Best ski resorts for Christmas

Treat yourself to a ski holiday this Christmas. Snow-covered slopes, glittering lights and roaring fires make any winter stay at a ski resort an unforgettable experience. 

One of the many reasons you'll love skiing at Christmas is that there are so many special touches throughout the resort.

Markets, lights and wonderful scenery all capture an extra special atmosphere. From luxurious ski-in ski-out properties, to cosy chalets with a log fire, our collection of ski accommodation is sure to tick all your boxes.

Christmas is extremely popular and the best resorts sell out quickly so we advise that you book as early as possible, especially if you're looking for a catered ski chalet over Christmas. 

Experience the ultimate white Christmas

Our recommended resorts in France for a Christmas ski holiday:

  • Les Deux Alpes pulls out all the stops for Christmas week. The Magic Avenue parade brings fire eaters, stilt walkers, live music, and street food to the festive markets and Santa’s visit add extra magic. while night skiing on the Vallée Blanche and the ESF ski show with torchlit descents and fireworks keep the celebrations going. On New Year’s Eve, the resort comes alive with live music, street parties, and fireworks — the perfect way to welcome the New Year in true Alpine style.
  • Tignes Christmas is full of mountain magic. Torchlit descents, festive shows, and Santa arriving on skis delight families, while Christmas markets bring the resort centre to life. The week builds to New Year’s Eve, when Tignes hosts one of the Alps’ most famous outdoor parties. Le Lac transforms into an open-air dance floor with DJs, light shows, and fireworks over the lake. Dance in your ski boots alongside an international crowd and welcome the New Year under the stars.
  • Les Arcs hosts a Christmas market, visits from Santa Claus, and a children's torchlit descent. The resort also hosts a New Year's Eve celebration with a DJ, torchlit descent, and fireworks display.
  • Courchevel celebrates Christmas in elegant style, with festive markets, ice-skating shows, and Santa’s magical arrival in the villages. On New Year’s Eve, the resort blends alpine tradition with sophistication: torchlit ski descents, live music, and a breathtaking firework display over the slopes, followed by stylish soirées in chic bars and Michelin-starred restaurants. Courchevel offers a refined and memorable way to enjoy the holidays and ring in the New Year.

Our recommended resorts in Austria for a Christmas ski holiday:

  • Obergurgl is a family-friendly ski resort and hosts a magical Christmas market with local foods, music and ice sculptures designed by local artists.
  • St Anton is a great resort to visit in December, with a kids Christmas trail, crafting workshops, brass bands and a magical Christmas market. It’s also known for its legendary apres-ski scene - perfect for a New Years celebration.
  • Seefeld is the place to go for an authentic Tirolean Christmas. The town lights up with festive Christmas markets, including carol singing and mulled wine.

Our recommended resorts in Switzerland for a Christmas ski holiday:

  • Zermatt has an excellent snow record and in December, you’ll be greeted by a warm and festive atmosphere, with the village lights and organised events for the whole family to enjoy.
  • Grindelwald resort is jam-packed full of fun winter activities, including classic tobogganing and winter walking. You’ll experience magical scenery on top of Eiger mountain which overlooks the beautiful village.
  • Wengen in December is simply magical. Experience a fairy tale winter in this picturesque resort overlooking Lauterbrunnen valley. Enjoy skiing, walking or simply take in the wonderful winter atmosphere.

Our recommended resorts in Andorra for a Christmas ski holiday:

  • Soldeu resort welcomes in the New Year with a torch descent with the local ski and snowboard instructors. Then come midnight, the sky lights up with a spectacular fireworks display. On Christmas Eve, Santa ski's by the ski schools and Snow Gardens to say hi to everyone. 
  • Pas de la Casa is a great place to ski for families. The resort welcomes Santa as he makes his way from the Granvalira Platform on a sleigh to the Pas community hall, greeting children on Christmas Eve.
  • Arinsal is another great place for families to ski in December. Santa makes an appearance in his grotto and at Arinal gondola station. On New Years Eve, everyone gathers in the resort centre for a magical countdown and celebration.

Our recommended resorts in Italy for a Christmas ski holiday:

  • Selva has a lovely, festive Christmas market with enchanting wooden huts lining the street. You’ll get to enjoy tasty treats, handmade souvenirs and a mini gondola which stretches the length of the market for a bit of extra fun.
  • Cervinia’s Christmas market is not to be missed, with local products and handicrafts on sale. The resort celebrates New Year with a torch light procession and firework display. The town square itself is bustling on New Years Evening, with live music filling the streets.
  • Drei Zinnen not only has a traditional Christmas market, ubt a full calendar of events throughout December including things like a Christmas Kids Worskop and live music.

Our recommended resorts in Canada for a Christmas ski holiday:

  • Whistler offers the perfect Christmas and New Year experience with twinkling lights, a snow-covered village, festive events, and plenty of activities to entertain the family plus lots of après fun for you and your friends. Winter is the most magical time of the year to visit this resort, with sparkling decorations lighting up the trees throughout the village.
  • Banff kicks of the Christmas season with six weeks of magical festivities. Drop by the Christmas market, and walk through the Cascade of Time garden where you’ll witness a live Christmas story told by the animals and locals of Banff National Park. Otherwise enjoy the Hot Chocolate Trail, a treasure map of up to 30 Hot Chocolate samples to taste. 
  • Lake Louise has a range of enchanting Christmas and New Year activities on offer. The resorts has fantastic, Christmas markets to enjoy with local food, drinks and festive stalls. Create unforgettable memories with a ski trip in the Canadian Rockies.

Our recommended resorts in Norway for a Christmas ski holiday:

  •  Voss, Santa may come and join your skiing on Christmas Eve - hopefully you can spot him. For you - lots of sledding and activities can be done. In 2025, the Northern Lights came out on New Years Day! 
  • Myrkdalen loves to celebreate with a big resort wide party and a fantastic firework dispaly for New Years Eve. 
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Christmas skiing holidays to Finland

This is Christmas at its most magical. Lapland has the slopes you love - plus husky sledding, reindeer sleighs, and the glow of the Northern Lights. With flights, cosy stays and plenty of activities to choose from, you can focus on what matters - creating unforgettable memories.

  • Skiing in Levi at Christmas is uniquely magical because you can ski beneath twinkling lights and polar night skies - often with a chance to see the Northern Lights dancing above. 
  • Pyhä at Christmas combines quiet, uncrowded slopes with stunning views of Pyhä-Luosto National Park with ski in/ski out hotel and apartments to choose from. 
  • Ylläs offers excellent, snow-sure slopes. The long polar nights create a unique twilight glow on the pistes, and between ski sessions you can dive into Christmas traditions, meet reindeer, go husky sledding, and hunt the Northern Lights. For the ultimate Christmas experience stay in a cosy log cabin above the Arctic Circle. 
Lapland/Finland From £479pp

When to go skiing

When to go

Skiing at Christmas FAQ's

Of course! Our family holidays are all about convenience and making it easy for adults and children alike. We have resorts with excellent English speaking ski schools for the children and an excellent choice of family accommodation, whether family rooms in hotels or spacious apartments. Being close to the slopes is important and resorts with swimming pools and other activities are a bonus.

When choosing the perfect ski holiday destination, consider factors like ski area size and piste difficulty levels. Our resorts have been selected to suit all types or skiers – whether you're looking for somewhere lively with plenty of apres bars, local charm and family run hotels or just amazing scenery and shorter transfers. We're with you every step of the way, so get in-touch with one of our travel experts if you need help with booking your perfect ski holiday.

It varies from place to place but the European Alps are usually adequately covered with snow for the lifts to open from December- April. However, much depends on many different weather circumstances.

Inghams ski holidays are perfect for those who love skiing in the great outdoors. Pick your base from our handpicked collection of the best ski destinations across Europe and North America, from over 70 resorts across 8 countries: Andorra, Austria, Canada, France, Italy, Switzerland, Norway and Finland From the thrill-seekers to the après skiers, our expert team will be with you at every turn.

Most European and Canadian resorts are open from November to May - ideally the peak times to go would be December to April. However, if you are going in November - we would suggest Lapland/Finland as it is close to the Arctic Circle, if you are are going in May, we would suggest high-altitude resorts, ideally with Glaciers.

We feature resorts with the best snow records across Europe and Canada. Many are at a very high altitude, some have glacier skiing and we even have resorts close to the Arctic Circle ensuring there is always snow in sight. Some of our top snow-sure resorts would include Tignes/Val d'Isere, Cervinia, Ischgl, Zermatt, Les Arcs and Val Thorens.

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