🇫🇷 France · Places to discover
What to see in Megève ?
21 places curated by Hozy - landmarks, nature, hidden restaurants and activities.
MAP · OVERVIEW
Megève's character rests on a deliberate paradox: a ski resort founded in the 1920s by the Rothschild family to rival Saint-Moritz, yet it chose understated elegance over ostentation. The medieval village clustering around the church of Saint-Jean-Baptiste remains inhabited year-round, sparing it the ghost-town syndrome that afflicts most Alpine resorts out of season. Wooden chalets and cobbled lanes give it an architectural coherence rarely found in the French Alps.
January to March offers the best balance between snow coverage and daylight, though summer draws hikers who value the quieter pace and gentler prices. Allow three to four days to explore the ski domain and village without rushing. A car is most practical from Geneva (45 minutes), though shuttles run from the airport. Steer clear of Avenue Charles-Feige restaurants during school holidays; the places where locals eat are tucked into the side streets and alleys.
Landmarks & heritage (7)
Wikipedia (fr) - CC BY-SASports and Congress Palace, Megève
Landmark
An iconic 1960s building in modernist Savoyard style housing an ice rink, events and exhibitions. A testament to the resort's golden age and architectural ambition.
Wikipedia (fr) - CC BY-SAMuseum of the Upper Val d'Arly
Landmark
A modest local museum tracing peasant life and the valley's history before skiing transformed everything. Collections of agricultural tools, traditional Savoyard costumes and fascinating archive photographs.
Wikipedia (fr) - CC BY-SAChurch Square of Megève
Landmark
The beating heart of the village with its wooden arcades and stone fountains, unchanged for decades. Saturday mornings come alive with the local market, where Savoyard cheese-makers and producers set up their stalls.
Wikipedia (fr) - CC BY-SAChurch of Saint-Jean-Baptiste, Megève
Landmark
A 17th-century Baroque church at the heart of the village, its distinctive bell tower visible across the entire valley. Inside, fine woodwork and altarpieces exemplify characteristic Savoyard craftsmanship.
Wikipedia (fr) - CC BY-SACross of Megève
Landmark
A large wooden cross standing on the heights above the village, a discrete pilgrimage site for locals. Accessible in summer by a marked trail from the centre, with sweeping views across the Arve Valley.Wikipedia (fr) - CC BY-SACalvary Chapel, Megève
Landmark
A small sanctuary perched on the hillside overlooking the village, reached on foot from the centre in twenty minutes. Panoramic views sweep across Megève's rooftops to Mont Blanc beyond, largely missed by coach parties.
Wikipedia (fr) - CC BY-SAHôtel Mont-Blanc, Megève
Landmark
A historic palace founded by the Rothschild family in 1920, which essentially created the Megève resort. The façade and interior hall are worth viewing regardless of whether you stay, a living monument to the resort's gilded past.Nature & parks (4)
Wikipedia (fr) - CC BY-SAMont d'Arbois - Plateau
Nature
A vast alpine plateau at 1833m connecting Megève to Saint-Gervais, dotted with authentic mountain chalets. In summer, bell-wearing cattle and the scent of aromatic herbs create an atmosphere suspended in time.
Wikipedia (fr) - CC BY-SAArly Gorges
Nature
A wild canyon carved by the Arly river between Flumet and Ugine, accessible by a trail hugging the water's edge. Cool respite guaranteed in summer, with waterfalls and giant's potholes sculpted into the rock, just 15 minutes from Megève.
Wikipedia (fr) - CC BY-SAMegève Forest – Chamois Trail
Nature
A network of marked trails through the coniferous forest above the village, ideal for spotting chamois and marmots at dawn. Locals run their morning routes here, away from the pistes and lifts.
Wikipedia (fr) - CC BY-SAJaillet Pass
Nature
A 1560m col connecting Megève to Combloux, walkable or cyclable, with flower-carpeted Alpine meadows in summer and direct views of the Aravis chain. Frequented by local shepherds, not tourist coaches.Viewpoints (2)
Wikipedia (fr) - CC BY-SARochebrune Summit
Viewpoint
Accessible by the famous 1933 cable car, this 1754m peak offers the classic panorama over Megève and the Mont Blanc massif. Restored and iconic, it's the defining viewpoint of the resort.
Wikipedia (fr) - CC BY-SAAlpette Summit
Viewpoint
A viewpoint at 1827m reached by chairlift from Jaillet, offering 360° panoramas of Mont Blanc, the Aravis and the Fiz ranges. Less crowded than Rochebrune, it's where locals head for sunset.Activities (5)
Wikipedia (fr) - CC BY-SAPatinoire de Megève
Activity
Open-air ice rink at the heart of the village, operating December to March, with views over snow-capped roofs and the church steeple. An authentic village atmosphere, worlds away from large stadium rinks, frequented by local families.Wikipedia (fr) - CC BY-SACentre équestre de Megève
Activity
Riding stable offering guided horse treks across alpine pastures and through forests, led by passionate local guides. Ideal in summer for discovering the landscape from a different perspective than on foot or by bike.Wikipedia (fr) - CC BY-SAJaillet Cable Car
Activity
Cable car departure on the Combloux side, less crowded than Megève's main access points, affording entry to runs and trails often blissfully quiet. The insiders' secret for skiing or hiking without queues.Wikipedia (en) - CC BY-SAGolf de Megève - Mont d'Arbois
Activity
One of Europe's finest mountain golf courses, laid out on the Mont d'Arbois plateau at 1800m altitude. Fairways overlooking Mont Blanc, open June to October, a haunt of regulars spanning generations.Via ferrata of Megève – Rochebrune Sector
Activity
Via ferrata route accessible from the Rochebrune area, with multiple levels suited to both families and experienced climbers. Equipment in place, vertiginous views across the valley, and guaranteed thrills without venturing far afield.More to discover (3)
Wikipedia (fr) - CC BY-SAMegève Market – Place de l'Église
Place
Saturday-morning weekly market bringing together local producers from the Arve and Beaufortain valleys. Farmhouse cheeses, artisanal charcuterie, mountain honey and garden vegetables—the true pulse of local life.Veyrat Bakery–Pâtisserie, Megève
Place
Artisanal bakery in the village offering Savoy brioche and prune rissoles, local specialities found almost nowhere else. Opens at 7am; regulars queue for the morning batches.Leutaz Hamlet
Place
Traditional hamlet set apart from Megève village, with blackened timber barns typical of old Savoyard architecture. An offbeat stop to understand what Megève was before the ski era.