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Chamonix resort snow
Lat Long: 45.92° N 6.87° E
Ski France

Chamonix Resort Reviews

Weather Forecast for Chamonix at 2440 m altitude

Issued: 1 am 21 Apr 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Next snow in Chamonix: 0.8 cm on Thu 30th  (after 8 PM)

Visitor reviews for Chamonix Ski Resort

Chamonix Ratings

Overall: 4.1. Based on 56 votes and 92 reviews.

Rate this resort

Snowsure: 4.1

  • Occasionally gets enough snow for skiing
  • Is often closed due to a lack of snow
  • Occasionally suffers from a lack of snow
  • Rarely suffers from a lack of snow
  • Chamonix is snowsure even in the poorest seasons

Variety of pistes: 4.4

  • The ski runs are featureless and unvaried
  • The ski runs are varied but not extensive enough for a week
  • Chamonix has diverse and interesting pistes including forests and high alpine terrain

Off-piste: 4.9

  • No off-piste worth mentioning
  • Off piste is out-of-bounds
  • Some varied offpiste that stays fresh for one or two days
  • A vast array of off-piste routes that can stay untracked for several days

Scenery: 4.7

  • An ugly resort in a bland setting
  • Average mountain views and resort
  • A spectacular setting and a beautiful / historic resort town

Access: 4.5

  • At least one overnight stop
  • Requires a whole day
  • Requires more than half a day – you may have time for a few turns
  • Arrive by lunchtime and ski all afternoon
  • There is a main airport within an hour of Chamonix

Public Transport: 4.1

  • There are no buses or taxis to Chamonix
  • There are slow or infrequent buses / trains available
  • Getting to the resort is easy with frequent bus / train connections

Accommodation: 4.6

  • No places to stay in/near Chamonix
  • A few places to stay in the resort
  • A wide variety of accommodation suitable to suit all budgets

Cheap Rooms: 3.9

  • No budget accommodation available
  • Just one or two hostels so book ahead
  • Several cheap hostels and pensions available

Luxury Hotels: 4.7

  • No luxury accommodation available
  • Just one or two luxury hotels so book ahead
  • Several up-market hotels in Chamonix

Ski in/Ski out: 3.1

  • The ski area is located far from any accommodation
  • A free ski bus takes you to the ski area in a short trip
  • Ski-in ski-out accommodation is available

Childcare: 4.0

  • There are no child care facilities at Chamonix
  • The resort has limited child-care facilities
  • the resort has excellent child-care facilities including at least one reasonably priced creche

Snowmaking: 3.4

  • Chamonix relies entirely on natural snow
  • There are just a few snow cannons
  • There are snowmaking facilities on all pistes

Snow Grooming: 3.8

  • There are no snow groomers at Chamonix
  • Occasionally some pistes are left ungroomed and in a poor state
  • All the runs at Chamonix are groomed daily

Shelter: 3.4

  • There is nowhere to ski when it is windy or visibility is bad and lifts often shut
  • There are some trees for poor visibility but main lifts sometimes close
  • Chamonix is mostly in forest where you can ski in flat-light and windy days, lifts rarely close

Nearby options: 4.0

  • If snow conditions are poor at Chamonix, it will be poor everywhere nearby
  • There are good alternatives within an hours drive
  • Other locations on the same lift pass provide a rich variety of snowsure ski conditions

Regional rating: 4.0

  • Chamonix usually has poor snow conditions compared to other resorts in region
  • Has average conditions for the region
  • Usually has the best snow conditions in the region

Lift Staff: 3.9

  • The staff at Chamonix are rude or unhelpful
  • Lift staff at Chamonix are pleasant, cheerful and eager to help

Crowds/Queues: 3.3

  • The resort is always busy and there are usually long lift queues
  • It is quiet apart from occasional weekends and school holidays
  • It is uncrowded and lift queues are very rare

Ski Schools: 4.3

  • No ski schools available
  • One or two ski schools but local language only
  • A few ski schools but book early for multi-lingual instructors
  • Plenty of ski schools and multi-lingual instructors available
  • Excellent ski schools with friendly multi-lingual ski instructors

Hire and Repairs: 4.7

  • Nothing can be sourced, not even ski-wax or ptex
  • There are some ski shops but rentals need to be booked in advance
  • Good quality ski equipment can be purchased or hired and overnight repairs are possible

Beginners: 3.2

  • Beginners can only watch others ski and snowboard
  • A few gentle slopes but beginners will get bored in less than a week
  • Vast areas of gentle terrain

Intermediates: 4.1

  • No intermediate terrain at Chamonix
  • Intermediate skiers will get bored after a few days
  • Vast areas of cruising runs

Advanced: 4.7

  • Nothing for advanced skiers and snowboarders
  • Enough steep terrain for a few days with some good offpiste
  • Enough steep terrain and offpiste areas to entertain advanced skiers for at least a week

Snow Park: 3.4

  • Not even a kicker at Chamonix
  • Average sized park quite well looked after
  • Huge park area and expertly crafted pipes, jumps and boardercross trails

Cross-country: 4.0

  • There is nowhere to go for cross-country skiing around Chamonix
  • There are some cross country trails available
  • The area features many spectacular and well maintained cross-country trails

Luge/Toboggan: 3.2

  • No designated luge or toboggan runs
  • There are toboggan runs that open quite often
  • Chamonix has long and well maintained luge / toboggan facilities suitable for all ages

Mountain Dining: 3.5

  • Nowhere to buy food by the pistes
  • Some places to eat up on the mountain but they are often busy and expensive
  • There is a variety of excellent mountain eateries right next to the slopes to suit all budgets

Eating: 4.6

  • Bring your own food, there isn't even a shop
  • There are a few places to eat in the resort but nothing special
  • A wide variety of places to eat and drink in the resort, from fast food to fancy restaurants

Apres-Ski: 4.5

  • Nothing to do, not even a bar
  • There are a few bars in the resort but nothing special
  • Clubs and bars stay open until very late and have a friendly atmosphere

Other Sports: 4.6

  • No sports facilities at all apart from ski lifts
  • Resort has just a small public swimming pool
  • Resort has all kinds of sports facilities, including a full-size swimming pool

Entertainment: 4.5

  • Besides the snow and walking there is nothing to do here
  • The non-skier will find things to do for few days but may become bored after a week
  • The resort area is a fascinating place to visit, regardless of winter sports

Winter Walks: 4.4

  • Very limited walking and no snowshoe trails
  • A couple of designated scenic walking/snowshoe trails
  • Extensive and diverse winter walking trails for all abilities

Ski Pass Value: 3.6

  • A 1 week ski pass is overpriced compared to the number of lifts available
  • The ski pass is averagely priced and covers a reasonable number of lifts
  • Ski passes are excellent value for money and cover a lot of lifts spanning a big area

Value (National): 3.7

  • Overall, Chamonix is one of the most expensive ski resorts in the country and not worth the money
  • Overall represents average value for money
  • Overall offers the best value resort in the country

Value (Global): 3.7

  • Overall, Chamonix is one of the most expensive ski resorts in the world
  • Overall it offers pretty average value for money compared to resorts from other countries
  • Internationally the resort offers excellent value for money

Show all 35 ratings

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March 03, 2011
David
In Chamonix "If you're not French, be prepared to be a second class citizen. Your money is wanted, but you will only be barely tolerated." Sadly totally true. I tried my best to speak all the French basic sentences I know to satisfy the French's snob needs to feel appreciated.... and it still doesn't work. I've been travelling around Europe during the last years and I never had problem to communicate speaking English before (and as you can see, English is not my native language). They never respect arrival order in ski lift lines. Neither supermarket line... anywhere! Well... talking about what matters: Mountains... If you don't care about the lack of direction signs, you will have a lot of fun. My favourites: Le Brevent and Grand Montes.
February 14, 2011
Tibster from Ski United Kingdom United Kingdom
This will be our third season in Chamonix and I can honestly say the more you go there, the more you love it. I have seen some of the comments made here and they are not entirely true. Most people do not speak perfect English but they will try to speak your language. I have never had a language problem in Chamonix and once required the Police help to point me out towards the nearest garage to sort out a car problem. They were kind enough to actually drive in front of me. Food is fantastic, ski lifts are absolutely great and the slopes are perfectly maintained. I am an experienced skier but my wife and co are not. We have managed to find slopes to fit all of us, ESF (French Ski School) is great. There are lot of things to do in town especially when the local hockey team (Les Chamois) is playing. I recommend this as a great evening out (tickets are only a few Euros). Never had car problem or hear of thievery, etc.. All in all for a French holiday resort you get what you pay for and in Chamonix is definitely worth it. Hotel Alpina in the centre of the town is absolutely fantastic and their restaurant is also very good. A bit pricey but if you don't want to spend that much on food there are the little bistros where food is basic, cheap and excellent. We'll be there is three days and can't wait.
February 03, 2011
Steve from Ski Germany Germany
Chamonix seems to be full of hoards of British/Irish blokes. Most of the bars appeared to be gay over-30 bars.
January 28, 2011
Martin read from Ski United Kingdom United Kingdom
I have my brother living out there (Chamonix) for the past 8 years. What a fantastic place. Le Garage is the night spot to hit. 'Shin bre neaf' probably spelt wrongly was hired by my brother for his 40th and what a party place. Great atmosphere and food. Chamonix for me every time, in Europe. It's a happening place. Expensive but what isn't when you're on a ski holiday! Enjoy.
January 04, 2011
valley chimp from Ski United Kingdom United Kingdom
Just got back from a New Year break. Bringing in the New Year in the town square is brilliant that is if you don't mind the occasional flying firework. The bus system sucks. Two hours of waiting only to have three turn up at the same time. As far as the variety of skiing goes, don't bother if you are a beginner. If you are intermediate it should be ok just go to a different area each day. Chamonix comes into itself if you look at a resort and spot the lines that are outside the pisted runs and are willing for a little graft to get to the lines. Don't forget your shovel/probe transceiver though. It is France so please learn to speak French, or at least try your best. it will be appreciated by the locals. One last thing. Keep your kids out of MacDonalds. It has no place being in Chamonix.
June 05, 2010
James from Ski United Kingdom United Kingdom
I've done three seasons in Cham (Chamonix) and have snowboarded all over Europe and Canada. In my time in Chamonix, I've seen the best and worst it has to offer. Here's the deal. When it goes well, Chamonix can be a great place. The mountains are huge, and steep, varied and beautiful. You're free to roam and stomp in ways most European resorts can't offer. That's providing you are a very good standard skier or boarder who likes hardcore alpine stuff and are prepared to put up with pretty rubbish ski buses, long queues and London rush hour standard travel (the town is in a valley and you can't walk to any of the pistes). When it goes badly, which it can very easily, it is a very bad place to be. Firstly - and people don't talk about this - there's a lot of theft in the town and on the mountain. I've seen a lot of people lose their boards and skis and, worse, luggage. Holiday accommodation is targeted by thieves and some unlucky people have even had their luggage stolen within minutes of arriving. It gets worse because the police do not speak English. The attitude is: you're in France, so speak our language. This also goes for if you've been the victim of a violent crime. Be prepared to pay for an interpreter, who you will have to find and pay for yourself. If you drive an English car, don't be surprised if it gets vandalised or broken into. If you're not French, be prepared to be a second class citizen. Your money is wanted, but you will only be barely tolerated. Put simply, Chamonix has always had a rough reputation (justifiably) and is a proper town. So don't expect a pure cute alpine village designed to cater exclusively for foreign holidaymakers. And just hope you don't get unlucky.
March 22, 2010
Dan from Ski United Kingdom United Kingdom
Having spent two seasons plus in Chamonix and visited many, many other top class resorts throughout Europe all I would say is, Chamonix is amazing, special and unique but you will only get the best out of it if you are there for a month or more. If you're planning on a one week holiday and don't know Chamonix well, then I wouldn't even consider Chamonix. As I said the place is amazing, but I think you'll have a far better time going to another resort, i.e, Tignes/ Val d' Isere, Serre Chevelier, the Three Valleys, etc etc.
March 21, 2010
Dave from Ski United Kingdom United Kingdom
We have skied all over Europe and graduated to Chamonix 10 years ago, but still visit other resorts. The main problem is that too many people will decide it has the best skiing in Europe and is a real town, so thank goodness for others. The more the better as far as we are concerned.
March 01, 2010
Dan Johnson from Ski United Kingdom United Kingdom
It's great that folk are leaving negative reviews about Cham (Chamonix) - leaves more space on the mountain for those of us that appreciate what a special place the Chamonix Valley is. For those who don't the answer is simple - don't come back!
February 14, 2010
dgz from Ski United Kingdom United Kingdom
Having spent a season here at Chamonix, I think: The valley ski pass is about EUR 260 for 6 days: given the price, you would expect something pretty amazing. Well, the lifts are mainly old and slow. The pistes are pretty limited in their scope. The valley ski bus is ok, but not amazing. You have to remember that Chamonix pistes are all on the same aspect - no multi valley skiing here. Bottom line. Don't waste your money coming to Chamonix if you are a beginner, intermediate or advanced piste skier. There are far better resorts for your requirements out there. However, if you are an experienced off-piste skier with ski mountaineering experience, then this place is amazing! A good guide is recommended for a couple of days to really get the most out of a week here. The lines are stunning. I would like to point out that even if you like off-piste, unless you don't mind exposed routes/ski touring, all the easy access off-piste is tracked out within a day or two in Chamonix. You are far better going to the quieter Portes du Soleil resorts for off-piste that is easy to access and is not trashed. Some people comment that the weather is poor. Possibly true, but it is at the bottom of the Mont Blanc Massif!!! What do you expect? Of course, it will probably have worse weather.