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If you love the mountains half as much as we do, you’ll probably agree there’s no better way to see in the New Year, than to SKI in the New Year...
Hosting the biggest parties, and hogging the best early-season snow, these are our favourites when it comes to skiing out the old year, and welcoming in the new.
Top 10 New Year Ski Resorts
Tignes has held some pretty big NYE bashes in its time: Fire and Mix parties turned Le Lac into an open air night club (with the likes of David Guetta stealing the show), while Cirque Eloize brought the stars of Soleil to the Espace Killy. The midnight fireworks are some of the biggest and best in the Alps and Loop Bar and co. keep the celebrations going until the wee hours of Jan 1st. Thanks to a stocking load of snow from Santa over Christmas, this is usually a tough one to beat when it comes to the white stuff. A high resort altitude at 2100m and the presence of the Grande Motte glacier puts the area in good stead for some excellent conditions at this time of year – and if the clouds come in, the tree runs at Les Boisses tend to have better visibility. The 150km of local slopes should be more than enough if you’re planning lots of partying and other activities (hurtle into the New Year on the Bun J ride, or tick off the bucket list by ice diving in the lake…). But if you’ve resolved to ski your socks off, extend your lift access to Val d’Isère with the whole area lift pass.
If you’re toying between the NY celebrations back home and spending the week in the mountains, Brit-favourite Meribel’s a corker. Festivities usually begin with a family-friendly torch lit descent into the Chaudanne area. And after the big firework displays and rip-roaring renditions of Auld Lang Syne, you'll find plenty of party spots to pick from: For a cocktails fuelled soiree try Le Poste de Secours (best mojito in the Alps), or dance into the early hours on the only night legendary Le Rond Point stays open late. There's always the option to hit the hay early, as the real reason you come here's the skiing: With 600km of slopes across the Three Valleys, you’ve got plenty of piste to start the year with. There are some lovely tree runs (like Lapin) and an army of snow cannons keep conditions topped up. Make and meet a resolution by conquering the black Boisses piste or learning something new with the local independent ski schools (like Marmalade and New Generation).
New Year’s is a party-in-the-streets affair in Anton: Get down to the pedestrianised centre for one of the nosiest countdowns we’ve ever seen (and heard), with fireworks going off every which way. If you’re in a catered chalet, hosts traditionally rustle up some special nosh without you having to lift a finger. Or for an indulgent meal out, Raffl’s has FIVE different outstanding restaurants - we’d gladly welcome every New Year eating the ‘reinvented’ raclette at Sticky Fingers. Due to its reputation for big nights out, January 1st usually sees some pretty empty slopes until midday. And you’re going to need every second to cover the 350km of groomers here. Not forgetting the 200km of world-beating off-piste if you want to start January on an adrenaline rush...
With the wildest parties in France, one of the prettiest towns in the Alps and some of the world’s most spectacular, snow sure skiing – it’s hard to beat New Year’s in Val. Each bar and club host their own celebrations on the night: Big name DJs usually play in Dick’s Tea Bar, where previous years have seen themes like The Great Gatsby. As is tradition, everyone floods into the town centre when midnight approaches for a grand countdown and champagne showers. If you’re looking for some post-revelry relaxation, the place is brimming with cosy wooden chalets, fine Savoyard restaurants and the Centre Aquasportif – where little ones can have a paddle and the Wellness Zone provides some serious pampering. The bulk of Val d’Isère’s slopes sit above 2500m meaning there should be a good build-up of snow when it comes to schussing into the New Year – and if the white stuff just keeps coming, you’ll find some gorgeous sheltered forest routes in La Daille.
Verbier’s where you party in the New Year with the rich and royal. Fairnet famously welcomes midnight with gallons of champers, platters of canapes and big name DJs - it's also a top spot to see the firework display in Place Central (sometimes they retract the roof, which is incredible when it's snowing). To really push the boat out, Carve nightclub sees groups paying up to 3500 CHF for a table on NYE, or for a sit down supper, book into Arola for a Michelin-stared 6 course gala dinner. Though many come here just for the nightlife, the best thing about New Year’s week in Verbier’s by far the skiing. 213km of pistes grace the local mountains alone, but to up the ante the 4 Valleys pass covers a whopping 412km . If the snow’s falling, head for Bruson where the beautiful tree-lined runs have good visibility. Verbier has few rivals when it comes to freeriding: You’ll be skiing amongst the trees on La Chaux or try the Hidden Valley for some epic powder turns to begin the year with.
Peak weeks needn’t cost mountains, which Sauze sets to prove: Lift passes, lessons, food and drink are cheaper than you’d find in the French and Swiss resorts – handy if you’re on a budget after Christmas. Not that you have to compromise when it comes to pistes or parties. You’ll be skiing in the New Year on the tree-lined plateaus and broad groomers of the Milky Way, where 400km of slopes link over to French Montgenèvre (great for a January 1st Tartiflette…). To really start the year in style, book some heli-skiing the Upper Susa Valley (again a fraction of the usual costs). With some of the liveliest bars in the Italian Alps, Sauze is perfect for those wanting to party on the 31st: Paddy McGinty’s is always filled to the rafters, and Banditos throws its doors open till late. Even better, you’re saving more than just money – only an hour’s transfer from Turin airport, you can make the most of the mountains without having to sacrifice a whole day to travel.
There’s something special about ringing in the New Year in Zermatt: The village has a fabulously romantic feel to it – timber buildings, cobbled streets and church spire, all overlooked by the Matterhorn. The food sets sky high standards for the coming year, with Zermatt having more Gault Millau points than anywhere else in Switzerland. Most hotels throw lavish gala dinners, and Chef Stephan’s wagyu rib eye at The Omnia is so good it deserves a party of its own. As you’d expect from such a historic resort, there are lots of traditions – on the 31st, everyone usually gathers in the church square where music, fireworks and outdoor bars accompany the big old count down. And when it comes to the white stuff, there’s a whopping 200km of slopes covered by the local lift pass alone. The international pass unlocks another 160km over the border to Italy’s Cervinia. And this is Europe’s highest ski area, so it’s not often conditions aren’t incredible. Shelter in Sunegga’s tree-lined runs if there’s low visibility, or if it’s clear, welcome in the new with staggering sights of 4000m+ peaks from the top point.
Mayrhofen usually has all manner of ways to celebrate: One’s to hop on the New Year’s Eve train, where the Zillertal Railway takes you from Jenbach to Mayrhofen, stopping for music and entertainment at each station. In resort, venues like Ice Bar and Gasthof Bruecke are usually heaving, with dancing on the tables until who knows o’clock. New Year’s Day traditionally sees a horse-drawn carriage procession leading to the snowy racecourse, where you can place your bets to see if the coming year’s a lucky one... But the real clincher here is the 159km of pistes: The south facing Ahorn is known for its leisurely corduroy whilst the northerly Penken Mountain is a little more action packed with Austria’s steepest run - the famous Harakiri (a fab skiing resolution to meet by the end of the week). Whilst snowfall around this time of the year should be top-notch, there's snowmaking on all the runs if needed. And with the Zillertaler Superskipass you can spend the week schussing all over the region if you want to.
Big skiing, big parties and small prices are the makings of a smashing New Year’s in Pas. It hogs Grandvalira’s highest point at 2100m, opening in late November/early December most seasons, so there’s usually a decent cover by this time of year. And with 210km of slopes and 3 snow parks, there’s rarely time for twiddling thumbs. If your resolution is to learn or improve technique, the ski school have a sterling reputation (and lessons are cheaper compared to other resorts). Igloo Building and Dog Sledding make for brilliant activities that you can give as a Christmas gift experience the week before, then enjoy in resort. When it comes to après, Pas knows how to have a good time, with free shots, happy hours and cheap bears galore leaving you with a ton of choices for NYE celebrations. Pubs and clubs usually stay open till 5am: We love Underground Bar where previous years have seen Ibiza resident DJ’s on the decks. And there’ll be no missing the January sales back home – being VAT free, you can pick up some cracking bargains in the shops here.
With one of the biggest après scenes in the Austrian Alps, Ischgl really knows how to party in the New Year. There are usually FIVE sites for fireworks around the resort, and twelve music points pumping out tunes to accompany the fireworks. Pacha usually sees the night through with live DJs and Grey Goose on ice or get to Trofana Alm for some traditional Tyrolean revelry. If your main priority’s the skiing, this is one of Europe's most snow sure areas. With the bulk of the blueprint above 2000m, over a thousand snow cannons and tree-lined reds leading back to resort, it's set up to cope with all manner of early season weather. There’s also the chance to ski over to Switzerland’s Samnaun - where you can soon spend your Christmas money on the duty free shopping.
Best New Year Ski Resorts
| Resort | Country | New Year highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Tignes | France | History of legendary NYE parties & great December snow |
| Meribel | France | Lively New Year celebrations & après, world’s biggest ski area |
| St Anton | Austria | Infamous Austrian après ski, gala dinners, snow sure skiing |
| Val d'Isere | France | Big party scene for NYE, snow sure slopes for early season skiing |
| Verbier | Switzerland | Goes all-out when it comes to luxury chalets, après ski and powder skiing |
| Sauze d'Oulx | Italy | Affordable peak date skiing, lively celebrations, great Italian snow |
| Zermatt | Switzerland | Romantic Swiss village, incredible scenery, festive feasting and big NYE soirees |
| Mayrhofen | Austria | Plenty of festivities, great snowmaking for early season conditions |
| Pas de la Casa | Andorra | Huge New Year’s Eve parties, high Andorra skiing, low peak date prices |
| Ischgl | Austria | Music concerts & big name DJs, high altitude skiing |
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