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 51in base in December.

  1. 1

    Chamonix

    Haute-Savoie, France · 3,396ft – 12,605ft

    100
    match score

    Chamonix in December: a well-known party resort with a 51in base in December.

    Après reputation
    Lively party resort
    Snow depth
    51in average base
    Bluebird days
    5 in the month
    Snow history9 off-piste zones
  2. 2

    Verbier

    Valais, Switzerland · 4,921ft – 10,925ft

    96
    match score

    Verbier in December: a well-known party resort with a 45in base in December.

    Après reputation
    Lively party resort
    Snow depth
    45in average base
    Bluebird days
    4.3 in the month
    Snow history8 off-piste zones
  3. 3

    Les Deux Alpes

    Isère, France · 4,265ft – 11,811ft

    95
    match score

    Les Deux Alpes in December: a well-known party resort with a 31in base in December.

    Après reputation
    Lively party resort
    Snow depth
    31in average base
    Bluebird days
    5.9 in the month
    Snow history4 off-piste zones
  4. 4

    Val Thorens

    Savoie, France · 7,546ft – 10,597ft

    93
    match score

    Val Thorens in December: a well-known party resort with a 40in base in December.

    Après reputation
    Lively party resort
    Snow depth
    40in average base
    Bluebird days
    4 in the month
    Snow history4 off-piste zones
  5. 5

    Zermatt

    Valais, Switzerland · 5,315ft – 12,792ft

    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 · 4,278ft – 9,222ft

    87
    match score

    St. Anton in December: a well-known party resort with a 35in base in December.

    Après reputation
    Lively party resort
    Snow depth
    35in average base
    Bluebird days
    2.6 in the month
    Snow history4 off-piste zones
  7. 7

    Mayrhofen

    Tyrol, Austria · 2,067ft – 10,663ft

    84
    match score

    Mayrhofen in December: a well-known party resort with a 24in base in December.

    Après reputation
    Lively party resort
    Snow depth
    24in average base
    Bluebird days
    2.9 in the month
    Snow history
  8. 8

    Kitzbühel

    Tyrol, Austria · 2,500ft – 6,562ft

    78
    match score

    Kitzbühel in December: a well-known party resort with a 16in base in December.

    Après reputation
    Lively party resort
    Snow depth
    16in average base
    Bluebird days
    2 in the month
    Snow history4 off-piste zones
  9. 9

    Courchevel

    Savoie, France · 3,609ft – 8,983ft

    75
    match score

    Courchevel in December: smarter après, with a 39in base in December.

    Après reputation
    Smart bars, quieter scene
    Snow depth
    39in average base
    Bluebird days
    3.6 in the month
    Snow history5 off-piste zones
  10. 10

    Cortina d'Ampezzo

    Veneto, Italy · 4,016ft – 9,629ft

    63
    match score

    Cortina d'Ampezzo in December: smarter après, with a 25in base in December.

    Après reputation
    Smart bars, quieter scene
    Snow depth
    25in 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

Powder & backcountryFamilySunshine & 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 trail 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.