Comparison · Chamonix vs Interlaken · France / Switzerland
Chamonix vs Interlaken
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Ximonic , Simo Räsänen, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Choose Chamonix for Mont Blanc, Aiguille du Midi and lower day-to-day costs; choose Interlaken for Jungfraujoch and Lauterbrunnen valley. Chamonix is generally less expensive, and the two are about 114 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 114 km
- Less expensive
- Chamonix
- Best time for Chamonix
- January, March and July–September
- Best time for Interlaken
- June–September
Side by side
| Chamonix | Interlaken | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | France | Switzerland |
| Known for | Mont Blanc, Aiguille du Midi and Mer de Glace | Jungfraujoch, Lauterbrunnen valley and Paragliding |
| Best time to visit | January, March and July–September | June–September |
| Ideal stay | 5 days | 4 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $200–$380 | $260–$450 |
| Cost level | Expensive | Very expensive |
| Warmest month | July, 23°C (73°F) | July, 23°C (73°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 3°C (37°F) | January, 2°C (36°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 5 | 4 |
| Day trips in our guide | 6 | 6 |
| Beaches | — | — |
| Airports | GVA, LYS | ZRH, GVA, BSL |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Chamonix for…
Mont Blanc, Aiguille du Midi and lower day-to-day costs. Chamonix-Mont-Blanc sits at about 1,035 metres in a narrow valley beneath Mont Blanc, at 4,800-odd metres the highest summit in Western Europe. Cable cars and a rack railway lift visitors from the town centre to high-mountain viewpoints such as the Aiguille…
Choose Interlaken for…
Jungfraujoch and Lauterbrunnen valley. Interlaken is a small resort town on the flat strip of land between Lake Thun and Lake Brienz, with the Jungfrau, Mönch and Eiger rising directly to the south. Most visitors use it as a base: mountain railways from Interlaken Ost reach Grindelwald and…
Top sights compared
| # | Chamonix | Interlaken |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aiguille du Midi | Jungfraujoch – Top of Europe |
| 2 | Montenvers railway and Mer de Glace | Harder Kulm |
| 3 | Panoramic Mont-Blanc gondola | Höhematte |
| 4 | Le Brévent | Lauterbrunnen and Staubbach Falls |
| 5 | Lac Blanc | Trümmelbach Falls |
Food compared
| Chamonix | Interlaken |
|---|---|
| Fondue savoyarde | Rösti |
| Tartiflette | Cheese fondue |
| Raclette | Cheese toast |
| Croziflette | Bernese platter |
Which is cheaper?
Chamonix is usually the less expensive of the two: a mid-range day costs about $200–$380 per person there, against $260–$450 in Interlaken (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Chamonix on a budget.
Can you visit both?
Yes. Chamonix and Interlaken are about 114 km apart, so they combine well in one trip: allow 5 days in Chamonix and 4 in Interlaken.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Chamonix or Interlaken cheaper?
Chamonix is usually less expensive: about $200–$380 a day mid-range against $260–$450 (estimates).
+Is Chamonix or Interlaken better for a first trip?
Pick Chamonix for Mont Blanc, Aiguille du Midi and lower day-to-day costs, or Interlaken for Jungfraujoch and Lauterbrunnen valley.
+How far is Chamonix from Interlaken?
About 114 km in a straight line.