Where to ski
Where to Ski in December 2026: Resorts Open Early & Low-Season Prices
By Book & Ski · Sources checked
The short answer
For early-December skiing, choose a resort that is already open: 21 of the resorts in our opening-dates list open by 5 December 2026, including the glaciers, Zermatt and Saas-Fee (1 November), Val Thorens–Orelle (21 November) and Les 2 Alpes (28 November). Lift passes are cheaper before Christmas: €395 for six days in St Anton (2–18 December) and €378.50 for Les 3 Vallées (5–18 December).
| Resort / area | Country | Opens | Closes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hintertux Glacier (Zillertal) | Austria | Early October 2026 | 11 April 2027 | source |
| Mölltal Glacier (Carinthia) | Austria | 3 October 2026 | 30 May 2027 | source |
| Kitzsteinhorn (Zell am See-Kaprun) | Austria | 10 October 2026 | May 2027 | source |
| Sölden (glaciers) | Austria | Mid-October 2026 | End of April 2027 | source |
| Stubai Valley | Austria | Mid-October 2026 | Mid-April 2027 | source |
| Cervinia | Italy | 24 October 2026 | – | source |
| Zermatt | Switzerland | 1 November 2026 | 2 May 2027 | source |
| Saas-Fee | Switzerland | 1 November 2026 | 18 April 2027 | source |
| Kitzbühel | Austria | 6 November 2026 | 4 April 2027 | source |
| Obergurgl-Hochgurgl | Austria | 19 November 2026 | 18 April 2027 | source |
| Obertauern | Austria | 20 November 2026 | 2 May 2027 | source |
| Val Thorens–Orelle | France | 21 November 2026 | 2 May 2027 | source |
| Ischgl | Austria | 26 November 2026 | 2 May 2027 | source |
| Saalbach-Hinterglemm | Austria | 27 November 2026 | 4 April 2027 | source |
| Silvretta Montafon | Austria | 27 November 2026 | 11 April 2027 | source |
| Les 2 Alpes | France | 28 November 2026 | 2 May 2027 | source |
| St Anton am Arlberg | Austria | 2 December 2026 | 18 April 2027 | source |
| Lech Zürs | Austria | 2 December 2026 | 18 April 2027 | source |
| Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis | Austria | 4 December 2026 | 4 April 2027 | source |
| Les 3 Vallées (linked area) | France | 5 December 2026 | 18 April 2027 | source |
| SkiWelt Wilder Kaiser–Brixental | Austria | 5 December 2026 | 4 April 2027 | source |
Ski holidays with the lift pass included
Once you have your dates, a package with the lift pass is usually the cheapest way to book. Our partner’s cheapest weeks start at €149 per person, mostly self-catering apartments in big French resorts. These are the best value, one per ski area.
- Lift pass includedLowest price here
Apartment★★★
Ferienwohnungen am Weberfeld
Bodenmais, Germany
Silberbergbahn lift 3.1 km · Centre 1.5 km
- Dogs allowed
- Kids’ play area
- Parking
- Wi-Fi
from €149 per person7 nights · Self-catering · lift pass included
Check dates on SnowTrex - Lift pass included
Apartment★★★★
Résidence Les Gentianes
Puy Saint Vincent, France
- Dogs allowed
- Swimming pool
- Parking
from €179 per person7 nights · Self-catering · lift pass included
Check dates on SnowTrex - Lift pass included
Apartment★★★
Les Chalets de SuperDévoluy
SuperDévoluy, France
Jas lift 200 m · Centre 200 m
- Dogs allowed
- Parking
from €179 per person7 nights · Self-catering · lift pass included
Check dates on SnowTrex - Lift pass included
Apartment★★★
Résidence Cheval Blanc
Valfréjus, France
Nearest run 100 m · Charmasson lift 100 m · Centre 300 m
- Dogs allowed
- Parking
- Wi-Fi
from €189 per person7 nights · Self-catering · lift pass included
Check dates on SnowTrex - Lift pass included
Apartment★★★
Résidence Les Campanules
La Norma, France
Nearest run 250 m · Télécabine du Mélezet lift 250 m · Centre 250 m
- Dogs allowed
- Parking
from €199 per person7 nights · Self-catering · lift pass included
Check dates on SnowTrex - Lift pass includedRuns at the door
Apartment★★★+
Bonheur des Pistes
Val Cenis, France
Runs at the door · In the centre
- Dogs allowed
- Parking
- Wi-Fi
from €219 per person7 nights · Self-catering · lift pass included
Check dates on SnowTrex
Prices per person from SnowTrex’s partner feed, checked 13 November 2026: the lowest price for that stay length in the 2026/27 season, with the lift pass where stated. That is usually a low-season week with every bed in the room or apartment taken; Christmas, New Year and February half-term weeks cost more, and SnowTrex shows the exact price once you choose dates and the number of people. Distances are from the property description. You book with SnowTrex on its site for your country: snowtrex.co.uk in English, or its German, Dutch, French, Polish or Czech site; we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
All cheap ski holidays with lift pass →Low-season prices in December
Before the Christmas peak, six-day adult passes cost €395 in St Anton (2–18 December), €351 in Kitzbühel until 5 December and €387 from 6 to 19 December, €378.50 for Les 3 Vallées (5–18 December), and ¥51,200 in Niseko until 11 December.
All 2026/27 opening and closing dates →Highest ski resorts in Europe →Cheapest weeks to ski →Pick altitude for early snow
Early in the season, higher resorts and glaciers are the safer bet for snow cover. Check which lifts and runs are open before you travel, as opening weekends can run a reduced area.
Frequently asked questions
Which ski resorts are open in early December 2026?
Hintertux Glacier (Zillertal), Mölltal Glacier (Carinthia), Kitzsteinhorn (Zell am See-Kaprun), Sölden (glaciers), Stubai Valley, Cervinia and others open by 5 December, according to their official dates.
Is December cheaper for skiing?
Before Christmas, yes: for example €395 instead of €468 for six days in St Anton (2–18 December).
Official sources
- Austrian National Tourist Office: winter openings Austria 2026/27
- Saas-Fee/Saastal: winter in the Saas Valley
- Matterhorn Paradise: ski pass prices and season
- Cervinia: official site
- Les 2 Alpes: a four-season destination
- Orelle ski area: 2026/27 prices and validity
- Les 3 Vallées: 6-day adult pass
- Ski Arlberg: winter prices 2026/27
- KitzSki: 2–14 day ski pass prices
- Les 3 Vallées: 6-day adult pass
- Niseko United: lift tickets 2026/27
- Matterhorn Paradise: ski pass prices
Checked on . Prices and timetables change; confirm with the operator before you pay. How we research.