Morzine in December 2019 - What weather to expect & what to do

December in Morzine: What's on and weather

This month sees the start of the winter season

Imprint: By Tracy Wise, Updated 24 April 2026

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.

What are the weather and snow conditions like?

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.

See our Ski Pass Guide See all

School holiday skiing

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:

Group lessons are the best option in the busy period, as private lessons are almost impossible to book - unless you got in early. Make sure to get your ski and snowboard lessons booked well in advance to avoid disappointment.
If you're not in ski school, be an early bird. Arrive at the lifts before they open so that you get up and away before the ski school classes set out around 09:15.
Ski over lunchtime when the slopes are calmer (between 12:00 and 14:00) whilst the French take a leisurely lunch break.
Avoid the queues and make the most of your time in the mountains by pre-booking your lunch reservation - some restaurants offer a Click & Collect service.
Seek out the peripheral areas. Try to avoid the busy main ski areas closer to Morzine town and head over to the less-trodden pistes, such as the Mont-Chéry area in Les Gets.
Get off-piste. Competent off-piste skiers can book a local mountain guide and explore the vast off-piste areas in the valley or even go touring to find complete solitude in the backcountry.

See all Ski Hire in Morzine See our Ski Areas, Pistes & Parks

Opening parties

Après-ski

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.

New Year's Eve

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.

See our Nightlife Guide

The Hideout Bar

Location
Morzine

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.
La Folie Douce Bar

Location
Avoriaz

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.
Bec Jaune Brewery

Location
Morzine

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.
O'Chalet Bar & Restaurant

Location
Morzine

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

Location
Morzine

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.
Semba tapas bar

Location
Les Gets

Semba Tapas Bar in Morzine is the perfect place to enjoy a friendly, gourmet aperitif in a warm and welcoming setting. This cocktail bar and restaurant brings flavours from around the world to your plate, offering a unique experience for both food and drink lovers. Ideal for sharing, Semba serves a delicious selection of sweet and savoury tapas, paired with carefully chosen wines by the glass from here and abroad, sure to delight even the most discerning palates.

Winter Things To Do in Morzine

Family fun

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.

See our Activity Guide

Snowshoeing

Location
Avoriaz

Get to know the mountains at a steady pace while being guided by high mountain instructors.
Avoscoot snowmobiling

Location
Avoriaz

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.
Heliskiing/boarding

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.
Helicopter tours

Location
Bourg-Saint-Maurice

A fantastic way to see the resort with your friends and family and a great way to entertain any non-skiers in your group.
Night sledging

Location
Avoriaz

Stick on your head torch and enjoy the sledging down the pistes at night.
Morzine ski joering

Location
Avoriaz

A unique equestrian winter activity! Discover a fun way to get around on the snow – being pulled by a horse! You'll be joined by a specially harnessed horse while you stand on your skis.

December events in Morzine

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.

Market day

Next event date
29 April 2026
Location
Morzine

You'll find a host of traditional butchers, fishmongers and grocers selling local produce such as tasty cheeses and fine sausages.
Ultra Trail

Next event date
20 June 2026
Location
Morzine

Get your mountain running legs on, discover a range of trail running challenges to suit many levels.
Fête de la Musique

Next event date
21 June 2026
Location
Chamonix

The Fête de la Musique is a celebration that takes place every summer solstice on 21 June in cities, towns and villages across France.
Pass'Portes du Soleil

Next event date
26 June 2026
Location
Chatel

The Pass'Portes du Soleil event marks the beginning of the summer season. Three days of mountain biking across the Portes du Soleil, the classic circuit is 80km long, and includes 7,000m of downhill and 1,000m of uphill. Fifteen lifts give you access to eight different resorts, with some great riding along the way.
Spartan Trifecta weekend

Next event date
3 July 2026
Location
Morzine

The world's leading obstacle race company brings it's competition to Morzine over one weekend, with races over 5km, 10km, 21km and 50km and a childrens race with obstacles of 1 to 3km.
Harley Days in Morzine

Next event date
11 July 2026
Location
Morzine

Morzine Harley Days is back in Morzine as the Harley Davidson Owners Group (HOG) descends on the resort for a long weekend.