Location: Chamonix
Top Things to do in Chamonix
What to do and see in Chamonix, Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes: The Best Things to do
As host of the first Winter Olympics in 1924, Chamonix will always have a place in the history books. Its main attractions are Mont-Blanc (Western Europe's tallest mountain) and the many ski areas that face the Chamonix Valley. Steep slopes and extreme weather conditions suit advanced skiers best, but there are also runs for beginners. Just make sure everyone in your party knows a green circle from a black diamond. Oh, and another note for the history books—Pierce Brosnan was here (filming a James Bond movie, The World Is Not Enough).
Restaurants in Chamonix
1. Mont Blanc
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1,521 reviews
A towering mountain range on the Italian border, the highest peak of which measures nearly 16,000 feet, making it the second highest mountain in Europe.
Reviewed By Montrose3 - Montrose, United Kingdom
Just amazing first time I've really been in the Alps and wow was it worth waiting for we had a great few days some ace views ace boarding and just a fab time will be back!
2. Aiguille du Midi
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 7,182 reviews
From Chamonix (1035m), fly over the forest to reach le Plan de l’Aiguille in 10 minutes (2317m). On your right, the Glacier des Bossons, in front of you the Mont-Blanc (4810m), on your left the Aiguille Verte, the Drus and the Aiguilles de Chamonix. Then take a second cable car which, in just 10 minutes takes you up to 3777m, over the seracs, the glacier des Pelerins and the hanging glaciers on the north face of the Aiguille du Midi. . From the top, a sightseeing panorama unique in the world. Experience a very high altitude.
Reviewed By Saif-UK - Worcester Park, United Kingdom
Amazing views ( must visit ) Lots of areas to visit Stepping in the glass box are amazing Staff are nice and friendly
3. Les Grands Montets
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 506 reviews
ENJOY THE GLACIERS ! Two altitudes with two environments: the Lognan pastures at 1 970 m and the Argentière glacier’s seracs at the 3 275 m summit. A whole universe to discover…
Reviewed By noela232 - Leeds, United Kingdom
The Grands Montets ski area in Chamonix has acess to some of the best off-piste terrain in the Alps, as well as some challenging, high pistes. The cable car is currently being repaired, preventing lift access to the highest pistes and off-piste glacier itineraries, but the Bochard and Herse lifts get you to 2800 and 2600m respectively. New (this year?) is the upgraded Tabe lift, now a fast 6-person chairlift, with improved access from two directions, effectively replacing two old slow lifts. Almost more welcome is a brand new kiosk serving good, cheap coffee, tea and snacks near the base of the Tabe lift, because the prices elsewhere on the mountain are increasingly eye-watering!
4. Lac Blanc
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 509 reviews
Reviewed By rudiefine - Den Bosch, The Netherlands
You have to hike up there we took one lift and hiked the rest of it. We have a good condition so we didn’t need as much time as the signs said. The view was great. We spent an hour around the lake, all to enjoy the view. Afterwards we hiked a bit down to a smaller lake which you can see from Lake Blanc. Took the same route back to the lift because we couldn’t hike from Lac Blanc to L’Index because of snow and were not trained hikers. When we were back at the lifts we had lunch (fine prices) and hiked up to L’Index. That was a tough one to hike up. But so worth the view! If you’re condition is not that great, I’d suggest to take the lift to L’Index and only hike down.
5. Brevent Cable Car
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 994 reviews
ENJOY THE MOUNTAINS ! With its southern exposure, overlooking the Mont-Blanc Range, the Brévent is the ideal departure point for classic hikings and easy rambles to various mountain lakes (Lac du Brévent, Lac Cornu…)
Reviewed By Heslomonick - Birmingham, United Kingdom
We decided to go up the Brevent Cable car as it was another beautifully sunny day and we had a multi pass. We parked at the St Michael car park in Chamonix but then we had to hike up a very steep street in the blazing midday sun to get to the cable car station. And when we got there we found a perfectly good car park we could have used instead! Although I don’t know for sure whether there were any spaces when we arrived at 12pm. There were toilets at the cable car station, and some people were filling their water bottles from a tap. There was a little vendor selling coffee etc. There was also a cafe nearby. There were booths selling tickets (ie multi passes/single day passes et ) but the queues weren’t bad at all compared with Aguillie de midi. Probably about 10 minutes’ wait. The cable car went up the mountain very steeply and the boys (aged 5 and 7) loved it. There was virtually no queue despite it being such glorious weather (it was a Friday in August so maybe it is more busy on the weekends). It was hot inside the cable car though as it was such a warm day. There was just our family in the cable car although you could fit a few more people in if needed when it’s busy. When we got to the top the views, as usual when we go up cable cars in Chamonix, were spectacular and breathtaking. It was a good place to see paragliders as the paragliders jump off this part of the mountain and you can usually just see them as dots floating in the sky above Chamonix but up here on the mountain they were proper sized people zooming around in the air. It was great to watch. It was a bit cooler up the mountain but still roasting hot. We were just wearing shorts and t shirts with walking boots - other people seemed to have dressed for winter but had to peel all their layers off. We had a strange meal at the Comptoir snack bar where the children’s meals came with ice cream plus a ‘surprise’ according to the menu. But when I asked what the surprise was I was told that the ice cream was the surprise. This was indeed surprising as I had assumed from the menu that the ice cream was included for children anyway and they’d get a surprise as well. Fortunately my boys accepted the fact that the surprise was the ice cream they were already expecting. The whole menu was a bit confusing to be honest but I muddled through with the order somehow - you go inside to order and pay (they accepted credit cards) and then you get something which buzzed when your cooked food is ready so you go in to collect it from the serving counter. Then we had to go back later for the ice creams for the children - I showed my receipt to the man at the serving counter and he told me which ice creams I could pick out of the ice cream freezer. There were toilets at the cafe. Upstairs was a restaurant as opposed to a cafe. And nearby there was a bar which mostly sold drinks and sweet things. There’s also an odd looking diagonal lift which takes you a bit further up the mountain. I thought it was just for people wanting to go up to the restaurant there but in fact it just helps you get up a part of the hill and there’s another viewing platform and good places to see the paragliders jump off the mountain. Then we went up a different bigger cable car which takes up to 60 people in it and is manned. We had to show our multi pass again here. It was sort of more like going across from one mountain peak to another which was higher up rather than going straight up a mountainside. It was very hot in the cable car and standing room only. Again, there were amazing views but not that many railings and barriers so I had hard work trying to keep my 5 year old from peering over the edges whilst my husband took all his photos. Not my favourite bit of the day but it was very spectacular if you don’t mind precipitous edges. I think there may have been a bar/cafe here as well as the little outside vendor selling snacks - the tables and chairs were reserved for those customers. I didn’t see any toilets up at this point but there may have been some I didn’t see. Lots of people had climbing gear and when we went down in the cable car we could see them all climbing up and down the mountainside. Not my cup of tea but fun to see them. There was no queue at all for the cable car either at the top or the bottom. I think my husband wanted to hike down the mountain back to the car in Chamonix which would have been about 2 hours according to the sign, but I wasn’t sure how steep it would be for the children so I persuaded him we should get the cable car down so we could go swimming instead and cool down rather than hike in the blazing heat.
6. Glacier des Bossons
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 420 reviews
Reviewed By tracyjarratt - West Midlands, United Kingdom
As non skiers we decided to take the gondala up to the top of the mountain to see the glacier and it was well woth it. It takes about 45 mins to get to the top. We got off at the first stop and had a drink and admired the view before getting back on the gondola and making it to the top. The views are breath taking and it is so quiet and peachful up there . We spent about half hour up there taking photos and watching the skiers before we came back down. So glad we decided to do it.
7. Parc de Merlet
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 722 reviews
Perched at an altitude of 1,500 m above the valley of Chamonix, the Animal Park offers a breath-taking panorama of the Mont-blanc mountain range. Merlet Park invites you to immerse yourself in a vast space dedicated to animals for a leisurely hike through the forest and sunny meadows, discovering several ancient traditional mountain chalets along the way. The unusual closeness with many animals is surprising and would nearly make you forget that they actually live in the wild.
Reviewed By RoxyRox12345
i m a loyal to this place - amazing view and amazing experince being nearer to these beautiful animals- great for solo-families-children-friends
8. Step Into the Void
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 461 reviews
Breathtaking ! From the 3842 terrace, the « Step into the Void » is a technological prowess which promises an unforgettable experience ! With more than a thousand meters of emptiness beneath your feet inside this glass box. Thrills are guaranteed..
Reviewed By AlekR17
Definietly worth queueing for few minutes, quite unique experience, well organised, great test to your courage.
9. Montenvers - Mer de Glace Train
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 2,586 reviews
Enjoy history and glaciology It takes about twenty minutes to climb the 1,000 metres up to the Montenvers-Mer de Glace attraction. Simply hop on board the famous little red railway train. Time will stand still, and you’ll enjoy this vintage method of transport. The track climbs the mountainside, running through the forest, tunnels cut through the rock and over viaducts. You enter the realm of the high mountains, and round the last bend you’ll feel the magic: you’ve arrived at your destination at the foot of the famous Mer de Glace glacier, at an altitude of 1,913m. A stunning panorama opens out before you, with the glacier below, an excellent testament to the climate change in this day and age.
10. Grotte de Glace
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 328 reviews
Reviewed By 830azimd
Excellent views of the mountains, great photo opportunities, fun cable car / gondola ride down to the steps and very well made ice cave. Something to be wary of is that the cable car / gondola only takes you so far down. Thereafter you have to climb down several hundred steps (I think approximately 500) and then climb back up the steps after viewing the ice cave. Would nevertheless recommend this as a must do / see in Chamonix.
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