Snow-covered chalets and a stone chapel below the white slopes, Courchevel
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Luxury in the French Alps

Courchevel 1850

The most exclusive village in the Alps: more Palace hotels and starred tables than anywhere in the mountains, its own altiport, and the Three Valleys, one of the largest linked ski areas in the world, at the door.

Chalets and a chapel in the snow, CourchevelPhotograph: Pexels

Bonjour

A resort built for skiing

Courchevel was not an old village that grew into a resort. It was planned from nothing after the Second World War by the Savoie authorities, who chose the slopes above Saint-Bon for a new ski station; the architect Laurent Chappis drew it so that guests could ski from their doors, and the name 1850 was taken from the altitude in metres.

It opened in the late 1940s and soon became the grandest resort in France. Its altiport, among the highest in Europe, brings light aircraft and helicopters straight into the village, and France’s Palace distinction, its highest hotel honour, has been given to more hotels here than anywhere outside Paris.

The skiing joins Méribel and Val Thorens in the Three Valleys, more than 600 kilometres of linked pistes. In the evening the village turns to its starred tables, its boutiques on the Rue du Rocher and the Croisette, and its cellar clubs.

A few words of French
EnglishFrenchSay it
Hello / Good dayBonjourbon-ZHOOR
Good eveningBonsoirbon-SWAHR
PleaseS'il vous plaîtseel voo PLAY
Thank youMercimair-SEE
The bill, pleaseL'addition, s'il vous plaîtlah-dee-SYON, seel voo PLAY
Enjoy your mealBon appétitbon ah-pay-TEE
GoodbyeAu revoiroh ruh-VWAHR
A great snow-covered peak against a deep blue sky above the Three Valleys
The high peaks above the Three Valleys

Where to go

Courchevel 1850 at a glance

When to go, the one best hotel and restaurant, and how to arrive by private jet and helicopter.

Courchevel 1850

The highest and most exclusive village of Courchevel, at the eastern end of Les 3 Vallées, one of the largest linked ski areas in the world. It has the densest concentration of top hotels and starred restaurants in the Alps, and its own altiport.

When to goWinter, December to April; summer, July and August. Christmas, New Year and February are the peak weeks.

Arrive privately
By private jet or helicopter
Courchevel Altiport (LFLJ) in the resort, for small aircraft and helicopters with trained pilots. Jets use Chambéry (CMF/LFLB), about 1 hr 30 by road or 20 min by helicopter; Geneva (GVA/LSGG) is about 2 hr 15 to 2 hr 30 by road.
A snowy track through tall firs heavy with fresh snow under a blue sky
Fresh snow in the forest, Courchevel

Stay

Luxury hotels and chalets in Courchevel 1850

The grand hotels at our standard, and the officially five-star hotels.

The grand hotels

Each holds two or three MICHELIN Keys or a Forbes Five-Star rating, or is a palace of the great resorts.

  • Cheval Blanc CourchevelCourchevel 1850

    Holds three MICHELIN Keys and the French Palace distinction, and its restaurant Le 1947 under Yannick Alléno holds three MICHELIN stars. Visit website ↗

  • Airelles CourchevelLes Airelles, Courchevel 1850

    The first of the Airelles houses, with 44 rooms and suites in a building modelled on 19th-century Austro-Hungarian castles; it holds the Palace distinction and Forbes Five-Star. Visit website ↗

  • Le K2 PalaceCourchevel 1850

    A ski-in, ski-out Palace at the foot of the slopes with 26 rooms, 3 suites, 6 suite-chalets and 4 chalets, holding three MICHELIN Keys. Visit website ↗

  • L'Apogée CourchevelCourchevel 1850

    An Oetker Collection hotel in the Jardin Alpin with rooms, suites, a penthouse and chalets, interiors by Kelly Wearstler and a La Prairie spa; it holds the Palace distinction and two MICHELIN Keys. Visit website ↗

  • Fouquet's CourchevelCourchevel 1850

    Groupe Barrière's Courchevel 1850 hotel, opened in 2016 as Hôtel Barrière Les Neiges, renamed Fouquet's Courchevel for winter 2025–26, and on France's 2026 Palace list.

  • Aman Le MélézinCourchevel 1850

    One of Aman's two Alpine ski hotels, with Aman Rosa Alpina in the Dolomites; 28 rooms, suites and apartments directly on the Bellecôte piste; winter only, two MICHELIN Keys. Visit website ↗

  • Rosewood Courchevel Le Jardin AlpinCourchevel 1850

    Rosewood's first mountain resort, opened in December 2025 with 51 rooms and suites designed by Tristan Auer; two MICHELIN Keys.

The five-star hotels

The 13 confirmed, officially five-star hotels in Courchevel.

See all 13 hotels

Courchevel

  • Airelles CourchevelLes Airelles

    Five-star, Palace; winter. The flagship of the Airelles collection, set at the foot of the Jardin Alpin slopes in Courchevel 1850. Visit website ↗

  • Cheval Blanc Courchevel

    Five-star, Palace; winter. LVMH's original Cheval Blanc maison, ski-in/ski-out in Courchevel 1850, with the three-MICHELIN-star restaurant Le 1947. Visit website ↗

  • Fouquet's Courchevel

    Five-star, Palace; winter. Groupe Barrière's Courchevel 1850 hotel, opened in 2016 as Hôtel Barrière Les Neiges and renamed Fouquet's Courchevel for winter 2025–26.

  • L'Apogée Courchevel

    Five-star, Palace; winter. The Oetker Collection's Alpine address, on the Jardin Alpin in Courchevel 1850. Visit website ↗

  • Le K2 Palace

    Five-star, Palace; winter. Laid out like a private hamlet in Courchevel 1850, with rooms, suites and private chalets. Visit website ↗

  • Aman Le Mélézin

    Five-star; winter. Visit website ↗

  • Rosewood Courchevel Le Jardin Alpin

    Five-star; winter. Rosewood's first mountain resort, opened in December 2025 with 51 rooms and suites designed by Tristan Auer.

  • Hôtel Annapurna

    Five-star; winter. Run by the Pinturault family for some 50 years, at the top of Courchevel 1850 with a large spa.

  • Le Chabichou

    Five-star; winter. Upgraded from four to five stars after the Lavorel group took it over, and home to a MICHELIN-starred restaurant.

  • Le Lana

    Five-star; winter. A family-run ski-in/ski-out hotel in the centre of Courchevel 1850.

  • La Sivolière

    Five-star; winter. A small chalet-style hotel among the pines of Courchevel 1850.

  • Hôtel du Pralong

    Five-star; winter. A slope-side hotel on the Pralong side of Courchevel 1850, next to the altiport.

  • Le Saint Roch

    Five-star; winter. A historic Courchevel 1850 hotel, reopening for the winter 2026–27 season after a complete renovation.

A chef finishing a delicate course with tweezers in the kitchen
The final touch in the kitchen

Dine

The best restaurants in Courchevel 1850

The finest tables and the chefs who cook in your chalet.

Three MICHELIN stars

  • Le 1947 à Cheval Blanc✦✦✦Courchevel

    Three MICHELIN stars in the 2026 France guide; the restaurant of the Cheval Blanc Courchevel hotel in Courchevel 1850, under chef Yannick Alléno. Visit website ↗

Two MICHELIN stars

  • Sylvestre Wahid✦✦Courchevel

    Sylvestre Wahid's restaurant at the hotel Les Grandes Alpes in Courchevel 1850.

  • Baumanière 1850✦✦Courchevel

    Thomas Prod'homme's restaurant at the hotel Le Strato in Courchevel 1850.

  • Le Sarkara✦✦Courchevel

    Pastry chef Sébastien Vauxion's dessert-led tasting restaurant at Le K2 Altitude in Courchevel 1850.

An oyster with caviar and sea urchin on crushed ice in a gold-rimmed crystal dish
Oyster and caviar

On the mountain

Lunch on the slopes, the way the Alps do it best.

  • Le Chalet de PierresCourchevel 1850

    An Airelles-owned ski-in restaurant on the Verdons piste at the Jardin Alpin, known for its seafood terrace and dessert buffet; it reopens for the winter 2026–27 season after a renovation. Visit website ↗

Private chefs and catering

For a chalet, a wedding or a party.

  • Oxford Ski Companyacross the Alps (Courchevel, Val d'Isère, Verbier, St. Moritz, Zermatt, Gstaad, Kitzbühel)

    Luxury ski specialist established in 1998; many of its chalets include a private chef who prepares meals to the guests' preferences. Visit website ↗

A family of skiers looking out over the pistes and the snowy peaks of the Three Valleys
Skiing above Courchevel

Ski

Skiing in Courchevel 1850

The Three Valleys from the door: the ski schools.

Ski schools and private instructors

  • Supreme Ski & Snowboard SchoolMéribel and Courchevel

    Founded in 1991, it uses instructors holding the BASI Level 4 International Ski Teaching Diploma or an equivalent, and offers private lessons for adults and for children from age 3. Visit website ↗

  • Oxygène Ski & Snowboard SchoolCourchevel 1850

    A French independent school known in Courchevel for small groups, usually capped at six, alongside private lessons. Visit website ↗

The Courchevel altiport with its control tower and hangars below snowy mountains
The Courchevel altiport

Travel

Private jets, helicopters and first-class travel in Courchevel 1850

The altiport in the village, Chambéry for jets, and the airlines to Geneva.

Private jet airports

  • Courchevel Altiport

    At 2,008 m, its 18.5% runway is among the steepest in the world: aircraft land uphill and take off downhill, and pilots need special qualification.

Airlines to Geneva, the gateway to Courchevel

First and business class.

See all 9
  • Qatar AirwaysDoha

    Flies from Doha to Geneva, Zurich, Munich and Milan Malpensa. Offers first class on some routes. Visit website ↗

  • Air ChinaBeijing

    Flies from Beijing to Geneva, from Beijing and Shanghai to Munich, and from Beijing, Chengdu and Shanghai to Milan Malpensa. Offers first class on some routes. Visit website ↗

  • SwissZurich

    Switzerland's national airline, flying nonstop from Zurich to New York, Newark, Boston, Washington, Chicago, Miami, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Montréal, São Paulo, Dubai, Mumbai, Bangkok, Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Tokyo and Johannesburg, and from Geneva to New York JFK. Visit website ↗

Three lit candles, a vase of dried lavender and a stick of incense on a wooden stool in a treatment room
In the spa

Experience

Events and things to do in Courchevel 1850

The finest things to do in and around Courchevel 1850.

Spas

  • Cheval Blanc SpaCourchevel 1850

    The spa of Cheval Blanc Courchevel works with Guerlain on treatments designed for the house, with a pool, hammam, sauna and an outdoor Russian banya, open through the winter season. Visit website ↗

After dark

  • Les Caves de CourchevelCourchevel 1850

    The nightclub of Courchevel 1850, on Rue des Tovets near La Croisette, with international DJs and private VIP areas, and the resort's first address for a grand night out. Visit website ↗

A bronze traveller sculpture in the snow, with holiday lights and boutiques behind
A bronze traveller in the village at night

Shop

Luxury shopping in Courchevel 1850

The boutiques of the village and its jeweller.

Shopping streets

  • Courchevel 1850

    The resort centre of Courchevel 1850 has Louis Vuitton on Rue du Rocher and Doux Joaillier, an official Rolex retailer, on Rue de l'Église, with Chanel, Hermès and Dior among its other boutiques. Visit website ↗

Watchmakers and jewellers

  • Doux JoaillierCourchevel 1850

    This jeweller on Rue de l'Église is an official Rolex retailer in the resort, offering new watches, servicing and Rolex Certified Pre-Owned pieces.

A clear turquoise lake edged with autumn grasses below a dark forest of firs
A mountain lake in autumn

Live

Living in Courchevel

A home in Courchevel: new residences above the slopes.

Branded residences and new developments

  • Six Senses Residences CourchevelCourchevel 1850

    53 apartments and duplex penthouses of up to five bedrooms in the Three Valleys, with owners able to use the Six Senses Spa, 24-hour concierge and ski shuttle and to join an optional hotel-run rental programme; Six Senses describes it as the only branded residential offering in Courchevel. Visit website ↗

A silver and orange helicopter waiting on the apron in winter sun
A helicopter ready for the transfer

Concierge

Concierge and family in Courchevel

Every detail, handled.

Family, nannies and children

  • Airelles Courchevel Winter CampCourchevel 1850

    The children's club of Airelles Courchevel, a palace hotel. Visit website ↗

  • Scott Dunn Explorers Private NannyLondon (Val d'Isère, Tignes, Courchevel and Méribel)

    The private-nanny service of the luxury tour operator Scott Dunn, for guests on its ski holidays, for children from four months to eleven years, eight hours a day, six days a week, with daily updates to parents. Visit website ↗

A rocky summit rising from snowy ridges above the Tarentaise, under a wide blue sky
The summits above the Tarentaise

Plan your trip

Luxury travel in Courchevel 1850: your questions answered

Where is Courchevel 1850?

In the Tarentaise valley in Savoie, in the French Alps, at the top of the Courchevel resort and in the heart of the Three Valleys. Its altiport takes light aircraft and helicopters; jets use Chambéry, about an hour and a half by road or 20 minutes by helicopter, or Geneva, about two and a half hours.

Why is Courchevel 1850 so exclusive?

It has more Palace hotels and MICHELIN-starred restaurants than any other resort in the Alps, its own altiport, and ski-in, ski-out chalets in the Three Valleys, one of the largest linked ski areas in the world.

When is the best time to visit Courchevel 1850?

Winter, December to April; summer, July and August. Christmas, New Year and February are the peak weeks.

Where are the best luxury hotels in Courchevel 1850?

Cheval Blanc Courchevel, three MICHELIN Keys.

How do you arrive in Courchevel 1850 by private jet?

Courchevel Altiport (LFLJ) in the resort, for small aircraft and helicopters with trained pilots.

Which are the best restaurants in Courchevel 1850?

The three-MICHELIN-star restaurant on our list here is Le 1947 à Cheval Blanc, Courchevel.

Do you tip in France?

Service is included in French prices by law ("service compris"). A tip is not owed, but for good service it is usual to leave a few euros or round up, and more at the great restaurants.

What should you wear in Courchevel 1850?

Ski clothing is normal at lunch on the mountain and at après-ski, which takes place in the bars at the end of the ski day while guests are still in ski gear; the French name is used the world over. In the evening the grand hotels keep their own standards; check each hotel's dress code.

Beyond Courchevel 1850

More in the French Alps

The other great resorts of France, and The Alps beyond.

The French AlpsCourchevel 1850, Méribel, Val d'Isère, Megève and ChamonixExplore the French AlpsThe AlpsFive countries, seventeen resorts, first class onlyExplore The Alps
A mountain restaurant terrace laid with glasses and orange cushions in front of a timber chalet
Lunch on a terrace above the slopes

Customs and etiquette

Customs and etiquette in France

How France does things.

Language
French is the language of the French Alps, from Chamonix and Megève in the Haute-Savoie to Courchevel, Méribel and Val d'Isère in the Savoie. English is spoken in the palace hotels, the ski schools and the leading restaurants of the big resorts, but a few words of French are always appreciated.
Greetings
Say "Bonjour, Madame" or "Bonjour, Monsieur" on entering a shop, a restaurant or a hotel before asking for anything; skipping the greeting reads as rude. From early evening the greeting becomes "Bonsoir". Friends greet each other with a kiss on each cheek (la bise); a handshake is right on first meeting.
Dress
Ski clothing is normal at lunch on the mountain and at après-ski, which takes place in the bars at the end of the ski day while guests are still in ski gear; the French name is used the world over. In the evening the grand hotels keep their own standards; check each hotel's dress code.
Dining and shopping
Lunch is usually served from noon to about 2 pm and dinner from about 7.30 pm; outside those hours many restaurants do not serve full meals. Book ahead for lunch at the great mountain restaurants in season. In the resorts most shops open every day during the season; in the valley towns many close on Sunday afternoons.
Tipping
Service is included in French prices by law ("service compris"). A tip is not owed, but for good service it is usual to leave a few euros or round up, and more at the great restaurants.
Mountain etiquette
The international FIS Rules for Conduct apply on the pistes. In mountain huts (refuges), book beds and meals ahead, bring a hut sleeping bag, keep quiet in the evening and take rubbish back down.

Every list on this page is checked by hand and dated: last checked October 2026. Hotels, restaurants and events link only to their own official websites, where confirmed.

Rows of perfume bottles with black caps in a perfumery, boxed scents on the shelves behind
At the perfumery

The Mediterranean Season Letter

Where to be, every season

Four letters a year, one for each season: the Mediterranean from spring to autumn, and Beyond the Mediterranean, into the Alps, in winter. The one best hotel to book, and the events worth crossing a sea for.