Chamonix Sights

  1. Aiguille du Midi

    A jagged pinnacle of rock rising above glaciers, snowfields and rocky crags, the Aiguille du Midi, 8km (5mi) from the domed summit of Mont Blanc, is one of Chamonix's most famous landmarks. If you can handle the height, the panoramic views from the summit shouldn't be missed. The cable car runs year round - book ahead to avoid queueing (tel: 08 92 68 00 67).

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  2. Grotte de la Mer de Glace

    Since 1946, the Grotte de la Mer de Glace - an ice cave - has been carved every spring. Work begins in February and takes three months. The interior temperature is between -2°C and -5°C. Look down the slope for last year's cave to see how far the glacier has moved. Be prepared to climb 150 steps to access the cave.

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  3. Montenvers

    A quaint red mountain train links Gare du Montenvers in Chamonix with Montenvers (1913m), from where a cable car transports tourists in summer down to the glacier and cave of Mer de Glace. The journey takes 20 minutes and you can buy a combined ticket valid for the train, cable car and cave. Before catching the train back to Chamonix, nip into the Grand Hôtel de Montenvers (1880) for a gander at its nine-room local history museum and a drink on its dramatically placed terrace.

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  4. Musée Alpin

    The town's illustrious Alpine history (the cliffhanging tale of local crystal hunter Jacques Balmat and doctor Michel Gabriel Paccard summiting Mont Blanc for the first time in 1786, the creation of the winter season etc) zooms into focus at the Musée Alpin. Find it inside 19th-century Chamonix Palace, one of three palace hotels built in Chamonix for the 1924 Olympics.

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  5. Musée des Cristaux

    Rocks, minerals and geology are examined in the Musée des Cristaux , in the Espace Tairraz.

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  7. Télécabine du Brévent

    The highest peak on the western side of the valley, Le Brévent (2525m) has fabulous views of the Mont Blanc massif and a multitude of hiking trails, ledges to paraglide from and a summit restaurant. Reach it with the Télécabine du Brévent, from the end of rue de la Mollard to mid-station Planpraz (2000m), then continuing on another cable car to the top.

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  8. Téléphérique du l'Aiguille du Midi

    Year round the Téléphérique du l'Aiguille du Midi links Chamonix with the Aiguille du Midi; its halfway point, Plan de l'Aiguille (2317m) is an excellent place to start hikes or paraglide in summer. Be prepared for long queues, especially in summer when you need to obtain a boarding card (marked with the number of your departing and returning cable-car cabins) from the ticket desks in addition to a ticket. Making advance reservations on the 24-hour phone number incurs an around booking fee. The ascent is not recommended for children aged under two. Even in summer the temperature rarely rises above minus 10°C at the top - so bring warm clothes!

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