Best ski resorts in December for family

Ranked on what actually fell, not on marketing copy. La Plagne comes out on top for a family ski vacation in December: 45% easy terrain with a 40in base in December.

  1. 1

    La Plagne

    Savoie, France · 4,101ft – 10,663ft

    100
    match score

    La Plagne in December: 45% easy terrain with a 40in base in December.

    Easy terrain
    45% beginner
    Snow depth
    40in average base
    Rain days
    1.4 in the month
    Family rankings
    Named in published guides
  2. 2

    Les Arcs

    Savoie, France · 3,937ft – 10,584ft

    90
    match score

    Les Arcs in December: 35% easy terrain with a 43in base in December.

    Easy terrain
    35% beginner
    Snow depth
    43in average base
    Rain days
    1.9 in the month
    Family rankings
    Named in published guides
  3. 3

    Alpe d'Huez

    Isère, France · 3,609ft – 10,925ft

    86
    match score

    Alpe d'Huez in December: 35% easy terrain with a 33in base in December.

    Easy terrain
    35% beginner
    Snow depth
    33in average base
    Rain days
    1.5 in the month
    Family rankings
    Named in published guides
  4. 4

    Zermatt

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

    76
    match score

    Zermatt in December: 20% easy terrain with snow cover that never melts out in December.

    Easy terrain
    20% beginner
    Snow cover
    Never melts out at mid-mountain
    Rain days
    0.1 in the month
  5. 5

    Whistler Blackcomb

    British Columbia, Canada · 2,215ft – 7,493ft

    69
    match score

    Whistler Blackcomb in December: 20% easy terrain with a 76in base in December.

    Easy terrain
    20% beginner
    Snow depth
    76in average base
    Rain days
    3 in the month
  6. 6

    Méribel

    Savoie, France · 3,609ft – 9,685ft

    66
    match score

    Méribel in December: 14% easy terrain with a 40in base in December.

    Easy terrain
    14% beginner
    Snow depth
    40in average base
    Rain days
    1.6 in the month
    Family rankings
    Named in published guides
  7. 7

    Tignes

    Savoie, France · 5,085ft – 11,339ft

    65
    match score

    Tignes in December: 25% easy terrain with a 44in base in December.

    Easy terrain
    25% beginner
    Snow depth
    44in average base
    Rain days
    0.6 in the month
  8. 8

    Val d'Isère

    Savoie, France · 6,070ft – 11,339ft

    65
    match score

    Val d'Isère in December: 25% easy terrain with a 44in base in December.

    Easy terrain
    25% beginner
    Snow depth
    44in average base
    Rain days
    0.6 in the month
  9. 9

    Val Gardena

    South Tyrol, Italy · 4,055ft – 8,261ft

    63
    match score

    Val Gardena in December: 35% easy terrain with a 16in base in December.

    Easy terrain
    35% beginner
    Snow depth
    16in average base
    Rain days
    0.2 in the month
  10. 10

    Les Deux Alpes

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

    61
    match score

    Les Deux Alpes in December: 30% easy terrain with a 31in base in December.

    Easy terrain
    30% beginner
    Snow depth
    31in average base
    Rain days
    1.5 in the month

Other months and trip styles

Family in another month

A different kind of trip in December

How this ranking is built

Share of easy terrain, snow depth in your month, rain days, and family rankings.

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.