restaurants and slopes. The ski area is so big some of the smaller villages just off the beaten track are fantastic to explore with a guide.
Bar A Vin is in the centre of town but remains a very French place to drink with more than 90 wines on offer and reasonable rates.
Over towards St Martin La Ferme de la Choumette is an authentic farm and restaurant with cheese made on site and livestock overwintering in the barn below.
Meribel lift passes
Meribel is part of the massive Three Valleys ski area with 600km of linked pistes. Children under 5 ski for free in the whole area - you do still need to get them a lift pass. If you are staying in Meribel you can opt for the Meribel pass which is just for the Meribel Valley (no skiing over to Courchevel or Val Thorens). It is slightly cheaper than the full 3 Valleys pass but not massively. If you're confident on reds then we'd always recommend the full pass. There are discounts for children and veterans and you can get family passes and even mini passes for just the dedicated learning zones. Yodl will automatically calculate the best value lift pass make-up for your group at checkout, so you don't need to spend ages figuring it out yourself.
Hidden gems
Best Winter Warmer
Hot chocolate at Grand Marnier in Meribel centre. A super chocolaty affair laced heavily with Grand Marnier topped with lashings of cream. Naughty.
Best Piste
Linking Meribel to Courchevel the red Creuz run is the perfect run first thing in the morning. Wide, cruisy and perfectly groomed.
Apres Ski
The Rond Point, known as the Ronny is the best place for some tunes on the piste. Constant live music and head to the top floor bar to avoid the queues.
