© Morzine Avoriaz Page Officielle
This month sees the start of the winter season
December is when the ski lifts open and the Christmas holidays are on the horizon.
Across the Portes de Soleil we can expect sports competitions, opening parties, and there will obviously also be lots of festive celebrations including a visit from a certain Père Noël. As you are no doubt aware, most things in December revolve around the last two weeks of the month, schools break up and travellers from near and far descend on the valley. There are a plethora of events coming up, from parades to special Christmas menus and New Year's Eve blowouts.
Read on for a look at what we like to do in resort throughout December.
Whilst there will be snow up the mountains, a white Christmas is never a guarantee in the village itself. However, it's definitely cold with temperatures averaging from -3°C to 5°C, with around 10 to 11 days of snowfall. Make sure thermals are on your Christmas list.
The Portes du Soleil lift company usually schedule a partial opening around the middle of the month, with full opening planned before Christmas. Of course, this absolutely depends on the snow conditions, so keep an eye on our news page and social media as we'll let you know as soon as there's any information.
Christmas and New Year is a popular time for families, so the slopes are noticeably busier as soon as the holidays begin. Here are our insider's top tips for the school holidays:
If, like a lot of people, you like to follow several hours of exercise with several hours of drinking, especially during the festive season, you can hit up any of a number of local après-ski sessions.
Always a big night, the village is full of revellers. The restaurants will be busy, so it would be best to make a reservation to ensure you can get a table, and many of the bars and clubs are ticket only, so if there's somewhere you plan to see the New Year in, make sure you've planned ahead.
Hideout Bar, located within the popular Hideout Hostel in Morzine, is renowned for the vibrant and flavour-packed food served at its in-house restaurant. Rather than focusing on traditional alpine cuisine, which can be found across the resort, Hideout takes a refreshing detour with fresh and exciting Asian street food.
Bec Jaune Brewery in Morzine is a must-visit for lovers of craft beer and fresh, inventive food. This lively microbrewery and restaurant offers a unique experience, combining the art of beer-making with a seasonal menu that changes throughout the year. Whether you’re a vegetarian, a meat-lover, or simply curious, there’s something to delight every palate.
La Folie Douce in Avoriaz is the ultimate destination for combining great food, music, and fun in a spectacular alpine setting. Every afternoon, this legendary après-ski venue brings together locals and visitors alike for open-access clubbing, spectacular shows, and unforgettable moments with family or friends.
Ô Chalet is a lively, laid-back spot in the centre of Morzine, known for serving tasty burgers, bagels, kebabs and crêpes at reasonable prices. With its broad, crowd-pleasing menu and buzzing, informal atmosphere, it’s perfect for a quick bite between activities, a relaxed après-ski snack or an easygoing meal with friends or family. Open all year round, it remains a firm favourite among both locals and visitors looking for great value and flavour.
La Chaudanne Wine Bar & Restaurant in Morzine is a haven for food and wine lovers, offering a warm, chalet-inspired atmosphere and a taste of Savoyard hospitality.
Boasting one of the longest wine lists in Morzine, this is a great place to enjoy a relaxing drink and food
Christmas is synonymous with school holidays. As hundreds of children and their families descend on the pistes Morzine puts on a show. There are lots of activities to keep all ages entertained on and off the mountain. Take a look at some of the exciting things the local activity companies put on.
Stick on your head torch and enjoy the sledging down the pistes at night.
For backcountry adventures, this independent company operates in and around the following three heliski destinations: Valgrisenche, The Courmayeur Valley and the Col de Petit St Bernard Pass. They have pioneered 32 drop zones within these three broad valley regions giving you a huge choice of terrain, snow conditions and mountain orientation to ensure you have a day best suited to your ability and preferences.
Snowmobiling can be a fun, fast, snowy activity. Starting from Avoriaz resort, outings start from 17.30 to midnight, giving you free range of the snow and the Alps.
Get to know the mountains at a steady pace while being guided by high mountain instructors.
A fantastic way to see the resort with your friends and family and a great way to entertain any non-skiers in your group.
Montriond Lake (1064 m) is the third largest lake in Haute Savoie, after Lake Geneva and Lake Annecy. Its maximum depth is 19m to a maximum length of 1320m and a maximum width of 235m.
With so many families visiting for the festive season, there is a real child-like excitement as the big day draws ever closer, and usually there's an opportunity to spot the main man himself meeting and greeting people around the resort. With the streets lights turned on and a magical atmosphere in the air, it's hard to ignore that Christmas is nearly here. There will be a full week of Christmas festivities around the resort including shows, music, fireworks, workshops and parades.
There will also be a number of sporting events taking place in the mountains, and with the whole area opening up in December, there's plenty to keep everyone entertained.
For more events check out our events calendar link below.
Rock on Snow Tour is a festival bringing together all things snow that kicks off the Portes du Soleil winter season in some serious style.
The world's leading obstacle race company brings its Spartan race to Morzine in winter over one weekend, with races over 10km or 21km.
You'll find a host of traditional butchers, fishmongers and grocers selling local produce such as tasty cheeses and fine sausages.
It's the holiday season in Morzine and there are two weeks of magical performances, entertainment and activities!
The Morzine-Avoriaz Hockey club play competitive and friendly matches throughout the summer and winter season.
Discover the thrill of speed skiing with the X-Speed Ski Tour.
December is a magical time to visit Morzine and Les Gets. Book your holiday now and enjoy Christmas in the Portes du Soleil.
Find out all about what is happening in the Morzine area and how to make the most of your time here. The latest news, reviews of fun activities, current events and the trendiest restaurants, as well as interviews with leading locals, insider's guides and our top choices for things to do, see and experience in the region. Plus, during the winter season, our famous snow reports and dump alerts all in the same place.
See allLatest News & ReviewsMorzine hosts a wide range of events throughout the year. The biggest winter festival is the Rock des Pistes week in March, where live bands play up on the pistes, with many other concerts being held in resort during the evenings. Highlights in summer include Crankworx and the Pass'portes du Soleil (two large mountain biking events), and the Spartan obstacle course race.
See allUpcoming Events
