Chamonix Regional Overview

In winter skiing and snowboarding fans have the choice of five different ski areas spread along the Valley floor: Les Houches, Brevent, Flegere, Grands Montets and Balme. Whether you’re a complete beginner or an accomplished powder hound, there is a ski area to suit you. As well as devouring the downhill pistes of Chamonix, there are the cross-country skiing trails, snowshoeing, husky sledge riding, indoor climbing and ice rinks to try.

In the summer hiking, mountain biking, paragliding and mountaineering are the main sports in the Valley. If you prefer to stay with both feet firmly on the ground, there’s the tennis club, a top-notch 18-hole golf course, outdoor swimming pools, tree adventure parks, rafting and summer toboggan rides to entertain you.

On bad weather days in both winter and summer, you can wander around the town’s museums, head to the indoor swimming pool and spa, or maybe watch a film in English or French at the cinema.

Après-ski in Chamonix is also a big part of the winter season. Bars are packed full of happy skiers and boarders quenching their post-skiing thirst with a cold beer and live music to entertain them. In summer there has to be nothing better than sipping a cool glass of rosé wine watching the world go by and waiting for the sunset at a streetside café.

At night Chamonix really does come into its own. Unlike purpose-built resorts, Chamonix is a living, breathing town, which means there is always something to do and somewhere to go or be seen. This means you really are spoilt for choice when it comes to dining out. You can easily eat in a different restaurant every day for a month, from Michelin-starred establishments and those offering traditional Savoyard fondue and raclette, to Indian, Japanese, Korean and Italian cuisine.

A stroll around the pedestrianised town centre will give you a real flavour of Chamonix life. The street names celebrating famous explorers and guides give you and idea of the immense history in the valley. The wealth of boutiques boasting all the latest gear and fashions shows you that the town is at the forefront of mountain sports. The numerous cafes and bars tell you Chamonix knows how to have fun. And the mouth-watering window displays in the bakeries couple with the choice of restaurants is a sure sign you’ll eat well.

Even if you only have a few hours in Chamonix, a trip up the Aiguille du Midi cable car is a must to get a bird’s eye view of Mont Blanc, as is a ride on the mountain railway to the Montenvers station right next to the Mer de Glace glacier, both of which are open all year round.

Whether you come to Chamonix in winter, spring, summer or autumn, there is plenty for you to see and do in this magical, mythical Valley that will leave you with memories that will last long after your holiday.