Chamonix
Chamonix is a base for skiing, mountaineering and cable car rides under Mont Blanc, the highest mountain in Western Europe.
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Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, usually called Chamonix, is a town in the Haute-Savoie department of southeastern France, in the French Alps. It lies just north of Mont Blanc and borders Switzerland and Italy. The Compagnie des Guides de Chamonix dates to 1821, and the town is one of France's oldest ski resorts. It remains popular with alpinists and mountain enthusiasts.
Cable cars carry visitors to the high viewpoints. The Aiguille du Midi cable car climbs to 3,842 m and gives access to the off-piste Vallée Blanche. A second cable car from the valley's other side reaches Planpraz, and another line runs from there to Le Brévent at 2,525 m. The Montenvers Railway, a 5.1 km cog railway, climbs to the Montenvers tourist site. Chamonix has three ski areas along the valley: Les Grands Montets, Brévent-Flégère and the domaine de Balme. Geneva Airport is about 88 km (55 miles) away.
Chamonix in five
- Go up the Aiguille du Midi on a clear morningThe cable car climbs to 3,842 m. Book a time slot in summer and check the summit webcam before you pay, since cloud can hide everything.
- Get your guest cardStaying in the valley and paying the tourist tax gives you a guest card, which covers local buses and valley trains. Ask your host at check-in.
- Check lift season datesMost lifts close for maintenance in the shoulder seasons. Summer lifts run from about early summer to early autumn, so check each lift's calendar before you build a plan.
- Take altitude seriouslyAt the Aiguille du Midi the air is thin and cold even in August. Bring a warm layer and move slowly.
Need to know
- Airport
- Geneva (GVA), about 1–1.5 hours by transfer bus
- Getting there
- Train via Saint-Gervais, or the Mont-Blanc Express from Martigny
- Getting around
- Valley buses and trains, free with the guest card
- Best base
- Chamonix center, or Argentière for quieter nights
- Time needed
- 3–4 days
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Snowy days
- Days with storms
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuarySnow15 rainy days9 snowy daysHigh2°Low-6°Ski, coldJanuarySnow
Poor
- High
- 2°
- Low
- -6°
- Precipitation
- 187 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 9
- Days with storms
- 0
Ski, cold
- FebruaryRain12 rainy days7 snowy daysHigh5°Low-4°Ski, holidaysFebruaryRain
Poor
- High
- 5°
- Low
- -4°
- Precipitation
- 128 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 7
- Days with storms
- 0
Ski, holidays
- MarchRain14 rainy days7 snowy daysHigh6°Low-3°Ski, spring snowMarchRain
Poor
- High
- 6°
- Low
- -3°
- Precipitation
- 165 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 7
- Days with storms
- 0
Ski, spring snow
- AprilRain15 rainy days3 snowy daysHigh10°Low0°Late skiAprilRain
Mixed
- High
- 10°
- Low
- 0°
- Precipitation
- 147 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 3
- Days with storms
- 0
Late ski
- MayRain21 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh13°Low4°Lifts closed, thawMayRain
Mixed
- High
- 13°
- Low
- 4°
- Precipitation
- 227 mm
- Rainy days
- 21
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Lifts closed, thaw
- JuneRain20 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh19°Low9°Lifts open, greenJuneRain
Good
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 178 mm
- Rainy days
- 20
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Lifts open, green
- JulyRain15 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh21°Low11°Hiking, busiestJulyRain
Best
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 156 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Hiking, busiest
- AugustRain13 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh21°Low11°Hiking, stormsAugustRain
Best
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 134 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Hiking, storms
- SeptemberRain15 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh16°Low7°Clear, calmerSeptemberRain
Good
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 146 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Clear, calmer
- OctoberRain13 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh13°Low4°Lifts close, colorOctoberRain
Mixed
- High
- 13°
- Low
- 4°
- Precipitation
- 146 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Lifts close, color
- NovemberRain14 rainy days5 snowy daysHigh6°Low-2°Quiet, some closedNovemberRain
Poor
- High
- 6°
- Low
- -2°
- Precipitation
- 167 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 5
- Days with storms
- 0
Quiet, some closed
- DecemberSnow14 rainy days9 snowy daysHigh3°Low-5°Ski opensDecemberSnow
Poor
- High
- 3°
- Low
- -5°
- Precipitation
- 201 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 9
- Days with storms
- 0
Ski opens
Average daily high and low in Chamonix, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Chamonix
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
-5
- Feels like
- -8°
- Humidity
- 79%
- Wind
- 4 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 0%
Chamonix
09:46 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today2°-2°0%Monday: Partly cloudy. High 2°, Low -2°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Tue0°-3°0%Tuesday: Partly cloudy. High 0°, Low -3°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Wed0°-3°3%Wednesday: Snow. High 0°, Low -3°. Chance of rain 3%.
- Thu1°-2°1%Thursday: Snow. High 1°, Low -2°. Chance of rain 1%.
- Fri0°-3°43%Friday: Snow. High 0°, Low -3°. Chance of rain 43%.
- Sat-1°-3°36%Saturday: Snow. High -1°, Low -3°. Chance of rain 36%.
- Sun-1°-5°40%Sunday: Snow. High -1°, Low -5°. Chance of rain 40%.
Updated 09:38 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Day trips by train
- Courmayeur, Italyabout 45 minutes by bus through the Mont Blanc TunnelThe Italian side of the massif, with the Skyway cable car.
- Annecyabout 1.5 hours by car or busA lake town with canals and an old quarter.Read the guide
- Montenvers and the Mer de Glaceabout 20 minutes by rack railwayFrance's largest glacier, reached by a cog railway from town.
Before you go to Chamonix
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Rules for Chamonix, checked
- Check entry rules for France and the Schengen area on the official France-Visas site before you book flights or trains.
- Off-piste runs such as the Vallée Blanche are not patrolled. Read the avalanche bulletin before you go and hire a certified mountain guide.Source
- Dial 112 for any emergency in France, including mountain rescue. Carry your insurance details and a charged phone.
Plan around Chamonix
Regions, TGV, EES and money basics
Read the guideFrench Alps and the JuraOther mountain bases beyond Chamonix
Read the guideAnnecyA lake town about 1.5 hours away
Read the guideChambéryAn Alpine city on the rail line
Read the guideGetting aroundTrains, transfers and car hire
Read the guideTravel insuranceCover for mountain injuries and rescue
Read the guideChamonix FAQ
Is the Aiguille du Midi worth it?
On a clear day, yes: the views across Mont Blanc and the Alps are the reason to come. Check the webcam first, since cloud can hide everything.
How do I get from Geneva to Chamonix?
Shared transfer buses and coaches take about 1–1.5 hours. Trains are slower, with changes.
When is the best time to hike in Chamonix?
July to mid September, when the summer lifts run and most trails are clear of snow. September is calmer.
Can you visit Chamonix without skiing?
Yes. The Aiguille du Midi, the Mer de Glace railway, valley walks and the town itself work in summer and winter, and many lifts carry non-skiers.
How many days do you need in Chamonix?
Three days gives one lift day, one valley walk and a spare for weather. Add a day for a longer hike or a day trip to Courmayeur or Annecy.