Best ski resorts in December for après & nightlife

Ranked on what actually fell, not on marketing copy. Chamonix comes out on top for après-ski and nightlife in December: a well-known party resort with a 129cm base in december.

  1. 1

    Chamonix

    Haute-Savoie, France · 1035m to 3842m

    100
    match score

    Chamonix in December: A well-known party resort with a 129cm base in December.

    Après reputation
    Lively party resort
    Snow depth
    129cm average base
    Bluebird days
    5 in the month
    Snow history9 off-piste zones
  2. 2

    Verbier

    Valais, Switzerland · 1500m to 3330m

    96
    match score

    Verbier in December: A well-known party resort with a 115cm base in December.

    Après reputation
    Lively party resort
    Snow depth
    115cm average base
    Bluebird days
    4.3 in the month
    Snow history8 off-piste zones
  3. 3

    Les Deux Alpes

    Isère, France · 1300m to 3600m

    95
    match score

    Les Deux Alpes in December: A well-known party resort with a 80cm base in December.

    Après reputation
    Lively party resort
    Snow depth
    80cm average base
    Bluebird days
    5.9 in the month
    Snow history4 off-piste zones
  4. 4

    Val Thorens

    Savoie, France · 2300m to 3230m

    93
    match score

    Val Thorens in December: A well-known party resort with a 102cm base in December.

    Après reputation
    Lively party resort
    Snow depth
    102cm average base
    Bluebird days
    4 in the month
    Snow history4 off-piste zones
  5. 5

    Zermatt

    Valais, Switzerland · 1620m to 3899m

    88
    match score

    Zermatt in December: Smarter après, with snow cover that never melts out in December.

    Après reputation
    Smart bars, quieter scene
    Snow cover
    Never melts out at mid-mountain
    Bluebird days
    3.3 in the month
    Snow history2 off-piste zones
  6. 6

    St. Anton

    Tyrol, Austria · 1304m to 2811m

    87
    match score

    St. Anton in December: A well-known party resort with a 89cm base in December.

    Après reputation
    Lively party resort
    Snow depth
    89cm average base
    Bluebird days
    2.6 in the month
    Snow history4 off-piste zones
  7. 7

    Mayrhofen

    Tyrol, Austria · 630m to 3250m

    84
    match score

    Mayrhofen in December: A well-known party resort with a 62cm base in December.

    Après reputation
    Lively party resort
    Snow depth
    62cm average base
    Bluebird days
    2.9 in the month
    Snow history
  8. 8

    Kitzbühel

    Tyrol, Austria · 762m to 2000m

    78
    match score

    Kitzbühel in December: A well-known party resort with a 40cm base in December.

    Après reputation
    Lively party resort
    Snow depth
    40cm average base
    Bluebird days
    2 in the month
    Snow history4 off-piste zones
  9. 9

    Courchevel

    Savoie, France · 1100m to 2738m

    75
    match score

    Courchevel in December: Smarter après, with a 100cm base in December.

    Après reputation
    Smart bars, quieter scene
    Snow depth
    100cm average base
    Bluebird days
    3.6 in the month
    Snow history5 off-piste zones
  10. 10

    Cortina d'Ampezzo

    Veneto, Italy · 1224m to 2935m

    63
    match score

    Cortina d'Ampezzo in December: Smarter après, with a 63cm base in December.

    Après reputation
    Smart bars, quieter scene
    Snow depth
    63cm average base
    Bluebird days
    1.3 in the month
    Snow history

Other months and trip styles

Après & nightlife in another month

NovemberJanuaryFebruaryMarchApril

A different kind of trip in December

Off-piste & powderFamilySunshine & bluebirdSnow-sureFirst-timers

How this ranking is built

Published après rankings, then snow conditions in your month as the tie-breaker.

Snow figures come from the same ten-year ERA5 record shown on each resort's snow history page, measured at mid-mountain height. Terrain splits come from each resort's own piste breakdown. Scores are relative to the other resorts searched, not absolute quality marks.

We ranked 48 resorts with a full climate record, out of 253 on the site, against a benchmark of 40 resorts across 18 countries. A resort without a record is left out rather than guessed at. Search it yourself.