Samoëns

Travel Guide

Photo by Victoire Ferrari
Photo "Samoëns" by marsupilami51 (CC BY) / Cropped from original
Photo "Samoëns" by marsupilami51 (CC BY) / Cropped from original
Photo "Samoëns" by Davidsehn (CC BY) / Cropped from original
Photo "Samoëns" by marsupilami51 (CC BY) / Cropped from original

While the village of Samoëns is particularly well known for its ski resort, it is also home to some exceptional heritage, offering a break combining sport and culture.

Samoëns is a commune situated in the south of the department of Haute-Savoie, in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, close to the French-Swiss border. This land of stonecutters is a village resort par excellence, with its high-altitude ski area and a picturesque village in the Giffre Valley.

The ski resort of Samoëns boasts an exceptional view in the heart of the French Alps. It is part of the Grand Massif ski area, and is connected to four other resorts: Sixt Fer à Cheval, Flaine, Les Carroz and Morillon. From the village, you can get there in just eight minutes via the Grand Massif Express lift, and explore the 165 miles of slopes, which offer skiing for beginners and seasoned skiers alike.

Don't miss out on the other surprises Samoëns has in store, which you'll discover as you walk around the village. You can admire exceptional architecture, including in the église Notre-Dame de l'Assomption, where the chapels and oratories bear witness to the religious devotion of the village's ancestors, as well as the fountains and chalets from the 1950s and 60s.

A 3.5-hectare botanic garden contains some 4,500 species of mountain plants from five continents. A leisure centre has been built around the village's two lakes, which offer a wide range of activities (tennis, football, adventure park, paragliding, etc.) to entertain kids and grown-ups alike. The famous Gouffre Jean-Bernard cave is also perfect for potholing.

Samoëns is easy to get to by motorway from Geneva or Chamonix. You can also take the train to Cluses station, which is just over 12 miles away, and then reach the village by taxi or coach. In winter, there is also a shuttle service to Geneva airport.

An exhilarating break awaits you!

Where to stay in Samoëns

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Vercland

Though Vercland may not have many top sights, you can venture to the surrounding area to see attractions like Samoens Ski Resort and Grand Massif Express Gondola.

Vercland
Residence Club MMV SAMOENS Samoens Village

Residence Club MMV SAMOENS Samoens Village

4 out of 5
466 Rte des Drugeres Samoëns Haute-Savoie
Stay at this hotel in Samoëns. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, a steam room and parking (surcharge). Popular attractions Samoens Ski Resort and Flaine Ski Resort are located ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (17 reviews)
Great ski apartment in Samoens
Perfect location for access to the GME, great skiing and comfortable accommodation.

Reviewed on 23 Mar, 2025

Residence Club MMV SAMOENS Samoens Village
Hôtel Le Gai Soleil

Hôtel Le Gai Soleil

3 out of 5
26 rte de Taninges, Samoëns
The price is S$286 per night from 20 Dec to 21 Dec
S$286
20 Dec - 21 Dec
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 3-star spa hotel in Samoëns. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a full-service spa. Popular attractions Les Gets Ski Resort and Flaine Ski Resort ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (69 reviews)
Na

Reviewed on 15 Sept, 2025

Hôtel Le Gai Soleil
MGM Hôtels & Résidences – Hôtel Les Suites d’Alexane

MGM Hôtels & Résidences – Hôtel Les Suites d’Alexane

4 out of 5
La cour route du Giffre, Samoëns, Haute-Savoie
Stay at this 4-star spa hotel in Samoëns. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a full-service spa. Popular attractions Flaine Ski Resort and Les Gets Ski Resort ...
9.4/10 Exceptional! (123 reviews)
Downgraded on our 2nd visit
This was our second time visiting as we had found it a good all rounder 2 months earlier. We booked a deluxe double again which had a small living area as per the hotels.com photo. This time we were put in a much smaller room with no living area however our friends, whose room I had booked at the ...

Reviewed on 13 Sept, 2025

MGM Hôtels & Résidences – Hôtel Les Suites d’Alexane
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
MGM Hôtels & Résidences – Résidence Alexane

MGM Hôtels & Résidences – Résidence Alexane

5 out of 5
Avenue des Loisirs, Samoëns, Haute-Savoie
Stay at this 5-star luxury residence in Samoëns. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a fitness center. Popular attractions Flaine Ski Resort and Les Gets Ski ...
10/10 Exceptional! (48 reviews)
S
Superb accommodation, clean, comfortable with excellent facilities and friendly staff. This is the second MGM residence we have stayed in and they were both fantastic.

Reviewed on 2 Aug, 2025

MGM Hôtels & Résidences – Résidence Alexane
CGH Résidences & Spas La Reine des Prés

CGH Résidences & Spas La Reine des Prés

4 out of 5
132 route du Grand Massif, Samoëns, Haute-Savoie
Stay at this 4-star spa residence in Samoëns. Enjoy free WiFi, a full-service spa, and a fitness center. Popular attractions Flaine Ski Resort and Les Gets Ski ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (51 reviews)
Relocated to better appartment to be closer to friends, which was happily accommodated by reception staff for extra pay. Nice hotel complex with lovely pool and spa. Well equipped kitchen. Awful wifi, didn’t work at all in our area. Kitchen cleaning expected as part of check out.

Reviewed on 3 Jul, 2025

CGH Résidences & Spas La Reine des Prés
Résidence La Cour

Résidence La Cour

3 out of 5
385 Chemin de la Cour Samoëns
Stay at this ski residence in Samoëns. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and an outdoor pool. Popular attractions Samoens Ski Resort and Flaine Ski Resort are located ...
Highly recommended, great service & location
Even better than advertised. Great location - walking distance to the ski lift and the center of town. Excellent service, including the ability to buy lift passes at the inn rather than stand in line at the lifts. Very comfortable efficiency room with a deck looking at the mountains. Nice spa facility. ...

Reviewed on 3 Jan, 2024

Résidence La Cour
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Popular places to visit

Things to do

Reviews of Samoëns

4.6
Top destination
5 - Excellent
10
5 - Excellent 71%
4 - Good
2
4 - Good 14%
3 - Okay
2
3 - Okay 14%
2 - Disappointing
0
2 - Disappointing 0%
1 - Terrible
0
1 - Terrible 0%

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller

Great ski area and not overcrowded.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller

Interesting market and shops with plenty of accommodation, restaurants and bars.

4/5 - Good

Verified traveller

A lovely town. Beautiful in winter, and obviously lovely in summer too. Make sure to visit La Cirque du Fer a Cheval. But much too busy in February half term.