France · French Alps

Chamonix and Mont Blanc travel guide

Big peaks, glaciers and a cable car to nearly 3,850 metres

Aiguille du Midi above Chamonix. Photo: Garrondo, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

1h 30mflight from London

GVAnearest main airport

13° in Julwarmest month

-7° in Jancoolest month

Chamonix sits beneath Mont Blanc, western Europe's highest peak, and it's one of the world's great mountain towns. In winter it's a serious ski resort; in summer it's all hiking, paragliding and mountain lakes.

Even if you're not sporty, the cable car up the Aiguille du Midi is unforgettable: in 20 minutes you go from town to the high-altitude glaciers.

Good forSkiingHikingMountainsAdventure

Top things to do in Chamonix and Mont Blanc

1
Aiguille du Midi
A cable car to 3,842 metres, with a glass box called 'Step into the Void'. Go early on a clear day.
2
Mer de Glace
France's biggest glacier, reached by a rack railway from town.
3
Lac Blanc
A classic half-day hike to a lake that mirrors Mont Blanc.
4
Skiing and snowboarding
From beginner slopes at Les Houches to the famous Vallée Blanche off-piste route.
5
Paragliding
Tandem flights land in town with views straight across to Mont Blanc.
6
Downtown Chamonix
Après-ski bars, mountain cafés and outdoor shops along a lively river.

Tours and tickets in Chamonix and Mont Blanc

Where to stay in Chamonix and Mont Blanc

Chamonix centre
Walkable, lively and close to the main cable cars.
Argentière
Quieter, near the big ski area of Grands Montets.
Les Houches
Family-friendly, with gentler skiing and lower prices.

Find a hotel in Chamonix and Mont Blanc

Best time to visit Chamonix and Mont Blanc

Best value: Jun, Sep. December to April for skiing; late June to September for hiking and cable cars.

Best valueBusy and pricierQuietAverage temperature in Chamonix and Mont Blanc, °C, 2001–2025 (NASA POWER).

Getting there and around

About 1h 30m from London to GVA, and flights from most UK airports.

Fly to Geneva and take a transfer bus, about 1¼ hours. Free buses link the valley's villages and lifts, and the Mont Blanc Multipass covers most cable cars in summer.

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Day trips from Chamonix and Mont Blanc

Courmayeur, Italy
Through the Mont Blanc tunnel or across by the Skyway cable car.
Annecy
Lake views and canals, 1½ hours away.
Geneva
Lake Geneva and the old town, just over the border.

Good to know

Check the weather webcams before buying cable car tickets. Cloud can hide everything.
Altitude can cause headaches. Take it easy on the first day.
Off-piste skiing needs a mountain guide and avalanche kit.

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