Guide CLXIX — Europe — Calendar
Best Time to Visit the Alps: Published 2026/27 Season Dates
Alpine resorts publish their own opening dates, and they differ. Here are the 2026/27 winter dates for four resorts, taken from their official pages, with no month ranked above another.
Photo: Illustrative image: lit timber chalet in deep snow below mountain peaks at dusk.
TL;DR — the short version
In brief
Alps season dates for winter 2026/27 from official resort pages: Les 3 Vallées, Lech Zürs, St Moritz and Gstaad, plus how to check snow reports and compare live partner rates.
What is the best month to ski in the Alps?
We do not name a single best month. Conditions change each year and every resort publishes different dates; check the table above and the resort's live snow report for your week.
Typical price band
Reference
Indicative only. Our booking partners confirm live rates and availability for your exact dates.
At a glance
- 5 December 2026 to 18 April 2027
- Les 3 Vallées Source
- 2 December 2026 to 18 April 2027
- Lech Zürs Source
- Corvatsch from 21 November 2026; Corviglia from 28 November 2026
- St Moritz lifts Source
- First lifts 20 November 2026
- Gstaad Source
- No fixed lead time; check availability as soon as your dates are set
- Booking Source
Book a stay in Alps
Choose dates for partner searches. Villa prices below are recorded samples; multiplying them by your selected nights is an estimate, not an exact-date quote.
Our villas in Megève
Megève, Haute-Savoie
$8,500 / night · recorded sample
Review dates & partner booking termsPerks and service inclusions are not confirmed in our records. Check the exact accommodation, charges and cancellation terms with the booking partner before paying.
Megève, Haute-Savoie
$3,800 / night · recorded sample
Review dates & partner booking termsPerks and service inclusions are not confirmed in our records. Check the exact accommodation, charges and cancellation terms with the booking partner before paying.
Hotels and other rentals
Partner rates are indicative and confirmed at checkout. Some links are affiliate links.
The short version
Each Alpine resort sets and publishes its own opening and closing dates, so there is no single Alps season. We do not rank the months: snow conditions change every year, and we hold no snow-depth or visitor-number data for this guide.
Use the published dates below to see when a resort's lifts are scheduled to run, check the resort's own snow report close to travel, and compare live partner rates for your exact dates.
Published winter 2026/27 lift dates
Les 3 Vallées (Courchevel, Méribel, Val Thorens)
- Published dates
- 5 December 2026 to 18 April 2027
- What the date covers
- Opening dates of the linked ski area
Lech Zürs
- Published dates
- 2 December 2026 to 18 April 2027
- What the date covers
- Ski Arlberg season dates
St Moritz: Corvatsch
- Published dates
- 21 November 2026 to 25 April 2027
- What the date covers
- Mountain railway operating times
St Moritz: Corviglia
- Published dates
- 28 November 2026 to 4 April 2027
- What the date covers
- Mountain railway operating times
St Moritz: Diavolezza
- Published dates
- 19 December 2026 to 2 May 2027
- What the date covers
- Mountain railway operating times
Gstaad
- Published dates
- First lifts 20 November 2026
- What the date covers
- Bergbahnen Destination Gstaad FAQ
| Resort | Published dates | What the date covers |
|---|---|---|
| Les 3 Vallées (Courchevel, Méribel, Val Thorens) | 5 December 2026 to 18 April 2027 | Opening dates of the linked ski area |
| Lech Zürs | 2 December 2026 to 18 April 2027 | Ski Arlberg season dates |
| St Moritz: Corvatsch | 21 November 2026 to 25 April 2027 | Mountain railway operating times |
| St Moritz: Corviglia | 28 November 2026 to 4 April 2027 | Mountain railway operating times |
| St Moritz: Diavolezza | 19 December 2026 to 2 May 2027 | Mountain railway operating times |
| Gstaad | First lifts 20 November 2026 | Bergbahnen Destination Gstaad FAQ |
Before you book
- Check the resort's own page for the lifts you plan to use; dates differ by lift as well as by resort.
- School-holiday weeks, Christmas and New Year: check availability as soon as your dates are fixed, because partner availability and rates vary by property and date.
- Ask the partner what a staffed rate includes, such as a chef, driver and lift passes, before you compare properties.
- Look at the resort's live snow report in the days before you travel rather than relying on a general guide.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the best month to ski in the Alps?
- We do not name a single best month. Conditions change each year and every resort publishes different dates; check the table above and the resort's live snow report for your week.
- When does the Alpine ski season start and end?
- It depends on the resort. For 2026/27, Les 3 Vallées lists 5 December 2026 to 18 April 2027, Lech Zürs 2 December 2026 to 18 April 2027, and St Moritz's Corvatsch 21 November 2026 to 25 April 2027, per each resort's official pages.
- Are the Alps worth visiting in summer?
- Many resorts operate in summer, but we have not verified summer opening dates for this guide. Check each resort's summer lift and hotel dates, then compare live partner rates for your dates.
- When do lifts close between seasons?
- Closing dates are set by each operator, for example 4 April 2027 for St Moritz's Corviglia and 18 April 2027 for Les 3 Vallées and Lech Zürs. We hold no visitor-number data, so we do not say which weeks are quietest.
Editorial note & limitations
Rate character describes how prices behave in a month relative to the rest of the year, not a quotation. Houses in the Collection are priced live by the partner holding those dates; hotels and rentals are searched live through our booking partners. Weather and season dates are drawn from official climate and park sources, assembled September 2026.