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Day Trips from Chamonix

Day Trips from Chamonix

The best excursions and trips you can do in a day

Home › Day Trips
Chamonix sits at the crossroads of France, Switzerland and Italy, making it the perfect launchpad for epic Alpine day trips. Within a 1-2 hour radius you can hop between countries, ascend new peaks, soak in thermal baths or explore medieval towns. The efficient Mont-Blanc Express train and well-timed bus routes mean car-free travel is entirely possible. Venturing beyond the main valley lets you experience the cultural richness of the Alps—Italian espresso in Courmayeur, Swiss precision in Martigny, or the mirror-like waters of Lac d'Émosson—while still returning to your chamonix hotels for dinner. Whether you're chasing glaciers, Baroque churches or the best fondue, these excursions prove there's far more to discover than the Aiguille du Midi cable car alone. The diversity is remarkable: same-day summit attempts on the Breithorn, gentle vineyard walks in the Rhône valley, or baroque villages tucked under 4,000 m peaks. Distances rarely exceed 100 km, but mountain roads and border crossings add character to every journey. For non-skiers or visitors in the shoulder seasons, these day trips provide the variety that keeps Chamonix worth visiting year-round.

Full-Day Trips

Worth dedicating a whole day to explore.

Montreux & Swiss Riviera

$60-80 (train day pass + castle entry)

Swap granite spires for lakefront elegance on this cross-border escape to Montreux. The flower-lined promenade, Freddie Mercury statue and medieval Château de Chillon deliver a perfect mix of culture and lakeside relaxation.

Distance
80 km / 50 miles
Travel Time
1 h 45 min by train via Martigny
Total Duration
9-10 hours
Transport
Mont-Blanc Express to Martigny, then SBB train to Montreux; covered by Swiss Travel Pass
Château de Chillon lakeside castle tourJazz Festival promenade & sculpturesCharlie Chaplin's World museum in Vevey (10 min train)
Best for: Culture lovers, lake scenery seekers, non-skiers
Book window seats on the right side of the train for lake views after Martigny; combine with 20-min stop in Vevey for Charlie Chaplin's World.

Courmayeur & Skyway Monte Bianco

$70-90 (bus + cable car + lunch)

Cross the Mont-Blanc Tunnel to Italy’s stylish side of the massif. The Skyway cable car spins 360° to Punta Helbronner at 3,466 m, giving fresh angles of Mont Blanc and aperitivo bars in the old town below.

Distance
20 km / 12 miles
Travel Time
30 min by bus or car through tunnel
Total Duration
7-8 hours
Transport
SAVDA bus line 506 or car; tunnel toll €48 return
Skyway Monte Bianco rotating cable carItalian gelato & aperitivo in CourmayeurShort hike to Lago Combal or Val Veny
Best for: Foodies, photographers, easy alpine access
Buy the Skyway + lunch combo ticket online; morning departures beat Italian coach tours.

Annecy Old Town & Lake

$40-60 (bus + bike rental + crepes)

Nicknamed the ‘Venice of the Alps,’ Annecy’s flower-canal old town is a postcard come to life. Rent a bike for a flat 40 km lap of the turquoise lake or simply wander pastel alleys and Sunday markets.

Distance
100 km / 62 miles
Travel Time
1 h 30 min by car, 2 h 15 min by FlixBus
Total Duration
8-9 hours
Transport
FlixBus, BlaBlaCar or rental car via A40
Palais de l'Isle photo spotLakefront bike trail & beachesSunday open-air market
Best for: Families, photographers, food markets
Take the 8 am bus; return buses fill fast—book seats in advance. Rent bikes at the station for the lakeside loop.

Lac d'Émosson Panoramic Walk

$50-65 (funiculars + parking)

Two vertiginous funiculars and a mini-funicular climb 1,000 m to reach a turquoise reservoir framed by the dramatic Dents du Midi. Short panoramic trails and dinosaur footprints make it a photographer’s dream.

Distance
45 km / 28 miles
Travel Time
1 h 15 min by car to Finhaut, then funiculars
Total Duration
7-8 hours
Transport
Car or Mont-Blanc Express to Vernayaz + bus
VerticAlp Emosson funicular rideDinosaur footprints 250 m walk360° dam viewpoint
Best for: Families, photographers, light hikers
Arrive by 9:30 am to park at the lower station; combine with coffee in nearby Finhaut for Swiss vibe.

Aosta Roman Ruins & Alpine Towns

$45-70 (bus + museum entries + lunch)

Drop 1,000 m into Italy’s Aosta Valley for well preserved Roman walls, a 2,000-year-old theater and hearty carbonara. Stop in mountain villages like Cogne for artisanal gelato.

Distance
55
Travel Time
1 h 10 min by car via Mont-Blanc Tunnel, 2 h by SAVDA bus
Total Duration
8-9 hours
Transport
SAVDA bus or car (tunnel toll €48)
Roman Theatre & Arch of AugustusCogne village & Gran Paradiso viewsItalian lunch under porticos
Best for: History buffs, food lovers, budget travelers
Sunday morning bus is cheapest; Aosta’s market day is Tuesday—perfect for charcuterie souvenirs.

Breithorn 4,164 m Ascent

$220-260 (guided climb, lifts, gear rental)

Take the Matterhorn Glacier great destination lift from Zermatt to 3,883 m, clip into a rope and summit a 4,000er in under 2 hours of climbing—no technical experience required. Views of 38 peaks above 4,000 m.

Distance
70 km / 43 miles
Travel Time
2 h 30 min by car to Tasch + 12 min train to Zermatt + lifts
Total Duration
10-11 hours
Transport
Car to Tasch, then shuttle train to Zermatt and Klein Matterhorn gondola
Guided 4,000 m summit trekMatterhorn Glacier great destination ice palaceZermatt village chocolate stop
Best for: Adventurers, bucket-list seekers, acclimatized hikers
Book guide weeks ahead; altitude acclimatize in Chamonix first to reduce risk. Return via Gornergrat cog railway for extra views.

Geneva International Day Trip

$50-70 (train day pass + UN tour)

Blend city culture with lakeside chill in 40 minutes. Explore the Old Town, United Nations tour, and Jet d’Eau before sunset swims at Bains des Pâquis—all doable on a rail day pass.

Distance
80 km / 50 miles
Travel Time
1 h 10 min by TGV or Léman Express train
Total Duration
8-9 hours
Transport
SNCF TGV or Léman Express from Argentière or Chamonix train station
UN Palais des Nations tourCathédrale Saint-Pierre tower climbSwimming at Bains des Pâquis
Best for: City explorers, rainy-day backup, culture seekers
Buy a Geneva Transport Card at the hotel for free city trams; UN tours sell out—reserve online.

Half-Day Options

Shorter excursions when time is limited.

Servoz & Via Ferrata

$35-45 (gear rental + train)

A 20-minute TER train ride to Servaz offers south-facing via ferrata routes above the village with Mont-Blanc views and no crowds.

Duration
3-4 hours
Transport
TER train (line Saint-Gervais-Vallorcine) every hour
Beginner-friendly via ferrataServoz bakery stop

Les Houches Botanical Garden

$10 (bus ticket)

Free alpine gardens above Les Houches village display 5,000 m² of local flora plus a kids' barefoot sensory trail—perfect on a cloudy afternoon.

Duration
2-3 hours
Transport
Chamonix Bus line 1 to Les Houches, 10-min walk
Free entryMont-Blanc massif backdrop

Parc de Merlet Animal Park

$25 (park entry + bus)

Feed marmots and spot ibex in this hillside reserve above Les Houches. Gentle 1-hour loop with chalet restaurant for tartiflette.

Duration
3-4 hours
Transport
Chamonix Bus to Les Houches then taxi or 45-min uphill walk
Free-roaming ibex & marmotsKids' playground

Bossons Glacier Viewpoint

$20-30 (cable car return)

Quick cable car from Les Bossons village to a balcony 1,400 m above the glacier tongue—great for sunset shots without leaving the valley.

Duration
2-3 hours
Transport
Chamonix Bus line 2 to Les Bossons + 5-min walk to lift
Close-up glacier seracsAlpine café terrace

Day Trip Tips

Make the most of your excursions.

  • Check chamonix weather the night before—clouds can cancel mountain lifts in all three countries.
  • Buy Carte d’Hôte at your hotel for 50% off valley buses and 25% off lifts for guests staying in chamonix hotels.
  • Book cross-border trains (to Martigny, Geneva) online; TER trains accept walk-up tickets.
  • Bring passport for Italy and Switzerland day trips—border patrols are random but real.
  • Pack layers: valley sunshine can turn to 0°C winds at 3,000 m even in summer.
  • Sunday markets in Aosta (Italian food) and Annecy (antiques) are worth timing your trip around.
  • Use FlixBus app for cheap same-day returns to Annecy and Geneva; seats disappear fast.
  • Start early—parking at trailheads fills by 8 am and Mont-Blanc Tunnel queues build after 9 am on weekends.

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