Millenium

❄️ Winter (December to March)

The Évasion Mont-Blanc ski area is the main playground.

Tip: don't necessarily aim to "rack up the kilometres". A good day of skiing can simply be: 3 hours on the slopes + lunch at altitude + back to the village + spa.

Winter activities genuinely worth the detour

• Ski touring: with a guide if you're not fully confident with the practice. The Mont Joly, Mont d'Arbois and Côte 2000 sectors each offer very different terrain.
• Snowshoeing: an excellent alternative to skiing, for a 2–3 hour outing. The Javen sector is particularly worthwhile.
• Dog sledding: do it at least once. Rides along the ridges offer 360° views, from taster sessions to full snowshoe expeditions.
• Sledging: a simple, fun activity, especially with children.
• Ice rink: outdoor ice skating rink.
• Spa: Spa Pure Altitude at Fermes de Marie, or Spa Grown Alchemist Cœur de Megève.

🌱 Spring (April to June)

This is the most underrated period. You have to accept that the mountain is in a transitional phase: some lifts and activities are closed, but that's exactly what gives Megève a much more local feel.

• Low-altitude hiking
• Electric biking
• Golf as soon as conditions allow
• Spa
• Gastronomic lunch
• Exploring the hamlets
• Markets
• Photography
• Day trips to Annecy or Chamonix
• Saint-Gervais-les-Bains and its thermal baths

The itinerary I'd choose

• MorningHike
• 12:30Lunch
• 15:00Back to the village
• 16:00Spa
• 18:30Drinks
• 20:00Restaurant

Probably the best pace for a long spring weekend.

☀️ Summer (June to September)

🥾 Hiking: Lake Javen

This is one of the walks I recommend the most. The lake is fairly easy to reach: about 20 minutes on foot from the La Rée area, or about 30 minutes from the Le Tour hamlet. There's dining, games and activities around the lake. Level: easy.

For a more sporty hike, the Javen route from the village is about 10 km with roughly 360 m of elevation gain and is rated difficult.

Other sectors worth prioritising

• Mont d'Arbois
• Mont Joly
• Jaillet
• Rochebrune
• Pré Rosset
• Col de Véry
• Col du Jaillet
• Côte 2000 sector

🚴 Electric mountain biking

This is probably the summer activity I recommend most after hiking. The terrain becomes far more accessible on an e-bike, letting you move from hamlets to alpine pastures without turning the day into an athletic ordeal. A guided outing to Javen is offered in summer, including bike, helmet and guide.

⛳ Golf at Mont d'Arbois

This is one of those places where I'd spend a whole day rather than simply "playing 18 holes". Ideal: a fairly early start, lunch, golf, a drink on the terrace, then back to the village.

🪂 Paragliding

Best done in fine weather. The main appeal isn't just the thrill: it's reading the landscape from the air, with Megève, the Aravis and the Mont-Blanc massif laid out below. I'd go for a panoramic tandem flight rather than a thrill-focused option.

🏊 Le Palais Megève

An excellent option when it rains or for a day away from the mountain: water activities, sport, wellness and climbing. The indoor offering is substantial, so Megève is far from "dead" when the weather turns bad.

🍂 Autumn (October to November)

For me, this is the gastronomic season. The mountain colours are stunning and the atmosphere becomes much calmer.

Ideal itinerary

• 10:00Forest hike
• 13:00Lunch
• 15:00Stroll through Megève
• 16:30Spa
• 19:00Drinks
• 20:30A great dinner

⭐ Event to note: Toquicimes, in October, Megève's big gathering dedicated to mountain cuisine.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Fine dining

• Flocons de Sel: for a special occasion, a true "destination" fine-dining experience.
• VOUS: contemporary fine dining right in the heart of the village, for a special dinner without leaving the centre.

⭐⭐⭐⭐½ Fine dining / lovely tables

• Le Refuge du Calvaire: setting, cuisine and mountain atmosphere combined.
• Restaurant Le Prieuré: superbly located, right on the church square.
• Le Trappeur: more traditional, generous cooking.

🧀 Savoyard

• Le Chamois: Savoyard restaurant & burgers, a good choice for a relaxed evening.
• L'Alpage: fondue / raclette / Savoyard cuisine.
• Le Vieux Megève: traditional atmosphere in the heart of the village.

All the restaurants

Opening days and hours vary a lot by season, so always check before heading out, especially outside school holidays.

🥂 Drinks & cocktails

• Le Rooftop Bar (Grand Hôtel Soleil d'Or): the number-one choice for an elegant drink, especially lovely at the end of the day.
• Le Meige: more intimate and very well suited to cocktails.
• Le Banc Rouge: for a livelier, later evening.
• The Rabbit Hole: a small cocktail bar worth keeping in your back pocket for a change from the more "palace"-style addresses.

☕ Cafés & brasseries

Le Hibou Blanc: very handy for coffee, lunch, drinks or a late dinner. A great address when you simply want to be at the heart of Megève without building the whole day around a restaurant.

💆 Wellness

1. No. 1Spa Pure Altitude at Fermes de Marie: for a truly "Megève" experience.
2. No. 2Spa Grown Alchemist Cœur de Megève: more contemporary and right in the centre.
3. No. 3Le spa du M: worth considering for a more low-key experience.

🏘️ The village

One mistake would be feeling you always need to "do an activity". Some of the best hours in Megève are simply, between 4pm and 7pm:

• Wandering the centre
• Shops
• Galleries
• Church square
• Coffee
• Back to the apartment
• Shower
• Drinks

The village is particularly pleasant at that time of day.

🖼️ Culture

• Musée de Megève: to discover local history.
• Musée du Haut Val d'Arly: for understanding mountain heritage rather than simply visiting an exhibition.
• Cinéma Panoramic: a great option for a quiet evening or a rainy day.

🎾 Sport off the slopes

• Tennis: Megève Tennis Club, and Le Palais Megève (outdoor courts).
• Climbing: lessons and courses in Megève; Le Palais also offers a good indoor sports facility.

The best day trips

10 walks / hikes worth putting in the GPS

For any specific hike, check local conditions before setting off: trail conditions change quickly with altitude and season.

Megève, month by month

Favourite periods

• 🥇 Late September / early OctoberProbably the number-one choiceCalm, good weather, hiking, gastronomy and colours.
• 🥈 December before ChristmasMegève at its most charmingSnow, lights, village life, restaurants.
• 🥉 MarchAn excellent compromiseSkiing, sunshine, long days, terraces.
• 🏅 JuneVery pleasantGolf, biking, hiking, low crowds.

🎉 Events to note

• Megève Blues Festival
• Village Festival
• Cycling races
• Winter sports events
• Christmas events
• Gastronomic events
• Toquicimes, in October
• Concerts and cultural events

In 2026, Toquicimes runs from 16 to 18 October, while the Haute Route cycling event passes through Megève from 27 to 29 August.

🌧️ What to do when it rains?

Don't cancel the day.

• 10:00Market / shops
• 11:30Museum
• 13:00Lunch
• 15:00Spa
• 17:30Coffee
• 19:00Drinks
• 20:30Cinema or restaurant

Indoor options include a pool, wellness facilities, ice rink, cinema, library and cultural activities.

📌 Worth bookmarking

Megève Tourisme is the most useful source for checking schedules, lifts, activities and events during your stay. The official calendar currently lists over 1,000 events across the year and is updated continuously.

• Official Megève calendar: for up-to-date events
• Activities in Megève: for details on each activity
• Ski area: information and lifts

Handy tip: the Y82/Y83 bus lines connect Megève to Chamonix, Saint-Gervais, Combloux, Sallanches and Praz-sur-Arly; an on-demand transport service, MONTENBUS, also serves several towns in the Pays du Mont-Blanc.