One day in Chamonix

Day by day

1. Day 1: Aiguille du Midi and Vallée Blanche descent

   Aiguille du Midi, Vallée Blanche descent, Panoramic Mont-Blanc gondola and Lac des Gaillands, then Rue des Moulins in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Aiguille du Midi

      Check the summit webcams and forecast first and take the earliest cable car you can; clouds often build by late morning, and the high altitude means warm clothes even in August. Allow Half a day.

   2. Late morning

      Vallée Blanche descent

      Book through the Compagnie des Guides or another guide office, which supply the safety gear and know current snow and glacier conditions. Allow Full day.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Fondue savoyarde

      Traditional restaurants in the centre and mountain restaurants on the slopes; usually a minimum of two people.

   4. Afternoon

      Panoramic Mont-Blanc gondola

      Ride it in the morning, as the line is often stopped by afternoon wind and cloud. Allow 1–2 hours return from the Aiguille.

   5. Late afternoon

      Lac des Gaillands

      Come at sunset and watch climbers on the crag while the peaks turn pink above the lake. Allow 1–2 hours.

   6. Evening

      Rue des Moulins

      A short street in the centre with a cluster of small bars and late-night spots that fill up after dinner.

Before you go

• Aiguille du Midi: Book a timed slot online in July, August and on clear winter weekends, when queues at the base station can be long.
• Vallée Blanche descent: Guided places fill in February and March; reserve a few days ahead and keep a weather back-up day.

If it rains

• Swap in Église Saint-Michel (Chamonix centre): Photograph the bell tower from the bridge over the Arve with the Aiguilles behind it.

Where to stay for this itinerary

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 11–16 hours of visiting over one day, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 8.7 hours in December to 15.7 hours in June, so in winter start early and keep museums for the afternoon.

Getting between stops: Walking. The centre, the Aiguille du Midi base and the Montenvers station are all within 10 minutes of each other on foot, and a flat riverside path runs up the valley towards Les Praz.

More or fewer days

• 2 days in Chamonix
• 3 days in Chamonix
• 5 days in Chamonix

Questions travellers ask