Samoëns Travel Guide

Tourist Guide
Photo by Victoire Ferrari
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
Neige et Roc, The Originals Relais
Neige et Roc, The Originals Relais
4 out of 5
255 route de Taninges, Samoëns
The price is £122 per night from 3 Jun to 4 Jun
£122
per night
3 Jun - 4 Jun
Stay at this 4-star spa hotel in Samoëns. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking and an outdoor pool. Popular attractions Avoriaz Ski Resort and Jaysinia Alpine Botanical ...
9/10 Wonderful! (91 reviews)
"Lovely owners. A little distance from the ski lift but regular bus or short walk was fine. Very comfortable and good restaurant. Recommended."

Reviewed on 6 Apr 2024

Neige et Roc, The Originals Relais
Hôtel Le Gai Soleil
Hôtel Le Gai Soleil
3 out of 5
26 rte de Taninges, Samoëns
Stay at this 3-star spa hotel in Samoëns. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking and a full-service spa. Popular attractions Avoriaz Ski Resort and Jaysinia Alpine Botanical ...
9/10 Wonderful! (51 reviews)
"Very nice hotel with great rooms."

Reviewed on 17 Feb 2024

Hôtel Le Gai Soleil
Hôtel Alexane
Hôtel 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 Jaysinia Alpine Botanical Gardens and Grand ...
9.4/10 Exceptional! (83 reviews)
"Hotel manager absolutely superb, went above and beyond when we had to arrange something urgently."

Reviewed on 19 Jan 2024

Hôtel 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.
Résidence Lagrange Vacances Les Fermes de Samoëns
Résidence Lagrange Vacances Les Fermes de Samoëns
3 out of 5
347 chemin de Sur la Ville, Lieu-dit Les Beules, Samoëns, Haute-Savoie
Stay at this 3-star residence in Samoëns. Enjoy WiFi, a sauna and on-site parking. Popular attractions Grand Massif Express Gondola and Jaysinia Alpine Botanical ...
7.6/10 Good! (62 reviews)
Good accommodation for those on a budget
"Good accommodation for the price. Apartment needs redecorating but was clean and warm. Great location with good facilities for families. Pool is good but be warned it is cold. Sauna and steam room lovely."

Reviewed on 30 Mar 2024

Résidence Lagrange Vacances Les Fermes de Samoëns
Large Family Friendly Chalet With Panoramic Mountain Views
Large Family Friendly Chalet With Panoramic Mountain Views
Samoëns, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Stay at this family-friendly chalet in Samoëns. Enjoy free WiFi, on-site parking and an arcade/games room. Popular attractions Les Gets Ski Resort and Flaine ...
7.8/10 Good! (30 reviews)
Large Chalet in a great location
"Plenty of room in the Chalet for our group and nice to have the games room as well, not something we've had before. The location suited us well, we could walk into the village each evening for a meal (15-20min) with plenty of restaurants to choose from and just a short drive to the ski lift with ..."

Reviewed on 14 Feb 2023

Large Family Friendly Chalet With Panoramic Mountain Views
Apartment on the ground floor facing south in Samoëns of 43 m2
Apartment on the ground floor facing south in Samoëns of 43 m2
Samoëns, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Stay at this apartment in Samoëns. Enjoy on-site parking, a garden and an in-room DVD player. Popular attractions Grand Massif Express Gondola and Jaysinia Alpine ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (9 reviews)
Beautiful views
"We had a fantastic holiday in Samoens. The property was lovely, very peaceful and with beautiful views. The kitchen was well-equipped and the big bedroom had plenty of storage. The smaller room with the bunk beds was perfectly adequate. Beds were comfy. If only there was wifi!"

Reviewed on 4 May 2018

Apartment on the ground floor facing south in Samoëns of 43 m2
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 71.42857142857143%
4 - Good
2
" "4 - Good 14.285714285714286%
3 - Okay
2
" "3 - Okay 14.285714285714286%
2 - Disappointing
0
" "2 - Disappointing 0%
1 - Terrible
0
" "1 - Terrible 0%

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller
1 Apr 2019

Great ski area and not overcrowded.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller
8 Mar 2019

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

4/5 - Good

Verified traveller
24 Feb 2019

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.

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