Walk into a winter wonderland in Chamonix
Sauntering into Chamonix in the height of winter, when the town is buried beneath a thick blanket of snow, feels like you've just stepped into a postcard—this winter resort is as picture-perfect as Alpine towns can get! You could stand in the town center and just take in the stunning Mont Blanc massif scenery all day long, but there's plenty to do, from hitting the ski slopes to tucking into a tartiflette. Chamonix vacation rentals provide a warm, comfy base where you can put your feet up at the end of the day…apres-apres-ski, if you will.
Chamonix: all eyes are on the Aiguille du Midi
By a long (and very steep) stretch, Chamonix's most popular attraction is the 12,600-foot-high Aiguille du Midi. You can take a cable car to the summit—summer queues are awfully long, though—where the 360-degree panorama of the French, Swiss, and Italian Alps will take your breath away. If it doesn't, perhaps the "Step Into the Void" attraction would. It's a glass cage that lets you see 3,400 feet straight down. Back in town, ogle some gems at the Musee des Cristaux, a mineralogy museum showcasing rocks and minerals from the Alps and around the globe.
Keeping active in Chamonix: it's always (ski) leg day
Chamonix has skiing and snowboarding routes for all levels. Once you're comfortable on the slopes, ski nearly 9,000 feet down the world-famous Vallee Blanche, a 12-mile-long off-piste route that delivers the ride of a lifetime. Or try speed riding, a mash-up of skiing and paragliding. There's a lively apres-ski scene, and you can club-hop and dance ‘til the early morn. In the summer, hiking, mountaineering, and mountain biking will keep you busy. Families with young kids can check out the Parc d'Attractions de Chamonix, a seasonal amusement park with a thrilling 4,200-foot-long Luge Alpine Coaster.
Ice-cold winters in Chamonix—snow big deal
Thanks to Chamonix's high altitudes (the average elevation is 3,400 feet), winters are cold and snowy, while summers are mild. Winter lows are in the single digits, with highs in the upper 30s. Average temps from December to February hover around 9 degrees. In July and August, temperatures peak at a lovely 72 degrees, so you won't be sweating like a pig on the trails. For lower prices on Chamonix vacation rentals, consider going in March or April, when the winter's peak season has passed but the ski scene is still going.
Everything's Alpine and dandy in Chamonix
Located in the northwest portion of the Alps, the Chamonix valley sits at the foot of the 15,800-foot Mont Blanc, the tallest mountain in the Alps. A Chamonix vacation rental is an ideal base for cozying up with some hot cocoa while taking in the stunning snow-capped Alpine scenery, and it gives you the rare chance to visit two neighboring countries in a matter of minutes—Chamonix lies 15 km from Italy via the Mont-Blanc tunnel and 15 km from the Swiss border via the Col des Montets mountain pass.
How to get to and around Chamonix-Mont-Blanc
The nearest airport is in Geneva International Airport (GVA), located 42.3 mi (68 km) from the city center. If you can't find a flight that's convenient for your trip, you could book a flight to Sion (SIR), which is 30.2 mi (48.6 km) away.
If you prefer to travel by train, Chamonix-Mont-Blanc (XCF-Chamonix-Mont-Blanc Train Station), Chamonix-Mont-Blanc Station and Chamonix-Mont-Blanc Station are the main stations in the city.
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