Best Things To Do In Chamonix, France In Summer

Bonjour! Welcome Chamonix, a mind-blowing destination in the heart of the French Alps, where Mont Blanc with other impressive giant mountains dominates the area. This small touristy alpine village is full of amazing outdoor adventures and attractions along with cozy restaurants serving delicious food, and plenty of stylish hotels. But what’s even more important – it’s full of unforgettable views at every step! So if you’re looking for an amazing alpine escape, Chamonix will be the perfect place for your next adventure. Are you ready to discover great things to do in Chamonix in the summer? We hope so! Let us show you what this town has to offer. 

Discover Things To Do In Chamonix France In Summer
Happy Little Traveler Authors

Created by Sonia & Wojtek

One day, we packed our lives and slowly rushed into the unknown with smiles on our faces. We’re full-time digital nomads traveling in Europe who inspire to live, travel, and discover differently. Sunny coastal destinations are what we love most. We share travel guides, tips, and know-how to make planning your next trip a piece of cake. Real human experience and verified facts only!


This website uses affiliate links thanks to which we may earn a commission for purchases you made at no additional cost to you. If you like the content, consider using those links to support us. Thank you!


Chamonix, France FAQ

Where is Chamonix located?

Chamonix is located in the Haute-Savoie department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in France. The town sits in a valley, at the foot of Western Europe’s highest mountain – Mont Blanc, at an altitude of 1035m a.s.l.

What is Chamonix best known for?

Chamonix is a world-renowned ski resort since the Winter Olympics in 1924 which were held there. The area offers several different ski areas suited to all levels, from beginners to extreme skiers. In addition to skiing, the town is also well known for many great hiking routes and cable car to Aiguille du Midi peak from which you can admire Mont Blanc from a very close range.

Is Chamonix worth visiting?

We can’t give you a different answer than YES. A thousand times yes. Believe us, you don’t want to miss this gem of the Haute-Savoie. Chamonix is totally worth a visit, no matter if it’ll be only a day trip, a weekend getaway, or a week or two during vacation time. Mighty mountains covered in snow, glaciers, breathtaking views on each step, countless summer and winter outdoor activities, and the possibility to stand right in front of Mont Blanc.

At what altitude Chamonix is located?

Chamonix is located at an altitude of 1035m a.s.l.

What’s the best time to visit Chamonix?

It’s always a good time to visit Chamonix, although the best time highly depends on your personal preferences. Do you prefer skiing or hiking? Cold or warm? Snow or green grass? Overall, winter is for skiing, snowboarding, and other winter activities. Summer is perfect for outdoor sports like hiking, climbing, and mountain biking. During spring and autumn the town slows down a little, and there are fewer crowds.

How many days do you need in Chamonix?

Chamonix is a small town and it’s possible to see most of the main attractions in one day. But if it’s possible we’d recommend staying a bit longer, between 3 to 7 days. This number of days will give you time to slowly explore the village, see all the attractions, go on some hikes, and even find some time to relax.

Chamonix France Village Town Centre Main Street
Best Things To Do Near Mont Blanc in Chamonix

Things to do in Chamonix, France in summer

Chamonix Old Town

One of the best things to do in Chamonix, no matter the season, is to stroll among its charming and colorful old town. It’s located in a valley, at the foot of Mont Blanc, between the peaks of the Aiguilles Rouges and Aiguille du Midi mountains. The old town boasts a typical alpine charm, at times intertwined with modern buildings. Take your time, get lost among the streets, and just enjoy the colorful streets of Chamonix and mind-blowing mountain views at every step.

Your main points of interest in Chamonix Old Town:

  • Rue du Docteur Paccard & Place Balmat – Chamonix’s main street and square, full of outdoor sports shops, fashion boutiques, stylish traditional restaurants, and many quaint buildings
  • Place de l’Eglise – featuring a lovely Baroque church of Saint Bernard du Mont-Blanc.

Chamonix Tourist Office is located in the heart of the old town, on Place du Triangle de l’Amitié, right next to Saint Bernard du Mont-Blanc church.

Learn more iconDiscover: Accommodation options in Chamonix

Chamonix France Old Town main square with Mont Blanc view
River in Chamonix Old Town Center with Alps Mont Blanc views
Things to do in Chamonix, France - Explore the old town
Paroisse Saint Bernard du Mont-Blanc on Place de l'Eglise in Chamonix
Chamonix France Old Town Center - colorful buildings and Alps views

Aiguille du Midi Cable Car

Aiguille du Midi is a 3842m tall mountain in the French Alps that can easily be accessed by cable car. In just 20 minutes, the Aiguille du Midi cable car will take you from the Chamonix center to the high mountains, to the closest point you can get near the summit of Mont Blanc without hiking. This number one Chamonix attraction gives you an incredible possibility to take a close look at Mont Blanc, by standing literally right in front of it. So if you have the chance to take advantage of this amazing opportunity, don’t hesitate, it’s totally worth every penny.

The ride from Chamonix to the Aiguille du Midi consists of two parts. The first part of the ride starts in Chamonix center and just in a few minutes reaches the Plan de l’Aiguille, at 2310m a.s.l, Then, after a short break, the ride continues right up to the summit of the Aiguille du Midi (3842m).

View over Chamonix from Aiguille du Midi Cable Car
Aiguille du Midi Chamonix Cable Car
Cable Car to Aiguille du Midi Chamonix France

Aiguille du Midi Summit

From the terraces located at the top of the Aiguille du Midi, you can enjoy a breathtaking direct view of Mont Blanc, as well as views of the surroundings: French, Swiss and Italian Alps. On the upper station, you’ll also find some educational areas, a restaurant, a gift shop, and toilets. If you are brave, you can also take a Step Into a Void and look down into a 1000m void. If you are a skier you might also want to know that the Aiguille Midi summit is a starting point for the mythical Vallée Blanche. It’s truly an amazing thing to do in Chamonix in summer.

Interesting fact. Aiguille du Midi cable car is the highest mountain peak with an aerial lift system! It also holds the world record for the highest vertical ascent: 2807m (from 1035m to 3842m).

Learn more iconBook now: Chamonix, Aiguille du Midi & Mer de Glace Full-Day Trip

Blanck raven on the top of Aiguille du Midi, France
Things to do in Chamonix - admire spectacular views over Alps from Aiguille du Midi
Top Aiguille du Midi attraction - Step Into a Void
Aiguille du Midi main upper station
Climbers near Aiguille du Midi and Mont Blanc France
View over Mont Blanc from Aiguille du Midi summit

Return to Chamonix

You can return to Chamonix the same way – by cable car. On the way down (or up) we advise you to take a longer stop at Plan de l’Aiguille. There you can sit on a stone or grass, have a picnic, and simply enjoy the views. You can also take a quick hike to Lac Bleu, the blue lake. It’s only 1km from the Plan l’Aiguille cable car station. If you’re up to it you can also walk down to Chamonix from the middle cable car station, just follow the signs.

Plan de l'Aiguille to Aiguille du Midi - perfect stop for a picnic
Best Things To Do Near Mont Blanc in Chamonix, France

Aiguille du Midi practical information

Things you need to know before going to Aiguille du Midi:

  • Bring warm clothes, sunglasses, and sun cream
  • Be aware of the possibility of altitude sickness
  • The visit is forbidden for children under 3 years old and not recommended for children under 5 years old
  • Dogs are not allowed
  • Drones are not allowed
  • The visit lasts on average about 3 hours

Aiguille du Midi Chamonix tickets

You need to pay to get to Aiguille du Midi in Chamonix by cable car. Round trip costs €75 for adults, and €63.8 for children and seniors (May 2024). You can easily buy your ticket online at the montblancnaturalresort.com website.

The Aiguille du Midi is open most of the year. It’s only closed due to bad weather conditions and for annual maintenance, which happens in autumn. Times and frequency of departures vary on the time of year.

If you want to see more than only Aiguille du Midi you can take advantage of Mont Blanc Multipass and save a buck. You can choose your pass from 1-9 days or even the whole season. To learn more about it and see the prices visit montblancnaturalresort.com website.

Best things to do and see near Mont Blanc in Chamonix, France
Breathtaking views over Alps from Aiguille du Midi

Glacier Mer de Glace

Mer de Glace, right after the Aiguille du Midi, is the second most popular attraction in Chamonix. The glacier was discovered in the 19th century. Its name can be translated to “Sea of ice”, which is a very accurate name as the glacier is 7 km long, and 200m deep. Mer de Glace is the largest and longest glacier in France, and one of the largest in Europe.

The easiest way to get there is by taking the Montenvers railway, an old-fashioned red train on steroids. To be able to climb bigger than usual slopes it has a special mechanism built in and it requires a third, toothed rail. Train departs from Chamonix and in 20 minutes reaches Mer de Glace. On site, you can also visit the Ice Cave and Glaciarium exhibition for free. The whole visit, trip + exhibitions last about 2-3 hours.

You can buy train tickets separately or use the Mont Blanc Multipass. Single tickets cost €38.5 for an adult and €32.7 for children and seniors (May 2024). To learn more visit the montblancnaturalresort.com website.

Montenvers railway - red train to Glacier Mer de Glace in Chamonix France
Montenvers railway - train to Mer de Glace glacier
Local attractions icon

Explore local attractions

View all...

Tour du Mont Blanc

What would you say about a long walk around Mont Blanc? Tour du Mont Blanc, also known as TMB, is one of the most popular long-distance walks in Europe. The entire trekking path has 170km with 10km of ascent/descent, and typically it takes 7-14 days (walking time is about 55h), depending on fitness level and personal preferences. During those days you’ll be circling the Mont Blanc massif at its lower parts, using the paths that link the seven main valleys surrounding the mountain. The highest point on the TMB is 2532m. Traditionally Tour du Mont Blanc starts in Chamonix and transverses three countries: France, Italy, and Switzerland.

Learn more iconDiscover: Accommodation options in Chamonix

Winter activities near Mont Blanc in Chamonix France
Winter activities near Mont Blanc in Chamonix
Best things to do near Chamonix - see Mont Blanc, the white mountain from Aiguille du Midi
Mountaineers on their way up to Mont Blanc summit

How to get to Chamonix, France?

Chamonix is located about 620km from Paris, 80km from Geneva in Switzerland, 100km from Annecy, 110km from Evian-Les-Bains, and and 220km from Lyon. The most convenient way to get to Chamonix is by car or train.

Where to park in Chamonix?

There are a few parking lots available in Chamonix, mostly paid ones, but it’s possible to leave your car for free, especially if you arrive really early in the morning. We left our car in this parking lot, just about a 10min walk to the entrance to Aiguille du Midi cable car.

Learn more iconFor great car rental deals visit Rentalcars website.

Airports near Chamonix

The closest airports to Chamonix are in Geneva, Switzerland (100km away), Turin, Italy (170km away), and Lyon (220km away). All airports offer bus and train connections with Chamonix. Check the connections you are interested in on rome2rio.com website.

To Chamonix by bus

You can also get to Chamonix by bus. For example, the journey from Annecy will take about 1.5h (€10-22), 1h15min from Geneva (€5-16), and 4h from Lyon (€20-55). To learn more about bus connections that interest you visit rome2rio.com website.

To Chamonix by train

France is well connected by trains. For example, the journey from Paris lasts about 6.5h (€96–159), almost 4h from Geneva (€24-69), and 4h from Annecy (€31-61). To learn more about train connections that interest you visit rome2rio.com website.

Learn more iconFor great train ticket deals visit Trainline website.

Camping in Chamonix

If you’re traveling by camper, places like Camping de la Mer de Glace, Camping du Glacier D’Argentiere, or Camping Le Grand Champ might interest you. They are located in or near Chamonix.

To Chamonix with an organized tour

If you don’t want to put too much effort into planning, you can always take advantage of the guided tours and let someone else take care of all the details. For a wide selection and well-reviewed tour options GetYourGuide and Viator websites.

Learn more iconBook now: Guided Day Trip to Chamonix and Mont-Blanc

Best things to do in Chamonix near Mont Blanc - visit Plan de l'Aiguille
Mont Blanc, the White Mountain, from Aiguille Midi, Chamonix

Things to do in Chamonix in summer – Summing up 

All right, so now you know what are the best things to do in Chamonix in summer. That’s quite a lot for such a small old town, isn’t it? Whether it will be for one day only, a couple of days, or longer, we are sure you’ll have an amazing time in this super charming Alpine village and its surroundings. Chances are high that you’ll be picking your jaw up off the floor during your stay so be prepared for that!

Our opinion about Chamonix

For us, a visit to Chamonix was a one-day trip from Thonon-Les-Bains where we lived for a few weeks. We visited the town in mid-June and during that time there were already quite a lot of visitors, especially in Aiguille du Midi. But it wasn’t surprising as after all it’s one of the most popular attractions in the area!

What can we say, we loved our day in Chamonix. Aiguille du Midi, Mont Blanc at our fingertips, and spectacular views were unbeatable. An amazing experience worth every penny! Eating dinner in Plan de l’Aiguille also stayed in our memories. Chamonix’s old town was very pleasant, but after being almost at the top of Europe it didn’t make an electrifying impression. Without a doubt, it’s one of our favorite places in France from which we have great memories. And we’ll gladly come back one day!

Learn more iconBook now: Paragliding Tandem Flight over the Alps in Chamonix

Aiguille du Midi Middle station - Plan de l'Aiguille spectacular views over mountains

Restaurants, accommodations, and map

Check out various recommended places below.

Where to eat in Chamonix?

Here are your best, high-rated options in Chamonix:

Where to sleep in Chamonix?

Les Campanules in Chamonix, France

Les Campanules

Les Campanules is a charming and cozy hotel in Chamonix, featuring comfortable and well-equipped rooms with mountain views and a lovely garden terrace. Its location in the heart of the town, close to the ski slopes and hiking trails, make it an ideal base for outdoor enthusiasts looking to explore the surrounding area.


Chalet-Hôtel Hermitage in Chamonix, France

Chalet-Hôtel Hermitage

Chalet-Hôtel Hermitage is a luxurious and elegant hotel in Chamonix, offering beautifully decorated rooms with stunning mountain views and a range of upscale amenities, including a spa, a restaurant, and a cozy lounge with a fireplace. Its prime location in the center of Chamonix and its proximity to the ski slopes make it a perfect destination for a romantic and indulgent getaway.


Hotel Les Lanchers in Chamonix, France

Hotel Les Lanchers

Hotel Les Lanchers is a cozy and welcoming hotel in Chamonix, featuring comfortable rooms with balconies offering breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains. Its location in the quiet and picturesque Les Praz neighborhood, just a short walk from the ski lifts, makes it an ideal base for a relaxing and peaceful mountain getaway.


Accommodations photos source: booking.com

Chamonix, France - Map of places


Pin & share:
Best Things To Do In Chamonix, France In Summer

Home » France » Best Things To Do In Chamonix, France In Summer

Your Travel Resources Handy In One Place 🗺️

🏨 Accommodations

For a short stay check out Booking or Agoda. Staying longer? Take a look at the offers at Airbnb.

🎫 Book tours

Are you up for taking part in epic guided tours? Book ones you like using GetYourGuide or Viator.

🚗 Rent a car

To find great rental car deals check out Rental Cars and get ready for your car trip!

✈️ Book a flight

For the hottest deals check out WayAway or Skyscanner.

🚆 Get train tickets

Love traveling by train in Europe? Book your tickets on Trainline.

🧳 Travel insurance

Enjoy peace of mind during traveling and don't leave your country without good travel insurance. SafetyWing or World Nomads are the best in class. 

🛡️ VPN

To stay safely connected while traveling, don’t forget about a good VPN. We recommend Surfshark or NordVPN.

🌐 Mobile internet

To stay online always and have roaming bills in check use Airalo - the world’s first eSIM store with digital data packs for over 200 countries/regions!

💰Travel finances

Get your travel finances smart and straight with Wise or Revolut.

Scroll to Top