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Best resorts in France for a Christmas ski holiday

 View of Val d'Isere from the slopes

Pretty Val d'Isère is a top pick for a snowy getaway at Christmas

There’s nothing quite as special as a Christmas ski holiday, where you’ll be surrounded by snow on the slopes, brilliant Alpine food and an infectious festive spirit spread across resort.

Enjoy skiing with friends and family every day (yes, even Christmas Day!) and break it up with hot chocolates and roast dinners in Christmassy mountain huts and chalets - a whole world away from the grey skies back at home.

With plenty of extra festive activities, beautiful decorations and scenery, and amazing après-ski (if that’s what you’re after), a festive ski trip in France is one that you’ll never forget.

Below, we’ll tell you all about skiing in France over Christmas, including where to go for the prettiest resorts, the best places for loads of snow, and the most spectacular celebrations.

 

READ MORE: Not sure on France? Have a look at our best Christmas ski resorts in Austria.

 

What's it like to celebrate Christmas in a French ski resort?

 

French ski resorts tend to have a much higher proportion of British visitors compared to other skiing countries, meaning celebrations and traditions will probably feel a bit more familiar to you than in Austria and Italy.

French people tend to have their main meal late on Christmas Eve, consisting of a huge variety of food - think oysters and scallops, alongside the usual roast meats. Your accommodation may also put on a meal on Christmas Day, but you’ll have to check this before you book.

There is a big emphasis on Father Christmas - in the same Coca-Cola-red version as we know him in the UK - arriving in town and meeting all the excited children waiting for him. In Méribel he even scuttles across rooftops, much to the amazement of everyone below.

You can also expect parades with dancers and theatrical performances (you can follow what’s going on despite it usually being in French - and if not, it’s still a marvellous sight).

The French seem to love some fireworks at Christmas, too, and most resorts put on a show on the slopes where the ski school instructors ski down in a winding snake formation while holding torches.

Most importantly though, don’t forget that the lifts will be whirring and the slopes buzzing with skiers on Christmas Day - a magical occasion.

 

The Iglu Expert

Iglu Ski team member, Aimee, spent Christmas 2024 in the Alps with her partner:
“We loved the festive atmosphere - there was a calendar of events, including a parade and torchlit descent, and the free vin chaud and hot chocolate in the resort centre was a really nice touch. Plus, we had great snow!”

 


 

Our top 7 resorts for Christmas skiing in France

 

If you’re keen to get away to France for a Christmas ski holiday but haven’t nailed down which resort, then we’ve put together this guide to help you.

Using a variety of data and our own resort knowledge, we’ve put together a scoring system to help you choose your perfect ski resort - have a look at the table just a bit below to see which resorts suit your preferences.

 

Factors we've considered include: 

  • December snow conditions (for a magical white Christmas!)

  • Whether there’s a Christmas market in resort

  • A ‘prettiness’ score reflecting Christmas charm (this includes churches, lakes, trees, traffic-calming measures, and more)

  • Whether there is Christmas Day skiing

 

According to our research, the top French resorts for a Christmas ski holiday are:

  1. Chamonix

  2. Alpe d'Huez

  3. Val Thorens

  4. La Plagne

  5. Les Deux Alpes

  6. Méribel

  7. Morzine

 

You can compare the stats for each resort in the table below:

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
Alpe d'Huez 39 3 No 8 3 Yes
Val Thorens 35 3 No 9 3 Yes
La Plagne 35 3.1 No 7 4 Yes
Les Deux Alpes 42 3 No 6 3 Yes
Méribel 35 3.1 No 9 4 Yes
Morzine 28 2.7 Yes 6 4 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
 

Chamonix is one of France’s most beautiful Alpine towns, with gorgeous architecture, a crystal-clear river running right through town, plenty of pedestrianised areas with cute cafés and restaurants - and some incredible views of the mountains.

It’s part of the huge Mont Blanc ski area and is one of the first mountain areas to be explored by ski pioneers. As a traditional old town, it’s got plenty of historic charm compared to the newer purpose-built ski resorts, which are special in other ways.

In the centre of town, there’s a goodly sized Christmas market in which you can sip mulled wine and enjoy the festive atmosphere. You can also buy nice Christmas decorations made by local craftspeople, as well as plenty more bits and pieces that’ll make lovely last-minute stocking fillers.

The children can also meet Father Christmas after his theatrical entrance, while the “Farandole Parade” sees amazing dancers perform in colourful outfits. The Elves Parade is fun, while concerts will be put on by the local choir “Chambelles” and other music schools.

You could also head over to the Les Houches district to go ice skating, which is a fun Christmas tradition there. Les Houches also puts on a torchlit skiing show. The ski bus runs every half an hour from 6am right through to half 8 in the evening, taking roughly 20 minutes.

Snow cover is excellent on the slopes (250cm snow depth reported in December 2024), but the town itself is a gondola ride lower at 1,035m, meaning a white town centre isn’t a certainty. One major positive, though, is the transfer from Geneva Airport - about 1 hour and 15 minutes.

 

WHERE TO STAY 
Try the cosy Residence La Riviere for a comfortable self-catering experience in the centre of town…

Or ramp up the luxury in the 4* Hotel Heliopic, complete with a beautiful swimming pool - and much more.

 

Chamonix river viewChamonix is one of the prettiest towns in the European mountains and a great one for Christmas 

 



 

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 a charming purpose-built resort high in the mountains at 1,400m, with plenty of beautiful ski-in/ski-out chalets and instant access to the largest ski area on Earth - The 3 Valleys.

As you’ll find with most purpose-built ski resorts, it is smaller than historic towns like Chamonix and therefore doesn’t have a Christmas market - but it makes up for this by putting on loads of festive activities and spectacles.

Each year there’s a Christmas show which involves lots of dancing, flamboyant characters and amazing outfits. Separately, you can catch the “Parade of the Dancing Elves”, while Christmas Eve sees Father Christmas making his way across rooftops surrounded by his elves and sack of golden presents.

Before and during this, there’s plenty of Christmas singing that you can join in on in the town centre, and afterwards you can attend Christmas mass at the ice rink. Eventually, Father Christmas arrives in his horse-drawn carriage in Méribel Centre to meet the children and probably give them presents.

Meanwhile, make sure you see the spectacular torchlit descent by the ski instructors down the local slopes (meeting point at Le Hameau or La Rond des Pistes), before it all wraps up with a fireworks display.

And on Christmas Day itself, the children get another chance to meet Father Christmas at the bottom of the La Chaudanne pistes - followed by another torchlit descent and fireworks display.

 

WHERE TO STAY
Head for Residence Les Crets for a self-catered option with ski-in/ski-out access, a children’s play area and communal lounge area among its benefits…

Or opt for the Hotel Le Mottaret - a popular choice with a swimming pool, outdoor jacuzzi, steam room, sauna and gym.

 



 

3. Val d’Isère

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

 

A favourite for British skiers, Val d’Isère is another very snow-sure resort with outstanding skiing - and access to the enormous Espace Killy ski area which it shares with Tignes.

A pretty resort, it takes the festive season seriously, with a magical Christmas Village in its town centre, where there are several stalls and plenty of pretty lights and decorations.

Head to the Elves’ Cabin a couple of days before Christmas to take part in a decoration-making workshop, while you should also attend the torchlit descent down the Bellevarde Face slope.

There are usually several music concerts and parades, while on Christmas Eve there is carol singing at the tourist office before Father Christmas turns up in his sleigh to deliver gifts to the excited children.

 

Val d'Isere high street

Val d'Isère's high street has lots of pretty decorations at Christmas time

 

WHERE TO STAY
Choose La Daille Apartments for an on-site mini-market, ski lockers, and a slopeside location right next to the funicular which shoots you up into the ski area…

Or book into the Hotel Lodge, which puts on beautiful 4-course dinners and has a convenient central location, as well as a bar with sofas, wellness area, and heated boot room.

 



 

4. 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
Christmas Day skiing: Yes

 

Alpe d’Huez is another lovely high-altitude spot at 1,869m, and features high in our list of France’s most snow-sure ski resorts. It’s got lovely skiing and a fantastic lift infrastructure - and takes Christmas seriously, too.

The town gets lit up and decorated, with one of the biggest attractions being Santa’s Cottage at the Red Chalet in the lead up to Christmas Day (free entry but you must register at the tourist office!).

You can also head to the Palais des Sports to enjoy a Christmas concert and exhibition, while the town’s library puts on a theatrical show and the Quartier de l’Eclose hosts games that all the family can take part in.

Christmas Eve is when the big festive party takes place - you can watch the ski school instructors perform their torchlit descent of the Signal piste, before a fireworks display booms into life. After this, the children can meet Father Christmas and get a photo with him, all while free hot chocolate and mulled wine is handed out.

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.”

 

WHERE TO STAY
Check out the Residence Alpenrose for a self-catered experience complete with outdoor pool, steam room, fitness room and laundry facilities…

Or try the Hotel Les Bergers for somewhere with a nursery, kids’ club and 2 separate teens’ clubs - and a nice wellness area to escape from the children!

 



 

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
Christmas Day skiing: Yes

 

One of the top spots for both snow-sure skiing and après-ski in Europe, 2,300m-high Val Thorens is also a lovely resort to spend Christmas in. It also provides instant access to the largest ski area on Earth - The 3 Valleys.

There is plenty going on in Val Thorens. The children can come and meet Father Christmas in town a few days before the big day, getting some memorable photos with him in the process.

One of the most unique events here is the "Alaskan Games”, which is a huge escape game where you’ve got to find the recipe for a special serum by solving various mysterious puzzles.

Later in the day the winter concert is put on by a professional gospel group at the church, with plenty of beautiful voices and dances.

On Christmas Eve afternoon, the children can meet Santa again - this time in his igloo! - where there’ll also be a treasure hunt and mulled chestnuts (maybe one for the parents!).

After this, head to the Place Caron where you’ll watch the torchlit descent of the resort’s ski instructors - there’ll be free hot drinks provided, too.

Following on in the same place, the “Lady of Winter Show” sees a great figurine awaken from being “frozen like an ice statue” with plenty of music, narration, dance and light shows in what is a really spectacular performance. Straight after this, a beautiful fireworks display will wrap up the Christmas Eve schedule.

On Christmas Day, youngsters can enjoy a session with the ESF ski school on their balance bikes, and then in the evening children can take part in their own torchlit descent (with electric torch). The 45-minute session costs €5 for ESF students and €10 for others.

 

View of Val Thorens from the slopes

Val Thorens is the highest resort in France and has some great Christmas events

 

WHERE TO STAY
Choose Le Chamois d’Or Apartments for a ski-in/ski-out spot on a blue run which is just a 2-minute walk from the ski school, as well as an on-site supermarket and pizzeria…

Or book into the Hotel Les Arolles which has a kids’ club, lounge with pool table, and ski-in/ski-out access among other attractions.

 



 

6. La Plagne

Weekly snow in December: 35cm
Weekly snow days in December: 3.1
Is there a Christmas market: No
Additional noteworthy celebrations: 6
Prettiness score: 4
Christmas Day skiing: Yes

 

La Plagne is a family-friendly resort in the excellent Paradiski area which puts on a good number of events at Christmas.

One of the most notable traditions is the resort’s Goblins Parade, where they play live music and dance for the crowd. Father Christmas turns up to every village in La Plagne to get photos with the eager crowds of children.

There’s also the Elves’ Mini-Show in Plagne 1800, which is a musical that is bound to get the energy up for the children, who then get the chance for photos and a chat with the elves.

A must-visit is the amazing Christmas Eve torchlit descent down the Petit Flambeaux piste by the resort’s ski instructors, which is followed on by a magical fireworks display. Earlier in the day there’s also the Reindeer Ball at the Place du Marché in Belle Plagne.

 

WHERE TO STAY
Go for the Front de Neige Apartments if you want ski-in/ski-out access at the bottom of the La Bergerie chairlift - and a heated indoor pool with spa facilities…

Or book into the Hotel Terra Nova, which is also ski-in/ski-out and puts on live music in the evenings, as well as having a restaurant with panoramic views.

 



 

7. Morzine

Weekly snow in December: 28cm
Weekly snow days in December: 2.7
Is there a Christmas market: Yes
Additional noteworthy celebrations: 6
Prettiness score: 4
Christmas Day skiing: Yes

 

Pretty Morzine is a historic old farming town, meaning it’s actually got full-time residents living there, and a really authentic Alpine atmosphere.

The town centre turns into an “Enchanted Village”, where you’ll find various pop-up wooden stalls selling festive treats and drinks. It also usually has a ferris wheel and ice-skating rink among other attractions.

Make sure you see the various parades and shows, including the “Geese in Fanfare” - a flock of geese who march around to the beat of a drum. There’s also a show based on the Madame Ballon character who wears flamboyant costumes, and a light juggling spectacle in the centre of town.

You could also head over to Les Gets, where there’s a spectacular “Enchanted Night Walk” through the trees, with its beautiful lights, images and set designs. It’s led by the ‘music-maker and his hot air balloon’ and is set to a story.

There’s also a luminous rabbits show, while the children will get several opportunities to meet Father Christmas in the run up to the big day. Head to the bottom of the Pleney slopes where he’ll be waiting on the 22nd and 23rd, while on Christmas Eve you can wave him off as he starts his big journey to deliver presents around the world.

Have a read of our complete guide to Christmas in Morzine for all the key details.

 

fireworks show in Morzine

There's also a Christmas Eve fireworks show after the torchlit descent on the Pleney slopes

 

WHERE TO STAY
Head to Hotel Igloo for a cheap option with a free sauna, small gym, open fireplace and is found just a few minutes away from the gondola station…

Or opt for Hotel Sporting for five-course dinners, a weekly fondue evening and an indoor/outdoor heated pool.

 



  

Discover the wonders of a Christmas ski holiday in France with Iglu Ski

 

If you like the sound of Christmas in the French Alps, then let us help you secure the perfect getaway. We’re the UK’s largest ski travel agency and have been organising incredible ski trips for over 26 years now… and we’re not done yet!

Get in touch with us and we’ll answer any questions you’ve got - whether that’s about resort choice, ski equipment, the best restaurants, or anything else. Everyone at Iglu Ski has done a season in the mountains - we really are experts.

Call us on 020 3848 3700 or make an enquiry and get back to you with an answer quickly. Have a look at our best Christmas holidays in France - you can book online, too.

If you’re in charge of booking for a big group and you’re overwhelmed with choice, have a read of our group booking guide to help put your mind at ease.