Christmas markets and Advent evenings near Swiss ski resorts, 2026
Most Swiss city markets close on 23 or 24 December, and English schools break up around 18–21 December. If you ski over Christmas, the events you will actually catch are the ones in the mountains: Lenzerheide's Magic Forest runs to 31 December and Saas-Fee's lit forest path to 16 January. The city markets suit a weekend in late November or early December.
In this guide
- 1 Lenzerheide: the Magic Forest
- 2 Saas-Fee: Winterwunderland, a lit path through the forest
- 3 Zermatt: the Christmas tree lights up
- 4 Grindelwald: Samichlaus comes with his donkeys
- 1 Montreux Noël and Santa's House on Rochers-de-Naye
- 2 Basel: the Märchenwald on Münsterplatz
- 3 Einsiedeln: a market in front of the monastery
- 4 Zurich: Bellevue Noël
- 5 Lucerne: the Advent wreath on Franziskanerplatz
- · Timing it with a ski week
In the resorts
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Lenzerheide: the Magic Forest
Lenzerheide 11–31 Dec 2026, evenings Children's programme in the early eveningAn open-air winter festival in the woods by the village, with light installations, live music and a market of food stalls. The early evening belongs to children, with storytellers in a fairytale setting.
In 2024 the stage and market closed on 24 December, but the lights could be walked free from 17:00 to 19:00. Check the 2026 closing days before you plan Christmas Eve around it.
Source: arosalenzerheide.swiss
stay nearby All 18 family hotels in Arosa Lenzerheide →HotelHotel Schweizerhof LenzerheideKids' club 2+Sauna, adults-only areaHalf boardA Swiss Family Hotels member with a free kids' club (Andalina) from age 2 that also supervises lunch and dinner, a family pool, and a hammam and sauna included for guests. Half board is offered daily and the family suites sleep up to 6.
Have a look →ApartmentsPRIVÀ Alpine LodgeKids' club 2+Ski-in / ski-outKitchenChalet-apartments directly on the piste in Lenzerheide, each with a full kitchen, a free children's club from age 2 and a mountain pool and gym. Meals are not included in the rate; the Deluxe and Penthouse apartments have a private infrared sauna.
Have a look → -
Saas-Fee: Winterwunderland, a lit path through the forest
Saas-Fee to Saas-Almagell Daily 17:00–23:00, 12 Dec 2026 – 16 Jan 2027 FamiliesAbout 3 km of illuminated forest path between Saas-Fee and Saas-Almagell, walked at your own pace, with a Christmas story to read along the way. It is open on 24 December too.
The path can be icy: the organisers advise sturdy shoes and walking poles, so a sledge is easier than a buggy for small children.
Source: guidle.com
stay nearby All 18 family hotels in Saas-Fee →3★ hotelSwiss Family Hotel AlphubelKids' clubSaunaHalf boardA three-star hotel marketed at families, with a free children's club, babysitting, a games room, a sauna and an early children's dinner, as reported by ski tour operators. Half board is a four-course dinner with a weekly raclette and meat fondue.
Have a look →3★ hotelHotel Christiania WellnessSaunaHalf boardA small family-run hotel in Saas-Almagell with a 150 m² spa (Finnish sauna, Turkish bath, outdoor jacuzzi) free for guests, and family rooms made of three rooms joined by a corridor. Half board is a five-course dinner with a weekly Valais evening of fondue and raclette, and the free electric bus reaches Saas-Fee every 15 minutes.
Have a look → -
Zermatt: the Christmas tree lights up
Zermatt, Bahnhofplatz Sun 29 Nov 2026, 16:30–18:00 FreeOn the first Sunday of Advent the village switches on its Christmas tree on the station square, with music and warm drinks. The 16:30 start works for children, and it is the one event on this list that fits a late-November weekend.
Source: zermatt.swiss
stay nearby All 23 family hotels in Zermatt →4★ hotelSCHLOSS ZermattSauna, adults-only areaSleeps 6KitchenA four-star design hotel by the station with Friends & Family suites for four or five and apartments for up to six with kitchens. The spa has a Finnish sauna, steam bath and indoor pool, but it serves breakfast only and has no restaurant.
Have a look →4★ hotelHotel PolluxSaunaHalf boardSleeps 8A family-run four-star on Bahnhofstrasse with balcony family rooms and a roof suite for up to eight, plus a wellness area with three saunas and a steam bath. Half board comes with the five-night ski package, which includes a cheese fondue evening in the hotel's Pinte restaurant.
Have a look → -
Grindelwald: Samichlaus comes with his donkeys
Grindelwald, Congress Hall to Eiger+ Platz Sun 6 Dec 2026, from 17:15 For childrenOn St Nicholas' Day families gather at the Congress Hall and walk with Samichlaus, his companion Schmutzli and donkeys carrying the sacks to the Eiger+ square, where each child gets a moment with him. Last year there were sweets for the children and warm drinks at stalls.
The village's Advent market was held on the same square on 29 November last year (14:00–19:00). The 2026 date is not out yet.
Source: faernresorts.com · date from a local hotel group
stay nearby All 18 family hotels in Grindelwald →4★ hotelHotel Kreuz & PostSaunaSleeps 5KitchenA central four-star next to the station and ski buses with a rooftop spa (Finnish and Himalayan salt saunas, eucalyptus steam bath) and a three-bedroom hotel apartment with kitchen for up to five. Three restaurants and a bar are in the building.
Have a look →4★ aparthotelEiger Mountain & Soul ResortSaunaSleeps 8KitchenA central four-star resort whose family value is its chalet apartments, a two-minute walk from the main hotel, with open kitchens and room for 3 to 8. Guests can use the Eiger Spa with its sauna landscape, eat at the Barrys restaurant and ride the local bus free.
Have a look →
On the train route
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Montreux Noël and Santa's House on Rochers-de-Naye
Montreux, Lake Geneva Market 20 Nov – 24 Dec 2026 Santa's House with train: adults CHF 49, children 6–15 CHF 19 Santa's House not recommended under 3The lakeside market has a Santa who flies over the stalls at 17:00, 18:00 and 19:00 every day (plus 16:00 at weekends). Watch from the shore between the Freddie Mercury statue and the Ferris wheel.
Santa's House is up the mountain: about 50 minutes on the cogwheel train to Rochers-de-Naye, open Wednesday to Sunday plus 7, 8, 21 and 22 December. Children under 6 ride free without a reserved seat, CHF 10 with one. Seats went fast last year, 85% before opening day, so book through MOB GoldenPass now. The Junior Card is not valid on this train.
Source: lake-geneva-switzerland.com
stay nearby All 10 family hotels in Villars-sur-Ollon →5★ hotelVillars PalaceSaunaSleeps 6PoolA grand five-star in the village with a spa (sauna, hammam and open-air pool) and suites for four to six people. The second room is half price for a family of four in interconnecting rooms; half board and a kids' club with set ages and hours are not published, so ask the hotel before booking.
Have a look →4★ hotelVictoria Hotel & ResidenceSaunaSleeps 4PoolA large four-star in the village with 56 m2 family rooms for four, bunk-bed rooms, an indoor pool, sauna and hammam, and a trattoria with a kids' menu. Half board, a kids' club and fondue are not mentioned on the hotel's pages, so ask before booking.
Have a look → -
Basel: the Märchenwald on Münsterplatz
Basel 26 Nov – 23 Dec 2026, daily 11:00–20:30 All agesBasel's market fills Barfüsserplatz and Münsterplatz. The Märchenwald, the fairytale forest on Münsterplatz, is the part for children: tin casting, candle making, gingerbread decorating and a blacksmith, plus a marionette theatre with a Christmas story. It runs to 22 December, weekdays 13:30–19:00 and weekends 11:00–19:00.
Source: bs.ch
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Einsiedeln: a market in front of the monastery
Einsiedeln 27 Nov – 6 Dec 2026Stalls line the main street up to the Benedictine monastery, under a large tree and street lights. Open Fridays 17:00–21:00, Saturdays 11:00–21:00 and Sunday to Thursday 11:00–19:30. A short run, so it suits the first weekend of Advent.
Source: myswitzerland.com
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Zurich: Bellevue Noël
Zurich, Sechseläutenplatz 19 Nov – 23 Dec 2026The square in front of the opera house has a new market this year, Bellevue Noël, in place of the old Wienachtsdorf: a walk-in Advent wreath, stalls and a fondue chalet. No children's programme has been announced, and daily hours are not out yet. The singing Christmas tree is at the smaller market on Werdmühleplatz.
Source: nume.ch · dates from a news report
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Lucerne: the Advent wreath on Franziskanerplatz
Lucerne Last year: 4–21 DecA compact market around a large lit Advent wreath on the fountain. Last year it opened 11:00–20:00. Lucerne Tourism has not published 2026 dates.
Source: luzern.com · 2025 edition
Sources
- https://arosalenzerheide.swiss/en/Lenzerheide/Top-Events/Culture-and-Music/Magic-Forest-Lenzerheide
- https://www.guidle.com/de/veranstaltungen/im-skigebiet/saas-fee/winterwunderland_Aaric4R
- https://zermatt.swiss/p/einweihungsfest-weihnachtsbaum-01tVj000005F3anIAC
- https://www.faernresorts.com/wengen/events-and-packages-wengen/wengen-santa-claus-visit-in-grindelwald
- https://www.myswitzerland.com/en/experiences/events/advent-market-grindelwald
- https://www.lake-geneva-switzerland.com/montreux-vevey/visit-santa-clauses-mountaintop-workshop-in-montreux-switzerland/
- https://www.bs.ch/pd/marketing/messenundmaerkte/weihnachtsmarkt
- https://www.myswitzerland.com/en/experiences/events/einsiedeln-christmas-market/
- https://www.nume.ch/?p=11915
- https://www.luzern.com/de/event/lozaerner-wiehnachtsmaert
- https://www.bluewin.ch/en/news/migros-coop-lidl-these-opening-hours-apply-at-christmas-li.3023437
Family hotels for 19–26 Dec 2026
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