Welcome to Meribel
Nestled in the beautiful Alpine valley of Les Allues, Meribel is a renowned ski resort where you can experience that quintessential ski holiday. Stay in a traditional wooden chalet, admire stunning mountain scenery, ski one of the biggest domains in the world, and let your hair down at one of the famous apres-ski bars.
The Meribel Valley is one of the most popular destinations for British skiers (the resort was, in fact, founded by a British Colonel, Peter Lindsay, in 1938). Consisting of picture-postcard chalets and chalet-style apartment buildings and hotels, Méribel has retained all the charm of a traditional mountain village with its wood and stone buildings and forest setting. Fast, modern ski lifts offer easy access to the Méribel valley ski area (150km of pistes from 1450m up to 1700m) and the 3 Valleys (Meribel is linked by ski lift to Courchevel and Val Thorens, giving you access to 600km of pistes). Méribel Centre is the largest of several villages in the resort and is home to the main shopping area and the greatest selection of après-ski bars and restaurants. The bi-weekly street market adds charm and sense of tradition to the town centre.
Skiing in Meribel
Meribel has in the region of 45 ski lifts giving access to ski terrain ranging from 1100m to 2952m in altitude and 150km of pistes. The pistes are made up of 8 green, 25 blue, 24 red and 7 black runs (see the piste maps). Meribel is especially good for beginners, with designated beginner areas and eight free lifts allowing you to learn and progress in a comfortable environment. The more advanced are also well catered for, you can rack up plenty of ski miles each day by exploring the Three Valleys area. There's also plenty of easily accessible off-piste for the adventurous and the valley contains two of the best snowparks in Europe. Méribel’s lift system is modern and continually being improved, with 15 gondola lifts and 19 chairlifts. Meribel lies in the middle of the Three Valleys, so you can access the neighbouring resorts of Courchevel, La Tania, Val Thorens and Les Menuires very quickly, making Méribel the ideal base from which to explore the vast Trois Vallées.
Also see: Ski Areas in Meribel, France
Events in Meribel
Meribel hosts a number of events throughout the summer and winter months, some of which span the entire three valleys. The Tourist Office also organises children's events and activities during the school holidays.
Also see: Main Events in Meribel, France
Things to Do in Meribel
Activities include skiing, snow park and fun areas, cross-country skiing, walking paths, ski touring, snowshoeing, paragliding and spas. The Olympic Centre has a pool, ice-rink, gym, spa, massages, bowling alley and a climbing wall.
Not only is the resort a haven for snow lovers in the winter, bringing thousands of families and visitors from across the world to enjoy its varied ski terrain, but it is also home to incredible opportunities for summer holidays too, with a broad network of hiking trails, road cycling, mountain biking and a fantastic golf course.
Also see: Sports & Activities in Meribel, France
Restaurants in Meribel
There are a wide variety of restaurants in Meribel centre to suit every taste, from gourmet fine dining to snack bars and everything in between.
Also see: Where to Eat in Meribel, France
Nightlife in Meribel
Meribel is famous for it's apres-ski and party nightlife. It all starts with mid-afternoon après ski at the mountainside Rond Point or the Folie Douce, and carries on for as long as you can manage! For the night owls head to O'Sullivans in the Mussillon district, or try some of our favourites - Evolution and Jacks' bar where you'll find a mixture of live music and comedy nights in the winter, or more laid back dining and drinking in the summer.
Also see: Nightlife in Meribel, France
Where to Stay in Meribel
There are a number of different quartiers that make up the main village of Méribel, offering alternatives to the lively centre of town. The original hamlet of Mussillon is about a 10 minute walk downhill from the centre or a five minute bus ride from the slopes. It may not have ski in / ski out accommodation but it is home to several late night spots (and therefore popular with Brits!). Belvedere (more upmarket), Altiport (tranquil woodland area), the Rond-Point, Le Plateau, Altitude 1600, and Morel, all lie further up the hill from Méribel Centre and are a short bus ride away. There is a small range of shops and restaurants in these areas, and you also have a greater chance of securing ski in / ski out accommodation. Further up the valley, about 4 km from Méribel, lies Mottaret (1700 to 1800m), a purpose built, ski-in ski-out resort where you can find a wide range of apartment rentals. Meribel-Village lies at 1400m and is approximately 2 km from Méribel on the road to La Tania and Courchevel. Les Allues is a charming village at 1100m that has a more traditional feel to it and is connected to the main ski area by gondola. Further down again is the pretty village of Brides les Bains at 600m which is also connected to Meribel by the Olympe gondola.
Also see: Where to Stay in Meribel, France
Travelling to Meribel
The most convenient airport for the Three Valleys is Chambery, situated 109 kms (1 1/4hrs) away. From here, you can book a transfer to get you up to resort, or hire a car. If you can’t get a flight to Chambéry, the next best options are Grenoble (2 hours), Lyon (2 hours) or Geneva (3 hours) - all of these airports are serviced by a number of the major airlines. Of course, Meribel also has its own Altiport for those arriving by private plane or helicopter...
Also see: How to Get to Meribel, France
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Welcome to Meribel