Few après ski experiences are as iconic as La Folie Douce
For many skiers, the perfect day doesn’t end when the lifts close…
Instead, it continues with dancing on a sun-drenched mountain terrace, live saxophone solos, acrobatic performers, DJs dropping dance anthems and hundreds of ski boots bouncing in unison. Welcome to La Folie Douce — arguably the most famous après ski venue in the Alps.
From its beginnings in Val d’Isère in 1974, La Folie Douce has become an institution, transforming mountainside lunches into unforgettable afternoon parties. Today, its venues attract thousands of skiers every winter, combining restaurants, live entertainment and spectacular Alpine scenery into one unique experience.
If après is high on your ski holiday wishlist, here are the Skiworld chalet resorts where you can experience La Folie Douce for yourself.
8 Destinations, 27 Restaurants – The highest cabaret in the world
What Makes La Folie Douce So Popular?
La Folie Douce isn’t simply another mountain restaurant or après ski bar. It’s an experience.
Every afternoon, the terraces come alive with internationally renowned DJs, live singers, saxophonists, dancers, aerial performers and cabaret-style entertainment. You can hear the music miles before you can see the venue, as it draws you in like a moth to a flame. Before you know it, you’re dancing on tables in your ski boots alongside hundreds of fellow skiers.
The atmosphere is infectious, and offers an energy that’s difficult to find anywhere else on the mountain.
Val Thorens
The highest resort in Europe really knows how to throw a party
At 2,300m, Europe’s highest ski resort naturally knows a thing or two about high-altitude fun. The Folie Douce here enjoys an incredible setting beneath the Plein Sud chairlift, combining exceptional snow conditions with one of the liveliest après ski scenes anywhere in France.
Why ski here?
- Europe’s highest ski resort
- Access to the vast Three Valleys
- High-energy après ski every afternoon at La Folie Douce
👉 Find out more about ski holidays in Val Thorens
Val d’Isère
Val d’Isère is where the La Folie Douce story first began
The original and arguably most iconic La Folie Douce, Val d’Isère has been entertaining skiers since the concept was born in 1974. Set above La Daille, it remains one of the Alps’ definitive après ski experiences.
Why ski here?
- Home of the original La Folie Douce
- World-class skiing across the Val d’Isère-Tignes ski area
- Legendary nightlife long after the mountain party finishes
👉 Find out more about ski holidays in Val d’Isere
Méribel & Courchevel
Après ski meets luxury in Méribel and Courchevel
Perfectly positioned between two of the Alps’ most prestigious resorts, La Folie Douce Méribel-Courchevel is a favourite among Three Valleys skiers. Its central location makes it an easy lunchtime or afternoon stop during a day exploring the world’s largest linked ski area.
Why ski here?
- Ski the world’s largest linked ski area
- Folie Douce easily accessible from both Méribel and Courchevel
- Spectacular mountain terrace and live entertainment at La Folie Douce
👉 Find out more about ski holidays in Meribel & Courchevel
Les Arcs
Les Arcs combines fantastic skiing and scenery with one of the newest Folie Douce venues
One of the newer additions to the La Folie Douce family, the Les Arcs venue has quickly established itself as one of Paradiski’s must-visit après ski destinations. Conveniently located in Arc 1800, it’s perfectly located for skiers exploring both Les Arcs and neighbouring La Plagne.
Why ski here?
- Fantastic chalet locations in Arc 1800, 1950 and 2000
- Access to over 425km of Paradiski pistes
- Easy ski-in ski-out return to resort from La Folie Douce
👉 Find out more about ski holidays in Les Arcs
Alpe d’Huez
Sunshine and southern Alpine skiing create the perfect party atmosphere
Nicknamed the “Island in the Sun”, Alpe d’Huez enjoys an abundance of sunshine, making it the ideal setting for long afternoons on La Folie Douce’s famous terrace. Add glacier skiing, extensive intermediate terrain and lively nightlife, and it’s easy to understand its enduring popularity.
Why ski here?
- One of the sunniest resorts in the Alps
- Superb intermediate skiing
- Incredible south-facing après ski terrace at La Folie Douce
👉 Find out more about ski holidays in Alpe d’Huez
Where to Stay: The Skiworld Chalet Experience
After an afternoon dancing on the mountain, there’s nothing better than returning to the comfort of a catered ski chalet.
Instead of worrying about where to eat or organising dinner after a full day on the slopes, your chalet host takes care of everything. Freshly prepared breakfasts set you up for the day ahead, afternoon tea and cake provide the perfect post-ski refuel, and delicious three-course evening meals with wine mean you can simply relax and relive the day’s highlights.
Whether you’re staying in Val d’Isère, Courchevel, Méribel, Val Thorens, Les Arcs or Alpe D’Huez, Skiworld’s catered chalets offer the perfect balance of sociable atmosphere and home-from-home comfort. Gather around the dining table with friends, swap stories from La Folie Douce and get ready to do it all again tomorrow.
For groups in particular, a catered chalet is hard to beat. Spacious communal areas, dedicated chalet hosts and exceptional locations close to the slopes, the resort or both, make them the ideal base for an unforgettable ski holiday.
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The Best Après Ski Resorts in the Alps
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