This is the perfect destination all year round, a wonderful French ski resort at the foot of Mont Blanc.

One of the most picturesque and popular ski destinations from France, Chamonix is the perfect place to go if you are a winter sports lover and an outdoor activities fan.

In this article, I will tell you:

how to get to Chamonix
how to move around
the best time to go and ski area details
what to see in Chamonix area
where to sleep

1. Getting to Chamonix

Being such a popular destination among tourists from all over the world, Chamonix has really good connections with the world.

There are three ways to get to this amazing village: by car, by plane and by train.

Chamonix French ski resort at the foot of Mont Blanc

Table of Contents

1.1 By car

Put your winter tires and get your chains, as the road to Chamonix is one of the most interesting drives you’d ever experienced.

In order to get to Chamonix, you need to follow A40 also known as the White Highway or you can get to the village following Route Nationale 205.

If you come from Switzerland, then follow Route Nationale R506 and after 15 kilometres from the Swiss border, you reach this magnificent resort.

The most picturesque road is the one which links Italy with France as you need to pass through the Mont Blanc tunnel, a unique experience which you have to try at least once in your lifetime.

If you choose to rent a car you can do it at the airport or directly in the resort, as there are plenty of rental offices in the area.

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1.2 By plane

These are the closest airport to this French ski resort at the foot of Mont Blanc:

Airport	Distance	Time
Geneva Airport	105 km	1h 20
Chambery Airport	145 km	1 h 35
Turin Airport	175 km	2 h
Lyon Airport	220 km	2 h 15
Grenoble Airport	225 km	2 h 20
Milan Airport	240 km	2 h 50

The nearest airport to Chamonix is Geneva Airport which offers flights to and from many European destinations, as well as America, Asia, Africa and the Middle East.

1.3 By train

Like many other important ski resorts in France, Chamonix has its own train stations and is linked with other resorts and cities from the area by Rhone-Alpes TER trains.

Unfortunately, there is no direct train to the resort, you need to change at least one train, depending on where you are coming from.

2. Moving around the resort

The easiest ways to move around this French ski resort at the foot of Mont Blanc are bus and train services.

There are various companies that run up and down the valley and to the various ski resorts and hiking areas.

Visitors can get a guest pass called the Carte d’Hote or Free Guest card which gives you free access to travel on Chamonix Valley buses and on SNCF trains which run between Servoz and Vallorcine.

If you are staying in private accommodations, this card is available to buy at the price of 10 euro per person.

You can get it from the Chamonix Town Hall or at any tourist info centre from the area.

3. Ski area and the best time to go

I don’t think I have to tell you that the best time to go to Chamonix is during the winter season.

You can enjoy more than 180 kilometres of piste serviced by 47 mechanical lifts which can transport about 57.000 people per hour.

The ski season generally lasts from December to May and the ski pistes are at an altitude between 1035 to 3840 m.

The crowded period is during French schools’ seasonal breaks and around winter holidays.

So, if you don’t like crowds, then we recommend you to avoid these times of the year.

Spring is also a good time to go as the resort is less crowded, the prices are lower and the weather is still perfect for skiing, especially on higher altitudes.

4. What to see in Chamonix

1. Among the best attractions from the area, there is Mont Blanc which is visible from the city and from the entire valley.

2. Another beautiful and important attraction from the area is Aiguille du Midi, a panorama deck built up in the mountains at 3.842 metres altitude.

3. Here, in this beautiful French ski resort at the foot of Mont Blanc you can find the second-largest glacier in the Alpes known as The Sea of Ice.

You can climb this glacier by train, during a 20 minute trip up to 1.900 metres.

The sceneries you can admire from the window are breathtaking and worth each penny even though it might look a little bit expensive at first sight.

French Alps Chamonix France Aiguille du Midi

4. The next on my list is Eglise St Michel, a representative church built at the beginning of the 18th century. The architecture of this construction is typical of churches seen in the Alps.

5. The last on my list is the Mont Blanc Artisanal Market which is located in front of the Hotel de Ville.

It is open each week on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 8 a.m to 12 p.m and from 2 p.m to 5 p.m.

On Saturday and Sunday, the market is also open from early in the morning till midday.

Here, in this place, you can find traditional products, representative for the area, cooked meats, vegetables, fruits and manufactures products.

5. Where to sleep

There are plenty of amazing chalets and hotels in the areas near the slopes. The ones I like best and have very good price-quality are:

Le Genepy – Appart’Hotel de Charme

Le Genepy Apparthotel Charme Chamonix is one of the top choices for Chamonix.

This aparthotel is located in the city centre, 200 metres away from the ski transfer bus.

The apartments come with a fully equipped kitchen and are furnished in a Scandinavian style.

Park Hotel Suisse And Spa

A great 4 stars resort located in Chamonix city centre is Park Hotel Suisse Spa Chamonix with its amazing views over the mountains.

This is a family-run hotel with an outdoor pool, a hot tub, Turkish baths and massage rooms where you can relax after a long day at ski.

Alpina Eclectic Hotel

Another amazing hotel from the centre of Alpina Eclectic Hotel Chamonix , a hotel located about 1 kilometre away from the Aiguille du Midi cable car and 5 minutes walk from the train station.

It offers to its guests a restaurant, 2 bars and a rented ski equipment office inside the hotel.

A spa and a wellness area are available on-site, while breakfast is included in the room rate.

Conclusion – French ski resort at the foot of Mont Blanc

This amazing French ski resort at the bottom of Mont Blanc is among the most popular ski areas in Europe because of its amazing sceneries, perfect weather conditions and great services.