What to do in Chamonix Mont Blanc?

Are you planning your stay in the Chamonix Mont-Blanc valley and wondering what to do there?

With exceptional panoramas, hiking, trail running, skiing and activities for families or friends, Chamonix is a unique destination in the world, in all seasons.

To help you organize your stay, I have selected the 20 best activities to do in Chamonix and around Vallorcine , with my local tips to fully enjoy your stay.

By staying in Vallorcine, you can enjoy the peace and quiet of nature while remaining in close proximity to the must-see attractions of the Chamonix valley.

The must-see activities of the Chamonix valley

1) Skiing in the Chamonix ski areas
2) Hiking in Chamonix: over 500 km of trails
3) Visit to Chamonix with discovery of local gastronomy
4) The Aiguille du Midi cable car (3842m) and the Step into the Void
5) The Mer de Glace, the Montenvers Train, the Ice Cave
6) Le Brevent in Chamonix, the best view of Mont Blanc
7) Merlet Animal Park (Les Houches)
8) Lunch at a mountain refreshment stand in Chamonix

Activities worth visiting (Chamonix valley and surrounding area)

9) The Mont Blanc Tramway
10) Crystal Museum in Chamonix
11) Supporting Les Pionniers: Chamonix ice hockey team
12) VerticAlp Emosson, Châtelard Amusement Park
13) Chamonix Amusement Park - Les Planards with toboggan run
14) Suspended path of the Diosaz Gorges
15) Alpine Zoo and Marécottes Swimming Pool
16) Champex-Lac
17) Verbier: the 4 valleys
18) Montreux, the Rocher des Nayes (cog railway)
19) The Charlie Chaplin Museum in Vevey
20) Great St. Bernard Pass
 

1) Skiing in the Chamonix ski areas

The Chamonix valley offers several ski areas suitable for all levels: Les Grands Montets, Le Tour / Balme Vallorcine, La Flégère or Le Brévent.

Ideal for: beginner to expert skiing and views of Mont Blanc

Tip: After a day on the slopes, what could be better than relaxing in a wellness area with mountain views? When you stay in our apartments in Vallorcine, enjoy a wellness area with a heated indoor pool, sauna, steam room, and jacuzzi – a true moment of recovery after skiing.

🔗 For more details, see our complete guide to Chamonix ski areas

2) Hiking in Chamonix: over 500 km of trails

The Chamonix valley is a true paradise for nature and mountain lovers, with over 500 km of marked trails offering exceptional scenery in all seasons.

Each time of year offers a different experience:

Spring : walks in the valley bottom, nature awakening
Summer : High-altitude hikes accessible thanks to ski lifts
Autumn : vibrant colors and a peaceful atmosphere
Winter : snowshoeing and walks in the snowy forest

Vallorcine is particularly prized for its wild and unspoiled landscapes. It is not uncommon to spot ibex in the Aiguilles Rouges reserve, offering a total immersion in nature.

Advice :
- Thanks to the Mont Blanc Express train (free with your guest card), you can easily organize your hikes without a car. Perfect for a traverse, accessing different starting points, and exploring the entire Chamonix valley without constraints.
- I will be happy to recommend the most beautiful routes, hikes adapted to your level, spots with the most beautiful views, magical places to observe ibex, depending on the season and your desires.
- After a beautiful day in the mountains, enjoy a relaxing moment in our wellness area: heated indoor pool, sauna, steam room, jacuzzi. A true luxury after a hike at altitude.

3) Visit to Chamonix with discovery of local gastronomy

Visit the city center, stop by the Arve river, and enjoy the view. The view of the Mont Blanc massif is exceptional.
The streets of Chamonix are overflowing with restaurants and food shops for gourmets, with many specialties not to be missed.

Tip: I'll share my best addresses with you

4) Aiguille du Midi cable car (3842m) and the Step into the Void

Ascend to an altitude of 3,842 m in just 20 minutes.

- Exceptional panoramic view of the Alps
- Access to the legendary White Valley
- A unique experience with the "Step into the Void": a suspended glass cage offering a breathtaking view of the Alps

Tip: Go early in the morning and only in good weather.

5) Mer de Glace, Montenvers Train, Ice Cave

The Mer de Glace is the largest glacier in France, accessible via the Montenvers train from the center of Chamonix. It offers spectacular views of the surrounding peaks. In summer, magnificent hikes are possible from the Plan de l'Aiguille.

Tip: a break is recommended at the Montenvers refuge (lunch or tea time)

6) Le Brévent: the most beautiful view of Mont Blanc

Le Brévent offers one of the best views of Mont Blanc. From Chamonix, take the gondola to Plan Praz (1999 m), then the cable car to Le Brévent (2525 m). At the summit of Le Brévent, enjoy sunny terraces and restaurants with panoramic views of Mont Blanc.

🔗 Official website of the Compagnie du Mont Blanc: Here

7) Merlet Animal Park (Les Houches)

Open from May 1st to the end of September. Perched at 1500m above the Chamonix valley, the Merlet alpine pasture offers an exceptional panorama of the Mont Blanc massif as well as an immersion in nature in the heart of a vast animal area.
A must-see with children. Merlet Park offers an easy way to discover the mountains through an accessible hike between forests, meadows and semi-free-roaming animals, in an authentic alpine setting.

Tip: I recommend the park's restaurant which offers an incredible view of the Mont Blanc massif.
🔗 Official website: Merlet Park: here (please note that reservations are required)

8) Lunch at a mountain refreshment stand in Chamonix

What could be better after a hike than taking a break in a mountain hut facing the Mont Blanc massif? Throughout the Chamonix valley, these typical establishments offer a unique experience combining Savoyard cuisine, local products and exceptional panoramas.

Some refreshment stands are easily accessible on foot, ideal for a family stroll, while others are well worth the effort after a beautiful mountain hike.

Depending on the season:
Spring/summer/autumn : sunny terraces with views of the mountain peaks
Winter: a warm atmosphere after a snowshoeing or skiing trip

It is often one of the best travel memories for travellers: a simple, authentic and timeless moment.

Tip: I'd be happy to share my favorite mountain refreshment stands with you, depending on your hiking level, the season, or simply your preferences (Mont Blanc view, wild spot, family-friendly…)

By staying in our apartments in Vallorcine, you have easy access to several of these privileged spots.

9) The Mont Blanc Tramway

The Mont-Blanc Tramway, the highest train in France, connects Saint-Gervais-les-Bains to the Nid d'Aigle in summer or to the Bellevue plateau in winter, offering an exceptional panoramic journey at the foot of Mont Blanc.
Accessible to hikers, skiers and mountaineers, it allows you to discover spectacular landscapes and access legendary routes leading to high mountain refuges.

10) Crystal Museum in Chamonix

The Crystal Museum offers a fascinating journey through mineralogy, from alpine treasures of the Mont Blanc massif to iconic stones from the five continents.
Renovated in 2021, it offers a modern scenography with an exceptional collection of crystals, precious stones and metals, as well as tours and activities for all audiences.
Average visit duration: 1 hour 30 minutes.
🔗 Official website of the Crystal Museum: here

11) VerticAlp Emosson, Châtelard Amusement Park

Open from late May to mid-October and only 15 minutes from Vallorcine, VerticAlp Emosson takes you from Châtelard to the Emosson dam at 1965 m, with spectacular views of Mont Blanc.
Thanks to its three rail installations, the site offers a unique experience amidst magnificent alpine scenery and access to numerous hiking trails around the dam. A superb zipline not to be missed with children.

🔗 Official website of the VertiAlp Emosson amusement park: here

12) Supporting Les Pionniers: Chamonix ice hockey team

From July to April, catch the Chamonix Pioneers Ice Hockey games at the Richard Bozon ice rink.

Tip: Great atmosphere, I recommend it (return possible by shuttle to Vallorcine)!

🔗 Official website of the Pioneers Ice Hockey team here

13) Chamonix Amusement Park - Les Planards with toboggan run

The Chamonix toboggan run is a fun and accessible activity for everyone, ideally located near the town centre and the Montenvers train station. A must-do with children.
This leisure park offers many activities for young and old (sledding, trampolines, games, electric motorcycles), as well as relaxation areas with food and picnic areas.

🔗 Official Les Planards website here

14) Suspended path of the Diosaz Gorges

Open from the end of May to the end of September: a curiosity of the Chamonix valley, the suspended path of the Diosaz gorges offers, in a wild and natural setting, a magnificent and unusual spectacle.
🔗Official website: Gorges de la Diosaz here

15) Alpine Zoo and Marécottes Swimming Pool

The Marécottes Zoo, the highest zoo in Europe, 45 minutes from Vallorcine, allows you to discover alpine fauna all year round in a natural setting in a larch forest, with emblematic species such as bears, lynx and marmots.
🔗 Official website of the Marécottes Alpine Zoo and Swimming Pool here

16) Champex-Lac

In Champex - Lac (45 minutes from Vallorcine), discover unspoiled nature overlooking the crystal-clear waters of a mountain lake . Hikers will find their paradise here.

Advice : Having a picnic around the lake will be a great time!

17) Verbier: the 4 valleys

Verbier les 4 vallées (45 minutes from Vallorcine) offers numerous activities in the region, both summer and winter. There's something for everyone. The hardest part will be choosing.
🔗 Official Verbier 4 Valleys website here

Tip: guaranteed spring skiing and very beautiful hikes in the summer!

18) Montreux, the Nayes rock

Montreux (about an hour from Vallorcine) is a jewel of the Swiss Riviera with its palm trees and magnificent views of Lake Geneva and the Alps. It appeals to nature lovers and those seeking relaxation, and is worth a visit in every season.
- In Montreux, embark on a unique experience on the Rochers-de-Naye cog railway which climbs to over 2000 meters altitude, a magnificent spectacle awaits you: Lake Geneva in all its splendor, surrounded by snow-capped peaks.
Tip: on the shores of Lake Geneva, Montreux is a flowery jewel in spring, I highly recommend it!

19) The Charlie Chaplin Museum in Vevey

In Vevey (near Montreux), you will discover Chaplin's world. During the 2.5-hour visit, you will experience a unique emotional and cultural adventure, where Chaplin's humor and emotion come to life.
🔗 Official Chaplinsworld website here

20) Great St. Bernard Pass

The Great St. Bernard Pass (about 1 hour from Vallorcine), reaching an altitude of 2,469 m, is a mythical passage in the Alps linking Switzerland and Italy, marked by a rich history of pilgrims and travelers.
The site is home to the historic Great St. Bernard Hospice and its museum, which recounts the history of the pass, the hospice, and its founders. During the summer months, the famous St. Bernard dogs are present at the pass. The landscape itself is a major attraction, featuring the Great St. Bernard Lake, a glacial lake whose waters mark the border between the two countries. The alpine setting of the pass lends itself to numerous outdoor activities, especially in summer.
In July and August, the Barry Foundation organizes dog-assisted hikes, offering a unique experience to visitors.

Tip: The Great St. Bernard Pass is steeped in history. The site is exceptional!

🔗 Discover our three accommodations here (photos, amenities, availability, rates and direct booking at the best price)

At Charles****'s | Vallorcine Viachamonix
Apartment rentals**** in Vallorcine in a residence with indoor pool, sauna and hammam, at the Les Portes Du Mont Blanc Resort