Morzine is a lovely, classic Alpine ski town in the center of the massive Portes du Soleil ski region. Morzine is approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes from Geneva, making it a perfect ski destination for a skiing weekend or a skiing short vacation.
Morzine is the soul of the enormous, low-lying Portes du Soleil ski resort. It’s an excellent priced, easy-to-access year-round resort with a lovely historic town at its heart, a vibrant nightlife, and ski lifts dispersed about.
Morzine evolved from a modest Savoyarde community dependent on farming and slate mining to a huge international mountain resort with the construction of the “Grand Hotel” by Francois Baud in the 1920s. Its quick transport from Geneva makes it ideal for short holidays, but there’s enough skiing for a week or more in excellent snow conditions.
The town is huge and spread, with various satellite settlements, yet it has a charming center. There are many places to stay, including chalets, flats, and hotels (including 1 and 2 star alternatives), as well as several restaurants and pubs.
Les Gets and Morzine share a ski area.
The Portes du Soleil pass covers here, however it is not part of the regular circuit. It may be reached through the Pleney and Crusaz lifts on the city’s southwestern outskirts, or via the Telecabine at Nyon on the city’s extreme southern outskirts. The runs are largely short blues and reds, although there are some difficult sections for professionals.
Morzine links to the major Portes du Soleil circuit, which connects Avoriaz and Champery to Morgins and Chatel. Access is by the Super Morzine lift from the town center, or through the outlying (but bus-connected) settlements of Ardent and Les Prodains, which have their own lifts.
And for the most part, it is all the skiing that most guests need. However, for dedicated explorers, there are more little isolated Portes Du Soleil outposts at La Grande Terche above St Jean d’Aulps, and at Abondance, both of which are within reach, especially if you’re staying in Morzine’s satellite towns of Montriond and Essert Romand, or have a vehicle. Samoens (connected to Flaine) appears on the map as well, but since the Col de Joux Plane is blocked in winter, you must take an hour-long detour through Les Gets and Tanniges.
So, as long as there is snow, there is no lack of runs to select from. And therein is the rub: practically all of the skiing takes place below 2000 meters. On a severely cold day or during a snowstorm, Morzine’s short, tree-lined lines are more preferable than the stark, exposed bowls that surround high altitude resorts. However, in a warm Spring or a mild December, decent snow may be in limited supply, and you’ll be relying on Morzine to live up to its promotion of being a real year-round resort with lots to do besides skiing.
For those who do not ski or snowboard, there is plenty to do in resort: ice skating; snowshoeing; massage and jacuzzi, visiting the local fruiterie where they show you how they make the local cheeses, the weekly local market, or on the mountain: walks around the beautiful Lake at Montriond snowshoeing with a local guide; paragliding and skidooing for the more adventurous. Geneva, Chamonix, and Annecy are all within an hour and a half’s drive.