Skiers on the Côte d’Azur: 13 resorts to enjoy the snow in the sun

Do you know many places in France where you can swim in the sea in the morning and 1h30 later find yourself at the top of the slopes at 2000m altitude in a remarkable natural setting?

We completely agree, Skiing on the Côte d’Azur Still, it has an original and unusual side... Whether as a family, as a couple or with friends, we go there for a week of vacation, to rest on the weekend or even to disconnect for a day, in order to take a break!

We already spoke about this this summer Our 5 most beautiful villages in the Azorean hinterland, of, from secret beaches on the Côte d’Azur and of Must-see and must-do things in Nice, But this winter, if you too want to head for the snowy peaks (hoping that the snow will finally fall!)

Enjoy skiing on over 600 km of slopes or go on beautiful hiking trips with a hiking pole to discover the local flora and fauna. Here is a practical guide to the 13 ski resorts on the Côte d’Azur.

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Valberg

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Our favorite resort! Valberg is a charming, authentic, friendly, and small-town resort located 86 km from Nice, at the gates of the Mercantour National Park.

Located at an altitude of 1,700 meters, Valberg welcomes all winter sports enthusiasts, as well as families, who come to enjoy the joys of the mountains and the remarkable natural setting.

The resort has been labeled Family + and offers many activities for children with prepared trails and adapted facilities (Big air bag, video zone, Family Park, Snow Park).

There are also many activities outside skiing such as hiking on snowshoes, the heated swimming pool, the skating rink, snowmobiling, quad biking or horseback riding. After the ski slopes close, don’t miss the chance to stroll around the village, enjoy the winter activities, and visit the bars, pubs and restaurants.

Alpine skiing: 90 km of slopes, 56 slopes (12 green, 10 blue, 28 red, 6 black)

Click here to see the runway plan

Price of the day ski pass: 26 € for an adult, 23 € for a child under 12 years old

Cross-country skiing: 25 km of slopes, 3 slopes

For more information, visit the website of the Valberg ski resort

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Isola 2000

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Come and enjoy the joys of skiing at an altitude of over 2000 meters and just 1 hour and 30 minutes from Nice by public transport! Isola 2000 is renowned for the quality of its ski area, the snow on the slopes and the multitude of activities outside skiing.

While you won’t find the charming and authentic side of resorts like Valberg or Auron, one thing is for sure: you won’t get bored here! If you want to let off some steam, this is the ideal resort for skiing on the Côte d’Azur.

The most adventurous can enjoy the Snow Park, night skiing, Big Air, ski paragliding, snowmobile tours, the kart and car track on ice...

Looking for relaxation? You can also enjoy hiking on snowshoes or skis, relaxing treatments in a spa, cinema, bowling, as well as numerous events and activities organized throughout the winter season: Ice DJ Festival on January 16, February 19 and March 26; Andros Trophy from January 8 to 9, etc.)

Alpine skiing: 120 km of slopes, 42 slopes (7 green, 21 blue, 11 red, 3 black)

Click here to see the runway plan

Price of the day ski pass: 33 € for an adult, 25 € for a child under 12 years old

For more information, visit the website of the Ski resort of Isola 2000

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Auron

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Like Valberg, Auron is an authentic resort where people love to come to enjoy the largest ski area in the region with their families and friends, and to experience the friendly atmosphere of this charming resort located 1.3 hours from Nice.

There are many activities for both young and old (snow parks, horseback riding or snowmobiling, etc…) The resort is also known for organizing an annual gastronomic festival from January 16 to 18, where the best chefs from the Côte d’Azur compete.

Alpine skiing: 135 km of slopes, 42 slopes (3 green, 16 blue, 15 red, 9 black)

Click here to see the runway plan

Price of the day ski pass: 33 € for an adult, 25 € for a child under 12 years old

For more information, visit the website of the Auron ski resort

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La Colmiane

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La Colmiane is located just 1 hour by car from Nice (65 km). Enjoy the joys of alpine skiing on more than 30 km of slopes in a wonderful and charming setting.

You can also go on beautiful hikes, go skiing on horseback (ski-joering), paragliding, and freestyle in the snow park (big air, snow tubing, etc.).

Looking for a thrilling experience? Take off at 120 km/h on France’s largest zip line! You will fly 300 meters above the ground over nearly 2.6 kilometers in the void… Price: 35€ / person

For more information, visit the website of the ski resort La Colmiane

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L’Audibergue – The Monts d’Azur

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The resort is located 1 hour from Grasse and Draguignan in a pleasant and relaxing natural setting. There are about twenty ski trails for alpine skiing and about fifteen for cross-country skiing. Want to go for a Nordic hiking tour?

Go on a journey through the snowy landscapes and experience the excitement of sledding with mushers, passionate herders who will make you live a unique experience.

For more information, visit the website of the ski resort The audibergue

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Beuil Les Launes

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The main attraction of Beuil Les launes is indeed the resort itself, very authentic and charming with its old stone houses in the heart of generous nature. The resort has about fifty ski slopes for alpine skiing, 3 different levels of trails for cross-country skiing and many hiking trails, on snowshoes or skis.

For more information, visit the website of the ski resort Beuil Les Launes

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Roubion Les Buisses

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This village resort is located between 1400 and 1920 meters and its ski area offers 30 km of slopes for alpine skiing and 12 km for cross-country skiing. You can also enjoy beautiful hikes on skis from Buisses, starting from 6 routes offered. After the cable car from the Colmiane, this time you can ski down the snowy slopes on a mountain bike, an unusual activity that should also be very sensational!

For more information, visit the website of the ski resort Roubion Les Buisses

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Greolières Les Neiges

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It is the closest station to the coast; it is located in the mountainous hinterland of the Pays du Graison. When the slopes of Gréolières are covered with snow, you can enjoy the 30 km of alpine ski slopes and the 30 km of cross-country ski trails.

Don’t miss the chance to wander through the old village of Gréolière and climb to the top of Cheiron, from where you can admire an exceptional panoramic view of the Azur coast, stretching from the Italian coast to the Esterel massif. The pleasure of saying to yourself that you are skiing on the Côte d’Azur.

For more information, visit the website of the ski resort Greolières Les Neiges

The resorts and villages of the Côte d’Azur

If you prefer hiking on snowshoes or cross-country skiing, you can visit Valberg, Roubion Les Buisses, Gréolières Les Neiges and Beuil Les Launes, but also these Nordic centres located in magnificent settings like those shown below. These are true little corners of paradise for hiking enthusiasts, photography enthusiasts and nature lovers.

Saint Martin De Vésubie – Le Boréon

4 cross-country skiing trails, ice waterfall climbing, 3 hiking routes on snowshoes, guided mountain escapades with encounters with wolves. Website Saint Martin de Vésubie – Le Boréon

Saint Dalmas the Savage

3km of cross-country skiing, 50 km of trails for snowshoe hiking, group outings, icefall climbing. Website Saint Dalmas the Savage

Estenc Entraunes

1 green piste with a ski lift, cross-country skiing or snowshoes on 11 km of piste in a beautiful natural setting. Website Estenc Entraunes

Casterino

Welcome to the gates of the famous Valley of Wonders, a site very popular with hikers in summer, but also in winter, on the many snow-covered trails. You can also go sledding through the forest and enjoy the many hiking routes on snowshoes to discover splendid landscapes. Website Tende – Casterino

Luceram Peira Cava

A pleasant site for skiing and snowshoeing excursions. Website Luceram Peira Cava

Find the map of the ski resorts on the Côte d’Azur

This winter 2015-2016, the weather conditions are not at all favorable for the ski resorts… Some afternoons the temperatures reach over 20°C on the coast and the snow is really struggling to show its face in the hinterland. Let’s keep our fingers crossed and hope that there will be more snow by the end of the season so we can go for a weekend in the mountains and finally ski on the Côte d’Azur.

Several transport solutions to access the ski resorts

By bus

The bus journey from Nice to Valberg, from Nice to Auron or from Nice to Isola 2000 costs only €8 one way, but you should expect about 2.30 hours of travel time to get to the foot of the slopes! For more information on the timetables, go to the website of Lignes d’Azur

By car

Before leaving, please check the condition of the roads in the mountains and check the condition of your vehicle to ensure optimal driving conditions. For the journey time, plan for approximately 1.3 hours of travel.

If you are on vacation without a vehicle and you want to ski on the Côte d’Azur, you can also rent a car and go skiing for the day or a weekend. If you are several, it costs nothing! Visit here to rent a car in Menton, Nice, Antibes or Cannes

By train

Take the Snow Train and enjoy the magnificent scenery between Nice and Casterino, through the valleys of the Middle and Upper Pays. Two hours later, once you arrive at your destination, you can appreciate this remarkable natural setting and enjoy hiking or snowshoeing and sledding on dogsleds or cross-country skiing. The train ticket price is 15€ for adults and 6.50€ for children under 12 years old (free for children under 4 years old). Go to this site to book your ticket Train of Miracles

Want to extend the experience? Find our article here 10 reasons to enjoy winter sports in Tignes