Chamonix France – Mont Blanc quickly became one of our favorite places! Surrounded by snow capped mountains, everywhere you looked was a true postcard. We were able to spend three days here at the end of April, and already couldn’t wait to return almost the second we left. It was also really simple to get here from Paris, via Geneva, by high speed train and bus.
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My favorite part…temps were around a high of high 60s F to mid 70s F…you could enjoy a hike, stroll, meal, or drink outside easily, and everyone did. Patios of restaurants, cafes, and bars were always full. The sun and elevation were lovely, we even got a little sunburn that we were not expecting! So, don’t forget to pack your sunscreen. Now don’t take this as shorts and tshirt feeling, you definitely still need your hoodies, warm hats, and coats. We recommend dressing for colder weather with layers you can take off as needed.
Chamonix is also very walkable, which was great.
Chamonix France – Things to Do
There’s so many things to do in Chamonix. Both off ski season, and of course during ski season. Off ski season is when we went, and it was sort of during the transition period between winter and summer (it was late April), and we found there were enough things to satisfy all interests.
- Paragliding – This one is for the adrenaline junkies out there, and for the ones who are traveling with an adrenaline junkie. A.K.A me (the adrenaline junkie) and Chris who fully supports it. Even though he is afraid of heights. Paragliding is a huge sport in Chamonix, and I had this insane idea when planning our trip to Chamonix France to run off a mountain and glide through the sky, and Chris said okay let’s do it. So we did, and it was one of the most incredible things both of us has experienced. We booked with Chamonix Paragliding, and we highly recommend them. They were so nice and made both of us feel at ease. We opted to get a video included, and instead of having them edit it for us, we only paid for the SD cards so we could have all footage and go home and edit ourselves. Perks of this were we got the SD cards immediately after landing. Keep in mind too, this activity will be weather dependent, and some days may not be suitable for flight. We were very fortunate to have had one of the best days to paraglide, and in turn were able to get absolutely amazing views.
- Take the Red Cog Train to Mer de Glace – From Chamonix, take the 20 minute cogwheel train ride to Montenvers Station. This reaches an altitude of 1913 m. When you arrive, you’ll be able to walk around, enjoying the amazing views. And taking in the red train going through the Alps, as pictured. There is also a shop and restaurants at the top. Once up there, you can also take a small cable car down to the ice caves. The cable car ride is pretty short, in which you’ll then have to walk down tons of stairs to get to where you will enter the ice cave. Seriously it’s 430 steps down, but totally worth it. The ice cave was a phenomenal experience, and it really allows you to see what climate change has done over the years. Just remember, in order to get back, you have you take those 430 steps back up. A ticket for the train is 38 euros, and the cable car to the ice cave was free.
- Aiguille du Midi – Take a cable car up to a very high altitude, and take in the amazing views of the Alps and of Mont Blanc. A round trip ticket is 78 euros. We did not go all the way to the top since we opted to go paragliding instead. Therefore, we took the cable car to the intermediate station instead. This is Plan de l’Aiguille, and it’s a little over halfway to the top. So, even though we didn’t go all the way up, we can speak on the size of the cable cars, and they were very spacious.
- Walk Around – Again, our favorite thing to do. Just walk around, take it all in. The scenery, the people, the atmosphere. See what you just happen to come across and fall into. You’d be surprised with how much fun you can have without having a plan. And of course, by walking around we found a ton of really fun hiking spots.
- Ski – This is a no brainer for the French Alps. We did not ski, as we went kind of off season. Also, we have never skied before. However, there is plenty opportunity.
Places to Eat
Chamonix Mont-Blanc is filled with wonderful places to eat and drink. Almost all, if not all, come with spectacular views from their outdoor areas. There is also a main strip that houses many of these places, and all of Chamonix Mont-Blanc is walkable.
- Big Mountain Brewing Co – Stop here for some really good pizza and some even better beers. Perfect after a day of walking around and hiking. This is not a huge brewery, space wise, but they do have both indoor and outdoor seating.
- L’Hydromel – We didn’t get a chance to eat here, but let us tell you, EVERYTIME we walked by it smelled SO amazing.
- Bar Le Chamonix or Chez Melanie Chamonix – When googling these appear to come up as the same thing. But head here for some light snacks, a lovely Aperol Spritz, and an incredible view. This spot was perfect after our paragliding adventure.
- The Brasserie de I’M – In the heart of Chamonix, grab a table outside, a refreshing beverage, and take in the views and the town that surround you.
- Shouka Chamonix – For a wonderful warm cup of coffee to start your morning.
- Gelato – There are a few different places to stop for some gelato. But trust us, don’t leave Chamonix without some; it is so good!
- Grocery Store – By this we mean go check out the local grocery store, and buy something to make back at your airbnb. We love doing this when traveling. Checking out local grocery stores and seeing what they have, and trying the local food is so much fun.
Chamonix France – Where to Stay
Of course there are always two options on where to stay. Something like an airbnb or VRBO, or a hotel. When we planned our trip we found more luck going the airbnb route, cost wise and location. We opted for an airbnb located in an apartment building, which was located just across the street from the bus stop. The convenience and price of it all was worth it. It also came with a kitchen, laundry, and a cute little patio, with an incredible view. View from our airbnb pictured below.
In Summary
We absolutely cannot wait to go back to Chamonix Mont-Blanc, France. This place isn’t typically on many peoples bucket list, and truth is, it really wasn’t on mine, but we are so glad that we made it here. It has easily become one of our favorite places.
