Property in The Portes du Soleil - Which Village is Right for You?

Introduction

Spanning across both the French and Swiss Alps, the Portes du Soleil has an incredible 650 km of pistes across 12 resorts, offering the unique experience of being able to ski from France into Switzerland and vice versa! 

Whether you're looking for a family-friendly atmosphere, ski-in ski-out property, or a year-round resort, there's sure to be a village to suit you. 

Alpine Property Finders have a range of apartments and chalets currently for sale in the Portes du Soleil including popular resorts such as Morzine, Les Gets, Châtel, and Champéry. But with so much choice it can be hard to narrow down which resort might be right for you.

Here we’ll take a look at some of the most popular areas.

1. Morzine - The All-Rounder

Best for: Families, year-round activities, vibrant après-ski, strong property market

Morzine is the largest and most accessible resort in the Portes du Soleil. This resort is a good choice for families who want to be close to Geneva and with plenty of non-skiing activities on offer. 

The village offers a lively resort atmosphere, plenty of bars and restaurants and easy access to the high-altitude pistes around Avoriaz via the Super Morzine gondola. 

Morzine is one of the best-placed villages within the Portes du Soleil with access to Avoriaz in one direction and Les Gets in the others. This, combined with a lively summer season, means strong rental demand and good returns for investors. 

Property prices here vary widely, with older chalets starting from around €1.5m while apartments can be found from €400,000 and upwards. 

A prime option in Morzine is Dent Blanches, a new apartment residence offering 14 luxurious apartments and penthouses right in the centre of the resort. Prices start from €440,000.


 Dent Blanches — Morzine

2. Les Gets - The Family-Friendly Village

Best for: Families, beginner-friendly skiing, relaxed vibe, luxury chalets

Les Gets is a charming, family-friendly village known for its traditional chalet-style architecture and welcoming atmosphere. 

It’s ideal for beginners and intermediate skiers, with great ski schools and gentle slopes.

Les Gets has seen plenty of development in recent years ensuring a good supply of chalets and apartments for sale. Like Morzine, Les Gets is a popular resort for year-round residents and you will find a strong sense of community and a village that never really shuts down. 
New build chalets can be found between €1.5 million and €4 million, while apartments start at around €450,000. 

A standout option here is Chalet Agora, a small hamlet of just three exclusive ski chalets, available for €2,100,000. 


Chalet Agora — Les Gets

3. Châtel - The Authentic Alpine Gem

Best for: Traditional Alpine feel, French charm, scenic beauty, affordable property options

Located near the Swiss border, Châtel is one of the most beautiful, authentic resorts in the Portes du Soleil and retains a strong French character.

A working farming village, it offers a taste of local life through farm stays, cheese-making workshops, and hearty Savoyard cuisine.

Chatel offers excellent skiing with easy access to both the French and Swiss slopes but retains a peaceful, local atmosphere. 

Property prices here are cab be slightly more affordable than some of the surrounding villages with apartments available from €350,000 and chalets starting around €1.2m.  

If you want to be close to the Linga ski lifts, one of the region’s top developers is currently building Chalets d’Asteria - a small hamlet of chalets situated in a beautiful wooded setting. Prices start from €1,280,000 for a 128m2, 3-bedroom chalet with an additional ‘cabine’ or bunk room for the kids. 


Chalets d’Asteria — Chatel

4. Champéry - The Elegant Swiss Village

Best for: Swiss charm, stunning views, peaceful environment, exclusive property market

Property on the Swiss side of the Portes du Soleil in Champéry is highly sought after. This postcard-perfect village lures luxury seekers with upscale hotels, gourmet dining, and spas overlooking the dramatic Dents du Midi peaks.

Advanced skiers will relish the link to Avoriaz via the infamous Chavanette lift (home to the Swiss Wall), while quieter Swiss slopes provide respite from crowds. Evenings here are refined, with wine bars and fondue restaurants dominating. 

The Swiss property market is generally more expensive than on the French side with new second-home laws having created very limited supply.

If you can find one, expect to pay from CHF 2m for a detached chalet. Take note, however, unless you want to move to Switzerland, you’ll have to find a chalet with an existing second home permit.  

Local Swiss developers are responding to the new laws by building apart-hotel residences which are designated ‘commercial’ hotels. These are great options if you are happy with a rental obligation and often come with full rental management. Expect to pay from CHF 600,000 for a one-bedroom apartment up to CHF 2m for a penthouse.

Final Tips for Choosing Your Village

Choosing the right Portes du Soleil village depends on what you’re looking for in a ski property investment. If you want bustling après-ski and high rental returns, Morzine is a great pick. For a family-friendly escape with long-term value, Les Gets or Châtel offers excellent opportunities. 

If you can navigate the Swiss second home laws then Champéry is a popular choice and close to Lac Leman and plenty of summer activities on the lake. 

It’s worth noting that the availability of finance is very different between Switzerland and France so if you’re looking for a mortgage, this is also a consideration. 

Mortgage rates have historically been lower in Switzerland than in France but rental yields tend to be higher in France.
 
If you’d like to discuss your own search in a bit more detail then do get in touch with the Alpine Property Finders team and we’d be delighted to assist.