Megève. The closest of the great French resorts to an airport.
Megève sits at about 1,100 metres on a broad sunny col facing Mont Blanc, an hour and a quarter from Geneva in normal conditions. That short transfer is the reason so many clients choose it, and the reason the last twelve kilometres of climbing matter more than they look on a map.
The place
A village first, a resort second
Megève is in the Haute-Savoie, in the Pays du Mont-Blanc, and it grew out of a working farming village rather than a purpose-built station. The Rothschild family developed it in the 1920s as a French answer to the Swiss resorts, and the result is a place with a medieval church square, cobbles, and horse-drawn sleighs rather than concrete towers. Skiers reach the Evasion Mont-Blanc area from lifts at either end of the village.
The practical consequence for anyone arranging travel is that the historic core is partly closed to traffic and the lanes around it are narrow. A large car can reach most hotels and chalets, but not always to the door, and not always in fresh snow. We ask for the exact address and a pin before the day, and tell you honestly where the car will be able to stop.
The other consequence is altitude. At about 1,100 metres the village is lower than the high Tarentaise resorts, so early and late in the season the snow in the village can be thin even when the skiing above is good. It matters less than it used to, but it is worth knowing if you are choosing between Megève and somewhere like Val d'Isère.
At a glance
What you need to know
- Village altitudeAbout 1,100 mHaute-Savoie, France, in the Pays du Mont-Blanc. Part of the Evasion Mont-Blanc ski area.
- Closest large airportGeneva (GVA)About 88 km. Roughly 1 hour 15 to 1 hour 45 by road depending on the day and the weather.
- The altiportMegève, at about 1,470 mA 600 m runway above the village. Small aircraft and helicopters only, and pilots need a mountain qualification.
- By helicopterAbout 20 to 25 minutes from GenevaDaylight and visibility permitting. We plan the road leg as the default for evening arrivals.
Getting there
Airports and typical transfers
| Airport | By road | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Geneva (GVA) | About 1 hour 15 to 1 hour 45 | The default. Motorway on the A40 Autoroute Blanche to Sallanches, then about twelve kilometres of climbing on the D1212. Only that last stretch is mountain road. |
| Chambéry (CMF) | About 2 hours | Worth considering when Geneva slots are tight, or if you are combining Megève with the Tarentaise. A mountain airfield with its own weather limits. |
| Annecy | About 1 hour 15 | A small field roughly 45 km away, useful for light aircraft. Handling and hours are limited and we confirm them for your dates. |
| Megève altiport | About 10 minutes to the village | Directly above the resort. A short runway with high ground behind it, so no go-around is possible once committed, and only specially qualified crews may use it. |
Realistic ranges in normal winter conditions, not promises. Saturday changeover traffic and snow on the Sallanches climb both add time. Outside London and Manchester our cars are arranged through operators we know, with winter tyres and chains.
The altiport question
Charming, and rarely the answer
Clients often ask whether they can land at Megève itself. In a light aircraft or a turboprop with a crew holding the French mountain qualification, sometimes yes. The runway is short, it slopes, there is high ground behind it, and the decision to land is taken on the base leg because a go-around is not an option. Add winter weather and a dusk arrival and the window narrows sharply.
For most trips the honest recommendation is a jet into Geneva and either a car or a helicopter for the last leg. If the altiport genuinely suits your aircraft, your crew and your timings, we will say so and arrange it. If it does not, we will say that too, and hold it as the pleasant option for a clear morning departure rather than the plan the whole trip depends on.
Local realities
What experienced visitors do
- Avoid arriving on a Saturday if the chalet will allow it. The A40, the Sallanches roundabouts and the resort all fill on changeover day
- Send the chalet or hotel address with a pin. Parts of the old village are closed to cars and some lanes will not take a large vehicle in snow
- Tell us the ski and boot bag count as well as the passenger count. It decides both the aircraft and whether one car is enough
- If you want the helicopter leg, plan a daytime arrival. Night and poor visibility put the car back in the plan
- Keep a car and chauffeur for the week if you intend to eat out. Megève dines late and the lanes are not a place to hunt for a taxi at midnight
- Ask about the Mont Blanc tunnel if you are combining Megève with Italy. Maintenance closures are announced in advance and we check them against your dates
Around the trip
Related pages
Routes and airports
Request a quote
Tell us the week
Dates, numbers, the chalet or hotel and how much ski kit is coming. We reply with aircraft options into Geneva, the road and helicopter legs side by side, and an honest view on whether the altiport is worth considering for your aircraft.
Prefer to talk? +44 2030 048300 or WhatsApp, at any hour.
Questions people ask
About Megève
Can we fly straight into Megève?
Only in a light aircraft or turboprop with a mountain-qualified crew, or by helicopter. The altiport has a short sloping runway and high ground behind it. Jets use Geneva, Chambéry or Annecy.
How long is the drive from Geneva, really?
About an hour and a quarter on a quiet weekday, and up to an hour and three quarters on a snowy Saturday. Almost all of it is motorway, with the climb from Sallanches at the end.
Will the car reach our chalet?
Usually, but the historic centre is partly pedestrianised and some lanes above the village are tight. Send the address in advance and we will tell you where the car can stop and how far the walk is.
Is Megève better than Chamonix for us?
They are half an hour apart and very different. Megève is gentler skiing and a smarter village; Chamonix is serious mountain terrain. Plenty of clients take a car for a day in the other valley.
Do you have your own cars in France?
No. Our own chauffeurs and cars are in London and Manchester. Alpine transfers are arranged through operators we know, and one contact at Odyssey holds the whole itinerary together.
When should we book?
For Christmas, New Year, February half-term and Easter, in the autumn. Geneva slots and helicopter capacity go first.
One contact, wherever you are