Photo: Ximonic , Simo Räsänen, CC BY-SA 3.0 on Wikimedia Commons
The 7-day plan, rearranged for 4 days: the best-ranked places stay, and each day keeps to one part of town.
From average weather, 2021 to 2025: days that are warm but not hot, with few rainy days, score highest. Crowds and prices change through the year, so check them before you book.
Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.
A lift station on the north-west side of the valley and the usual start for the walk to Lac Blanc. The view from the terrace is already large.
Go when Early morning, before the walkers.
Local tip Take the first lift if you can, and have a coat for the top. Check ahead on the lift, because wind or low cloud can pause it.
The largest glacier in France, a wide river of ice between steep rock walls. It has been getting smaller for years, so the way down changes. Stay on the marked paths and check ahead.
Go when Late morning, once the light is up over the ice.
Local tip The glacier has been shrinking for years and the way down changes, so follow the marked paths and the signs. Do not walk onto the ice without a guide.
Cured sausages, ham and a wedge of local cheese with bread, the simplest mountain lunch. Look for it in a small cafe off the main street.
Local tip Share a plate and add a salad, because dinner will be heavy.
A mountain lake high in the Aiguilles Rouges, with the Mont Blanc range reflected in it on a still day. It is a real hike. Ask at the tourist office or a guide about the path and any snow before you go.
Go when Early start, on a clear day.
Local tip Ask at the tourist office or a mountain guide about the path and snow before you set out, and turn back if the cloud comes in. Bring water, a hat and a warm layer.
A glacier above the village, best seen from the valley side or from a lift viewpoint. Do not walk onto the ice without a guide, because the crevasses can be hidden.
Go when Late afternoon, around sunset (about 9:20 PM).
Local tip Take the view from a distance. The ice here is steep and broken, and anyone going onto it needs a guide.
A pot of melted mountain cheese and white wine, eaten by dipping cubes of bread on long forks. A classic of the region.
Local tip Share one pot between two or three people, and leave the dessert for another night.
Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.
A cable car climbs to a rock needle among the glaciers, with a view across to Mont Blanc. The top is over 3,800 meters, so dress warmly and take it slowly. Check ahead for the lift and the weather.
Go when First thing in the morning, on the clearest day of your week.
Local tip Pack a warm coat, gloves and a hat even in July. Go early for shorter queues, walk slowly at the top, and check ahead for the lift, the wind and the cloud. If you feel unwell, go back down.
A peak on the north-west side of the valley with a wide view across to Mont Blanc and the Aiguille du Midi. The best look at the whole range from one place.
Go when Morning, when the other side of the valley is clear.
Local tip This is the best place to see the whole range at once, from the Aiguille du Midi to the glaciers. Bring a coat, because the wind can be cold at the top.
Bread, cheese and fruit from a village bakery, eaten on a bench or a meadow. The easiest lunch before or after a high lift.
Local tip Buy it the evening before so you can leave early for the lift.
A rack railway that has run up from the center of Chamonix for more than a century. The ride goes through the forest to a terrace above the glacier. Check ahead for what is running.
Go when Morning, when the train is quieter.
Local tip The ride is part of the day, so sit on the valley side and watch the forest fall away. Check ahead on what is running and take a warm layer.
The square in the center of Chamonix, with a statue of Balmat, one of the first two climbers of Mont Blanc in 1786, and the scientist Saussure pointing to the summit. Look up at the peaks over the roofs.
Go when Morning, with a coffee and a first look at the peaks.
Local tip Stand in the middle of the square and turn slowly. On a clear day Mont Blanc is straight above the roofs.
The dish of the Alps: potatoes, onions and bacon baked under a thick layer of melted reblochon cheese. Rich, warm and filling.
Local tip Order it after a walking day and share a green salad with it.
Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.
A mountain pass where the tramway stops, with walking paths over open slopes. The line climbs from the valley below. Check ahead for what is running.
Go when Morning, before the line fills.
Local tip Check ahead on whether the tramway is running and how far it goes, because the line is old and the weather can change it. Bring a warm layer.
The end of the tramway line, close to the Bionnassay glacier. A start for walks higher up. Dress warmly and check ahead before you go, because the line and the weather can change.
Go when Midday, if the sky is clear.
Local tip Walk a little way from the station and look up at the glacier. Do not go further without a guide, and keep an eye on the clouds.
A long river of ice that flows down towards the valley. Stay on the marked paths and look from a distance, because crossing a glacier needs a guide.
Go when Afternoon, when the ice catches the light.
Local tip Look from the marked path and do not step onto the ice. A glacier hides crevasses under snow, and only a guide with the right gear should lead you onto it.
A half wheel of cheese melted at the table and scraped over potatoes, with pickles and cured meat. A good evening after a cold day.
Local tip Go with a group, because it is made to share.
Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.
A narrow old stone building that stands on an island in the middle of the canal, the symbol of Annecy's old town. Walk the lanes and the canal around it.
Go when Morning, before the lanes fill.
Local tip Walk both banks of the canal and cross the little bridges. It is the most photographed corner of the town, so go early.
A crisp white wine from the hills of Savoy, good with fish or cheese. Try a glass at a table with a view of the lake.
Local tip If you are driving back to Chamonix, choose one small glass or let someone else drive.
By average weather from 2021 to 2025, July to October are the most comfortable months for walking around Chamonix. This plan is built for late July, which is one of the best months. Crowds and prices change through the year, so check them before you book.
It covers 4 days in Chamonix, planned for late July. Each day is built around a small number of stops, with room to rest.
It was planned for most travelers. The pace and the places reflect that, so check it fits how you travel.
No. Places marked "book ahead" need a reservation. Hours, prices and availability change, so confirm before you go.
Yes. Archie drafts a day by day plan for your dates and takes your pace, the weather and who is travelling into account. You can start one from the Archie app.
Yes. It is a starting point you can change to fit your own trip: swap a place, add a day or move the pace.
Each day has about 8.9 to 17.3 kilometers between its stops, and 36.5 kilometers in all across 4 days. A short hop is a walk and a longer one a ride. Distances are straight-line estimates, so allow extra for the streets.
5 days in the Swiss AlpsAbout 140 km awayAn easy add-on
5 days in LyonAbout 150 km away
3 lazy days on Lake ComoAbout 200 km awayOther guides with a page about Chamonix. Each one opens in a new tab.
WikivoyageChamonix, the free travel guideRick StevesChamonix travel guideThe GuardianChamonix travel featuresPhoto: Kristoferb, CC BY-SA 3.0 on Wikimedia Commons · Photo: Garrondo, CC BY-SA 3.0 on Wikimedia Commons · Photo: Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 on Wikimedia Commons
Make it yours in a minute, then move days around and add what you want.
A trip idea · Updated October 2026
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