The 10 best resorts for a ski holiday at Christmas
Where better to spend Christmas than a ski resort? Snowflakes falling, picturesque chalets with snow-covered roofs, lavishly decorated streets, sleigh bells ringing...
That’s certainly the dream, but, with Christmas (inevitably) coming early in the ski season, snow cover can be a concern. For the best guarantee of good snow, it’s wise to aim for a high resort with a decent snow record or impressive snow-making facilities. It’s also worth considering your departure date and catering choice when planning a festive ski break.
Whether in search of clanging steins of beer, sophisticated glamour or lashings of festive fun for the children, these destinations offer picturesque settings and a good chance of guaranteed snow. Once skiing or snowboarding is done for the day, rejoice in the fact that bags of atmosphere is a certainty – Christmas trees will be lit up in town squares, hotels and chalets and fireworks will be popping.
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Ischgl, Austria
Best for a mixed abilities
Ischgl offers high-quality, snow-sure pistes for intermediates. It is famed for its opening (November 30 this winter) and closing parties that host some of the world’s most celebrated musicians. The clientele tends to be older than the revellers who pack into the Mooserwirt on the slopes above the famed party resort of St Anton, but historically this hasn’t stopped the Ischgl crowd from climbing on the tables and partying.
Beyond the parties, Ischgl is an old farming village that has become a sophisticated tourist centre, with smart hotels and a giant wellness centre. Christmas carols held in the village church are sure to add to the festive atmosphere.
The ski area lacks a glacier but its altitude, combined with sophisticated snowmaking, pretty much guarantees at least adequate snow cover in a season that runs from the last weekend in November (November 29 is opening day) to the first weekend of May. With 239km of terrain, intermediates can have a ball.
The main ways up to the slopes are by three heavyweight gondolas. One at each end of the resort go to the main mid-mountain hub of Idalp at 2,320m, while a third goes to Pardatschgrat at 2,624m, feeding into the network of lifts and runs that stretches across the Swiss frontier and down to the village of Samnaun at 1,840m.
Where to stay
The five-star Hotel Trofana Royal is Ischgl’s top establishment. Dining here is particularly special and there is a spacious spa, with both indoor and outdoor pools. Plan your visit with our Ischgl ski guide.
Rooms from
£345
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Wengen, Switzerland
Best for families
Sitting on a sunny shelf, Wengen shares a ski area with Grindelwald, and most of the slopes are above its neighbour, under the towering north face of the Eiger. Together with neighbouring Mürren, they’re covered by the Jungfrau lift pass, a total of 211km of pistes. The streets of Wengen are decorated for Christmas, and on Christmas Eve many Swiss families go to church to attend Midnight Mass, gathering afterwards to share hot chocolate and homemade doughnuts called ringli.
The village is perfect for families. It is essentially car-free, and at its heart is a snow-covered field that serves as a combined playground and gentle nursery slope. For children progressing beyond this, the main way up the mountain is the cog railway that also gives access to the village from Lauterbrunnen down in the valley.
Wengen offers several family-friendly toboggan runs. The obvious one is the 4.5km Fox Run from Wengernalp, but there are also long runs from the top of the mountain towards Grindelwald. In the middle of the village there’s curling and outdoor skating.
Where to stay
The four‑star Hotel Silberhorn is conveniently near the cog railway station, with the nursery slopes not far away, and south-facing rooms have outstanding views. Plan your visit with our Wengen ski guide.
Rooms from
£115
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Lech, Austria
Best for exclusivity
Few resorts have a more exclusive image than Lech. Princess Diana was its most famous patron, and other past visitors include the Jordanian royal family, the Dutch royal family and Monaco’s Princess Caroline. With such a blue-blooded guest list, you might picture an Austrian St Moritz or Megève. But despite its international reputation, Lech remains true to its farming village origins. It’s set at a modest altitude of 1,450m, but each year it receives up to twice as much snow as some of its French rivals. There are picturesque Christmas markets in both Lech and next‑door Zürs throughout December.
As well as Zürs, Lech shares its local ski area with nearby Warth‑Schröcken, and the pistes at of all three are best suited to intermediates. They will find the terrain a lot more friendly than in neighbouring St Anton, which, like Lech, is covered by the Arlberg lift pass. For those in search of challenge, four heavyweight lifts link the Lech side of the 305km Arlberg ski area to the St Anton side. The main one is the Flexenbahn 10-seater cable car linking Zürs with Alpe Rauz in Stuben during a six-minute journey, giving access to St Anton’s pistes, including St Christoph and Stuben.
The car-free satellite of Oberlech above the village, once the summer domain of shepherds and cowherds, has grown almost into a resort in its own right. It’s linked to Lech by a cable car, and the sunny side of the mountain above and below here is largely given over to flattering blue runs. The high slopes on both faces of the 2,377m Zuger Hochlicht above are much more demanding, with red runs and itinerary routes – ungroomed runs that are marked on the map but are neither patrolled nor avalanche-controlled.
Where to stay
A small hotel that’s been run for 47 years by the Schwärzler family, who have been deeply involved in developing Lech’s image into a top-flight international destination, the Haldenhof is a comfortable four-star with an excellent spa and a first class restaurant. Plan your visit with our Lech ski guide.
Rooms from
£162
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Beitostølen, Norway
Best for extra-curricular activities
Beitostølen is an unspoilt village, with the Bitihorn mountain as a backdrop, situated at the edge of Norway’s Jotunheimen National Park. Thanks to its northern latitude, when snow comes, which tends to be early, it stays.
The resort has two separate ski areas – one above Beitostølen and the other at Raudalen, 10 minutes away by free shuttle bus. The bars, restaurants, rental shops, ski schools and lifts are only a few minutes’ walk from all the accommodation in the resort. On Thursdays and Fridays throughout the season the OlaExpressen lift remains open until 7pm for night skiing, and the gentle slopes and an English‑speaking ski school make the resort ideal for beginners.
Beitostølen also appeals to those – such as families with young teenagers – looking to try a broad variety of winter activities. There’s snowmobiling on a purpose-built track, husky sledding and an extensive network (more than 300km) of cross-country skiing trails.
Where to stay
The Radisson Blu resort hotel in Beitostølen is located directly opposite the ski lifts and ski school and has a swimming pool and spa for off-the-slope relaxation.
Rooms from
£91
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Courchevel, France
Best for clocking up the miles
Courchevel is at one end of the world’s largest lift-linked ski area, the Trois Vallées, which spans 600km of pistes. Because many of Courchevel’s local slopes face north, the snow here is usually some of the best in the whole ski area, and there’s terrain to suit everyone from beginner to expert.
As well as lifts and pistes, the villages (Courchevel Le Praz, Courchevel Village, Courchevel Moriond and Courchevel 1850) are linked by an efficient and frequent free bus service, and enjoy pretty woodland settings. Courchevel 1850, the main lift hub and now officially named just plain Courchevel, is by far the biggest resort village, and it’s where the super-rich head to flash their cash. The lower resorts are much more modest and affordable.
There’s arguably no better ski area than the Trois Vallées for intermediates of all standards to cover a lot of miles, and pistes are immaculately groomed each night. Courchevel’s local slopes offer 150km of varied runs. Off the snow, the Aquamotion centre below Moriond has indoor and outdoor pools, a surfing area, climbing wall, saunas, steam room and hot tub. There’s also an ice rink and fitness centre in Courchevel 1850.
Where to stay
The four-star Hotel Fahrenheit Seven in Courchevel Moriond is a stylish property in a piste-side location. Plan your visit with our Courchevel ski guide.
Rooms from
£158
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Megève, France
Best for fine food
Founded in 1916 by Baroness Noémie de Rothschild, who decided that France should have its own St Moritz and set about transforming the farming village of Megève. Today, glittering boutiques, restaurants and hotels line the town square and ancient cobbled streets, and with the annual Swarovski Christmas tree twinkling, it’s the epitome of aristo chic.
Megève is home to a whole constellation of five-star hotels, as well as Michelin-starred restaurants, as well as several of the world’s finest mountain spas. There are also some first-class mountain restaurants. At the top of the Mont Joux lift there’s the Folie Douce restaurant and après bar, with spectacular views of Mont Blanc. For later on, the three-Michelin star Flocons de Sel just outside the village serves delicious food but the ambience is relaxed and not too formal. It has a cheaper bistro – Flocons Village – in the centre of Megève selling simpler and more affordable dishes.
Megève’s slopes are extensive, with predominantly gentle pitches and lots of tree-lined runs for low-visibility days. Three main ski areas – Rochebrune, Mont d’Arbois and quiet Le Jaillet – are all reached by different cable cars from town. The risk at Christmas is Megève’s low altitude, but visitors can buy a Mont Blanc Unlimited lift pass and access higher slopes at nearby Les Contamines, as well as Chamonix, Courmayeur and Verbier.
Where to stay
Les Fermes de Marie is a collection of restored timber chalets comprising cosy rooms and suites, two restaurants and the original cowshed‑chic Alpine spa, L’Altitude. Plan your visit with our Megeve ski guide.
Rooms from
£307
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Obergurgl, Austria
Best for peace and quiet
Obergurgl is one of the highest ski villages in Europe, set at 1,930m at the end of the Ötztal valley near Innsbruck. Not only is it one of Austria’s most snow-sure non-glacial resorts, but its link to neighbouring Hochgurgl at 2,150m, which has a glacier going up to 3,080m, strengthens its image as the country’s most reliable resort for snow cover over a season that starts in mid‑November (November 14 2024).
Many families loyally return every winter to the small, traditional village set around an early 18th-century church and the resort’s original inn, the Hotel Edelweiss & Gurgl. The resort, spread out as far as avalanche safety limits allow, has little traffic and its 112km of slopes are ideal for beginners and improving intermediates. Families come here for the overall experience of friendly villages and slopes that are snow‑sure until April.
The Top Mountain Crosspoint in Hochgurgl is worth a visit, not only because it is the base station for the powerful two-stage 10-person Kirchenkarbahn gondola to 2,839m and a pair of long runs, but to check out its smart mountain restaurant and unusual motorbike museum.
The après scene in Obergurgl is traditional rather than contemporary, with late-afternoon drinks in a couple of the mountain restaurants, including the Nederhütte, but this is not a resort for party animals. .
Where to stay
Hotel Edelweiss & Gurgl is the resort’s original village inn and dates back to 1889. It is in a convenient ski-in/ski-out position in the middle of the village beside the Hohe Mut Bahn gondola. Plan your visit with our Obergurgl ski guide.
Rooms from
£152
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Champoluc, Italy
Best for expert adventure
The unspoilt but substantial 200km Monterosa ski area is tucked beneath the mighty Monterosa massif, which divides Italy from Switzerland. It stretches over three valleys with one small resort in each – Champoluc, Gressoney and Alagna.
A key attraction for experts is a cable car to the area’s high point, Punta Indren, at 3,275m. This opens up a variety of off‑piste options towards Gressoney or Alagna, but there are no pistes down. The Alagna side has the gnarliest runs – one of the trickiest, the Malfatta couloir, starts with a glacier crossing and a roped descent of a narrow gorge. Runs on the Gressoney side are generally more mellow, and the Vallone d’Olen is fun even for strong intermediates.
While there is easier access to the tough runs from the quiet, picturesque little village of Alagna, Champoluc is more lively for a Christmas holiday. It is a charming village, with beautiful scenery, a typically Italian laid-back atmosphere and some decent bars. From the village there’s a gondola up to Crest, where the beginner slopes are situated. From nearby Frachey, reached by free shuttle bus, a funicular gives more direct access towards Gressoney and Alagna.
Where to stay
Aethos Monterosa near Frachey is a fabulous five-star hotel with indoor pool, spa and impressive indoor climbing wall. Food in the two restaurants is delicious, too.
Rooms from
£172
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Zermatt, Switzerland
Best for charm
Switzerland’s most famous resort brings together every Alpine cliché, from its views of the world’s most photogenic mountain, the Matterhorn, to narrow streets lined with weathered chalets. The village feels particularly festive thanks to horse-drawn sleighs in the car-free streets, alongside the glowing shop windows and chestnut and glühwein stalls.
Zermatt has snow-sure slopes from late November, while high-altitude top stations (up to 3,820m), a slick lift system and outstanding mountain restaurants make it a cut above. There are plenty of long, scenic, satisfying runs for intermediates, plus lots of challenges and areas of easily accessible, gentle off piste. Extensive off piste and itinerary runs (avalanche controlled but not patrolled) will satisfy experts. Zermatt itselft has 200km of piste, and is also linked to Cervinia over the Italian border, another 160km of piste – visitors can cross between the two resorts with or without skis.
It’s important to think about location when picking accommodation, as the town is spread out. The three lift stations, which access different parts of the mountain, are the Gornergrat railway (next to the main railway station), the Sunnegga funicular, a 10-minute walk away from the centre, and the Furi gondola, more than half a mile from the station. Efficient electric buses and taxis cover all parts of town.
Zermatt ranks highly on lists of the most expensive resorts, but there are modest B&Bs among the designer hotels, and kebab stands and a even a camouflaged McDonald’s among the swish restaurants. Although the lift pass prices are hefty, under-nines ski free.
Where to stay
Hotel National is set in a quiet location (an eight-minute walk from the town centre) opposite the Sunnegga Lift and ski bus stop. Facilities include a spa area with indoor pool, whirlpool, steam baths and sauna. Most rooms have a view of the Matterhorn. Plan your visit with our Zermatt ski guide.
Rooms from
£178
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Val Thorens, France
Best for snow-sure slopes
Purpose-built Val Thorens is not only the highest resort in the giant 600km Trois Vallées ski area that includes Courchevel and Méribel, but the highest in Europe, set at 2,300m. Its lofty altitude means slopes from the door, with guaranteed snow cover from November onwards.
The terrain suits everyone from beginner to expert, but the vast majority of visitors are intermediate, for whom Val Thorens is a dream. The resort has 140km of its own pistes, and on-piste highlights include long runs for all standards from the top of the 3,200m Cime de Caron, home to a new venue – Caron 3200 – including a restaurant and rooftop bar this winter. Forays into the territories of Les Menuires and St Martin de Belleville for long, cruising and at times demanding runs should not be missed either. There’s also a world‑class terrain park and two exciting zipwires – a double wire above the village, La Bee, and a high alternative, La Tyrolienne at 3,230m.
Since 1971, when the first ugly blocks rose from this white wasteland, Val Thorens has developed into an almost attractive, sophisticated resort with an ever-growing number of five-star hotels and apartment complexes. There are also plenty of good restaurants, including Les Explorateurs, overseen by one-star Michelin chef Josselin Jeanblanc in the five-star Hotel Pashmina. Nightlife is young and surprisingly vibrant for a purpose-built resort in France, partly because Val Thorens attracts university trips heaving with British students. It was also the second French resort after Val d’Isère to open a Folie Douce party bar and Fruitière mountain restaurant, just above the village.
Where to stay
The ski-in/ski-out Hôtel Marielle is in prime position at the foot of the slopes. There’s an outdoor terrace for drinks in the sunshine, plus a wellness centre, in-house ski rental and storage, and lots to keep the kids entertained, including a play area. Plan your visit with our Val Thorens ski guide.
Rooms from
£164
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Rates provided byBooking.com
Booking.com rates above are guide prices per person per night, please note that packages can differ across accommodation. Please check the properties’ websites for further information on what’s included.
This article was first published in December 2023, and has been revised and updated.
