Towns & Villages in Meribel — 6 of Our Favourites

Méribel Mottaret sits at 1,700m to 1,800m and has a traditional alpine feel with chalet-style buildings, most of which are home to large apartment residences and hotels. Purpose-built in the 1970s, the resort is mostly car free and much of the accommodation is ski in ski out, making it a convenient base for getting straight onto the slopes. While the après-ski scene is a little quieter than in Méribel, you’ll still find a good choice of bars, restaurants and shops along with a tourist office, cinema, supermarkets, bakeries and sports shops.

The resort is split into two main areas. Le Laitelet is the larger, stretching from the village centre at 1,700m up to Le Hameau at 1,800m, linked by the free Chalets gondola running daily until early evening. On the sunny eastern side, Le Chatelet’s upper and lower parts are connected by an external lift. 

Ski school meeting points sit at the base of the village between the two areas, with the French ski school’s Piou-Piou kindergarten welcoming children from three to five years old. Well connected and perfectly placed for quick access to the high-altitude skiing at the head of the valley and in Val Thorens, Mottaret works well for all types of skier.

Méribel Village is a charming little hamlet at 1,400 metres, made up of traditional chalets and converted barns. It’s perfect if you’re after a peaceful village atmosphere away from the busier resort centre but still want quick access to the slopes. Thanks to a high-speed chairlift added in the 1990s, you can easily reach the Altiport ski area above Méribel, with a gentle blue run bringing you straight back to the village.

Though just a short five minute drive or bus ride from Méribel itself, Méribel Village has its own cosy centre with shops, sports stores, a supermarket, bakery, bars and restaurants, some with sunny terraces to relax on after a day on the slopes. It’s a popular spot for families or anyone who prefers a quieter base with good facilities and easy ski access. Plus, the chairlift can be used by non-skiers too, so there’s something for everyone here.

Les Allues is a traditional Savoyard village sitting at 1,100 metres, just a short gondola ride from Méribel. With its old communal bread oven, charming narrow streets and a lively year-round community, it offers a genuine taste of Alpine village life. The village has a good mix of new and old chalets, apartments and hotel options, along with a couple of bars, restaurants, a supermarket and essential services like a library and cash point.

You can ski back to Les Allues via a gentle blue run, though this usually closes before the end of the season due to the village’s lower altitude. The Olympe gondola and the free Meribus shuttle connect the village to the ski area and surrounding resorts, making it easy to get around. Les Allues is ideal if you want a peaceful, authentic mountain stay while still being close to the slopes and amenities. If you’re heading to nearby hamlets, be aware some will require a vehicle for getting about, but they all offer a lovely traditional atmosphere.

The village lies on the side of the mountain and therefore receives plenty of sunshine. It stretches from 1,450m at the centre to 1,700m at the Altiport area. The village is relatively spread out and is composed of numerous areas, each with its own character. Some areas offer direct access to the slopes and all are well served by frequent, free buses.

Méribel centre/La Chaudanne Méribel is the largest and best known village in the valley, sitting between 1,450m and 1,700m and offering the widest choice of bars, restaurants and shops. Famous for its picture postcard chalets and traditional wood and stone buildings, it has kept the charm of an authentic mountain village while offering all the facilities you could want. The resort is well placed for sunshine and has fast, modern lifts that give you easy access to both the Méribel Valley’s 150km of pistes and the 600km across the Three Valleys.

The village is spread across several distinct areas, each with its own character, with some offering ski-in ski-out access and all linked by regular free buses. At its lively heart is Méribel Centre and La Chaudanne, home to the main ski lifts, ski school meeting points and nurseries for young children. You’ll also find the Olympic Centre here with an ice rink, swimming pool, spa, gym, climbing wall, bowling alley and even a nightclub. Accommodation ranges from private apartments to hotels and serviced apartment buildings, and if you want to make the most of the après-ski scene, this is where you’ll want to stay. Méribel offers all services including bars, restaurants, nightclubs, supermarkets, banks, bakeries, tourist office, post office, clothing and sports shops, estate agents, newsagents and interior design shops.

Mussillon is one of the valley’s original hamlets. Situated at the entrance to the resort, this area is made up of individual chalets, both old and new. This is an attractive area and intimate in feel. The town centre can be reached on foot in five to ten minutes, or you can use the free bus service to reach the slopes.

Le Plan du Moulin is just a short walk up from the town centre. Accommodation is mostly in apartment buildings.

La Renarde and Les Chalets are chic and tranquil areas offering beautiful private chalets, a few small apartment buildings and hotels. From here, you can easily walk to the main piste that runs through the resort.

Morel and Altitude 1600 lie on the road which leads from Méribel centre up to the Altiport. Accommodation is mostly 1960's style rental apartments with a few chalets. This area offers several shops: a supermarket, sports shops, bars, restaurants and a medical centre. The Morel chairlift links directly to the beginner Altiport pistes or you can take the free buses to the pistes.

Le Plateau and Le Rond Point is a lively area with its own shops, bars and restaurants. It is a good area for young families as it has an ESF Les Piou-Piou ski kindergarten. The slopes can be reached on foot or even on skis from the hotels and many apartment buildings. The hotel restaurants have beautiful sun terraces, ideal for a lazy lunch break.

Le Belvédère is at the top of the resort. This chic area was constructed for the 1992 Olympic Games and offers luxury chalets and hotels, many right on the main piste.

The Altiport is a separate area, located above the resort at 1,700m. Set in a protected forest, it enjoys an exceptional and peaceful natural environment. This area offers direct access to the pistes, the cross-country ski area, walking trails and, in summer, the 18-hole golf. Tourist flights can be taken from the little airfield in summer or winter. Apartment accommodation is ski-in, ski-out, and so is ideal for beginners and families. There is also one hotel with a restaurant and sports shop. The free bus service links with Méribel.

Brides-les-Bains is linked to Méribel by the Olympe gondola lift, which takes around 25 minutes to reach the resort centre. Accommodation here tends to be much more affordable compared to Méribel’s higher villages, making Brides a popular spot for those looking for budget-friendly options.

Although you can’t ski back down to Brides except off-piste in exceptional snow conditions, the town offers plenty of conveniences including supermarkets, bars, restaurants, sports and clothing shops, a cinema, banks and a large spa centre with massages and wellness treatments. 

In March, the town welcomes ‘curistes’ – spa visitors who come for health treatments – creating an eclectic mix of people from keen skiers to those seeking rest and recovery. If you want to enjoy Méribel’s lively après-ski, just be aware the gondola stops running at the end of the day, so you’ll need to grab a taxi back down the valley.

La Tania is a small, traffic-free family resort sitting at 1,400 metres, nestled between Courchevel and Méribel. Built in the 1990s as the athlete and journalist village for the Albertville Winter Olympics, it’s grown into a charming spot with wood-clad apartments and traditional chalets surrounded by spruce forests. 

Its north-facing slopes offer gentle blue and green runs and quick gondola access into the vast Trois Vallées ski area. With a friendly village feel, bars, restaurants, shops, ski schools and medical facilities, La Tania is perfect if you want a relaxed, good-value Courchevel holiday with a bit of its own character.