The French know how to throw a party, and you’re spoiled for choice when celebrating New Year’s Eve. New Year in a French ski resort is a pretty special occasion, especially as everyone is still in a festive mood following Christmas.
New Year’s parties happen all over French ski resorts. You’ll often be treated to an outdoor spectacular featuring fireworks, torchlit descents by local ski schools, live music, DJs, and other entertainment. However, hotels, bars, clubs, and restaurants also throw their own parties. Whichever way you choose to celebrate, you can ring in the New Year in style after spending a fantastic day on the mountain.
With so much variety for New Year’s Day celebrations, you can choose which party best suits your needs and desires. For example, you can start celebrating during après time and continue throughout the night. Alternatively, you can take it easy, enjoy a family-friendly night and take advantage of deserted slopes on New Year’s Day.
After selflessly sampling New Year’s celebrations in the French Alps over the years, we can give you first-hand advice on the Top French Ski Resorts To Celebrate New Year’s Eve (2024/25).
Val d’Isère
Val d’Isère is one of our favourite French ski resorts. Its charm and beauty hold a very special place in our hearts. We love Val d’Isere’s atmosphere and the fact that it is unspoiled by large concrete buildings. Instead, Val d’Isere is made up of pretty buildings that are either old and traditional or contemporary but seamlessly add to the charm.
However, after arriving in Val d’Isere, it won’t take long before you begin to see beyond the resort’s quaint aesthetics. Val d’Isere is a notoriously excellent party town. You can always have fun in Val d’Isere, but New Year’s Eve takes it up a notch.
Expect an incredible night for New Year’s Eve 2024/2025. Head to the bottom of the Face de Bellevarde. The fun starts at 9 pm with DJs, performers, and dancers. It finishes with an incredible fireworks display at midnight. Once the pyrotechnics have stopped, return to your accommodation or head to a late-night bar or club. You may need tickets to some venues, so do your research and buy your ticket in advance.
Alternatively, you can head to any of Val d’Isere’s bars and restaurants to join their parties. But don’t just turn up expecting a table at the best restaurant; make sure you make a reservation, as tables will be in high demand. Most bars and restaurants will provide special menus and entertainment to ensure revellers have the best New Year’s Eve.
The Val d’Isere ski area is vast and links up with neighbouring Tignes. So, if you’re feeling fresh, you’ll have plenty to explore while everyone else is nursing sore heads. On the other hand, you can have a more relaxing day by heading to the Centre Aquasportif. Here, you can chill out in the swimming pools, jacuzzis, saunas, and steam rooms. However, you may be lucky enough to stay in a luxury chalet or hotel with its own private spa facilities.
Val D’isère is one of the wildest ski resorts in the French Alps
Tignes
As mentioned earlier, Tignes is connected to Val d’Isere by the ski area. However, the village has a very different atmosphere. The more laid-back vibe and alternative architectural style make Tignes a different but no-less vibrant experience.
New Year’s Eve in Tignes is notoriously epic and often stands head and shoulders above other ski resorts. In the past, Tignes has booked big-name artists, such as David Guetta and Martin Solveig, to entertain the crowds. Although this year’s act has yet to be announced, you can expect someone big to keep you entertained until the midnight fireworks display.
With Tignes being a high-altitude ski resort, you’ll want to wrap up warm for this outdoor party. On top of this, remember to bring a bottle of Champagne to pop the cork at the stroke of midnight.
You don’t have to party outside for New Year’s in Tignes. The bars will undoubtedly be full of enthusiastic partygoers enjoying live bands or DJs entertaining the crowds.
With New Year’s Eve being such a big night in Tignes, you’ll notice that the slopes will be quiet the following morning. Therefore, you can blast around the pistes without being delayed by long lift queues. On the other hand, you can rejuvenate in your luxury accommodation, especially if it has relaxation and wellness facilities.
Tignes is famous for putting on one of the biggest New Year’s Eve parties in the French Alps
Méribel
Méribel has to be on our list of Top French Ski Resorts To Celebrate New Year’s Eve (2024/25). This high-class ski resort is renowned for throwing an excellent end-of-year party and being suitable for families, groups, and couples.
Located in the 3 Valleys, meaning it is linked with Val Thorens and Courchevel, Meribel gives you easy access to one of the largest ski areas in the world. Meribel combines alpine charm with modern amenities, making it one of France’s best ski resorts.
Most of the chalets in Meribel have mountain views, making celebrating New Year in your accommodation fantastic. You can often see the fireworks from your balcony or window. Alternatively, you can head outside to see the party unfold with music and torchlit descents in Méribel Mottaret, Méribel Chaudanne and Méribel Village.
Meribel has many excellent bars and restaurants, and they have their own New Year’s party to attend. For some of the best food in Méribel, head to La Fromagerie, Kiki Restaurant, or Le Cepe. The New Year’s Eve special menus will likely feature turkey, oysters, and foie gras, as they are all common at this time of year. These all go down well with a few glasses of Champagne but don’t forget to book your table in advance.
You may also want to celebrate New Year’s Eve in some of Meribel’s bars and pubs. Check out Jack’s Bar, La Folie Douce, and Barometer Bar, but please check if you need a ticket before turning up.
One way you can celebrate New Year’s Eve in Méribel is right in your chalet. Many of Méribel’s chalets have mountain views, so the resort puts on a huge firework display visible from most balconies.
Courchevel
Courchevel is one of the finest ski resorts in France. It’s located in the 3 Valleys, one of the largest ski areas in the world. It is famous for its luxury accommodations, bars, and restaurants. Courchevel’s prestigious reputation attracts skiers and snowboarders back every winter. New Year’s Eve in Courchevel differs slightly from other ski resorts as the festivities are part of an annual tradition rather than an organised event.
No matter where you stay in Courchevel for New Year’s Eve 2024/25, you’re in for a treat. DJs and performers take care of New Year’s celebrations in Courchevel each year, kicking off at 4 pm. Throughout the evening, you can expect mesmerising shows leading up to the incredible fireworks display at midnight. But the party doesn’t end there, as a DJ keeps the turntables spinning throughout the night.
However, you can enjoy the festivities indoors in Courchevel’s extensive range of restaurants and bars. From pizzerias to Michelin-starred restaurants, there is something for every mood and taste. On top of this, Courchevel’s fantastic après ski venues always host New Year’s parties. For example, Les Caves provides a classy nightclub atmosphere, while Le Bubble Bar has more of a party vibe.
From off-piste open bowls to perfectly groomed runs and tree skiing, you will love Courchevel ski area
Val Thorens
Val Thorens is also a big party town in the French Alps. However, it also has a family-friendly side with suitable end-of-year entertainment and activities. Val Thorens usually has a colourful programme of entertainment and activities throughout the week. For example, kids can enjoy various workshops and shows during the New Year build-up.
When it comes to the big day, local ski instructors wow the crowd with a fantastic torchlit descent, during which you can stay warm with vin chaud or hot chocolate. Then expect more kid’s entertainment, live music and fireworks at midnight. DJs are accompanied by a spectacular light show, enhancing the party atmosphere further.
From off-piste open bowls to perfectly groomed runs and tree skiing, you will love Courchevel ski area
Arc 1950 Le Village (Les Arcs)
Arc 1950 is one of the villages that make up the Les Arcs ski resort. It is a pedestrianised village that creates an authentic winter wonderland ambience and the convenience of ski-in-ski out accommodation. The residences are spacious, tastefully decorated, and ideal as a base for New Year’s Eve. Arc 1950 is the nicest village in the resort and has easy access to everything Les Arcs offers.
The snow-covered streets are the perfect place to celebrate New Year’s Eve. The village atmosphere becomes more lively with dancing, shows, and the obligatory but also impressive fireworks display. While making shapes on the video-mapped dancefloor, you can keep warm with hot chocolate and vin chaud.
Alternatively, why not head to one of Arc 1950’s bars or clubs? A great example is O’Chaud, a modern and cosy lounge bar with a relaxing environment during the day and a lively party scene at night. This place has excellent food, drinks, and music, ideal for New Year’s Eve celebrations. Or head to the Irish bar, Pub Les Belles Pintes. Here, you can enjoy a wide selection of draught beers, wines and live music, while playing a round of darts or pool. Chalet de Luigi is a must !
Arc 1950 is very lively and has an excellent choice of après bars that you can ski in and out of
La Plagne
The mega ski resort of La Plagne in the Tarentaise Valley is one of the world’s most popular ski resorts, with 2.5 million visitors every winter. Its slopes, accommodation, and infrastructure appeal to anyone from partygoers to families. Also, the different villages that make up the resort have their own personalities and styles, adding to La Plagne’s versatility.
La Plagne goes all out for New Year’s Eve celebrations. As the clock strikes midnight, the resort transforms into an incredible spectacle of fireworks, music, and celebration.
The highlight of New Year’s Eve in La Plagne has to be the almost 20-minute-long fireworks display. The fireworks are launched from the Dou Du Praz peak, so everyone can see them, no matter which village they are in.
In addition to the public party, restaurants and bars host New Year’s Eve events with special menus. The countdown to the new year in La Plagne is an unmissable experience, giving you a memorable start to your year.
The Carlina Hotel & Residences located in Belle Plagne will charm you with its natural and authentic mountain decor.
Avoriaz 1800
Avoriaz is a French ski resort with a lot going for it. Firstly, it’s in the Portes du Soleil, one of the world’s largest ski areas. It is also a car-free ski resort, so most accommodation is ski-in-ski-out. You get around Avoriaz’s snowy streets on foot, skis, or horse-drawn sleigh. This adds to Avoriaz’s uniqueness, set by its unusual architecture and vibrant atmosphere. On top of all this, Avoriaz consistently has the highest average snowfall in France.
Avoriaz hosts many events throughout winter, so it is well-practised for parties. Therefore, New Year’s Eve in Avoriaz is always one to remember. You can start early in one of the several slopeside bars and restaurants before watching the torchlit descent by the ESF instructors with hot chocolate in the centre of town. Then, you can expect a sound and lights show followed by a fireworks display. This is ideal for families, but those who want to stay up are entertained by live DJs playing at different locations around the resort, with another fireworks display at midnight.
Of course, bars, restaurants and clubs in Avoriaz host their own parties, too. This means there are plenty of options for celebrating the New Year. Head to “The Place” for late-night dancing and a party atmosphere or “JaJa Bar” for a more chic experience with a fantastic wine selection.
Avoriaz has the highest average snowfall in the whole of France, making it a fantastic destination, especially as it is just 90 minutes from Geneva airport. Avoriaz is located in the Portes du Soleil, one of the world’s largest ski areas that straddles the French-Swiss border.
Final Thoughts
French ski resorts are fantastic places to celebrate New Year’s Eve. The parties are often legendary and memorable, allowing you to ski in the New Year with a bang.
Even though French ski resorts know how to throw a party, you don’t have to spend your night in a sweaty club. Many bars and restaurants offer alternative and more sophisticated evenings. Also, the big outdoor parties are family-friendly, ensuring everyone can have fun. Alternatively, why not enjoy your accommodation? Our luxury chalets, apartments, and hotels allow you to celebrate comfortably and on your own terms.
Contact our travel experts for the best advice on the Top French Ski Resorts To Celebrate New Year’s Eve (2024/25).
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