Short answer
Flaine is a ski village at 1,600 metres in a limestone bowl in Haute-Savoie, just over an hour from Geneva. The village is in the Grand Massif – 265 kilometres of pistes and 63 lifts – and is built with pedestrian streets where the family walks straight to the slopes. The position in the bowl gives good snow, and families get easy slopes in the middle of the village, but the concrete buildings from the 1960s are not for those who dream of log chalets.
Quick facts
- Country / region
- France, Haute-Savoie
- Ski area
- Grand Massif (Flaine, Les Carroz, Morillon, Samoëns, Sixt)
- Altitude (village – top)
- 1600 – 2480 m above sea level
- Pistes
- 265 km
- Lifts
- 63
- Season
- early December – mid-April
- Nearest airports
- Geneva (approx. 1 h 15)
- Train
- Train to Cluses, then bus (about 40 min)
- Price level
- ●●●●● (1 = cheap, 5 = expensive)
Family rating
4 / 5
- Beginner slopes Easy slopes in the middle of the village, and more than half of the pistes in the Grand Massif are blue.
- Snow reliability The bowl at 1,600–2,500 metres keeps the snow well – the lower villages in the area have poorer snow.
- Distance from accommodation to lifts Pedestrian streets and accommodation close to the slopes – you walk from the door to the lift.
- More than skiing Art by Picasso and Dubuffet in the village, but fewer activities than in the old mountain villages.
The rating is our overall assessment for families with children based on the criteria above – not a paid placement.
Flaine was built in the 1960s in a limestone bowl high above the Arve valley, just over an hour from Geneva. The architect Marcel Breuer, who came from the Bauhaus school, designed the concrete buildings in the same grey colour as the surrounding rocks – and between the buildings stand sculptures by Picasso and Dubuffet, among others.
It is not a village of log chalets and a church square. But for families, Flaine has something more important: pedestrian streets, accommodation close to the slopes and snow that stays.
The bowl – why the snow is better here
Flaine sits at 1,600 metres, and the pistes reach almost 2,500 metres at the Grandes Platières. The village lies in a bowl where the snow stays for a long time, and that makes Flaine one of the most snow-sure resorts this close to Geneva. The other villages in the Grand Massif – Les Carroz, Morillon, Samoëns and Sixt – are lower and can have thin snow in a mild winter, but from Flaine you always ski in the highest part.
The car-free village
- Park and forget the car – you leave the car in a garage when you arrive and then walk everywhere.
- The slope outside the door – much of the accommodation is right by the pistes.
- Easy slopes in the middle of the village – beginners and young children start right next to where you stay.
The pistes of the Grand Massif
| Difficulty | Kilometres | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Blue and green | 135 km | 51 % |
| Red | 95 km | 36 % |
| Black | 35 km | 13 % |
The whole Grand Massif has 265 kilometres of pistes and 63 lifts. The highlight for children who ski confidently is Les Cascades – a blue slope of about 14 kilometres from the Grandes Platières down through the forest to Sixt. There you take the bus back. Check the timetable before you go.
Flaine with kids
- Ski schools in the village, with easy slopes close to where you stay.
- A short journey – just over an hour from Geneva, so the youngest avoid long transfers.
- The lift ticket is available for the whole Grand Massif and cheaper for Flaine only, which is often enough for small children.
If it is your first ski trip, everything about ski school, equipment and daily rhythm is in the guide to the first ski trip with kids.
The rest day
- An art walk – look for the sculptures by Picasso and Dubuffet in the village.
- Samoëns – an old mountain village further down the valley with a square and a church, a contrast to the concrete of Flaine.
- Cook for yourselves: our weekly menu for the ski trip suits the apartment.
How to get to Flaine
- By air: Geneva is about 80 kilometres away, just over an hour by car.
- By train: take the train to Cluses and the bus up, about 40 minutes. How to travel by train from Sweden is explained in train to the Alps.
- By car: the road from Cluses has many bends – winter tyres and snow chains are required.
Flaine or other resorts near Geneva?
Near Geneva there are also Morzine and Les Gets in Portes du Soleil, old Megève and Chamonix beneath Mont Blanc. Flaine is best for the snow and the village without cars, the others for village atmosphere. We compare all the French resorts in France's ski trips, and what to pack is in the ski trip packing list.
Packing for Flaine – easy things to forget
Frequently asked questions
Is Flaine snow-sure?
Yes, for being so close to Geneva. The village sits at 1,600 metres in a bowl where the snow stays for a long time, and the pistes reach 2,500 metres. The lower villages in the Grand Massif can have poorer snow in a mild winter.
Are there cars in Flaine?
The village streets have no cars, so you park in a garage when you arrive and then walk between accommodation, shops and slopes. That makes it easy and safe with children.
How far is it from Geneva to Flaine?
About 80 kilometres, just over an hour by car. By train you go to Cluses and then take a bus up to the village.
What is Les Cascades?
A blue slope of about 14 kilometres from the top of the Grandes Platières down to Sixt. It is long but easy, and from Sixt you take the bus back. A good goal for children who ski confidently.
How much does the lift ticket cost in Flaine?
There are passes for the whole Grand Massif and cheaper passes for Flaine only, which is often enough for small children. The child pass costs less than the adult pass.
