Most ski resorts are great at Christmas, but some are that little bit better…
Levi, Finland – Santa, Snow & The Northern Lights
Lapland’s Levi, Finland’s largest ski resort, is a magical Christmas destination that also happens to be snow-sure. Having opened in early October, its 2025/26 season is already more than two months old by December. Nestled in the Arctic Circle, it offers snowy slopes, cosy cabins and hopefully Northern Lights views. Off the slopes, families can visit Santa Claus in his nearby grotto and enjoy reindeer sleigh rides.
Megève, France – The Best Christmas Tree in the Alps?
Megève’s Christmas magic centres on its main square, where a spectacular, towering Christmas tree, specially created and elaborately decorated each year, glows above carriages, music and lantern-lit stalls. Children bake biscuits and craft by candlelight, while parents sip hot chocolate. Most evenings end with a concert by the church, the tree gleaming in every festive photo.
Baqueira-Beret, Spain – Meet The Three Kings
Baqueira-Beret hosts torchlit descents, carol concerts and Christmas markets in nearby Vielha, creating a warm, celebratory atmosphere. But festive celebrations last much longer in the Pyrenees, as one of the highlights is the arrival of the Three Kings (Los Reyes Magos) on 5 January. They often arrive dramatically, sometimes on skis or horseback, delighting children with sweets and small gifts.
Sun Peaks – Canada’s Christmas Central
Snow-sure Sun Peaks sparkles at Christmas with its European-style village, festive lights and snowy charm. Santa arrives on skis, carollers roam the plaza and families gather for tree lighting and crafts. Torchlight parades and horse-drawn sleigh rides add magic, while cosy lodges and alpine dining complete the experience.
Saas-Fee, Switzerland – Live Your Last Christmas Fantasy
Wham chose Saas-Fee as their picture-perfect location for the Last Christmas video more than four decades ago, and it’s still on TV screens every December. Car-free and open for skiing since last July (it’s got a glacier), with pretty Swiss chalet architecture, the resort ticks every perfect (last) Christmas box. The village remains virtually unchanged from the days it welcomed George Michael, Andrew Ridgeley, Pepsi and Shirlie. Top tip: Stay where Wham! stayed when they filmed Last Christmas – book a stay at The Capra Hotel.
Kitzbühel, Austria – Krampus & Christmas
Unsurprisingly, there’s a darker side of Christmas on the Germanic side of the Alps with the Krampus, a half-goat, half-demon figure, accompanying Saint Nicholas. While Saint Nick rewards good children, Krampus punishes the naughty, often with birch rods or by threatening to carry them off in a sack. He appears on Krampusnacht, 5 December, just before the Feast of Saint Nicholas, and leads the Krampuslauf, a raucous parade where locals dress as Krampus and run through the streets. Kitzbühel hosts one of the most atmospheric parades on its medieval streets, then the town transforms into a fairy-lit wonderland with a renowned Advent Market, vintage carousel and boutique stalls.
Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy – Christmas Shopping and Music In The Mountains
The beat that Cortina keeps is one centred on style and ritual: nativities spring up in courtyard squares, singing groups gather to play into night-time concerts, and dinners turn into suppers in gourmet huts accessed from the ski slopes. Late shopping hours on Corso Italia keep the town alive, lights aglow with silver window trimming, a natural stopping-off point to take an aperitif before a festive dinner.
La Clusaz, France – Enjoy the “Pestacles de Père Noël”
The “Pestacles de Père Noël” festivities at the pretty French resort of La Clusaz, which also boasts more than a century of skiing tradition, run from just before Christmas to early January. Running for more than 20 years now, they’re among the biggest Christmas celebrations in the Alps and include the build-up to Father Christmas appearing on 24 December, Christmas parades, light shows, partying elves and Christmas-themed rides for children.