Imagine freshly groomed slopes under crisp blue skies, with twinkling lights from nearby Christmas markets adding magic to your day. December skiing often gets a bad rap as many skiers worry about thin snow cover, but that’s far from the truth if you pick the right resort. Even better if your kids break up early or you are travelling solo because you won’t be queuing at lifts or skiing down crowded slopes. Instead, you can enjoy festive vibes at off peak prices. Here are the best places to ski in December for your next single parent or single ski holidays.
Our Favourite Resorts for December Skiing
The Alps rule December skiing with style and scale. These high altitude spots hold onto cold air well, boast a large terrain and historically good snowfall. You get premium runs at off peak prices, especially if you travel before Christmas.
Zermatt, Switzerland: The Glacier Paradise
One of the best ski resorts in Switzerland, Zermatt sits at 1,620 m, at the foot of the Matterhorn. With slopes reaching an impressive altitude of 3,883 m thanks to the Matterhorn Glacier, you can ski here pretty much all year round. A total of 90% of the Matterhorn Ski Paradise is above 1800 m, and depending on snowfall in December, you can ski all the way down into the valley of Zermatt.
The resort opens as early as mid-November. Skiing early in the season means shorter queues and cheaper lift passes — you can save up to 20% on a six-day pass compared to January. It’s still not cheap: A 6-day adult lift pass in the first half of December currently sets you back around € 450 for 6 days if purchased online.
French Alps: Altitude in Val d’Isère and Tignes
France has several high altitude resorts with pistes reaching above 3,000 m. The highest resort of all is Tignes, with slopes on the Grande Motte glacier reaching a lofty 3,456 m. Having skied here at Christmas, we found the snow conditions in Tignes to be excellent in December. The Tignes ski area is linked to Val d’Isère, and the connected region boasts a total of 79 lifts and 300 km of slopes, varying in altitude between 1,550 m at the lowest point and 3,456 m on the glacier. Needless to say, there is no need to worry about guaranteed snow cover, so Tignes makes the list of the best places to ski in December.
The connected ski region opens fully at the end of November. There are numerous villages, from the more traditional and picturesque like Tignes Les Brévières to the more vibrant Tignes Le Lac at 2,100 m, where you will find plenty of opportunities to shop, après ski, and dine out. The latter also has plenty of beginners-friendly slopes. A 6-day adult lift pass in the period up to and including 12 December is priced at € 384 for 6 or 7 days (Tignes & Val d’Isère). After that, you will pay peak prices.
Ski Arlberg: Festive Vives Magic in Austria’s Largest Ski Resort
There is no better time to visit Austria’s Arlberg region than in the run up to Christmas: Its mountain villages transform into magical places during “Advent,” with glittering decorations, Christmas themed trails, and Christmas markets selling mulled wine and sweet delicacies, and just an overall festive atmosphere.
Just like Tignes and Val d’Isère, the Arlberg ski region boasts no less than 85 lifts and 300 km of slopes connecting the villages of St. Anton, St. Christoph, Stuben, Lech, Zürs, Warth, and Schröcken. Austria’s biggest ski resort in the Alps is also one of the most snow sure resorts in Austria, with slopes reaching an altitude of over 2,800 m whilst the villages are situated between 1,304 m (St. Anton) and 1,793 m (St. Christoph). The terrain in this ski region is varied, with plenty of choice to challenge intermediate and advanced skiers.
Snowfall is pretty reliable in Ski Arlberg due to the region’s unique geographical position on the main ridge of the Alps. This means you can usually ski down to your hotel from the start of the ski season in early December. If you book your solo ski holiday before the 20th, you will also benefit from off peak lift prices. Skiing in December will cost you € 380 for a 6 day lift pass per adult compared to € 450 from 20 December.
Val Thorens, France: Europe’s Highest Ski Village
At 2,300 m, Val Thorens tops the charts as Europe’s highest ski village. Part of the huge Les Trois Vallées, it links to 600 km of runs. Snow falls early and stays put thanks to the elevation, so snow cover is pretty much guaranteed in December. Slopes start at 1,200 m and reach 3,230 m at the highest point. The resort also has extensive snow cannons covering 80% of the slopes to support conditions, if necessary, but with 90% of the ski area above 2000 m, you won’t have to worry about lack of snow too much. It does get pretty cold here in December, with temperatures known to reach a chilly −12°C, so pack some layers for your ski trip.
The terrain is great for all levels with a mix of greens and easy blues and tough blacks. Early December skiing brings quiet lifts and uncrowded slopes, so this is another smart pick and certainly one of the best places to ski in December in Europe. The season starts on 22 November and lift pass prices depend on whether you go for the ski area of Val Thorens-Orelle (€ 319.50 per adult until 19 December) giving you 150 km of slopes, or the entire Trois Vallées ski area (€ 368 for adults until 19 December), saving you exactly 10% compared to peak season.
Grandvalira, Andorra: December Skiing in the Pyrenees
If you are looking for a winter wonderland, feel as well as a more budget-friendly option for your family or single ski holidays, it’s best to leave the Alps behind and look for lesser known gems. One of the best places to ski in December outside the Alps is Andorra, in the eastern Pyrenees mountain range, Take Grandvalira, the Pyrenees’ largest ski resort: Spanning no less than 215 km of slopes with 66 lifts, Grandvalira has extensive snowmaking capabilities to ensure plenty of skiing early in the season. Slopes start at 1,710 m and reach 2,640 m at their highest point. December usually sees abundant snowfall with average temperatures between -3º Celsius at night and 2 to 4° Celsius during the day – ideal conditions for snowfall. There are dedicated learning areas for beginners in Grandvalira and plenty of green and blue slopes, as well as reds, blacks, and several snowparks for the more intermediate and advanced.
The slopes here are much quieter in the first half of December, so if you don’t like queues and crowds, come well before Christmas. Needless to say, lift passes, ski hire, and lesson cost a little less than in the high end resorts such as Zermatt: You can currently purchase a 6-day adult lift pass online for € 345.60 for 6 days. Add extras such as lunches, equipment rental, or lessons, and you can make a decent overall saving. Note that you can buy lift passes that include the neighbouring Ordino Arcalís (30.5 km) and Pal Arinsal (63 km) resorts, but these resorts are separate and not connected to the much larger Grandvalira.
Conclusion
We hope you enjoyed our guide to the best places to ski in December in Europe. Italy deserves a mention too, but that’s for another time. We considered throwing Scandinavia and Bulgaria in the mix, but these ski resorts seem too small to attract our serious skiers. So above are the best resorts for December skiing in Europe taking into account altitude, snow cover, varied terrain, and festive vibes.
