Winter Guide: Chamonix Mont-Blanc, France

Written By The Scenic Detour Adventure Travel

Chamonix Mont-Blanc, France

Snowboarding, remote work, and exploring the Mont-Blanc Valley

Chamonix in winter is one of the most iconic mountain destinations in the world with massive terrain, dramatic peaks, charming French villages, and easy access to multiple ski areas all on the Ikon Pass. Here’s everything we experienced and everything you need to plan your trip.

*We’ve included affiliate links in the article below to help direct you to the spots, experiences, and gear that we love. Please consider using them if you’re booking a stay or gearing up for your Chamonix adventure!

Why Chamonix in Winter?

Chamonix in winter is the definition of an alpine dream. Surrounded by towering peaks and home to some of the most legendary terrain in the world, it offers a mix of massive ski areas, dramatic scenery, and a lively town filled with great food and cozy cafés. Whether you’re here to ski all the Ikon resorts, ride the Aiguille du Midi, explore glaciers, or simply enjoy the atmosphere, Chamonix has something for every type of winter traveler.

Ikon Pass Details

Your full Ikon Pass gives you 7 total days in the Chamonix Mont-Blanc Valley, and you can split those days across multiple resorts. We skied all of them.

Chamonix Mont-Blanc Valley Ski Areas on Ikon Pass

Each mountain has a totally different vibe, which is what makes skiing here so fun. 

Shipping Your Skis/Snowboards to Europe

One of the biggest game-changers of our trip was using Ship Skis to send our gear from the U.S. directly to Europe. Instead of dragging snowboard bags through airports, trains, and tiny European streets, we had everything waiting for us when we arrived. 

Why We Loved Ship Skis

  • Door-to-door delivery: Our boards were delivered straight to our Airbnb in Austria before we crossed into the ski part of our trip in Italy, Switzerland, and France.

  • No hauling gear through multiple airports or onto trains. (This was so helpful for us because we were traveling to see Christmas Markets in Denmark, Germany, and Czech Republic, before the ski part of our trip.)

  • Customs paperwork is handled for you, which makes international shipping painless.

  • Tracking updates the entire time so we always knew where our bags were. We also just threw Airtags into our board bags, so I could see them traveling over to us!

  • Pickup from your home in the U.S. (literally right from our front door) and delivery to any hotel, Airbnb, or lodging partner in Europe.

How It Worked for Us

We shipped our snowboards from the U.S. directly to our Airbnb in Austria.
When we arrived, the bags were already there waiting. 

From Austria, we then carried them onto the train when it was time to head to the Alps.

Ship early! International delivery windows can vary, so sending your gear 5-7 days before departure gives you plenty of buffer time.

How to Get to Chamonix (From Geneva, Lyon, etc.)

We arrived in Chamonix by train from Zermatt, and used the SBB app to book the whole route. Throughout our European Alps trip, we rotated between: Rail Europe, Omio, Rome2Rio, SBB, Trainline, and FlixBus. (We recommend you download all of them: prices and times vary constantly and there was no rhyme or reason why I would choose one over the other)
For us, the Eurail Pass was NOT worth it because our schedule was flexible and pieced together across multiple countries. Booking individually gave us better pricing, but check to see if it’s right for your vacation.

Chamonix is train-access only for most visitors since there is no airport in town.

Here’s how to get there from major hubs:

From Geneva (France)

Why fly here:
Closest major airport to Chamonix, tons of direct international flights, and super reliable transfers.

Train route & time:

From Lyon (France)

Why fly here:
Big French airport with lots of European flights. Good alternative when Geneva is expensive or booked.

Train route & time:

From Paris (France)

Why fly here:
Huge global hub. Usually the cheapest long-haul flights into France.

Train route & time:

  • Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) ➝ Gare de Lyon (40–60 min)

  • Paris Gare de Lyon ➝ Annecy or Bellegarde (3–3.5 hrs on TGV)

  • Annecy/Bellegarde ➝ Chamonix (2 hrs)
    Total time: ~5.5–6.5 hours
    Notes: A longer day of travel but very smooth if you enjoy trains. This route lets you experience the French countryside.

From Milan (Italy): This was our route (before Zermatt)

Why fly here:
Great if you're pairing Italy + the Alps or if flights to Milan are significantly cheaper.

Train route & time:

From Zermatt (Switzerland): This was our route (after Zermatt)

Where We Stayed

We spent two weeks in Chamonix and stayed in two different places, both we absolutely loved:

1. Le Cocoon de Sarah: Booking.com

Our first week was just the two of us, so we booked the sweetest little alpine chalet we found on Booking.com. Cozy, walkable, and perfect for remote work with a mountain view.

2. Triplex Au Cœur De Chamonix: VRBO

Once our friends joined, we moved to a bigger VRBO right in the center of town. Tons of space, a great kitchen, and super close to cafés, lifts, and bus stops. Highly recommended for groups.

Other places to Stay

Luxury:

  • Le Hameau Albert 1er: A top-tier 5-star hotel with spa, pools, and gourmet dining, ideal for couples or families seeking indulgence.

  • Hotel Le Jeu de Paume: Refined hotel with indoor pool, wellness spa, and mountain views, perfect for a classic luxury experience.

Mid-range:

Budget-friendly:

View from the top of Aiguille du Midi, Chamonix Mont-Blanc, France

How to Access the Mountains

Chamonix is unique. The ski areas are not connected, so you hop buses between mountains. Download the Chamonix app for all the details.

The reality:

  • The buses are FREE with your ski pass

  • They run often throughout the town. We used one to get to and from our first chalet all week and it was very easy to just show our Ikon Pass and get on

  • And they get EXTREMELY packed, especially at the further ski areas between 12-3pm

  • We found it hilarious to get stuffed in, but parents with kids might not

Tip: Go early or late to avoid the crush (literally), and keep your gear small and organized.

Other Must-Do Winter Activities

Aiguille du Midi: Highest Cable Car in France: This is easily one of the most dramatic gondola rides in the world. I wish we could say that it was worth it, but we thought that for the price, we would have rather used the money to book a guide for skiing off-piste in this area. That being said, it is very popular and it might be totally up your alley!

  • Elevation: 3,842 m (12,605 ft)

  • Ride: Two-stage lift straight up sheer cliffs

  • Views: Mont Blanc, the Vallée Blanche, Italy, and Switzerland

  • Booked through: Mont-Blanc Natural Resort or Viator

  • Price Range: ~€75.80 round trip (adult)

  • Weather can change fast , book for a clear day if possible.

View of the Aiguille du Midi, Chamonix Mont-Blanc, France

Ice Skating in the Town Rink

  • Beautiful outdoor setting with Mont Blanc views.

Mer de Glace: Montenvers Train

  • Red cogwheel train up to France’s longest glacier.

Snowshoeing Trails

  • Great beginner-friendly routes around Les Houches and Argentière.

Alpine Spa Day

  • Try QC Terme or your hotel’s wellness area.

Explore Chamonix Village

  • Shopping, bakeries, chocolate shops, and amazing mountain views everywhere.

Paragliding (Winter Edition!)

Where to Eat

Chamonix has a huge mix of local Savoyard cuisine, cozy cafés, and modern spots with international flavors.

Savoyard Classics (Savoy region of the French Alps)

These restaurants serve raclette, fondue, and tartiflette, which is the holy trinity of mountain comfort food. It’s also super fun to experience raclette with friends at the dinner toble. You can also book a Chamonix food tour!

  • La Calèche: Traditional, cozy, iconic Chamonix experience

  • La Ferme des 3 Ours: Super charming, perfect for raclette

  • La Table du Montagnard: Rustic vibes + great cheese dishes

  • La Caleche du Chamonix: Classic fondue spot

  • Le Monchu: Great for tartiflette and meats

Coffee + Breakfast

  • Moody Coffee Roasters: The best coffee in Chamonix

  • Shoukâ: Great pastries and house-roasted beans

  • Big Mountain Bar: Breakfast burritos and morning fuel

Casual Eats

  • Poco Loco: Famous giant burgers

  • Munchie: Asian fusion, super popular

  • Annapurna: Great Indian food

  • La Fine Bouche: Casual and delicious

Upscale

  • Le Panoramic (on-mountain): Beautiful views

  • Albert 1er: Michelin star experience

  • Le Cinq: Modern French

Where to Après

Chamonix après is lively and fun , the perfect mix of locals, seasonaires, and travelers.

  • La Folie Douce Chamonix: High-energy, DJ sets, and dancing

  • Chambre Neuf: Famous for live après bands

  • Elevation 1904: Casual beers + good vibes

  • Monkey Bar: Great for groups, cheap drinks

  • Les Marmottons: Cozy wine and snacks

  • La Terrasse: Central meeting point

If you want a more relaxed après, grab a charcuterie board and wine at Bivouac Lounge.

Budget Tips

Chamonix isn’t cheap, but there are plenty of ways to keep costs under control. One of the easiest ways to save is by shopping at Super U or Carrefour and cooking a few meals at home instead of dining out every day. Booking your lift tickets or your day experiences for popular attractions like Aiguille du Midi, can also help you snag better prices. 

While the buses in Chamonix can get crowded, the free bus system is still a huge money-saver and eliminates the need for expensive taxis between ski areas. If you need equipment, consider renting gear from shops in town, which are typically more affordable than the rental stores at the base of the mountains, or do what we did and use Ship Skis to send your gear hassle-free straight to your hotel or chalet.

For a fun, budget-friendly evening, pick up raclette cheese and a small tabletop setup from the grocery store and enjoy your own raclette night at home. And finally, try to avoid visiting during peak holiday weekends, when hotel rates and lift ticket prices tend to jump significantly.

Packing List

Clothing

Gear

Toiletries

Other Essentials

Random street in Chamonix, France

The Scenic Detour Adventure Travel
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Guide: Winter In Zermatt, Switzerland