The Top Things to Do in Chamonix in the Summer
Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, France is heaven for nature lovers and adventure enthusiasts. While it's popular for skiing in the winter, there is an endless list of incredible things to do in Chamonix in the summer. Read on for everything you need to know to plan your visit.
Chamonix-Mont-Blanc (Chamonix) is a small village in the Haute-Savoie region of France. Famous for its proximity to Mont Blanc – the highest peak in Western Europe at 4,805 m (15,766 ft) – it’s a popular spot for skiing and other winter sports. But in the summer, it’s an unmissable destination for hikers, mountain bikers, and outdoor enthusiasts of all kinds. From trekking the iconic Tour du Mont Blanc to paragliding through the Chamonix Valley and even walking inside a glacier, the list of incredible things to do in Chamonix in the summer is next level. However, getting to this remote area will take a little effort! Â
In this post, we’ll share everything you need to know about Chamonix and the surrounding valley – how to get there and getting around, where to stay, all the top things to do during your visit, and some top spots for a bite to eat at the end of the day.
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Why Visit Chamonix?
Chamonix is a can’t-miss summer destination for anyone who loves hiking, adventure sports, or simply an excellent meal in a cozy café with breathtaking views. While famous as a premiere destination for winter sports – they actually hosted the first winter Olympics in 1924! – it also offers a wide breadth of amazing activities to enjoy in the summer, like trekking, mountain biking, paragliding, and scenic train and cable car rides. Chamonix even hosts one of the most prestigious ultra marathon events in the world each year in August, the Ultra-Trail du Mont Blanc (UTMB). Besides the epic list of things to do in Chamonix, it’s also a charming and beautiful village. Quaint wooden chalets, flower-filled balconies, and lively pedestrian streets are set against a backdrop of the soaring peaks of the French Alps on all sides. Plus, it’s France, so the food is amazing.
In short, a vacation in Chamonix offers a retreat from the stress and technology of day-to-day life. Breathe in the fresh mountain air, burn some calories on a hike up to scenic viewpoints, and then savor some sinfully delicious, cheesy Savoyard cuisine (the local food of the Haute-Savoie region) when you get back down – you’ve earned it.
How to Get There
As Chamonix does not have its own airport, getting here takes a bit more logistical effort (but we promise it’s worth it!).Â
If you’re already in Europe, we recommend accessing Chamonix by train, as it’s far less stressful and more sustainable than air travel. However, don’t expect a direct route – when we traveled from Paris to Chamonix, the journey took about 6 hours and required two transfers. Thankfully, the transfers were all short and easy, and, while long, the journey was comfortable and the views were lovely.
Pro tip: When booking train travel in Europe, you can use sites like Trainline and Omio to do your research, but make sure to check the provider sites directly for the best deal. You can sometimes save hundreds of dollars this way! On our departure journey from Chamonix to Vienna, we saved 300 EUR (51%!) by booking on Swiss line SBB’s site as compared to the same route on Trainline’s and Deutsche Bahn’s sites.
If the train journey is too long – or you still need to cross the ocean – the easiest access point for flights is Geneva Airport, about 1 hour and 15 minutes away. From Geneva, you can reach Chamonix by bus, train, car rental, or private transfer.
Geneva Transfer Options
Bus
There are several bus lines that run transfers from Geneva Airport to Chamonix, including FlixBus, Swiss Tours, and BlaBlaBus. Tickets range from $15 to $25 per person (one way) and the travel time is approximately 1 hr 40 min. We recommend using Omio to check schedules and buy tickets.
Train
We usually prefer train travel for its comfort and simplicity, but it’s a bit more cumbersome than the bus in this instance. Transit from Geneva Airport to Chamonix by train will take approximately 3 hr to 3 hr 30 min and require two to three transfers. Unfortunately, Trainline and Omio don’t do a great job of showing this route, so you’ll want to look directly at Swiss line SBB‘s site to check schedules and buy tickets, which range from ~$26 to ~$30.
Private Ride
If privacy and comfort are your top priority, consider renting a car or hiring a private transfer service. Make sure to check with your accommodations before renting to see if they have parking available – street parking is not always easy to find, especially during peak travel times like the UTMB in August.
Where to Stay
While Chamonix-Mont-Blanc is at the heart of the Chamonix Valley, there are actually several other small villages in the valley that expand your options for lodging, including Servoz, Les Houches, Argentière, and Vallorcine. Â
Our Recommendation - Argentière
Argentiere Old Town
2 Guests - 1 Bedroom - 1 Bed - 1 Bath - Pet Friendly
We chose this Airbnb in Argentière and highly enjoyed our stay. The unit was clean, comfortable, and quiet, perfect for a peaceful mountain retreat. The host is absolutely lovely, and it’s pet-friendly to boot! We loved staying in Argentière over Chamonix as the town is so much more quaint and relaxing than Chamonix proper, while still being easily accessible by train, only a 7 minute walk away (more on this below). Plus, Argentière has excellent restaurants and sits right at the foot of Les Grands Montets, so the views are top-notch and epic hikes are right at your doorstep.
Downtown - Chamonix-Mont-Blanc
If you prefer to be in the center of the action, you’ll want to stay in Chamonix proper. It’s the largest village and located in the middle of the valley. Top hotels in Chamonix include:
- Résidence Le Cristal de Jade – a stunning, chalet-style hotel located at the foot of the Aiguille du Midi cable car. Enjoy their large wellness center and feel free to bring your pet!
- Heliopic Hotel & Spa – also near Aiguille du Midi, this one is a standout for their spa that includes an ice cave. Their in-house restaurant was awarded a Michelin Bib Gourmand too, so you’ll be sure to eat well.
- Lykke Hotel & Spa Chamonix – located right in the heart of town, this one’s a winner for convenience and walkability. But you can still enjoy incredible views from their panoramic terrace.
- Hôtel Mont-Blanc – if you’re really looking to splurge, check out this luxurious option near the Brévent cable car (perfect for paragliding!). Enjoy their outdoor hot tub all year round as well as their tastefully decorated upscale lodgings.
Keep in mind that being in the thick of it also means more crowds and higher prices, so be prepared for this before you pull the trigger on a hotel in Chamonix.
Getting Around
Chamonix proper is a small town and easy to navigate by foot, but if you wish to see all of the main attractions in the area, you’ll need to traverse the other villages of the valley. Thankfully, the Chamonix Valley is well-connected by trains, buses, and cable cars.
Train
French public rail SNCF’s regional line, TER Auvergne-Rhône-Alps, runs regularly between Servoz in the south and Vallorcine in the north, with 12 stops in between. Depending on how far you’re traveling, tickets will cost at most $9 each way, but we’ve got a heck of a tip for you to save you some money!
Pro tip: Upon arriving in Chamonix, make sure to request the Carte D’Hôte discount card from your host. This card will allow you FREE train travel and 50% off bus travel during your stay. You heard that right – free train travel. If your host cannot provide you the Carte D’Hôte, you can buy one from the tourist office for 10 EUR per week.
Be aware that even with the Carte D’Hôte, if you’re traveling with a pet you’ll need to buy them their own ticket (discounted at 50%), or risk being charged a small penalty fee from the ticket checkers.
Bus
While the train is excellent for getting from town to town, the bus can sometimes get you much closer to your final destination with a lot more stops throughout town. The buses in Chamonix, run by Chamonix Mobilité, are clean and timely, and I wouldn’t hesitate at all to take them. They even run designated lines for mountain bikers in the summer and skiers in the winter. Single ride rickets are only 1.50 EUR, but day pass, multi-day pass, and family pass options are available – learn more here.
For both the train and bus, we recommend you use Google Maps to determine the schedule and buy tickets on site – no special website or advance purchase necessary.
Cable Cars
You’ll be taking several cable cars and cogwheel trains during your visit to Chamonix, but these aren’t merely transportation, they’re some of the main attractions! So we’ll get into the key ones in our list of the top things to do in Chamonix below.
The Mont Blanc Multipass
Before we get into the top things to do in Chamonix and each of their individual ticket prices, we have a great tip for you to save some money during your visit – the Mont Blanc Multipass (MBM).
If you plan to visit several attractions in Chamonix, you may want to purchase a Mont Blanc Multipass. This pass grants you access to many of Chamonix’s top attractions at one promotional price, including Aiguille du Midi, the Montenvers train and the Grotte de Glace, and eight additional cable cars, including the main two you would use for paragliding. In addition, you get access to a free guided tour of Aiguille du Midi, tickets for the electric tourist train through Chamonix, and free rides on the valley’s shuttles and buses, among other benefits. We don’t usually find city passes to be a good deal, but the MBM is an exception and we encourage you to consider it once you’ve built your itinerary. In the end, whether or not this pass is worth it for you financially depends on how many of its attractions you intend to visit.
Mont Blanc Multipass tickets can be purchased for a period of one to nine days, or for the whole season. Prices for summer 2025 range from 95 EUR (~$108) to 215 EUR (~$244), with discounts for kids aged 5-14 and seniors over 65, and family pass tickets for two adults and two children are also available. See all rates and purchase tickets here.  We’ll denote all activities covered under the Multipass with MBM next to the prices below.
The Top Things to Do in Chamonix in the Summer
Now that you’ve arrived and settled in, it’s time to explore! Here’s our list of the top things to do in Chamonix in the summer.
Explore Mont Blanc via the Aiguille du Midi Cable Car
Perhaps the most famous thing to do in Chamonix is ride the Aiguille du Midi cable car. This 20 minute gondola ride will take you from the valley floor all the way up to 3,842m (12,605 ft), offering incredible views of Mont Blanc and the surrounding mountains in the French, Swiss, and Italian Alps. The station at the top also offers other attractions, like restaurants, a glass-floor viewing platform, museums, and, best of all, the Panoramic Mont Blanc Cable Car to Pointe Helbronner in Italy, which we’ll discuss more below. Adult tickets cost for summer 2025 cost 81 EUR (~$92, MBM) and can be bought in advance here. Learn everything you need to know before your visit in our detailed post here!
Pro tip: This activity is not recommended for young children, the elderly, or those with other health conditions, as the altitude is significant. It is easy to get altitude sickness at this height, and the line to get back down can be quite long, so there is no quick exit if you start feeling ill.
Take the Panoramic Mont Blanc Cable Car to Italy and Back
In our opinion, the cable car to Aiguille du Midi doesn’t hold a candle to the Panoramic Mont Blanc cable car you can take to Pointe Helbronner in Italy once you’ve reached the Aiguille du Midi station. This 50-minute round-trip journey is the real star of the show. Once you’ve reached Aiguille du Midi, you can purchase your tickets for this ride (41 EUR for summer 2025 or ~$47) and then enter a 4-seat gondola with unparalleled views of Mont Blanc and the Mer de Glace glacier below. Marvel over the crevasses in the ice, the adventurers trekking across it, and the stunning peaks all around. Once you arrive in Italy, you can sit on the terrace and enjoy the views. Or, if you’re feeling rebellious, hop the fence and walk on the glacier yourself. This is absolutely a can’t-miss activity in Chamonix – learn more here.
Pro tip: Pack your patience. The line for the return trip can be very long, and with only four people to a cabin, it moves slowly. When we visited, we waited over an hour for a gondola. We recommend bringing some snacks or eating before you get in line, as we were positively starved by the time we got back to Aiguille du Midi. And don’t forget your passport, as you’ll be crossing the border to Italy.
Walk Inside a Glacier at the Grotte de Glace
Visiting the Grotte de Glace is one of the most unique and incredible things to do in Chamonix in the summer. This “Cave of Ice” is located in the Mer de Glace, the longest and largest glacier in France. While you can walk on top of the Mer de Glace at any point in the year – you can even ski down it in the winter – only in the summer can you walk inside it. That’s right – each summer since 1862, a cave has been tunneled into the ice so that visitors can marvel at this incredible feat of nature.  After enjoying a scenic cogwheel train to the visitor’s center, you’ll take a short gondola ride down to the cave, where you can walk through the tunnels carved by the grottus craftsmen and feel the icy blue walls beneath your fingers. It’s truly a jaw-dropping sight you won’t soon forget. Â
Tickets for the train, gondola, and entrance to the Grotte de Glace cost 41 EUR (~$47, MBM) and can be purchased in advance here. And while you’re there, make sure to check out the Signal Forbes hike, a 90-minute out-and-back that starts near the visitor’s center and rewards you with stunning views for just an easy- moderate effort. We talk all about visiting Grotte de Glace, including the Signal Forbes hike, in our detailed post here.
Paraglide Through the French Alps
Chamonix is an excellent place to paraglide. It has high peaks for launching that are easily accessible by cable car, and the valley offers incredible 360° views all the way down. There are several reputable companies in town, so you should be able to find availability even if you book last minute, allowing you to watch the weather to optimize your journey. We flew with Wing Over Chamonix and our experience was excellent – communication was clear, pricing was fair, and our instructors were friendly, fun, and made us feel very safe. Flights typically take off from Planpraz at Brévent or Plan de l’Aiguille and land at the foot of Brévent, for a flight journey of roughly 20-30 minutes. Expect to pay around $155+ for a tandem flight, plus the cost of your cable car tickets up to the launch point (18.5-23 EUR or ~$21-$26, MBM) – learn more here.
Take a Hike to Lac Blanc
The Chamonix Valley is a hiker’s paradise, and one of the most popular day hikes is the trail to Lac Blanc, a beautiful glacial mountain lake. There are several ways to do this hike, but easily available gondolas and chair lifts can cut off a good chunk of the initial elevation gain (MBM), making it an accessible hike for most fitness levels. Taking this route results in a 6.1 km (3.8 mile) out-and-back trail with about 360 m (1,180 ft) of elevation gain that can be completed in 2-4 hours. If you’re interested in this hike, we recommend checking out this excellent blog post from Earth Trekkers for a clear overview and some inspirational photos.
Trek the Famous Tour du Mont Blanc
While Lac Blanc is a popular day hike, no hike is more famous in the Chamonix Valley than the Tour du Mont Blanc. In fact, it’s one of the most popular treks in the world, and for good reason. Covering approximately 168 km (104 miles), this trail circles Mont Blanc and is typically completed in 9-14 days, though racers in the UTMB have completed it in as little as 19.5 hours! On the journey, you’ll cross from France to Italy to Switzerland and back again, gaining over 10,600 m (35,000 ft!) along the way and spending your nights in refuges or camping under the stars. Completing the whole trek requires a significant degree of physical fitness and lots of advance planning, but it’s also possible to just hike parts of it – we completed a four-day journey during our stay that was immensely rewarding – learn all about it here.
Pro tip: The village of Chamonix really comes alive each August during the annual UTMB (Ultra-Trail du Mont Blanc) World Series Finals ultra-marathon race. Planning your trip during this time period may result in higher room prices and lower availability, but will also guarantee a unique vacation experience as you get caught up in the excitement of the event. We had a blast watching racers cross the finish line and highly recommend it!
Explore the Alps by Mountain Bike
Mountain biking is another popular activity in the Chamonix Valley, and there are endless trails to explore. In fact, Chamonix’s tourism website lists 58 trails, from easy to extremely demanding routes. The infrastructure supporting mountain biking in the area is continuing to evolve, but still solid enough to get around – the bus runs designated mountain bike lines, and you can bring your bike on the trains and several chair lifts as well, including the ski lifts in the Le Tour–Col de Balme, Le Brévent, Lognan, Bellevue and Le Prarion ski areas.Â
If you’re not bringing your own bike, you can rent from several shops in the Valley, including e-bikes for those looking for a bit of support. You can also sign up for mountain biking tours to make sure you don’t miss any of the valley’s best offerings – your well-informed guide will take you to the best spots and be able to help if anything goes wrong along the way.
Where to Grab a Bite
As we stayed in Argentière, we enjoyed most of our meals in this area (though we do have a recommendation in Chamonix proper for you as well). Whether you’re staying in Argentière or not, these are the restaurants worth traveling for.
Heads up – nearly all restaurants in the valley will require a dinner reservation, even outside of peak season. As many of the restaurants are small, family-run establishments, they fill up quickly, and also need the reservations to know how to plan for the evening. Work with your hotel to schedule your dinners, or just pop by the restaurant to make a reservation for the following day – no Open Table or Resy here, folks.
For breakfast, do NOT miss Villy’s Bakery. Their cinnamon rolls are life-changing. Colby made the walk to this bakery nearly every morning, and it was the best 3.50 EUR a day we spent. They also offer a variety of other pastries, cakes, and sandwiches to go, but just trust us on this one – get the cinnamon rolls.
A charming, homey restaurant, Aux dix Vins serves a well-rounded French menu that’s cooked to perfection. You can enjoy your meal in their quaint dining room or on their outdoor terrace, with cozy lighting and a view of the mountains. We recommend their mussels gratinée, goat cheese salad, and crème brûlée, though they also serve a mean burger if you’re just looking for simple comforts. Of everywhere we ate during our time in Chamonix, this was definitely our favorite, so make sure to stop by or call for a reservation.
Speaking of burgers, nothing hits better after a day on the trails than a nice, juicy burger and an ice-cold pint. La Maison des Burgers in downtown Chamonix is the perfect place for your fix. They serve their burgers on crispy French bread, a delightful twist that really takes it to the next level. You can choose from a large variety of toppings, or go for a chicken burger or vegetarian option instead. Someone in your party not in the mood for burgers? Don’t worry – they have a full galette and crêpe menu too.
When it’s time to try the famous Savoyard cuisine specialty of fondue, head to Les Voisines. This lovely, intimate restaurant knows its cheese. Enjoy a bubbling pot of France’s finest with bread for dipping and a side salad for just 20 EUR each. If a bowl full of just cheese isn’t your thing, they also serve other classic Savoyard dishes like tartiflette (a hearty dish made of potatoes, bacon, onions, and Reblochon cheese) and croziflette (same-same, but with pasta instead of potatoes), though be warned that these are chock-full of cheese too. This region’s cuisine is not for the faint-hearted or the lactose-intolerant!
Rounding things out is our favorite spot to unwind at the end of the day over a casual meal or glass of wine, Le Stone. Le Stone is a restaurant where you just feel comfortable. Though always busy, we never felt rushed to leave, and the laid-back staff were always friendly and welcoming. It simply gave a “come in, stay awhile” vibe that we couldn’t get enough of. It didn’t hurt that the food was excellent too – they’re known for their pizzas, but their duck dishes are all excellent as well. If you just want a quality meal without the fuss, this is the place for you.
We know skiing in Chamonix is a bucket list item for many, but we hope we’ve convinced you that Chamonix is a must-visit summer destination too! Use this guide to help you plan a trip to Chamonix this summer that’s as amazing as ours was, and share your favorite activity or restaurant from Chamonix in the comments below!
Don’t forget to check out our detailed posts on some of Chamonix’s top activities, like trekking the TMB, visiting Aiguille du Midi and the Grotte de Glace, and paragliding through the French Alps.
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