Spend Your Holidays in Verbier And Experience Lifelong Memories
December is almost here and that means that the holiday season is just around the corner. Many people look through different holiday recommendations every year just to find the perfect destination. And if you’re looking for the perfect place, look no further than Verbier.
If your ideal holiday season means spending time somewhere snowy, what better place to celebrate than in the Alps? Verbier during the holiday season is not only beautiful, but there are also a plethora of events you can participate in and spend New Year’s Eve and Christmas like never before.
Christmas and New Year Verbier
Verbier is beautiful year-round, but when the Christmas season approaches, being in Verbier is like being in a classic Christmas card. Everywhere you turn, you can see snow-covered chalets and amazing decorations, hear festive music, and enjoy the traditional festive markets.
The beginning of the festivities is marked with the big Christmas lights switch-on, lighting the giant Christmas tree located at Place Centrale. This event is always extremely popular and accompanied by music, laughter, and a lot of hot chocolate.
As Verbier is one of the most famous ski resorts in the world, there is a Christmas tradition that takes place on the slopes. In early December, the annual Santa Ski event takes place, with as many as a couple of thousand people dressed up as Father Christmas and going down the slopes.
Verbier is also known for amazing food and there are many great places to eat in Verbier, but the restaurant experience becomes magical especially during the holiday season. Most restaurants create specialized festive menus that allow you to try local delicacies with a special holiday twist to them.
Those who love to listen to Christmas carols and experience the timeless tradition of carol singing can do so in two different locations. If you visit the Big White Church on Route des Creux or the Little Church, on Chemin du Temple you will have the opportunity to listen to traditional carol services.
A lot of families decide to spend their Christmas in Verbier because the atmosphere gives off an amazing child-like wonderment. And if you decide to bring the little ones here, they will have the chance to learn about a different kind of Santa Claus, as he isn’t like the one they are probably used to.
Here are a couple of interesting facts about the Christmas season and Santa Claus you’ll experience first-hand when you come to Verbier:
- Beginning of the season. In Switzerland, the Christmas season begins on December 6th, a date that is known as Santa Night, or Samichlaus Abend. In Switzerland, Father Christmas is known as Samichlaus and is dressed in a hooded red cape and long robe.
- Distributing presents. Unlike in most counties, Father Christmas isn’t the one who distributes presents nor do they get delivered on Christmas Eve. Instead, children get gifts on Christmas Day (or Weihnachten as it’s known in Switzerland) and they are brought by baby Jesus.
- Christmas Eve traditions. Traditionally, Christmas Eve in Verbier is celebrated with a big festive meal where families and friends get together. Decorating the traditional Christmas tree comes afterward and the evening ends with attending the midnight mass at the local church.
It’s safe to say that Christmas is a big celebration in Verbier and is something you need to experience at least once in your life. However, the New Year’s Eve celebrations are even bigger and more memorable, and they are more exciting than probably any New Year’s Eve celebration you’ve been to before.
New Year Verbier
No matter if you want to dine in style for your New Year’s Eve celebration or want to party until dawn with great music and in an amazing atmosphere, Verbier is the place to do so. You can choose from a wide range of bars, clubs, and restaurants until you find the one that meets all of your needs. There are clubs that host electronic music parties and bring in famous DJs from all over the world to create an unforgettable evening.
The après ski in Verbier is famous all over the world and all of the bars and clubs there take it to the next level when it comes to planning the perfect New Year’s Eve party. Just keep in mind that if you want to go to one of these parties, you need to buy your ticket in advance.
On the other hand, there are upscale restaurants that host gala dinner events that consist of several courses and serve champagne and oysters. Most of these restaurants have a fixed-priced menu for the evening and some even have entertainment.
If you want, you can wait for the countdown at a club or restaurant, but you can also go to Place Centrale where the residents of Verbier traditionally wait for midnight every year. There, you will be able to take part in the New Year Verbier tradition that has live DJ music and sparkling champagne.
If you choose to wait for midnight at Place Centrale, you will also experience an amazing firework show. For over two hours, you will see fireworks that come from multiple different directions set against the beautiful backdrop of the snowy Alps.
No matter what location you choose for your Verbier New Year’s Eve celebration, you can be sure that the atmosphere will be unforgettable.
What to do
If you’re planning to spend your holidays in Verbier, you’re probably only focusing on what to do on Christmas Eve/Day and New Year’s Eve. However, if you spend the entire holiday season there, you are going to have to fill your time with other activities.
Here are a few suggestions:
- Poney luge and ski joering. If you visit the Equestrian Centre, you can try a poney luge, which is similar to husky sledding, but where ponies pull your sled instead of huskies. There is a similar activity called ski joering where you’re pulled by horses while wearing skis.
- Children’s activities. Since Christmas and New Year’s Eve take place during the school holiday, the citizens of Verbier plan a lot of activities every year to keep the younger visitors entertained. There are multiple children’s shows and various activities both on and off the mountain.
- The night snowshoe walk. Throughout the entire month of December and Christmas Day, you can take a 6km night snowshoe walk that starts at 02:15 am and takes you through a 6km long path. You will take a tour of the Valais region, learn about the history, and try the local foods.
Where to go
As we already mentioned, Verbier’s après ski is unforgettable and if you want to spend your festive season visiting bars and clubs, you won’t be disappointed with the local après ski in Verbier. At the bottom of the slopes, you will find excellent bars and clubs that are open on most days of the week.
And if you find the perfect après ski you want to spend your New Year’s Eve in, make sure to buy your ticket or make a reservation beforehand to ensure you have a table there. It might be pricey, but the experience will be worth the money.
How about other activities in December?
If you’re looking for the best winter activities in Verbier, you’ll be happy to know that there are too many to even count. There is something for everybody, but keep in mind that Verbier is best known for its skiing opportunities, so most activities include strapping on a pair of skis.
The holiday season is usually very busy so you can expect the slopes to be crowded. But that shouldn’t be a problem as you can always avoid the crowds by skiing during lunchtime when most people take a break or go off-piste where you can explore new terrains.
An activity you shouldn’t miss is the weekly Torchlit descent. People who take part in this activity meet at sunset at the bottom of the Savoleyres lift station and with a torch in their hand ski down to Verbier while following instructions from a guide.
And finally, you can take part in the annual Verbier night race that has a trail that is 4.25km long and has a vertical ascent of 962cm. And if you don’t feel like participating, you can always stand on the sidelines and cheer the racers on.
Let’s start the countdown!
The holiday season is the favorite time of year for most people. There’s nothing better than spending your holiday season surrounded by your loved ones in a snowy area that screams Christmas.
Verbier is the perfect place to make some memories. No matter if you’re a person who likes to party or someone who enjoys a peaceful celebration, Christmas and New Year Verbier activities are sure to be amazing and unforgettable for you. And if you want to spend the holidays in an apartment or chalet you own, check out Verbier real estate for sale on our listings.
