If you’ve just arrived for Christmas week, it looks like you’re in for a fantastically snowy Noel! There’s so much to do over the festive period in Morzine, Avoriaz and Les Gets it’s easy to feel spoiled for choice, so here are our top picks on how to make the most of Christmas in the Alps.
For Families
Morzine, Avoriaz and Les Gets pull out all the stops for families celebrating Christmas in les Portes du Soleil, with each resort putting on a fantastic week of festive shows and activities that kids will love. Go and visit Father Christmas in his secret log cabin in Les Gets, watch colourful and exciting performances in Morzine village centre, and enjoy big Christmas parades in Avoriaz.
But if you’re celebrating Christmas en famille it’s Chistmas Eve that’s the really big night – get together in the Morzine, Avoriaz or Les Gets village centres and watch as Santa arrives in town. You can enjoy a mulled wine while the kids have a hot chocolate, and then watch a big Christmas fireworks display. In Les Gets and Avoriaz you’ll also enjoy a torchlit descent of the slopes from the local ESF ski instructors.
If you’e in Avoriaz fo Christmas Day you’ll also get to enjoy the Christmas Day Parade, where Santa and the elves and all their friends take a few laps of the snowy streets of Avoriaz before heading back to Lapland.
For Foodies
If all you want to do this festive period is be wined and dined, you’re in the right place! Head to La Grange in Morzine for a traditional French dinner, while over in Les Gets you’ll enjoy the fine melange of classic modern French and international cuisine at Vina Annapurna. Also in Les Gets, don’t forget to check out the three fantastic restaurants at Hotel la Marmotte; la Biskatcha, la Piste Noir and la Pivotte all offer a different style of food and dining, and they’re all delicious. And if you’re up in Avoriaz make sure you try the delicious tapas and cocktails at le Roc – look out for regular cabaret nights as well!
For on-mountain dining experiences Cookie Cafe is the highest restaurant in les Portes du Soleil and they serve great coffee, which you can enjoy with a stunning view over Avoriaz. And for another extra special festive experience, why not go for a hot chocolate at Village Igloo? This bar made entirely from ice and snow is adorned with ice sculptures throughout, and you can even stay the night should you wish. Plus, Village Igloo is also open on Wednesday and Saturday nights for fondue dinners.
For Friends
Spending Christmas with your mates? There’s plenty to keep you occupied in the evenings, from live après sessions to nights out. On Christmas Eve, you have your pick of either Bar Nash in Saint Jean d’Aulps or Cafe Chaud to sing some Christmas carols after dinner. And if you want to keep the party going late into the night, the only place to be is the Cavern in Morzine, where you can dance the night away to cheesy Christmas tunes all night long.
If you prefer to keep it low-key with a spot of Christmas Eve après, head to le Cosy bar at the bottom of the Ardent gondola and enjoy some acoustic tunes from singer / songwriter John Dawes.
And what is there to do, après wise, on Christmas Day? Well, you can enjoy a very special funky Christmas après at le Tremplin from the one and only Mr Smith, Morzine’s best dressed and baddest funk DJ.
That should take you all the way through to Boxing Day! We hope you have an amazing Christmas in Morzine, Avoriaz and Les Gets, with (fingers crossed!) lots of snow! To check out the other festive goings on, take a look at our events calendar.
