Why December might be the best month for family ski holiday to Zermatt

While February half term and New Year week will always remain the most popular weeks of the season, here's our little shout out to skiing in Zermatt in December. In particular, the early season before Christmas benefits from qualities that these peak weeks can't match: a quieter mountain, a village at its most atmospheric, and the best prices of the season...plus the snow and skiing are generally great, even during these early season weeks. For families with pre-school children, older families with post-school children who aren't limited by term time dates, and those with longer school holidays, it really is worth considering.

Why Zermatt works in December

Altitude is the short answer. The village sits at 1,620m and the lift system reaches 3,883m at the Klein Matterhorn, where the glacier runs year-round. By late November Zermatt typically has its wider ski area open, and by early December the upper mountain is fully operational. Average snow depth on the upper slopes in December is around 159cm, and roughly 90% of the skiable area is above 1,800m, where temperatures stay consistently low enough to keep conditions in good shape.

The lower pistes into the village open progressively through the month depending on snowfall and temperatures, and in the first week or two they may be limited. The upper and mid-mountain is where you'll be spending most of the week regardless, and up there December is as good as any other month.

While most of the Alps aren't reliably open this early in the season, book an early season ski trip to Zermatt, and you could be cruising the rolling blue Riffelhorn piste with the family, tackling the adventurous Marmotte itinerary while the kids are in ski school, or treating yourself to a sumptuous mountain lunch at Chez Vrony before most travellers are anywhere near the mountains. This list of alpine ski resorts open this early in the season is a short one, but for us, Zermatt sits at the top of it.

What's a Zermatt ski holiday in December like?

Zermatt is always beautiful, but after the Christmas tree lighting ceremony in late November, it's truly magical. From that point on, the Bahnhofstrasse is lit up, shops are filled with decorations, and the village atmosphere is chocolate box, whimsical, and traditional - all the ingredients to get the whole family feeling the festive spirit. Hot chocolate at a mountain restaurant after the first run of the morning, the Matterhorn in early-winter light, a slow amble through the pedestrianised streets on the hunt for Christmas ornaments to take home: it's hard to improve on as a setting for a family ski trip in December.

The slopes in the first half of the month are noticeably quiet, making this a great moment to improve technique and make the most out of your ski instruction. Lift queues are non-existent, and there's nothing like the feeling of cruising down the piste by yourself, without having to navigate hoards of other skiers.

Christmas week

Christmas week in Zermatt offers a different atmosphere. While it's significantly busier than the early season weeks, the magic is magnified, and there's simply no comparison to waking up on a crisp Christmas morning to Matterhorn views.

Naturally a Christmas ski holiday in Zermatt comes with a higher price-tag, although it's worth noting that it still typically sits below the New Year week in terms of cost. In our experience families often fall in love with Christmas in Zermatt and return year after year. From a holiday planning point-of-view, the best chalets are booked early. This is one of those special, memory-making trips, that's worth booking well in advance (ideally in spring or early-summer). For self-catered trips don't forget to make any restaurant reservations as early as possible (Christmas Eve dinner and Christmas Day lunch in particular).

The trade-offs

Days are short in December. Sunrise in early December is around 7:45am and sunset around 4:30pm. The nights drawing in early means longer to enjoy Zermatt in all its glowy-glory after dark, but does mean a shorter skiing window than later in the season. For families with young children who tire quickly, this is barely a constraint, and for older groups it means longer to enjoy après or your chalet's wellness facilities. However if you like a long day on the mountain on your ski holiday, it's worth bearing in mind.

The lower pistes can be patchy in the first two weeks of December in lean snow years. Some seasons see below-average snow cover at Zermatt's village level in early December, even while the upper mountain stays in excellent condition. Zermatt can make snow on up to 75% of its pistes, which covers most gaps, but the lowest runs into the resort centre are the last to come into proper shape. Plan your days around the upper and mid-mountain in early December and you'll ski well regardless of what's happening at village level.

Not all mountain restaurants are fully open in the very first days of the season, so this is worth checking if you have any specific restaurants in mind.

Who December works for

December ski holidays in Zermatt are great for families who have flexibility on dates, particularly those who find February half-term pricing difficult to justify. The skiing is great and reliable, the cost is lower, and the atmosphere is better than a mid-January visit when the festive backdrop has passed for another year.

Families with younger children who are still learning benefit disproportionately from the quieter slopes and shorter lift queues. Ski school is simply better when the mountain isn't peak-week crowded. The Zermatt ski schools, both the official Swiss Ski School and the English-language independents that meet around the Sunnegga funicular, will deliver a stronger week for a beginner group in December than full press of February half-term. If you're serious about improving your children's confidence, a ski holiday in December also allows for another trip later in the season to really cement technique.

Families with pre or post-school children, not constrained by term dates, have the best December option of all. Mid-December in Zermatt with the mountain opening up but the main crowds not yet arrived offers the best of all worlds.

And families who want to spend Christmas somewhere genuinely special, will find a festive ski holiday in Zermatt very hard to improve on.

Booking

The best chalets go early even for December, because Zermatt's reputation as a reliably open early-season resort means families who know it well tend to rebook the same weeks every year. We definitely suggest booking as early as possible for a Christmas trip. Early December can be left later, and you can even pick up some fantastic last-minute ski deals for those early weeks, especially if you're flexible on dates or accommodation. Book ski school at the same time as the chalet, especially for the busier Christmas period; all of the ski schools in Zermatt fill up early for the festive period.