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.
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Chamonix, France FAQ
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.
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.
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.
Chamonix is located at an altitude of 1035m a.s.l.
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.
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.
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.
Discover: Accommodation options in Chamonix
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).
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).
Book now: Chamonix, Aiguille du Midi & Mer de Glace Full-Day Trip
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.
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.
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.
Explore local attractions
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.
Discover: Accommodation options in Chamonix
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.
For 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.
For 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.
Book now: Guided Day Trip to Chamonix and Mont-Blanc
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!
Book now: Paragliding Tandem Flight over the Alps in Chamonix
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
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
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
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
