The short version
- There is no direct train. The fastest trip from Paris Gare de Lyon takes 5 hours 32 minutes, changing at Bellegarde and Saint-Gervais for the Mont-Blanc Express up the valley. Fares start at €53.
- If you fly, land in Geneva and take a coach the 88 kilometers to Chamonix.
- The Aiguille du Midi cable car climbs to 3,842 meters. Booking a departure time is required and free; the summit ticket is €60.20 to €83 for adults.
- The Aiguille du Midi is closed from November 2 to December 18, 2026, and the Montenvers train to the Mer de Glace from November 2 to December 4. Check the live lift status the morning you go; wind closes the top often.
- Ask your hotel for the guest card. It gives you free trains in the valley between Servoz and Vallorcine.
- Skiing starts in late November or mid-December, depending on the area. Brévent–Flégère is open December 12, 2026 to April 18, 2027, and Les Grands Montets from November 28, 2026 to May 2, 2027.
What to see
Go up the Aiguille du Midi first, on a clear morning. The ride takes 20 to 40 minutes, and the visit 2 to 3 hours with the glass box called Step into the Void at the top. New tickets often appear online the day before. Children under 3 are not allowed.
Take the red rack train from Chamonix to Montenvers, 20 minutes up to 1,913 meters, for the view over the Mer de Glace glacier. A gondola goes down toward the ice, then 170 steps lead to the ice cave. The full trip is €49.70 for adults.
In summer, the Panoramic Mont-Blanc gondola crosses the glaciers from the Aiguille du Midi to Pointe Helbronner in Italy. In 2026 it ran from July 13 to September 27.
On the other side of the valley, the Brévent lifts face Mont Blanc head-on. Back in town, the Musée du Mont-Blanc reopened in July 2026 after about five years of work; it is open Wednesday to Sunday and costs €12.
If you plan several lifts, the Mont Blanc MultiPass covers the Aiguille du Midi, Montenvers, the Brévent and the valley buses, from about €96 for one adult day.
Getting there and around
Most trains from Paris Gare de Lyon change at Bellegarde for a regional train to Saint-Gervais-Le Fayet, then take the Mont-Blanc Express up the valley through Les Houches and Chamonix to Argentière and Vallorcine. Saint-Gervais itself is about 5 hours from Paris at the fastest.
From Geneva airport, coaches run to Chamonix, and Léman Express trains run to Saint-Gervais-Le Fayet. From November 1 to March 31, cars must carry snow chains or have four winter tires.
In town, a bus ticket is €1.70 online, €2.20 by card on board, and a day pass is €5. The guest card from your lodging makes the valley trains free and cuts bus fares by up to half.
When to go
Summer is the season for the high lifts and hiking, roughly June to September. The Aiguille du Midi ran from May 1 to November 1 in 2026.
Winter is the ski season, from late November or mid-December to April or early May, depending on the area. Snow chains or winter tires are required on the roads.
November is the quiet month. Most of the big lifts close, and the ski areas open only at the end of the month or in mid-December.
Whatever the season, plan the Aiguille du Midi for your first clear morning. High wind closes it, so don’t leave it for your last day.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get from Paris to Chamonix?
By train, with changes: the fastest trip is 5 hours 32 minutes from Paris Gare de Lyon, via Bellegarde and Saint-Gervais-Le Fayet, then the Mont-Blanc Express. Or fly to Geneva and take a coach the 88 kilometers to Chamonix.
Do I need to book the Aiguille du Midi?
Yes. Booking a departure time online is required and free, and the first slots of the morning are kept for mountaineers. The ticket office sells any same-day tickets left over.
When is the Aiguille du Midi closed?
Every year in late autumn: in 2026 from November 2 to December 18. It also closes on any day the wind at the top is too strong, so check the live lift status before you go.
Is Chamonix worth visiting in summer?
Yes. The high lifts and the gondola to Italy run, and the hiking trails are open. July and August are the busiest weeks.
Do you run tours in the Alps?
No. The closest is Lyon. Our Lyon day trip meets at Lyon Part-Dieu station for the traboules, the basilica, the Roman theater by funicular and a bouchon lunch with wine, eight guests at most.
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