BEST ACTIVITIES TO DO IN CHAMONIX
BEST ACTIVITIES TO DO IN CHAMONIX
LEARN MORE ABOUT BEST ACTIVITIES TO DO IN CHAMONIX AND DISCOVER THE BEST THINGS AND ACTIVITIES TO DO IN THIS AMAZING TOWN CHAMONIX
BEST ACTIVITIES TO DO IN CHAMONIX
With four distinct ski areas, Europe’s highest mountain, Mont Blanc, and a plethora of lift-accessible off-piste terrain, Chamonix, located in southeast France and easily accessible from Switzerland and Italy, is often regarded as one of the best ski resorts in the world. Tracked terrain, freestyle, and freeride are available at Grands Montets, Brévent-Flégere, Domaine de Balme, and Les Houches. Live music and chatter of highland exploits fill pubs and clubs as the sun sets below the jagged peaks. Climbers, cyclists, and hikers eager to enjoy the breathtaking natural surroundings frequent the resort throughout the summer months.
Can’t miss things to do in Chamonix
Aside from the world-class extreme sports scene, which is the main draw for most visitors, Chamonix has some subtler attractions worth getting off-slope to see. The town itself invites aimless wandering. In the summer, small cafes and tea shops set up sidewalk tables, while in winter the glow from the glistening shop windows and overhanging street lights illuminate the snow. Diverse live music and late-night clubs ensure that the party-loving set stay satisfied, while events such as the free CosmoJazz Festival in July and various evening ski competitions make for a great atmosphere. The fine selection of luxury spas may not be the main draw for the town, but you’ll welcome them when your muscles and aching limbs beg for intervention.
Food and drink to try in Chamonix
Chamonix does nothing to harm the French reputation for producing some of the finest cuisine in the world. Alongside the fabulous traditional fondue is a selection of the most delicate, delicious desserts you can imagine. These are best enjoyed in one of the many restaurants in the town or in the wooden chalets hidden away on the mountainsides. Look for several that hold Michelin stars, including Albert 1er (two stars) and Le Serac. Cuisine from bordering Switzerland and Italy can be found everywhere, and there are plenty of opportunities to drink good wine. The popular MBC bar brews its own beer, while late-night clubs serve some extraordinary cocktails.
Culture in Chamonix
The charm of Chamonix is in its picture-perfect Alpine cabins, the European après-ski culture, and the area’s elegant cuisine. But this relaxing image of the good life is coupled with the equally strong extreme sports culture. In winter, the hunt is on for the highest drops, most daring powder lines, and longest routes possible. Friends spend the evenings licking their wounds and discussing the following day’s forecast over a beer. In summer, the atmosphere is less frantic, and long, traditional French lunches are taken with glass after glass of wine. Every day, though, groups of lean, Lycra-clad climbers arrive with only one thing in mind—tackling the extreme mountain challenges.
Practical Information
French is the offical language in Chamonix; the currency is the euro. Tipping is recommended, unless the service charge is included on the bill. No visa is required for stays up to three months. You may have to show your passport when crossing the border into Italy or Switzerland. Electricity is 220–240 volts. so you may need an adapter (France uses C and E type plugs), and an adapter if the voltage in your home country (including the U.S.) uses 110-volt currents.
When’s the best time to go to Chamonix?
Chamonix’s winter season can last from the end of December to the beginning of May, but once the snow melts there’s still plenty of outdoor pursuits to choose from, from hiking and mountain biking to whitewater rafting and horseback riding.
How to get around Chamonix
The town is easily accessible from Geneva International Airport, in Switzerland, which is about a one-hour drive, or via high-speed trains from various destinations in Europe. Once in Chamonix, trains and buses are free within the valley if you hold a ski pass. Buses to the Italian resort Courmayeur are also free with the unlimited ski pass.