Chamonix Holidays

Up to the peaks

Chamonix is a well-known mountaineering destination, but you don't have to be a climber to see the views here. From the town, the Aiguille du Midi cable car takes you to the summit, 3842m up. This is the closest you can get to Mont Blanc by lift, and the views are exceptional. Look out over the French, Swiss and Italian Alps from the terrace – on a clear day you can see as far as the Matterhorn mountain. And for a real thrill, 'Step into the Void' – the glass-bottomed skywalk hangs over the mountain edge, and there's a' 1000m drop below. You can get to the Pointe Helbronner peak in Italy from here too, take the Panoramic Mont Blanc cable car and pas over the Vallée Blanche, with mountaineers and their colourful tents down below, taking on the mighty Mont Blanc massif. To get back to Chamonix, take the Skyway Monte Bianco cable car to Courmayeur, where you can jump on the bus.

Down in the town

Spend your days wandering through the pedestrianised streets of the pretty, cosmopolitan town. Stop for mid-morning coffee and a croissant, browse the speciality sports shops and admire the art deco and art nouveau architecture dotted between the Savoyard-style buildings. Then hire bikes to explore the area on two wheels, hit the courts for a game of tennis or visit one of the local museums for stories of the town's history. And you're spoilt for choice when it comes to mealtimes as there are over 170 restaurants across the town and up on the mountain, serving up everything from Savoyard specialties to fresh, international fare.

Summer in Chamonix

There's a jam-packed summer schedule here, with festivals, sports events and celebrations each month. In June, watch runners tackle the Marathon du Mont Blanc, one of Chamonix's most popular summer events, with five races and an upbeat, town-wide atmosphere, while the Fête de la Musique also fills the streets with live music and parties. The World Climbing Championships take place in July, with the finals coinciding with Bastille Day celebrations, and late summer sees the world-famous UTMB (Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc) take over the valley, drawing elite trail runners and huge crowds. Yoga, jazz and running festivals round out the rest of the summer season.

Good to know: UTMB week in August is much busier than usual, and some trails, roads and central areas of town may have closures or restrictions, so it’s worth planning ahead.