Skiing over Christmas with kids in Switzerland, 2026
English schools break up between Friday 18 and Monday 21 December 2026 and go back on Monday 4 January 2027. That gives two Saturday-to-Saturday weeks: 19–26 December, with Christmas in the mountains, or 26 December – 2 January, with New Year. Both are peak weeks, and ski school places for small children are the first thing to go.
In this guide
The dates
Hertfordshire lists the Christmas holiday as 21 December 2026 to 1 January 2027. Surrey ends the autumn term on Friday 18 December and starts spring term on Monday 4 January. Academies and independent schools set their own dates, so check yours.
If your school finishes on the 18th, the 19–26 December week works. If it finishes on the 21st, the New Year week is easier; see New Year's Eve in the Swiss Alps with kids.
Snow in late December
Nobody can promise snow for a given week, but height helps. Saas-Fee's village sits at about 1,800 m with skiing to 3,600 m, Arosa at 1,775 m and Zermatt at 1,608 m with lifts to 3,883 m. Grindelwald (1,034 m), Laax (1,100 m), Wengen (1,274 m) and Villars (1,300 m) start lower, though all have skiing well above 2,000 m.
Last winter the main season began on 19 December in Laax and 20 December in Arosa Lenzerheide, according to Powderguide. Most resorts publish their opening dates in November.
What to book, in order
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1
The room, with the whole family in it
Christmas week sells out first in family rooms and apartments. Ask how many people the room actually sleeps and whether a cot is included.
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2
Ski school for the youngest
Children's group classes at Christmas fill before the hotels do. Ski kindergartens take children from 3 in Saas-Fee and 4 in Zermatt, where the first Snowli week of the winter starts on 14 December 2026. See ski school ages by resort.
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3
Christmas Eve dinner
Ask the hotel whether it serves a Christmas Eve or Christmas Day dinner, at what time, and whether there is a children's menu.
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4
Lift passes
Children under 9 ski free in Zermatt and under 6 in Saas-Fee and Arosa Lenzerheide. Each resort counts age differently; the details are in where kids ski free.
What's on that week
Lenzerheide's Magic Forest (11–31 December) and Saas-Fee's lit forest path (12 December – 16 January, including Christmas Eve) are the two evening events we found that run through Christmas week. City Christmas markets mostly close by the 24th. More in Christmas markets near Swiss ski resorts.
Family hotels with a kids' club
Hotels where our sources confirm a kids' club, in the resorts above.
A five-star chalet with a supervised kids' club for ages 4 to 12, a spa with sauna and hammam included for guests, and fondue in its own restaurant. Residences sleep up to eight, but half board is not offered on the hotel's own pages and the Winter Family offer excludes the February school holidays.
Have a look →A 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 →Chalet-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 →A four-star resort about two minutes from the cable car, with the Murmeli kids club (from 2½, daily 10:00 to 22:00 with supervised dinner), connecting rooms and kitchen apartments for up to six. The 1,000 m² GinaSPA has adults-only areas with Finnish saunas and steam baths plus a family area, and half board can be added.
Have a look →Sources
- https://www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/services/schools-and-education/at-school/school-term-dates/
- https://www.surreycc.gov.uk/schools-and-learning/schools/term-dates/school-term-dates-and-changes-for-2026-to-2027
- https://powderguide.com/en/magazine/news/season-starts-in-the-ski-resorts-202526
- https://www.bluewin.ch/en/news/migros-coop-lidl-these-opening-hours-apply-at-christmas-li.3023437
- https://zermatt.swiss/en/p/kids-full-day-group-lessons-snowli-4-6-years-zermatters-01tVj000004sJupIAE
- https://www.guidle.com/de/veranstaltungen/im-skigebiet/saas-fee/winterwunderland_Aaric4R
Family hotels for 19–26 Dec 2026
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