Christmas and New Year in the Alps 2026–27: Courchevel, St. Moritz and Gstaad

Published 11 October 2026 · ATLAS MAISON editorial team

Courchevel season

4 December 2026 – 18 April 2027

Courchevel night slalom

Women’s Alpine Skiing World Cup, Tuesday 22 December 2026

Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz

22–24 January 2027, on the frozen lake

Peak weeks

Christmas week and New Year week book first

Gateways

Geneva and Zurich; Engadin Airport (Samedan) and Courchevel altiport for private aviation

Official sources

courchevel.com · stmoritz.com · gstaad.ch

The two weeks from Christmas to New Year are the most sought-after of the Alpine winter. Chalets with staff, ski instructors, restaurant tables on the 31st and helicopter slots into the resorts are all limited, and the best of them are usually committed months ahead.

If you are considering the mountains this year, October and November are the right time to decide. This guide sets out how the three great resorts differ, what to secure first, and how we can take the planning off your hands.

Which resort suits you?

Courchevel: ski-in, ski-out at the heart of the Trois Vallées

Courchevel’s winter season runs from 4 December 2026 to 18 April 2027. Courchevel 1850 is the most international of the Alpine resorts: chalets and hotels open directly onto the slopes of one of the largest linked ski areas in the world. On Tuesday 22 December 2026, the resort hosts a night slalom of the Women’s Alpine Skiing World Cup, a spectacular evening a few days before Christmas.

St. Moritz: the original winter resort

St. Moritz is where Alpine winter tourism began, and it still blends sport and society. The festive weeks are sociable and grand; January brings the Snow Polo World Cup on the frozen lake (22–24 January 2027), and February the White Turf races. Read our winter season guide for the full calendar.

Gstaad: discreet, chalet-led and family-centred

Gstaad’s car-free promenade, wooden chalets and low-key atmosphere have long attracted families who value privacy. Many visitors rent a chalet with staff for the festive weeks rather than staying in a hotel.

Chalet or hotel?

For families and groups, a catered chalet offers space, privacy and a team of chef, host and driver who know your routine by the second day. Festive weeks are often let on fixed weekly terms, with minimum stays, and the most sought-after chalets are booked well in advance. Hotels are often easier for shorter stays or for couples, with ski rooms, spas and restaurants on site.

We research chalets and hotels against your requirements, from bedroom layout and ski access to dietary needs, and compare the full cost of the stay, including staff, transfers and any service charges, before you commit. You book and pay the owner or agency directly.

What to book first

1. Accommodation. Chalets and suites for Christmas and New Year week are the scarcest element.
2. Private ski instructors and children’s ski school. The best instructors are booked for the full festive fortnight.
3. Arrival. Flights or private aviation into Geneva, Zurich or Samedan, then a car, train or helicopter for the final stage.
4. Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve tables. Restaurants on the mountain and in the village fill early, often with set menus.
5. Equipment, lift passes and the details. Ski hire delivered to the chalet, passes waiting on arrival, and a chef briefed on preferences.

Christmas and New Year’s Eve

Every resort celebrates in its own way: torchlight descents, fireworks above the village and long dinners that continue well into the night. For New Year’s Eve, decide early whether you would prefer a restaurant, a hotel gala or a private dinner in the chalet with your own chef. We can arrange all three, and a car to bring everyone home.

Getting there

Courchevel is reached by road from Geneva or Chambéry, or by helicopter directly to the resort. Its altiport, one of the most demanding in Europe, accepts specialised aircraft. St. Moritz is served by Engadin Airport at Samedan for private aviation, with Zurich a scenic drive or train ride away. Gstaad is about two hours by road from Geneva, with a small airfield at Saanen.

Winter weather can close mountain airfields and slow the roads, so we plan arrivals with a fallback: a car ready if a helicopter cannot fly, and a margin around connecting flights. See our guide to private jet charter in Europe.

Dates are as published by the resorts and organisers and may change. Always confirm with the official source.