Winter in the Alps is a must see in France, not just for skiers but for anyone who loves mountainous snowy landscapes.
Some resorts provide cable cars for non-skiers, offering access to winter trails and scenic views – like in Thollon-les-Memises, and Bernex, in the post below.
Another perks in Bernex – affordable lift tickets (around €30 per day for adults), sledding, ice-skating ring, and other activities.
Bernex
Bernex is a mid-size, cozy, and family-friendly ski resort. Nestled in the Haute-Savoie region, it has picturesque views:
Pictured below: the highest point skiers can get, views over Mont-Blanc massif:
The ski area ranges from 1,000 to 1,912 meters in elevation, features 19 km of ski slopes suitable for various skill levels:
Pictured below: prices for 2024-25:
Below: kiddie park, there were many fun (even for adults :)) obstacles to pass:
Views at the horizon: Switzerland all over it and lake Geneva on the left:
Below: our kids at the “hot chocolate break”, at the base, near parking lot:
In general we ski with Erika and Andrew for around 3-5 hours, depending on the weather.
Usually we take some snacks, water/tea with us, and buy something at the mountain.
1. Where did we stay
In Bernex we were only one day, because it was very foggy to ski at the Thollon (where we rented an apartment). We decided to give it a try and it turned out good.
Pictured below: our tiny, clean apartment of 17 square meters, 76 euro per night (for 2 adults, 2 kids, and a dog)
So far, we’ve discovered 3 interesting and family-friendly resorts close to each other: Thollon-les-Mémises, Bernex, and La Chapelle-d’Abondance.
It’s great that you can stay in one place and reach the others within 16 – 40 minutes.
Below: Zhuzha, our ukrainian rescue dog, she usually traveling with us (for now as far as Italy). She enjoyed the snow very much.
2. Must see in France: winter Alps, fun beyond skiing
Sledding, ice skating, alpine coaster, winter hikes – kids and adults can enjoy snow-filled fun without the need for ski gear.
Below: A beginner-friendly, “green” zone for skiers, two lodges, and the highest point accessible to pedestrians via ski lift:
If you want just to walk, you can start from the base, several trails starting there, or go up on the ski lift to see the scenery on the picture above.
It was a surprise for us that French ski resorts offer animation with many different activities.
On the picture below: animation program for upcoming week:
Live concert on the trail:
3. Websites we use to check out the snow/weather
- Leman mountains explore (webcam)
- Bergfex (mountain weather)
Make sure to check out hours, prices, and conditions before you go
Thanks for visiting!
Read next:
20 min from Bernex, also kids-friendly ski resort, we visited it twice:
Also kids-friendly, budget-friendly place nearby in the Alps:
Another mountain massive in France and Switzerland:
1 hour and 20 min by car from Bernex: Geneva:
One of the several cities that interesting to visit with kids even in winter:
Also located on the lake Geneva:
And summer in Switzerland, so many places to discover, lots of them are free:
Lots of beautiful nature in the Northern Italy, very budget-friendly:
Mallorca, Spain, off-season (April):
Winter, mountains, and a lake: Annecy:
Winter in Strasbourg, our beloved new home:
Also in Strasbourg: home to the oldest white wine in the world:
And great in spring:
