You did it! You organized everything, packed your bags, took the car or the plane and finally arrived in Morzine. But now you are asking yourself… What are the things to do in Morzine besides skiing? There are many things to do in Morzine, we asked the local school Easy2Ride, that has existed for more than 20 years, to come along on our journey and to share their knowledge and best tips with us.
At CheckYeti, we consider it essential to work with local providers who can share the best advice and traditions with our customers. It is for this reason that we have been collaborating with the Easy2Ride ski school for years now.
Christophe, head of the ski school, Edwina, executive assistant, and Francesca, Julien and Pascal, three of the instructors, talked to us about local cuisine, relaxation, landscapes and – last but not least – the slopes! Are you ready to find out all about Morzine? Then let’s get started!
1) My first slope in Morzine
As already said, learning to ski is perhaps the main motivation that led you to choose Morzine as your destination. So let’s hear the experts’ advice on where to start from.
Thanks to a total of 5 beginners’ zones spread across the whole resort, inexperienced skiers can work on their skills almost anywhere. The most popular beginners’ zones are the ones situated at the bottom of the slopes, in the village of Morzine, and the one on the Pleney mountain where skiers can safely practise their first turns and work on the snow- plough technique.
If you feel confident enough on your skis, you might want to try skiing on a real slope. However, with so many green and blue slopes, it’s not that easy to choose the perfect one. Julien recommends Piste B as a “first slope” for beginners. This scenic and long piste takes you from the summit of the Pleney, through the beautiful pine tree forest and all the way down to Morzine. It really offers perfect conditions, the wide turns and the long descent make for a prolonged and enjoyable descent that is easy to ski.
When you start skiing, it is important to know which slopes are suitable. Moreover, it is always good to rely on professionals.
2) Morzine’s cuisine
After so much skiing, it’s time for a little break. You can choose between several Savoie classics, most of which consist of meat, bread and cheese: Tartiflette, Croûte, Fondue,… – yet Julien and Edwina both agree: Tartiflette is THE must-have!
You might ask yourself where to go to taste the best Tartiflette. If you’re looking for something in the village, Edwina recommends La Grange and L’Étale. However, if you’re already on the slopes, try going to Vaffieu, right at the Belvédère chair lift; the food is great, the atmosphere is always relaxed and the view is simply breathtaking.
3) Morzine’s breathtaking views
Francesca absolutely loves the view from the Belvédère, at the Belvédère chair lift mountain station. Not only can you enjoy one of the best views of Morzine, but you can even see the famous Mont Blanc in the distance! This hot-spot, which is on top of the Pleney mountain, is even accessible to skiers with very little experience as the slopes leading back down are all blue. Once there, you can also enjoy the view from the Vaffieu restaurant terrace.
Experienced skiers capable of skiing on red slopes should definitely also go to the Pointe du Nyon summit. This offers a 360° view including Morzine and the beautiful Lake Geneva on one side, and the majestic Dents Blanches mountain on the other.
4) Places to try in Morzine
Morzine’s range of offers isn’t limited to the slopes – there’s always something to do off the pistes as well! Christophe, head of the Easy2Ride ski school, gave us a few tips on what to do.
The wine shop La Chaudanne is the perfect place to relax after a day of skiing! An endless wine list and a very helpful and competent sommelier await you here. Le Tremplin is the best place for a night out. Every day live music shows attract party animals from all over the resort.
Furthermore, you should definitely go to the Parc des Dérêches to relax. There, the sauna is particularly pleasant and the pool complex offers relaxation and fun for the whole family.
5) Morzine’s best-kept secret attractions
If you want to visit the place as a local, your list of things to do in Morzine should include these less known places. From Pascal’s point of view, Morzine’s best-kept secret attractions are the Vallée de la Manche valley and the Lac des Mines d’Or lake, both preferably to be discovered during a ski tour.
Christophe also pointed out that Morzine’s geographical location at the heart of the Portes du Soleil ski resort network is an invitation to explore the whole Franco-Swiss area.
If you are interested in visiting the villages close to Morzine such as Les Gets, Avoriaz and Châtel, read the articles on the page: Learn to ski in Portes du Soleil. In addition to the description of the various locations and advice on ski schools, the articles also contain tips on the different activities to do in the villages such as visiting the light show in Les Gets, or trying out the Zipline in Châtel and a husky sleigh ride in Avoriaz.