Christmas and New Year in Chamonix: what to know before you go

Christmas at the foot of Mont Blanc means twinkling chalets, slopes facing the glaciers and cosy evenings after a day outdoors. Here's what goes on in Chamonix from mid-December to early January, what's open, and how to make the most of it. If you're travelling with children, also read our guide to Chamonix with kids in winter. To fill your days between the celebrations, see our guide to things to do in Chamonix.

Is there a Christmas market in Chamonix?

Yes. Every year, the Christmas village (Village de Noël) is set up in the centre of Chamonix. It's usually open:

• from mid-December to the first days of January;

• every day, from late morning to early evening;

• with a few late openings during the holidays.

In the wooden chalets, local craftspeople, artists and producers sell their creations and Christmas treats. An outdoor ice rink is usually set up on the square too.

The dates, opening hours and late openings for the year are on the tourist office's Christmas village page.

What's on in Chamonix over Christmas?

Every year, the valley lines up its big Christmas events. The highlights often include:

• the Christmas parade through the pedestrian streets of Chamonix, in the late afternoon;

• the Chamonix Ice Show, put on by the figure skating club, at the Richard Bozon ice rink.

During the holidays, the Chamonix Pionniers, the local ice hockey team, often play at home at the Richard Bozon ice rink: a great evening out for the whole family. The match dates and the full festive programme are on the tourist office's events calendar.

In France, the big family celebration is traditionally on the evening of 24 December, the réveillon.

What happens on New Year's Eve in Chamonix?

On the 31st, the party mostly happens in the restaurants and bars in the town centre. The town announces its New Year's Eve events on the tourist office's events calendar.

If you're celebrating in a restaurant or bar in the centre, three tips:

• book your table early, especially for a group;

• plan your way home: stay within walking distance of the centre, or book a taxi in advance;

• keep New Year's Day easy: a walk or a skating session rather than an outing with an early start.

Will there be snow in Chamonix at Christmas?

Up high, the top sectors, such as Grands Montets and Brévent-Flégère, are often well covered for the holidays, while snow in the valley varies more from one year to the next. A few days before you leave, check the valley's snow report.

If you're coming to ski, aim for those high sectors. And if the snow is slow to reach the valley floor, there's plenty to do with a local pro: snowshoeing, paragliding, ice climbing or walks on the groomed footpaths. Our guide to things to do in Chamonix in winter without skiing has nine ideas.

Which ski areas are open at Christmas?

The valley's ski areas usually reopen one after another between late November and mid-December, snow permitting, ready to welcome you over the Christmas holidays:

• Flégère: facing Mont Blanc, from Les Praz.

• Grands Montets: above Argentière, with the gondola up to the Lognan plateau.

• Balme (Le Tour and Vallorcine): at the head of the valley, up to the Swiss border.

• Les Houches-Saint-Gervais: with the Bellevue cable car and the Prarion gondola.

• Brévent: from the centre of Chamonix, with the Planpraz gondola and the Brévent cable car.

The Compagnie du Mont-Blanc, which runs the lifts, announces each ski area's opening dates every year: check them on its website before you go.

Lift pass prices depend on the duration, your age and the ski areas you choose: you'll find them on the Compagnie du Mont-Blanc website.

To book ski lessons over the holidays, read our guide to ski lessons in Chamonix: independent instructor or ski school?

What's open over the holidays?

• The Aiguille du Midi cable car usually reopens just in time for the holidays, after its annual autumn maintenance: check the date on the Compagnie du Mont-Blanc website.

• The Montenvers train to the Mer de Glace runs in winter. Its website gives the dates and times for the train, the glacier gondola and the ice cave.

• The Planpraz gondola, above Chamonix, usually runs from mid-December to mid-April.

• Huskydalen dog sledding usually starts its season with the Christmas holidays, snow permitting.

• The Planards alpine coaster reopens in mid-December.

What can you book with a local pro over the holidays?

Between festive meals, an outing with a pro is a great way to see the valley differently. On PEAKED, several local pros take you out over the holidays, for example:

• Tandem paragliding with David Paragliding Chamonix, born in Chamonix, who speaks English, French and Spanish. The tandem paragliding flight with views of Mont-Blanc takes off from Planpraz when the gondola is running. The paragliding flight from the Plan de l'Aiguille depends on the Aiguille du Midi cable car, which usually reopens just in time for the holidays. The price is shown on each outing's page, service fee included; the lift ticket is extra. On the cold and the winter light: paragliding in Chamonix in winter.

• Snowshoeing with Valérie Dubois Delplanque, a mountain leader who speaks English and French: snowshoeing at dusk (2 hours, from age 6) and the mountains in winter (3 hours, from age 6), both starting from Megève, or searching for an avalanche victim (3 hours, from age 10), a fun introduction to avalanche transceivers.

• A nature outing with Alex Bruneau, who speaks English and French: Discover the ecosystems of our mountains, 1 hour, all levels, up to 8 people. Message Alex from the profile to find out the next dates.

• For fit adults, Jeff Mercier offers climbing in the moulins of the Mer de Glace, with a night's bivouac. Jeff will tell you the dates and how the glacier can be reached when you get in touch.

During the holidays, message the pro from their PEAKED profile as soon as your dates are set: they'll reply with their availability. If the pro cancels, because of the weather or for any other reason, you get a full refund, service fee included.

How do you enjoy the holidays without the crowds?

French school Christmas holidays are the same for every school zone: two weeks around Christmas and New Year. Check the year's dates on the official French school calendar. A few habits help:

• Book early: accommodation, ski lessons, kids' clubs and restaurant tables for 24 and 31 December.

• Consider the week before: French children are still at school, and several ski areas are often already open.

• Head out early to the lifts and the best-known sites.

• Stay outside central Chamonix, for example in Servoz or Vallorcine, and get around by train: with the guest card (carte d'hôte) from your host, the Mont-Blanc Express is free between Servoz and Vallorcine. To choose: the Chamonix valley in 5 villages.

Christmas and New Year in Chamonix: your festive calendar

Here's how the festive season usually unfolds in Chamonix:

• Late November to mid-December: the ski areas reopen one after another, snow permitting.

• Mid-December: the Christmas village opens in the centre of Chamonix.

• French school Christmas holidays: two weeks around Christmas and New Year, the same across France. The Aiguille du Midi has usually reopened, dog sledding gets going and the Chamonix Pionniers often play at home.

• 24 December: Christmas Eve, the réveillon; if you're celebrating in a restaurant, book early.

• 31 December: an evening in the restaurants and bars, booked ahead.

• Early January: the French school holidays and the Christmas village come to an end.

The year's exact dates are on the tourist office's events calendar.