By air
Geneva (GVA), ~1 h by road
Europe · France
Chamonix, France
Mont Blanc's alpine playground
Getting there
Best time to visit
June to September for hiking; December to April for skiing
Don't miss
The Aiguille du Midi
The Mer de Glace
Mont Blanc
The Montenvers train
Things to do
The Aiguille du Midi cable car
The Mer de Glace
Skiing
Hiking
Where to eat
Sources: Photo: Hseugut · CC BY-SA 4.0
What to pack
Layers, hiking or ski gear
A quieter corner
Lac Blanc, mirroring the Mont Blanc massif
Questions travellers ask
When is the hiking season in Chamonix?
June to September; for skiing, come from December to April. Pack layers, plus hiking or ski gear.
What are the big sights around Chamonix?
The Aiguille du Midi cable car, the Mer de Glace, the Montenvers train and Mont Blanc itself.
What's a hidden gem around Chamonix?
Lac Blanc, which mirrors the Mont Blanc massif. Afterwards, warm up with fondue or tartiflette.
What's the airport for Chamonix?
Geneva (GVA), about an hour away by road.
About Chamonix
- Mountains
Where it is
Chamonix-Mont-Blanc is a town in the Haute-Savoie department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of south-east France, in the valley of the Arve at the foot of Mont Blanc, the highest peak in the Alps at about 4,800 m, close to the borders with Switzerland and Italy.
History
The valley was first recorded in 1091, and a Benedictine priory was established here by the 13th century. Englishmen who visited the Mer de Glace in 1741 made its glaciers famous, Jacques Balmat and Michel-Gabriel Paccard made the first ascent of Mont Blanc in 1786, and the town grew into a centre of mountaineering and, later, of skiing.
People
Chamoniards speak French, and life in the valley has long revolved around the mountains: the Compagnie des Guides de Chamonix, the town's association of mountain guides, was founded in 1821. Savoyard cooking brings fondue, raclette and tartiflette to the table.
Known for
- Mont Blanc
- The Aiguille du Midi cable car
- The Mer de Glace glacier and the Montenvers railway
- Skiing the Vallée Blanche
- The Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc
Did you know?
Chamonix hosted the first Winter Olympic Games in 1924, and in 1916 the town officially changed its name to Chamonix-Mont-Blanc.
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