Les Arcs or La Plagne for Christmas?

Chalets available in Les Arcs and La Plagne ↓

Les Arcs and La Plagne side by side

Les ArcsLa Plagne
CountryFranceFrance
Village altitude1,600m1,250m
Top of the ski area3,226m3,080m
Christmases with 30cm+ of snow24 of 29 (Les Arcs, 2040 m)26 of 30 (La Plagne, 1980 m)
Snow lying in the village17 of 27 ChristmasesNo village record
Christmas Snow Score65/10058/100
Christmas atmosphere (our rating)3/53/5
Families (our rating)4/55/5
Beginners (our rating)4/55/5
Chalets we list78143
Typical Christmas week, 19 Dec – 26 Dec 2026£6,025 (8 chalets priced; checked 12 October 2026)£4,632 (25 chalets priced; checked 12 October 2026)

Snow figures are Christmas-morning measurements by national and regional weather services, shown on the Christmas Snow Report. Ratings are our editorial view. Prices are Booking.com’s cheapest total for the week for each chalet’s full capacity, among chalets still available when we checked.

What Christmas is like in each

Christmas in Les Arcs

Varies by village. Arc 1950 is purpose-built to look traditional and does it well, with a pedestrian square that comes into its own at Christmas. Arc 1800 is livelier and more functional. None of them has the depth of a real Alpine village, but 1950 comes closest.

Christmas chalets in Les Arcs · See the chalets we list

Christmas in La Plagne

Depends entirely on the village. Plagne 1800 and Montchavin have some charm and a proper Christmas feel; the high purpose-built centres are functional. As a whole the resort puts on a good Christmas Eve for families.

Christmas chalets in La Plagne · See the chalets we list

Chalets available for Christmas in Les Arcs and La Plagne

Three from each resort, available for Christmas week when we last checked.

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See the chalets available for Christmas →

Questions about Les Arcs and La Plagne at Christmas

Which has more snow at Christmas, Les Arcs or La Plagne?

Level on snow: Les Arcs had at least 30cm on Christmas morning in 24 of 29 years, La Plagne in 26 of 30. Measured on Christmas morning at the nearest weather station to each resort since 1996; how often there has been snow, not a forecast.

Which is better for christmas atmosphere at Christmas, Les Arcs or La Plagne?

On Christmas atmosphere we rate them the same (3 out of 5).

Which is better for families at Christmas, Les Arcs or La Plagne?

La Plagne is stronger on families (5 out of 5 against 4), in our editorial view.

Which is better for beginners at Christmas, Les Arcs or La Plagne?

La Plagne is stronger on beginners (5 out of 5 against 4), in our editorial view.

Which is better for price at Christmas, Les Arcs or La Plagne?

La Plagne is cheaper for Christmas week: the typical chalet we priced was £4,632 against £6,025 in Les Arcs.