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A Christmas ski trip is perhaps one of the quintessential skiing experiences - the ultimate gift for all the family and a surefire way to make lifelong memories.
With their pretty chalets and conifers frosted with snow, the mountains don’t just provide the perfect setting for a dream family Christmas; that ever-present magic is amplified as many resorts go all out on the festive spirit, with beautiful lights, twinkling Christmas trees, markets brimming with local produce and great stocking-fillers, fireworks displays and parades to discover.
Best of all, you can ski - and even on 25th December! There’s nothing quite like spending Christmas Day on the slopes, stopping for a Glühwein (mulled wine) or hot chocolate in a mountain hut, and returning to your chalet for Christmas dinner (and all the clearing up) done for you.
But where should you go if you want maximum seasonal cheer? We’ve considered factors like early-season snow surety, charm and festive events to bring you our ranking of the 10 best Christmas ski resorts in Europe.
What’s skiing at Christmas like?
Skiing over the festive period is the ultimate experience. As soon as you arrive, you’ll see that resorts welcome yuletide with open arms - decking the town out in brightly-coloured lights and Christmas trees, and putting on parades, displays and theatrical entertainment that will delight you whether you’re five or 55.
Best of all - when you visit one of our top Christmas ski resorts in particular - a white Christmas is virtually guaranteed.
Keep an eye out for resorts that put on a traditional Christmas market. With the scent of spiced treats and drinks wafting through the air, you won’t be able to resist grabbing a last minute gift from the little wooden huts selling local, hand-crafted products.
Make sure to embrace local traditions and delicacies. For example, in much of Europe, they open gifts and have their main meal on Christmas Eve. The French feast is a sight to behold, kicking off with indulgent dishes like foie gras and oysters before the roast is served. And in Austria, it’s not uncommon to celebrate with a fried carp.
But don’t worry, you won’t have to forgo all tradition: many hotels and chalets provide a Christmas dinner on the 25th, so you can look forward to indulging without the usual cooking or cleaning. All things considered, you may never want to spend Christmas at home again.
How did we rank our resorts?
We ranked our resorts according to the following factors:
- December snow conditions (for a magical white Christmas and good skiing conditions)
- Whether there’s a Christmas market in resort
- Additional festive activities
- A ‘prettiness’ score reflecting Christmas charm, scored on a scale of 1-6 (this includes churches, lakes, trees, traffic-calming measures, and more)
- Whether you can ski on Christmas Day (spoiler: you can in all our resorts)
Our top 10 resorts for Christmas skiing
Claiming five spots in our ranking, the undisputed champion of Christmas skiing in France, with many of its resorts going the extra mile to bring the festive cheer. Expect visits from Father Christmas, carol singing, fireworks, and more. On top of that, French resorts tend to enjoy decent early-season snow, so you can indulge in some top-notch skiing as well as the mince pies and mulled wine.
However, spending Christmas in Austria and Italy can be just as magical. Austria is notable for its unique cast of Christmas characters, including Krampus, who accompanies Saint Nick to punish naughty children, and the angelic Christkind, who delivers gifts. And with top resorts like St Anton and Obergurgl seeing an average of around 3.5 days of snow a week in December, you’re in for a treat on the skiing front as well.
Christmas in Italy is typically a quieter affair, but many resorts still get dressed up in tasteful lights and decorations and hold low-key celebrations. It’s a good option if you prefer less crowded slopes and a more budget-friendly skiing holiday - according to our data, the average per person cost of an Iglu Ski trip to Italy in December is £1,270, compared to £1,423 for France and £1,404 for Austria.
According to our research, the top resorts for a Christmas ski holiday are:
- Chamonix
- Meribel
- Val d'Isere
- St Anton
- Val Thorens
- Alpe d'Huez
- Obergurgl
- Lech
- Cortina
- Zell am See
| Resort | December snow/week (cm) | December snow days/week | Christmas market | No. Christmas events | Christmas charm | Christmas Day skiing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chamonix | 44 | 3.2 | Yes | 6 | 6 | Yes |
| Méribel | 35 | 3.1 | No | 9 | 4 | Yes |
| Val d'Isere | 39 | 3.2 | No | 6 | 5 | Yes | St Anton | 37 | 3.4 | Yes | 1 | 3 | Yes |
| Val Thorens | 35 | 3 | No | 9 | 3 | Yes | Alpe d'Huez | 39 | 3 | No | 8 | 3 | Yes |
| Obergurgl | 30 | 3.6 | Yes | 1 | 4 | Yes |
| Lech | 38 | 3.4 | Yes | 0 | 3 | Yes |
| Cortina | 25 | 2.7 | Yes | 1 | 5 | Yes |
| Zell am See | 19 | 3 | Yes | 3 | 6 | Yes |
1. Chamonix
Weekly snow in December: 44cm
Weekly snow days in December: 3.2
Is there a Christmas market: Yes
Additional noteworthy celebrations: 6
Prettiness score: 6/6
Christmas Day skiing: Yes
If you want to end the search for that elusive Christmassy feeling, there’s only one place to go: Chamonix.
One of France’s oldest ski resorts, Chamonix’s heritage and traditional architecture give it an authentic charm that newer, purpose-built resorts simply can’t match.
It scores high on all our ranking factors, including full marks for prettiness, and, at 44cm a week, has the healthiest December snowfall of any resort. That thick white blanket is great for skiing and for ensuring that picture-postcard look (though as the town is down at 1,035m, snow at resort level isn’t guaranteed).
During your holiday, you can drink mulled wine in the sprawling market, meet Father Christmas, marvel at the Farandole and Elves parades, and have your cockles warmed by the local choir. There’s also a torchlit ski show, an ice rink, and more.
Christmas in Chamonix just might go down as an all-time favourite family holiday. And with a transfer time of just 1 hour 30 minutes from Geneva, you won’t have to wait too long to get stuck into the festivities.
2. Méribel
Weekly snow in December: 35cm
Weekly snow days in December: 3.1
Is there a Christmas market: No
Additional noteworthy celebrations: 9
Prettiness score: 4/6
Christmas Day skiing: Yes
Méribel is the festive heart of the Three Valleys, and the second most Christmassy resort in our ranking.
The prevalence of wood and stone chalet-style architecture (and the absence of high-rise blocks that characterise many purpose-built resorts) amidst densely-forested slopes lend Méribel a truly winter wonderland-style appearance.
The resort doesn’t have its own Christmas market, but it does put on plenty of festive spectacle, including the Parade of the Dancing Elves, singalongs in the town centre, and torchlit ski descents. There’s also an unusual visit from Father Christmas that sees the man in red and his elves making their way along the rooftops with a sack of golden presents.
December snow is decent, with around 35cm falling and 3.1 snow days a week. And at 1,400m, you may see a dusting of snow at resort level.
Read more: Merry Méribel also clinched the second spot in our ranking of the best Christmas resorts in France. Check out where else made the cut if you're planning a trip to our most festive skiing country.
3. Val d’Isere
Weekly snow in December: 39cm
Weekly snow days in December: 3.2
Is there a Christmas market: No
Additional noteworthy celebrations: 6
Prettiness score: 5/6
Christmas Day skiing: Yes
Val d’Isere is one of France’s most famous and most snow-sure ski resorts, and deserves to also be known as one of its most festive.
If you visit in December, you’ll see the resort transformed into a winter wonderland. The town centre becomes a Christmas village, with bountiful decorations and lights, well stocked stalls, and a sackful of entertainment.
You can also help the Elves make decorations in their workshop. And don’t miss the torchlit descent down the Bellevarde Face slope. The tourist office hosts carol singing on Christmas Eve and, of course, Father Christmas makes an appearance to dish out presents to deserving children. In fact, there’s a full parade, with Papa Noël driving his sleigh down the resort’s main street (which is closed for the occasion) accompanied by his elves.
4. St Anton
Weekly snow in December: 37cm
Weekly snow days in December: 3.4
Is there a Christmas market?: Yes
Additional noteworthy celebrations: 1
Prettiness score: 3/6
Christmas Day skiing: Yes
St Anton is Austria’s premier Christmas skiing destination, embodying all the best qualities that the land of steins and oompah (brass bands) has to offer.
It has its own Christmas market in the grounds of the museum, and there’s a life-size nativity scene and more carol singing and brass band performances than you could shake a schnitzel at. Speaking of schnitzels, make sure to stuff yourself with hearty local cuisine - the Austrians are experts in seasonal indulgence.
If you’ve heard anything about St Anton, it’s probably about its reputation as a party town. This is well-deserved, and après fans will no-doubt delight in the resort’s festive revelry. That said, families with young children are not left out in the cold. Advent Magic in the Park, a Christmas-themed trail, takes place on several December dates. You can also enjoy the reading of traditional festive stories and poems in a rustic log cabin, and give the elves a hand with crafting in their workshops.
On top of all that, St Anton has superb December snowfall (37cm per week) and is part of the mighty Arlberg ski area, the largest in Austria, with over 305km of pistes.
Read more:
Beginner? St Anton can be challenging for learners. Make sure to check out our guide on the best Austrian ski resorts for beginners , which includes Lech, our eighth best Christmas ski resort.
5. Val Thorens
Weekly snow in December: 35cm
Weekly snow days in December: 3
Is there a Christmas market: No
Additional noteworthy celebrations: 9
Prettiness score: 3/6
Christmas Day skiing: Yes
Another entry from the Three Valleys, at 2,300m, Val Thorens is one of the highest resorts in Europe. That means it’s also one of its most snow-sure, which as near as guarantees a white Christmas.
What of its other festive qualities? Well, the resort serves up spoonfuls of merriment, including all the usual stuff, including a visit from Father Christmas, a treasure hunt, torchlit descent and fireworks. Previous years have seen VT host unique events like a winter concert by a professional gospel group, the Alaskan Games (a huge escape game), and the Lady of Winter show, a combination of performance, lights and digital arts.
There have also been workshops where children have the chance to make a robot out of lego and a personalised wooden chalet. And on Christmas day, they can try balance bikes with the ESF ski school and take part in their own torchlit descent. Watch out for similar antics and activites in its future calendar of Christmas events.
6. Alpe d’Huez
Weekly snow in December: 39cm
Weekly snow days in December: 3
Is there a Christmas market: No
Additional noteworthy celebrations: 8
Prettiness score: 3/6
Christmas Day skiing: Yes
Sitting at 1,869m, Alpe d’Huez is another safe bet if you want to maximise your chances of a White Christmas at resort level, and one of our most snow-sure French ski resorts.
As well as the snow, the town doesn’t disappoint when it comes to festivity. Expect bright lights and decorations, and a full feast of Christmas events and entertainment. That includes Santa’s Cottage at the Red Chalet. Entry is free but don’t forget to register at the tourist office.
You can also enjoy a Christmas concert and exhibition at the Palais des Sports, and the library puts on a theatrical show. If you’re feeling the urge for some friendly, festive competitiveness that monopoly can’t quite satisfy, the Quartier de l’Eclose hosts games that all the family can take part in.
Every Christmas Eve, the ski school instructors perform their torchlit descent of the Signal piste, there’s a fantastic fireworks display, and free hot chocolate and mulled wine is served. Then it’s time for Father Christmas to pay a visit and hand out gifts.
Iglu Ski’s Aimee spent Christmas 2024 in Alpe d’Huez, here’s her first-hand account:
“There was such a lovely atmosphere on Christmas Eve in Alpe d’Huez. We wandered into the resort centre, where they were giving out free hot chocolate and vin chaud (mulled wine) next to the ice skating rink. From there, we watched the torchlit descent and the magnificently theatrical parade as it made its way down the main street.”
7. Obergurgl
Weekly snow in December: 30cm
Weekly snow days in December: 3.6
Is there a Christmas market?: Yes
Additional noteworthy celebrations: 1
Prettiness score: 4/6
Christmas Day Skiing: Yes
High-altitude, family-friendly, pretty, and with 110km of skiing across its wider ski area, Obergurgl is both a brilliant resort for some early-season snow and a great place to spend Christmas.
The Christmas market, held every Friday and Sunday in the run up to the big day, is a particular highlight. There you can buy regional products, including textiles, handcrafted wooden art, and decorations. And you can stuff yourself with local delicacies and mulled wine while you’re entertained by Huben, the local brass band.
The town is decked out in lights and decorations and, thanks to the resort’s altitude, typically covered in snow. While the resort is a great place for families with young children, there are plenty of good party spots. For example, at Nederhutte, après shenanigans are soundtracked by the in-house band Nederlumpen most days, including Christmas day.
Read more:
Four Austrian resorts made our overall ranking, but there are more to discover in our list of the best Austrian ski resorts for a Christmas ski holiday.
8. Lech
Weekly snow in December: 38cm
Weekly snow days in December: 3.4
Is there a Christmas market?: Yes
Additional noteworthy celebrations: None
Prettiness score: 3/6
Christmas Day skiing: Yes
A close neighbour of St Anton in the Arlberg ski area, Lech is another of Austria’s best resorts and a near-perfect Christmas skiing destination.
With its traditional Austrian Alpine architecture and stunning natural scenery, Lech is a pretty resort at the best of times, and this is doubly true at Christmas, with its twinkling lights and decorated town centre. Head to the church square for a maximum dose of merriment. Here, the Christmas market is on from 4pm to 8pm. Soak up the atmosphere, buy trinkets from little wooden huts and enjoy local delicacies like hot punch or the hotel Sandhof’s famous hot whiskey sour.
There’s also an extensive advent programme in the run up to Christmas, including a concert of Alpine and Tyrolean folk and choral music (this year on the 21st), and, of course, a visit from Saint Nicholas. You’ll find him giving out presents in the church square.
9. Cortina
Snowfall per week in December: 25cm
Snow days per week in December: 2.7
Is there a Christmas market: Yes
Additional noteworthy celebrations: 1
Prettiness score: 5/6
Christmas Day skiing: Yes
Christmas in Cortina is a sight to behold. With its luxury hotels, shops and restaurants, the Queen of the Dolomites has a reputation as the go-to resort for the Italian elite. That means it knows how to meet high expectations, and the festive period is no different.
From the start of December to January, Corso Italia, Cortina’s pedestrianised shopping street, and the Piazza Angelo Dibona, the town’s lively central square, are transformed with light installations and decorations.
A large tree is erected and adorned and, every day from 1st December, a new window on the facade of the Comun Vècio (the lovely old town hall on Corso Italia) is opened to reveal a backlit nativity scene. On top of that, the Bell tower in the square is illuminated with lights and sometimes animations, and the square itself hosts an expansive Christmas market, where you can buy handmade items, mulled wine and roasted chestnuts. The delightful smells alone are worth the visit. You can also expect events, including gospel and music concerts, theatre, dance and entertainment for all the family.
And don’t forget to ski: Cortina has 120km of local pistes and is in prime position on the Dolomiti Superski’s Sella Ronda circuit.
Read more:
Cortina isn't the only Italian resort that embraces the seasonal cheer. Discover the rest of the best Christmas ski resorts in Italy.
10. Zell am See
Weekly snow in December: 19cm
Weekly snow days in December: 3
Is there a Christmas market?: Yes
Additional noteworthy celebrations: 3
Prettiness score: 6/6
Christmas Day skiing: Yes
If you think ice skating on a frozen lake is a scene that exists solely in the world of Christmas cards, think again. In Zell am See, a charming Austrian resort on the shores of a vast lake, this is sometimes a reality.
But that’s not all. Zell am See’s Christmas calendar is stuffed with seasonal fun. The Star Advent Market takes place every Wednesday to Sunday in the resort’s pretty centre, with stalls selling (you guessed it) handcrafted woodwork, mulled wine, roasted nuts, and more. And there’s another market that takes place on the shores of the lake, with a display of illuminated stars floating on the water.
Those aren’t the only festive events that feature the lake. On Christmas Day, a tree is submerged 15 metres below the surface of the water and then rescued by divers surrounded by lit torches to a soundtrack of Christmas music.
And with the Skicircus on your doorstep, between mouthfuls of nuts and hot punch, you just might have time to explore the area’s 270km of downhill skiing.
Read more:
Whether you have learners in your group or your kids are skiing for the very first time, Zell am See is a great ski resort for beginners.
Book your Christmas ski trip with Iglu Ski
At Iglu Ski, we’ve had our fair share of Christmas ski holidays and we want more skiers to treat themselves and their families to this ultimate gift.
Forget hosting the in-laws or spending most of the day cooking and tidying up — why not wake up on Christmas morning, strap on your skis, and get out on the mountain. And with many resorts and accommodation providers taking care of the food and entertainment, all you have to do is look forward to precious time together as a family and friends.
Whether you’re looking for a Christmas ski holiday in France, Austria, or Italy, we work with dozens of tour operators to be able to deliver more deals than any other agent, so you’re sure to find the perfect trip.
On top of that, we give you everything you need for your trip in one place: from your luggage and lift passes to ski school and childcare, you can arrange as much or as little as you like through Iglu Ski — whatever your Christmas wishes, our ski experts are here to make it happen.