It's December, the ski lifts are opening and the Christmas holidays are on the horizon.
December in Méribel: What's on and weather
This month sees the start of the winter season
December is a very special month to visit Méribel and the first weeks of the season are treasured by locals. There’s the thrill of being back on skis and the excitement of the start of a brand new season.
The virgin snow is soft and un-skied and best of all, the slopes are empty with a total absence of lift queues. Having the valley virtually to yourself in early December is the closest you can come to owning your private ski area.
We can expect sports competitions, opening parties, and there will obviously be lots of festive celebrations including a visit from a certain Papa Noël. As you are no doubt aware, most things in December revolve around the last two weeks of the month, schools break up and travellers from near and far descend on Les 3 Vallées. There are a plethora of events coming up, from parades to special Christmas menus and New Year's blowouts.
Read on for a look at what we like to do in resort throughout December.
What are the weather and snow conditions like?
Whilst there will be snow up the mountain, a white Christmas is never a guarantee in the village. However, it's definitely cold, with temperatures averaging from -6°C to 1°C, with around 11 days of snowfall. Make sure thermals are on your Christmas list.
Opening parties
If, like a lot of people, you like to follow several hours of exercise with several hours of drinking, especially during the festive season, you can hit up any of a number of local opening parties and après-ski sessions. For late night entertainment, the clubs hold special nights on most days of the week.
New Year's Eve
Christmas is magical in the fairytale atmosphere of a snowy alpine village and New Year’s Eve is always celebrated in Méribel in style. If you're heading out, the restaurants will be busy, so it would be best to make a reservation to ensure you can get a table, and many bars and clubs will be ticket only, so if there's somewhere you plan to see in the New Year, make sure you've planned ahead.
Bars & Clubs in Meribel
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Barometer Bar and Restaurant
Contemporary restaurant, pizzeria and bar in the centre of Méribel
Located at the heart of the Three Valleys, Barometer Bar offers a warm, vibrant, and stylish setting with a truly international atmosphere. Whether you’re visiting Méribel for skiing, sightseeing, or simply to unwind, this bar and restaurant provides the perfect place to relax, enjoy great food, and soak up the lively alpine energy. Open every day, Barometer is famous for serving some of the best pizzas in town, alongside a menu inspired by both French and Italian cuisine.
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Le Cafe del Mott Restaurant and Bar
Hotel bar with great sunny terrace and chilled après-ski scene
Part of the Hotel le Mottaret, this bar has a fantastic sunny terrace serving lunch and après-ski tunes, just 50m from the Perdrix and Furet green runs.
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En Bord de Piste Bar
Relax with drinks and mountain views from sun terrace to fireside
Perched right on the edge of the piste, En Bord de Piste Bar in Méribel is the perfect spot to unwind, whether you’ve been skiing all morning or simply want to soak up the alpine atmosphere.
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Tsaretta Bar
Popular bar with live music and showing sports, open all year round in the heart of Les Allues
Welcome to Tsaretta, a unique bar, restaurant, and live music venue open all year round in Les Allues, Méribel. Combining incredible food, a vast selection of beers, wines, and cocktails, and some of the best live music in the Meribel valley, Tsaretta offers something for everyone under one roof. Grab a cold beer, order from the delicious pizza and burger menu - which is also available to take away - and soak up the friendly, vibrant atmosphere.
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La Folie Douce Bar
Famous on piste après-ski bar near the mid station of the Saulire Express
At La Folie Douce, great food and unforgettable fun go hand in hand. Perched on the slopes of Méribel-Courchevel, this legendary venue redefines après-ski with its high-energy Clubbing experience, where guests can forget the everyday and immerse themselves in alpine entertainment like no other.
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Lodge du Village Bar
Live bands for après-ski, tasty cocktails and non-stop bar food
Lodge du Village (LDV) stands above La Terrasse du Village as Méribel Village’s most iconic après-ski and late-night venue, offering a complete day-to-night experience under one roof. Open from midday, LDV is the ideal stop for lunch, a casual bite between runs, or a relaxed family meal. Their upstairs snack bar, Miaou Miaou, serves a selection of satisfying favourites throughout the day, including hot dogs, loaded fries, and smash burgers - ideal for refuelling before heading back to the slopes or settling in for the afternoon.
Ski Schools in Meribel
The lifts and ski runs open progressively over the first two weeks of the season. For this first week, most of the major lifts and Three Valleys links will open. More lifts and pistes generally open for the second week, with full opening expected in time for Christmas.
Christmas and New Year is a popular time for families so the slopes are noticeably busier as soon as the holidays begin. Fortunately, Les 3 Vallées ski area is so vast, that even in high season you can find quiet slopes and minimal lift queues. Here are our insider's top tips for the school holidays:
- It will be almost impossible to book private lessons over this period, group lessons are the best option, so make sure to get your ski and snowboard lessons booked well in advance to avoid disappointment
- if you're not in ski school, be an early bird - arrive at the lifts before they open so that you get up and away before the ski school classes set out around 09:15.
- ski over lunchtime - the slopes are calmer between 12:00 and 14:00 while the French take a leisurely lunch break
- pre-book your lunch and avoid the queues - some restaurants offer a click and collect service and it's the best way to avoid the queues and make the most of your time in the mountains
- seek out the peripheral areas, try to avoid the busy main linking routes between valleys and head for calmer areas such as Méribel’s Roc de Fer, Courchevel-Moriond (1650m) or Courchevel Le Praz (1300m).
- check out these little known runs in Méribel: Hulotte, Gypaète, Daguet, Coqs, Eterlou, Mouflon and Mauduit and the black runs are generally deserted too – the best are Face, snow-sure Bartavelle, empty Grande Rosière and high altitude Ecureuil
- get off-piste - competent off-piste skiers can book a local mountain guide and explore the vast off-piste areas in the valley or even go touring to find complete solitude in the backcountry
Ski School Lessons in Meribel
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Group ski lessons
Group ski and snowboard lessons for children and adults of all ages and abilities
This ski school offers group ski lessons for both children and adults, catering to all ability levels. Their group lessons provide a great and affordable way to improve your skiing in a safe, social and supportive environment.
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Private ski lessons
British school offering a wide range of private lesson options tailored to all ages and abilities
Established in 1991, this ski and snowboard school was one of the first British-run ski schools in France. Their team is known for going the extra mile, offering excellent customer service and delivering outstanding lessons and guiding.
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Private ski lessons
Tailored ski and snowboard lessons with multilingual instructors
Run by an Anglo-French team since 2001, this ski school knows the Three Valleys inside out. Their highly qualified, multilingual instructors specialise in tailor-made lessons designed to suit every skier or snowboarder.
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Private ski lessons
Private lessons by the official French ski and snowboard school
This ski school is the largest in France and one of the oldest, having been established in 1945. Offering a wide range of private lessons they can ensure the needs of your entire family/group are met.
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Private ski lessons
Exceptional coaching tailored to your needs for unforgettable skiing
Operating across the valley, this world-class team of ski instructors is available at three convenient points in Méribel.
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Group ski lessons
British-run group ski and snowboard lessons for all levels
Parallel Lines is Méribel’s biggest British Ski and Snowboard School. With 28 instructors in peak weeks, whether you’re taking your first turns or exploring the off-piste that The Three Valleys has to offer.
Winter Things To Do in Meribel
Family fun
December is a very family friendly month on the events calendar. During the Christmas festivities, there is usually live music, entertainment, freebies for children and child friendly activities. Make sure you catch the torchlit descents and fireworks displays during the holiday time. During the dark December evenings, there’s always plenty going on at Méribel’s multi-sport centre. Pool parties, relaxing spa sessions, indoor climbing, bowling, aqua-gym, aqua-bike, paddleboard fitness, massages, beauty treatments – there really is something for everyone!
Wintersport Things To Do in Meribel
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Snowshoe walks
Snowshoe walks for all abilities
Strap on your snowshoes and discover the Meribel trails with a qualified instructor.
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Helicopter tours
10, 30 or 60 minute private helicopter tours for up to five people
A fantastic way to see the resort with your friends and family and a great way to entertain any non-skiers in your group.
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Heliskiing/boarding
Heliskiing/boarding trip in Valgrisenche, The Courmayeur Valley and the Col de Petit St Bernard Pass.
For backcountry adventures, this independent company operates in and around the following three heliski destinations: Valgrisenche, The Courmayeur Valley and the Col de Petit St Bernard Pass. They have pioneered 32 drop zones within these three broad valley regions giving you a huge choice of terrain, snow conditions and mountain orientation to ensure you have a day best suited to your ability and preferences.
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Snow shoe walks
Half and full day guided snowshoe walks in and around Courchevel
Laurence is a certified mountain leader, who enjoys taking clients away from the busy pistes and spicing up your ski holiday with a guided snowshoeing trip.
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Bureau des Guides winter and summer activities
Off piste ski touring, heliskiing, glacier walks, snowshoeing and much more
Head out into the mountains with experienced guides in either summer or winter for some amazing experiences.
December events in Meribel
The season starts on the first weekend of the month with a day of entertainment in Mottaret. With so many families visiting the Three Valleys for the festive season, there is a real child-like excitement as the big day draws ever closer, and usually there's an opportunity to spot the main man himself meeting and greeting people around the resort. And with the whole of the mountain opening up in time for the Christmas guests, head to the summit of the Yeti Park, enjoy the night time views of Méribel and sledge down this spotlit green run. Then enjoy a hot chocolate, music and marshmallows at the bottom.
Events in Meribel
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Beaujolais Nouveau
The new Beaujolais has arrived!
The third Thursday in November is when this year's Beaujolais hits the shelves and is cause for celebration across France.
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Women's Ski Audi FIS World Cup
The magic of skiing takes over the legendary Emilie-Allais stadium
The best female skiers in the world will be there for a night-time slalom. Festive atmosphere and spectacle guaranteed
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Fête de la Musique
Music festival celebrated across France on the summer solstice
The Fête de la Musique is a celebration that takes place every summer solstice on 21 June in cities, towns and villages across France.
