Chamonix online travel guide
Chamonix guide in summer & a lovely stop in Vevey
09-06-2023 © Doris Leone
Online Travel Guide
Markedly, within Europe, you can find fantastic places, and nestled among the French Alps is the beautiful Chamonix. Whether you are on an epic road trip through Europe or simply want to visit Chamonix, let me tell you why you cannot miss this destination in summer near the triple-border. Have a look at my Chamonix online travel guide!
Definitely put Vevey on your list
Depending on your route and from which point you reach your final destination, Chamonix, I will say, do not skip the lovely town of Vevey. This town is situated in Switzerland, by the Lake Geneva. Here, depending on the amount of time you have, you can make a stop or spend the night. Meanwhile, staring over a panoramic view of the mountains at the Lake Geneva with a good cup of coffee, you will enjoy in peace. Hence, the town itself has a nice atmosphere with all its quaint little streets and if you have the urge to make a swim, this clear lake is a great place to enjoy your refreshing morning swim.
Giant Fork
Indulge in incredible food at one of the delightful restaurants. Identically, the giant fork in the water already hints that you can eat like a king here, so I say, “Bon appétit!” Some great value-for-money restaurants include:
- Firstly, if you are ready for a nice stew or a tasty burger, Le Carré is the place to go.
- Subsequently, Le Vème, if you are ready for some fun and a good pasta or pizza. In the evenings, play a fun game of table football or darts.
- Moreover, if you want more culinary delights, pay a visit to Ze Fork, where you can taste perfectly combined flavours in a dish and also enjoy a fantastic wine from the region.
- Lastly, for a tasty sandwich to take away, stop by Vevey Bien Café & Take Away.
Explore Chamonix
Following with Chamonix, the city itself has very pleasant terraces, nice outdoor, clothing and local product shops. Even more important, the wonderful view over the glacier. Especially after all your great hikes, you can have a great time here. Pass the beautiful footbridge at the l’Arve river and if you are into a good burger, you can score one at Poco Loco. Maybe you are more likely to be ready for a culinary dish, Le Panier Des 4 Saisons is a perfect place where they serve delicious dishes. Explore it all in this Chamonix online travel guide!
Hiker's Paradise
Chamonix is a gem in Europe where hikers can satisfy their wanderlust. The mountains offer a challenge and endless opportunities for exploration. From Chamonix, you can see the majestic Mont Blanc very well, and many mountaineers start their ascent to the summit from this region. Perhaps, you are curious about the beautiful hikes you can embark on in this area, keep reading this article.
Other activities to visit in this Chamonix online travel guide
From Chamonix, you can easily take the train to explore the charming surrounding villages at your own pace. The most delightful ones are Argentière, Les Houches, and Montroc le Planet. Taking the train is an absolute must-do! You will journey through lush greenery and emerge from tunnels into stunning, densely wooded pine forests.
Lac Vert
Basically, this beautiful lake, as the name suggests, is nice and green. It can be reached by hike and by car, because there is a car park near the lake. You are able to park the car a bit further away, so that you can make a small hike to get to it. Because it is accessible by car, it is busier. Apart from that, the lake is quite big, so there is enough space to relax by the water without being disturbed. Have a nice lunch with you and enjoy the charming surroundings. Besides, there is also a restaurant, but it was closed when I was there.
The ice cave at Mer de Glace
Another great place to visit is Mer de Glace, where you go back in time. As can be seen in the two pictures below, this glacier was once enormous, but due to global warming it is now getting smaller every year and therefore the ice cave is being excavated because the glacier is moving further and further. At the moment you have to take the cable way down, and in the early 1900s you could simply enter the ice cave directly.
Route to Mer de Glace
Retrieved from the station of Chamonix, you can take the route to the Montenvers station and thus Mer de Glace. This one is incredibly beautiful, you are brought up with a small train which takes half an hour. From time to time you will pass through a tunnel, and eventually you will arrive at an altitude of 1,913 metres. When arriving at the Montenvers station, from the Camonix station, you will indulge yourself with all the breathtaking views. Perhaps you wish to eat something if you did not bring your own lunch, there is a nice Hotel-restaurant du Refuge de Montenvers.
Route to the ice cave
Thereupon, where you have an imposing view of the Mer de Glace, you can take a cable way down, from where you have to descend quite a few stairs to arrive at the ice cave. When arriving at the entrance, there is a gigantic carpet to prevent the melting. Inside the ice cave, there are many pictures from older times, and you can enjoy the many ice pieces that do not melt in the cave.
The cable way to Aiguille du Midi
Furthermore, from Chamonix, you could go to the top of Aiguille du Midi and from here you have astonishing views of the peaks of Mont Blanc. Get a ticket at the desk downstairs and go ahead to the top with the cable way. The last part is with a lift. With this in mind, should you be afraid of heights, it could be tricky as this cable way is the second-highest one in the world. The peak of Aiguille du Midi is in fact at 3,842 metres!
Visit the Émosson dam
A wonderful hidden gem is the Émosson dam, which is an incredible place. Basically, you go back in millions of years over here, as time did not exist. There is a path leading to the dinosaur tracks from this dam. If you want to read an extensive article about this, check it out here.
Tips & Tricks, Chamonix
Enjoy your visit in Chamonix and should you be curious about all the tips & tricks for this destination, check out Chamonix online prep guide. The following topics are mentioned, among others:
- Transport options
- Costs
- Health
- Best travel time in Chamonix
- What to take with you
