Skiing in April is one of the best-kept secrets of the French Alps. Around 80 resorts are still open at the start of the month, dropping to around 15 by late April and 7 by the very end. What you gain is considerable: spring sunshine, virtually empty slopes, friendly après-ski and accommodation prices that are often half what they were in February. What you need to get right is resort selection — altitude and aspect matter more in April than at any other point in the season. Here is our guide to skiing in April in the French Alps: which resorts to choose, which weeks to target and how to find the best deals.
❄️ Key points:
- Around 80 French Alpine resorts open in early April, falling to approximately 15 by late April and 7 in the final days of the month.
- Spring skiing is genuinely excellent — the accumulated winter snowpack, spring sunshine and empty slopes make for a very different but highly enjoyable experience.
- Ski in the morning for firm, fast snow; the afternoon brings softer “spring snow” on sunnier aspects.
- For snow-sure skiing to the end of your trip: resort base above 1,800 m, summit above 2,500 m, north-facing runs.
- Many resorts offer spring ski pass discounts from late March — worth checking before booking.
Spring skiing: what to expect in April
April skiing feels different from midwinter — and that is part of its appeal. The sun is strong, terraces fill up at lunchtime and you can be skiing in the morning and cycling in the valley by the afternoon. The rhythm shifts: mornings are for skiing (firm, fast snow that softens gradually as the sun hits), afternoons can be for other activities, mountain restaurants or simply sitting in the sun with a beer.
The key rule for good April skiing is straightforward: go high and go north. Prioritise domains where the majority of runs are above 2,000 m, with a north-facing orientation that keeps the snow cold throughout the day. For ski-in/ski-out convenience without carrying your skis home, choose a resort with a snow front (base village or main lift station) above 1,800 m — Tignes, Val Thorens, Avoriaz and Les Deux Alpes are the prime examples. Snow accumulated over four months at altitude does not disappear on 1 April.
Which resorts are open in April?
Of the 150 French Alpine ski resorts, around 80 extend their season into April. Snow depth at altitude is typically excellent — in the last 15 years, resorts have been forced to close early only once, during an unusually warm and dry spring. Here is our selection by week and ski objective.
Early April (1–14): widest choice, best conditions
Around 80 resorts are open in the first week of April — the conditions closest to midwinter, with the widest choice of terrain. Our recommendations by objective:
- For big-mountain skiing: the Three Valleys (Val Thorens, Méribel, Les Menuires, Courchevel), Val d’Isère, Les Arcs and Peisey-Vallandry — all high-altitude, all with extensive terrain still fully open.
- For sunshine skiing: Alpe d’Huez and Isola 2000 — south-facing but high enough to hold snow well into April, with exceptional spring light.
- For village atmosphere: Châtel, Valloire, Bonneval-sur-Arc and Les Contamines — authentic Alpine villages with good April snow at altitude.
- For best value: Saint-François-Longchamp, Saint-Sorlin-d’Arves, Valmeinier, Risoul and Chamrousse — all open in early April with apartments available at very low prices.
Mid-April (14–21): 35 resorts still open
By mid-April, around 35 resorts remain open. Focus increasingly on altitude:
- For high-altitude big skiing: Val d’Isère, Tignes, Les Arcs, Peisey-Vallandry and the Three Valleys resorts remain excellent — some closing by the end of this week.
- For village character: Bonneval-sur-Arc, La Rosière, Champagny-en-Vanoise and Montgenèvre all combine good snow with authentic atmosphere.
- For the Southern Alps: Montgenèvre and Serre Chevalier offer some of the best spring skiing in the French Alps — sunshine, north-facing runs and prices well below the major Savoie resorts.
Late April (21–30): 7 resorts at the end of the month
By the final week of April, seven resorts remain open: Val Thorens, Tignes, Val d’Isère, Les Deux Alpes, Chamonix (Grands Montets) and Orelle (gateway to the Three Valleys from the valley floor). All are high-altitude and all offer full winter conditions on upper runs. Our recommendations:
- Val Thorens, Tignes, Les Deux Alpes, Val d’Isère, La Plagne, Les Arcs and Peisey-Vallandry — for a final week of high-altitude skiing with the full domain open.
- Bonneval-sur-Arc and Val d’Isère — for village atmosphere combined with serious skiing.
- Chamonix — for those who want skiing as one option among many: the valley is green, the restaurants and bars are open, the Aiguille du Midi cable car runs year-round and the Grands Montets domain offers exceptional late-season off-piste.
- Les Deux Alpes, Tignes and La Plagne — for the best prices in late April.
Where to stay for April skiing
April is the best month of the ski season for accommodation value. Prices drop sharply from late March — a ski-in/ski-out apartment for four that costs €1,200 per week in February can frequently be found for €500–600 in April. Three accommodation formats work particularly well:
Hotels for April skiing
Hotels are particularly good for short breaks — three or four nights of spring skiing, taking advantage of the lower mid-week rates. Some standout options for April:
- Les Grandes Rousses, Alpe d’Huez — 5-star with one of the finest spas in the Alps, ski-in/ski-out. Check availability →
- Le Marielle, Val Thorens — contemporary 4-star with direct piste access in Europe’s highest resort. Check availability →
- Le Refuge de Solaise, Val d’Isère — France’s highest hotel at 2,551 m, luxury ski-in/ski-out on the Val d’Isère slopes. Check availability →
- Heliopic, Chamonix — at the foot of the Aiguille du Midi cable car, 500 m² Nuxe spa. Check availability →
- L’Anova & Spa, Montgenèvre — 3-star with spa, directly on the slopes of the last Southern Alps resort to close in April. Check availability →
- L’Araucaria, La Plagne — recently renovated, ski-in/ski-out, good value for April. Check availability →
Club hotels: all-inclusive in April
To close their season, the major French holiday club operators offer very competitive all-inclusive packages in April — accommodation, full board, lift pass and children’s clubs included. For families in particular, the all-in price makes budgeting simple and the end-of-season atmosphere in these clubs tends to be very convivial. Look at:
- Belambra Tignes Val Claret — the former Club Med Tignes, fully renovated, 100% ski-focused. Check availability →
- Belambra Les Deux Alpes — former Club Med, renovated, ski-in/ski-out. Check availability →
- Belambra Hôtel du Golf, Les Arcs — all-inclusive at the heart of Arc 1800, facing the slopes. Check availability →
FAQ — skiing in April in the French Alps
Yes — significantly. Most resorts apply spring ski pass discounts from late March or early April: reduced daily rates, web-exclusive deals and free children’s passes are common. It is worth checking each resort’s website directly before booking, as offers vary and change frequently. Some of the largest discounts are available at resorts in their final week before closing.
Yes, but the choice narrows considerably. By late April, around seven resorts remain open: Val Thorens, Tignes, Val d’Isère, Les Deux Alpes, Chamonix (Grands Montets) and Orelle. All are high-altitude and offer excellent skiing on upper terrain. Val Thorens, Tignes and Val d’Isère typically stay open until early May.
For reliable ski-in/ski-out conditions throughout your stay, choose a resort with its base (snow front or main lift station) above 1,800 m and a summit above 2,500 m. Val Thorens (base 2,100 m), Tignes (base 2,100 m), Les Deux Alpes (base 1,650 m, glacier at 3,600 m) and Val d’Isère (base 1,800 m) all meet this criterion comfortably.
For the best value in April, look at mid-sized resorts in their final weeks before closing: Valmeinier, Saint-Sorlin-d’Arves, Risoul and Valmorel often offer very low apartment prices as they approach closure. For late April at high altitude, Les Deux Alpes and Tignes tend to offer better value than Val d’Isère or Val Thorens.
Yes — April is an excellent time for beginners and intermediates. The lower slopes are often quieter, instructors are more available and the spring atmosphere makes for a relaxed learning environment. The softer afternoon snow is also more forgiving for those still building confidence. Avoid very late April if you are a beginner, as lower green runs may be closing — choose a resort where the beginner terrain is above 1,800 m.
👉 Read also: Where to ski in March in the French Alps · French Alps in April: beyond skiing · 18 best value ski resorts in the French Alps