Zermatt
Switzerland
The Matterhorn, year-round glacier skiing, and a car-free village that is among the loveliest in the Alps.
Village 1,608m · top 3,883m
74
/ 100
Very snow-sure
Which Ski Resorts Have a Christmas Market?
Most Alpine ski resorts hold their Christmas market during Advent and take it down before Christmas week. Of the places we checked, the ones still trading between 24 and 31 December were Chamonix, Courchevel Le Praz, Ortisei in Val Gardena, Corvara, Kitzbühel (to 27 December) and, for a day trip, two of Innsbruck's markets, Bolzano and Merano.
Zermatt, Saas-Fee, St Anton, Lech and Obergurgl all run their markets on Advent evenings or weekends and finish by 21 December. Verbier's markets are down the valley in Le Châble and finish on 20 December. Val d'Isère and Méribel have no Christmas market at all. They put on parades, torchlit descents and Father Christmas instead.
Every date below comes from the tourist office or the market organiser, and each one says which season it applies to. Most resorts publish their dates in October or November, so a date from last winter shows the usual pattern for that resort. It does not confirm this year's dates.
The ranking
Ordered by our Christmas atmosphere rating.
Val d'Isère
France
The rare resort that has both a real village and 3,456m of glacier-backed terrain above it.
Village 1,849m · top 3,456m · 300km of piste
73
/ 100
Very snow-sure
Saas-Fee
Switzerland
A car-free village at 1,800m ringed by thirteen four-thousand-metre peaks, with glacier skiing above it.
Village 1,798m · top 3,457m
71
/ 100
Very snow-sure
Lech
Austria
Quietly the most exclusive village in the Alps, and among the snowiest places in Austria.
Village 1,444m · top 2,811m
43
/ 100
Weather-dependent
Cortina d'Ampezzo
Italy
The most beautiful setting in the Alps, and an elegant Italian town that happens to have skiing.
Village 1,224m · top 2,930m
38
/ 100
Weather-dependent
St Anton am Arlberg
Austria
The spiritual home of Alpine skiing, with the toughest terrain and the liveliest après in Austria.
Village 1,304m · top 2,811m
38
/ 100
Weather-dependent
Courchevel
France
The most luxurious address in the Alps, with the grooming, the restaurants and the prices to match.
Village 1,300m · top 2,738m
36
/ 100
Weather-dependent
Samoëns
France
A handsome historic village with one of the region's best Christmas markets and gondola access to the Grand Massif.
Village 710m · top 2,500m
12
/ 100
Weather-dependent
Val Gardena
Italy
Three Ladin villages in the Dolomites, on the Sellaronda circuit and the vast Dolomiti Superski pass.
Village 1,563m
Snow Score pending
Verbier
Switzerland
Serious off-piste, a sunny south-facing balcony, and the liveliest nights in Switzerland.
Village 1,490m · top 3,329m
57
/ 100
Usually reliable
Avoriaz
France
Car-free, ski-in/ski-out from almost every door, and the best resort in France for young families.
Village 1,800m · top 2,466m · 130km of piste
48
/ 100
Weather-dependent
Valloire
France
A proper Maurienne village with a baroque church, a good Christmas programme and the Galibier-Thabor ski area.
Village 1,430m · top 3,000m
47
/ 100
Weather-dependent
Méribel
France
The prettiest of the Three Valleys resorts and the one that suits families best.
Village 1,450m · top 2,952m
46
/ 100
Weather-dependent
Corvara and Colfosco
Italy
Alta Badia's main Ladin village, on the Sellaronda, with easy, well-groomed skiing and first-rate mountain food.
Village 1,568m · top 2,550m
41
/ 100
Weather-dependent
San Cassiano
Italy
The quietest, most exclusive of the Alta Badia villages, with gentle skiing and a Ladin Christmas village.
Village 1,315m · top 2,550m
32
/ 100
Weather-dependent
Les Carroz
France
A lived-in Savoyard village with gondola access to the Grand Massif and an easy transfer from Geneva.
Village 1,140m · top 2,500m
24
/ 100
Weather-dependent
Morzine
France
A working Savoyard market town with real life in it — and the lowest altitude in our French selection.
Village 1,000m · top 2,466m
18
/ 100
Weather-dependent
Chamonix
France
A historic mountain town beneath Mont Blanc, best for strong skiers and excellent for non-skiers.
Village 1,035m
Snow Score pending
Courmayeur
Italy
A handsome Mont Blanc town with a lively pedestrian centre, Skyway Monte Bianco and serious guided off-piste.
Resort figures still being verified
Snow Score pending
Ischgl
Austria
High, snow-sure skiing across the Silvretta Arena into Switzerland — and the biggest party in the Alps.
Village 1,377m
Snow Score pending
Obergurgl
Austria
The highest parish in Austria at 1,930m, and the country's most reliable bet for Christmas snow.
Village 1,930m
Snow Score pending
Val Thorens
France
Europe's highest ski resort at 2,300m, and the top scorer on our Christmas Snow Score.
Village 2,300m · top 3,230m
84
/ 100
Very snow-sure
Cervinia
Italy
At 2,050m with glacier lifts and a link into Zermatt, the most snow-sure resort in Italy.
Village 2,050m · top 3,500m
81
/ 100
Very snow-sure
Alpe d'Huez
France
Three hundred sunny days a year, 3,330m of altitude, and the longest black run in the world.
Village 1,860m · top 3,330m
70
/ 100
Very snow-sure
Les Arcs
France
Four villages at four altitudes, linked by cable car to La Plagne as the huge Paradiski area.
Village 1,600m · top 3,250m
59
/ 100
Usually reliable
Les Menuires
France
A good-value, ski-in ski-out base in the Belleville valley, with the whole of Les 3 Vallées on the doorstep.
Village 1,850m · top 2,850m
59
/ 100
Usually reliable
Montgenèvre
France
A friendly border village on the Via Lattea, with gentle slopes at the door and Italy a lift ride away.
Village 1,789m · top 2,789m
55
/ 100
Usually reliable
La Plagne
France
Eleven villages, enormous intermediate terrain, and consistently one of the best-value big French resorts.
Village 1,250m · top 3,250m
46
/ 100
Weather-dependent
Madonna di Campiglio
Italy
Trentino's most polished resort, with Habsburg history and long, well-groomed runs linked to the Val di Sole.
Village 1,553m · top 2,600m
42
/ 100
Weather-dependent
Serre Chevalier
France
A string of old valley villages with tree-lined skiing, thermal baths and Briançon's fortified old town.
Village 1,200m · top 2,800m
34
/ 100
Weather-dependent
La Villa
Italy
A lived-in Ladin village at the foot of the Gran Risa World Cup run, with a gondola into the heart of Alta Badia.
Village 1,315m · top 2,550m
32
/ 100
Weather-dependent
La Rosière
France
A quiet, sunny chalet resort linked over the border to La Thuile in the Espace San Bernardo.
Village 1,850m
Snow Score pending
La Thuile
Italy
A quiet former mining village linked to La Rosière in France, with wide, uncrowded intermediate skiing.
Village 1,441m
Snow Score pending
Les Deux Alpes
France
A lively purpose-built resort with a glacier, big nightlife and access to the off-piste of La Grave.
top 3,600m
Snow Score pending
Tignes
France
Glacier skiing on the Grande Motte and the same Espace Killy terrain as Val d'Isère, for less money.
Village 1,810m · top 3,456m · 300km of piste
71
/ 100
Very snow-sure
Flaine
France
A car-free, architect-designed resort in a snowy bowl at the heart of the Grand Massif, close to Geneva.
Village 1,600m · top 2,561m
43
/ 100
Weather-dependent
Why most resort markets have closed by Christmas week
An Alpine Christmas market is an Advent tradition. Its season runs from late November to the days just before Christmas, when locals are buying presents. Christmas Eve is a family evening, above all in Austria and Switzerland. Many ski resorts also schedule their market for the quiet weeks before the lifts get busy. So a family arriving on 19 or 20 December will often catch the last weekend. Anyone arriving on Boxing Day will usually find the huts gone.
Resorts at a glance
| Resort | Market | Last confirmed dates | Open 24–31 Dec? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zermatt | Weihnachtsmarkt, Dorfplatz | 5 Dec 2025, one evening | No, closed before Christmas week |
| Saas-Fee | Christmas market, village square | 12–13 Dec 2025; 11–12 Dec 2026 on the municipal calendar | No, closed before Christmas week |
| Verbier | Markets in Le Châble, in the valley | 6–7 Dec and 19–20 Dec 2025 | No, closed before Christmas week |
| St Anton | Adventzauber, museum park | Advent Sundays to 20 Dec 2026 | No, closed before Christmas week |
| Lech | Weihnachtsmarkt, Kirchplatz | 11–13 and 18–20 Dec 2026 | No, closed before Christmas week |
| Obergurgl | Christmas market, Gurgl Carat | Fridays and Sundays, 29 Nov–20 Dec 2026 | No, closed before Christmas week |
| Ischgl | Adventmarkt, Kulturzentrum | Sundays in Advent; current dates not published | No, pre-Christmas only |
| Val d'Isère | No Christmas market | n/a | No market |
| Méribel | No Christmas market | n/a | No market (festivities 21–25 Dec 2025) |
| Morzine | One-day market in early December | Year not confirmed | Market no; festive village yes |
| Courchevel | Marché de Noël, Le Praz | 13 Dec to 2 Jan (last listing) | Yes, by the listed dates |
| Chamonix | Christmas Village, Place du Triangle de l'Amitié | 18 Dec 2025–4 Jan 2026 | Yes, daily 11:30–19:00 |
| Val Gardena | Nadel Urtijëi, Ortisei | 29 Nov 2025–4 Jan 2026 | Yes, short hours 24 Dec, food only 25 Dec |
| Corvara | Marcé da Nadé, Piazza Municipio | 4 Dec 2026–6 Jan 2027 | Yes, by the listed dates, 16:00–19:00 |
| Madonna di Campiglio | Christmas market | No 2025 edition | Not confirmed |
| Cortina d'Ampezzo | Christmas market | Sources conflict | Not confirmed |
| Kitzbühel | Kitzbüheler Advent | 18 Nov–27 Dec 2026 | Partly: 24 Dec 10:00–14:00, 25–27 Dec from 14:00, closed from 28 Dec |
Switzerland
Zermatt
Zermatt's Weihnachtsmarkt on the Dorfplatz was a single evening in 2025: Friday 5 December, 16:00 to 21:00. The 2026 date has not yet appeared on the Zermatt events calendar.
Saas-Fee
Saas-Fee holds a two-day market on the village square and in the gym. In 2025 it ran on 12–13 December, 16:00 to 21:00, and the municipal calendar lists 11–12 December for 2026. What does run through Christmas is an illuminated forest path from Saas-Fee to Saas-Almagell, lit daily from mid-December to mid-January.
Verbier
Verbier village has no market of its own. In 2025 the Val de Bagnes markets were in Le Châble on 6–7 December and 19–20 December. At Christmas the resort offers Father Christmas and his elves in the streets on the afternoons of 24 and 25 December.
Austria
St Anton, Lech and Obergurgl
St Anton's Adventzauber runs in the museum park on Advent Sundays, 17:00 to 20:00, plus Saturday 19 December. Its last day in 2026 is 20 December. Lech's market on the Kirchplatz runs over two weekends, 11–13 and 18–20 December 2026, 15:00 to 20:00. Obergurgl's market outside Gurgl Carat runs on Fridays and Sundays from 29 November to 20 December 2026, 15:00 to 19:00. None of the three trades in Christmas week. In Zürs, the Lech Zürs tourist office listed Father Christmas on the Edelweissplatz at 14:30 on 25 December 2025.
Ischgl
Ischgl's Advent market at the Kulturzentrum is run by local associations on Sundays in Advent. Neither the resort nor the council has published current dates, so treat it as a pre-Christmas event.
Kitzbühel
Kitzbüheler Advent is the exception in Tirol. In 2026 it opens on 18 November, Wednesday to Sunday, 14:00 to 20:00. On 24 December it opens 10:00 to 14:00, and from 25 to 27 December it opens from 14:00. It is closed from 28 December.
Innsbruck, as a day trip from the Tirol resorts
Innsbruck has several markets, and they do not all close on the same day. The Old Town market by the Golden Roof ran from 15 November to 23 December 2025, and the organiser's 2026 dates also end on 23 December. The markets on Marktplatz, St Nikolaus and Wilten also close on 23 December 2026. Two markets carry on:
- Maria-Theresien-Straße: 25 November 2025 to 6 January 2026, daily 11:00–21:00, with 24 December 11:00–15:00 and 31 December 11:00–19:00. The 2026/27 edition runs 25 November 2026 to 6 January 2027.
- Panorama market at the Hungerburg, reached by funicular: 21 November 2025 to 6 January 2026, with 24 December 12:00–15:00 and 31 December 12:00–17:00. The 2026/27 edition runs 20 November 2026 to 6 January 2027.
France
Chamonix
The Chamonix Christmas Village fills the Place du Triangle de l'Amitié, in front of the tourist office and the church. In 2025/26 it ran from 18 December to 4 January, 11:30 to 19:00, with late openings to 21:00 on 19 and 26 December. The tourist office gives no separate hours for 24 or 25 December.
Courchevel
Courchevel's tourist office listed a market at Le Praz from 13 December to 2 January, with about a dozen chalets and concerts on 19 and 29 December. That listing has since expired, so check the dates for this season.
Val d'Isère, Méribel and Morzine
Val d'Isère has no Christmas market. Its Christmas programme includes Father Christmas's arrival, the ESF torchlit descent and fireworks, and a children's vigil mass at 19:00 on 24 December. Méribel holds Christmas festivities from 21 to 25 December 2025, with Father Christmas arriving by carriage at 17:30 on the 24th. Its only market is the regular Tuesday and Friday market. Morzine's official Christmas market is a single day in early December. Over Christmas the village runs a festive programme with a parade and fireworks on 24 December.
Megève
Megève's Village de Noël is a children's village, not a market. The 2026 edition runs from 21 to 31 December and is closed on 25 December.
Italy
Val Gardena and Alta Badia
Nadel Urtijëi fills the centre of Ortisei with about 20 huts. In 2025/26 it ran from 29 November to 4 January. On 24 December it opened 11:00–17:00. On 25 December only the food stalls opened, 11:00–20:00. On 31 December the shops closed at 17:00. The 2026/27 dates are listed provisionally as 28 November to 6 January. In Corvara, Marcé da Nadé in the Piazza Municipio pavilion runs from 4 December 2026 to 6 January 2027, 16:00 to 19:00. Some early-December days are closed.
Madonna di Campiglio and Cortina
No 2025 edition of the Madonna di Campiglio market was planned. For Cortina, the published dates conflict and we could not find an official page, so we have left both out until their organisers confirm.
Bolzano and Merano, as day trips from the Dolomites
Both run to 6 January, and both close on Christmas Day.
| Bolzano (2026/27) | Merano (2025/26) | |
|---|---|---|
| Season | 27 Nov 2026–6 Jan 2027 | 28 Nov 2025–6 Jan 2026 |
| 24 Dec | 10:00–16:00 | 10:00–15:30 (food to 17:00) |
| 25 Dec | Closed | Closed |
| 26 Dec | 10:00–19:00 (food to 21:00) | 10:00–20:00 |
| 31 Dec | 10:00–18:00 | 10:00–15:30 (food to 17:00) |
Before you travel for a market
Check the tourist office page in November. Hours on 24, 25 and 31 December are the most likely to change.
Sources
- lebensraum-zermatt.ch — Zermatt Weihnachtsmarkt, Dorfplatz, 5 Dec 2025 16:00–21:00
- zermatt.swiss — No Zermatt market date listed yet for 2026
- saas-fee.ch — Saas-Fee market 12–13 Dec 2025, 16:00–21:00 (via search summary; page loads by script)
- 3906.ch — Saas-Fee municipal calendar: Weihnachtsmarkt 12–13 Dec 2025 and 11–12 Dec 2026
- saas-fee.ch — Illuminated forest path Saas-Fee to Saas-Almagell, mid-December to mid-January
- verbier.ch — Le Châble craft market 6–7 Dec 2025 (via search summary; page now 404)
- verbier.ch — Le Châble market 19–20 Dec 2025 (via search summary; page now 404)
- seeverbier.com — Father Christmas in Verbier streets on afternoons of 24 and 25 Dec
- stantonamarlberg.com — St Anton Adventzauber dates 2026, last day 20 Dec, 17:00–20:00
- lechzuers.com — Lech market 11–13 and 18–20 Dec 2026, 15:00–20:00
- lechzuers.com — Lech 2025 market dates; Father Christmas in Zürs 25 Dec 2025 14:30
- gurgl.com — Obergurgl market Fridays and Sundays 29 Nov–20 Dec 2026, 15:00–19:00, Gurgl Carat
- sonne-ischgl.at — Ischgl Advent market held on Sundays (no year given)
- kitzbuehel.com — Kitzbüheler Advent 18 Nov–23 Dec 2026 Wed–Sun 14:00–20:00; 24 Dec 10:00–14:00; 25–27 Dec from 14:00
- innsbrucktermine.at — Innsbruck Old Town market 15 Nov–23 Dec 2025, 11:00–21:00
- innsbrucktermine.at — Maria-Theresien-Straße 25 Nov 2025–6 Jan 2026; 24 Dec 11:00–15:00; 31 Dec 11:00–19:00
- innsbrucktermine.at — Hungerburg 21 Nov 2025–6 Jan 2026; 24 Dec 12:00–15:00; 31 Dec 12:00–17:00
- christkindlmarkt.cc — Innsbruck 2026/27 dates: Old Town, Marktplatz, St Nikolaus, Wilten to 23 Dec; Maria-Theresien-Straße and Hungerburg to 6 Jan 2027
- valdisere.com — Val d'Isère Christmas programme; no Christmas market listed
- meribel.net — Méribel Christmas festivities 21–25 Dec 2025; Father Christmas 24 Dec 17:30
- meribel.net — Méribel festivities; no Christmas market
- morzine-avoriaz.com — Morzine one-day Christmas market in early December (year not confirmed)
- mairie-morzine-avoriaz.com — Morzine Christmas village programme: parade and fireworks 24 Dec
- courchevel.com — Courchevel Le Praz market 13 Dec to 2 Jan, concerts 19 and 29 Dec (listing now expired; via search summary)
- en.chamonix.com — Chamonix Christmas Village 18 Dec 2025–4 Jan 2026, 11:30–19:00, late openings 19 and 26 Dec
- megeve-tourisme.fr — Megève Village de Noël 21–31 Dec 2026, closed 25 Dec
- montsdugenevois.com — Four Seasons Megève market 17 Dec 2025–4 Jan 2026, 17:00–21:00
- christmasvalley.it — Nadel Urtijëi 29 Nov 2025–4 Jan 2026; 24 Dec 11:00–17:00; 25 Dec food only 11:00–20:00; 31 Dec shops to 17:00
- valgardena.it — Ortisei 2026/27 provisional dates 28 Nov 2026–6 Jan 2027
- altabadia.org — Corvara Marcé da Nadé 4 Dec 2026–6 Jan 2027, 16:00–19:00
- tuttomercatinidinatale.it — Madonna di Campiglio: 2025 edition not planned
- tuttomercatinidinatale.it — Cortina dates (conflicting with other sources; not used)
- mercatinodinatalebz.it — Bolzano 27 Nov 2026–6 Jan 2027; 24 Dec 10:00–16:00; 25 Dec closed; 26 Dec 10:00–19:00; 31 Dec 10:00–18:00
- merano-suedtirol.it — Merano 28 Nov 2025–6 Jan 2026, closed 25 Dec; 24 and 31 Dec 10:00–15:30; 26 Dec 10:00–20:00
Common questions
Are ski resort Christmas markets open on Christmas Day?
Very few are. Bolzano and Merano both close on 25 December. Ortisei opened its food stalls only. Kitzbühel lists opening from 14:00 on 25 December 2026. Chamonix's 2025/26 dates run through Christmas without a stated closure.
Does Zermatt have a Christmas market during Christmas week?
No. Zermatt's market on the Dorfplatz was a single evening in 2025, Friday 5 December. The 2026 date has not been published yet.
Is the St Anton Christmas market open over Christmas?
No. The Adventzauber in the museum park runs on Advent Sundays, and its last day in 2026 is 20 December.
Which Innsbruck Christmas markets are open after 24 December?
The Maria-Theresien-Straße market and the Panorama market at the Hungerburg both run to 6 January. The Old Town market by the Golden Roof, and the Marktplatz, St Nikolaus and Wilten markets, close on 23 December.
Does Val d'Isère have a Christmas market?
No. Its Christmas programme centres on Father Christmas's arrival, the ESF torchlit descent and fireworks rather than market stalls.