Once the hustle and bustle of Christmas, New year and February are out of the way, Chamonix towns takes on an essence of calm. But with warmer weather and less snow in town there is still plenty to do in springtime in Chamonix and it’s surrounding areas.
When is Springtime in Chamonix?
Spring generally starts around mid March bringing sunny days, warmth and a burst of colour with flowers to the valley floor. In the town the shops, cafes and restaurant offer outdoor seating where you can soak up the sun and the views and take in the atmosphere of Chamonix in Spring!
Spring Skiing in Chamonix
All the lifts are open as normal till mid April (snow- dependant) meaning skiing and snowboarding is still very much possible. Slopes tend to be a little softer and the sunny weather normally means less layers are required when heading up the mountain. Spring skiing is all about a few runs then stopping for a long lunch. Head early if you want smooth pistes and remember your sun cream.
Aiguille du Midi & Montenvers
The Aiguille du Midi is a great experience for everyone with breath-taking views right down the valley and over to the Italian peaks. From the top of the Aiguille du Midi, you can take the Panoramic Mont Blanc cable car, these small bubbles take you right across the glacier giving views of the Vallee Blanche and Mont Blanc. This is not included in your lift pass and payment is available on site. You can can get off at the Skyway Monte Bianco and if you want descend down into Courmayeur however there is not a public bus back to Chamonix all year round so worth checking before you go.
The Montenvers train will also be running up to the glacier giving yet another breath-taking view of the glacier, while up there you can enjoy the ice cave and crystal gallery, this is available on your Mont Blanc Unlimited pass, so either go the same day as the Aiguille du Midi or after skiing one afternoon.
Parc du Merlet
Lower down the valley you will be able to enjoy hikes and walks to nearby waterfalls and other attractions. One of these is the Parc de Merlet reserve in Les Houches, this is a great hike from Chamonix/Les Gaillands and takes about 1 hour (not suitable for small children). This is the perfect spot to take your children letting them experience nature and different animals. At the park you can walk freely around two different trails allowing you to see local animals including deer, lamas, chamois and marmots. Visit their site for all the information and directions.
Other spring activities
If the snow is not in its best condition there are still a lot of exciting things to do in Chamonix in springtime including:
- Hiking and walking
- Trail running
- Climbing
- Parapente
The list goes on …
Parapente
In spring there are a number of places you can try a tandem parapente, flying from Planpraz at Brévent or Plan de l’Aiguille. Both take you to extreme heights over Chamonix town. You can book your tandem flight here and choose where you want to fly from, Brévent normally shuts around mid-April but Plan d’Aiguille is open most of the year.
Museums
If you are looking to stay indoors there are several museums in Chamonix town centre. These include the Alpine museum, Maison de la Mémoire et Patrimoine and the Crystal Museum.
Based in one of Chamonix’s oldest buildings the Alpine museum, offers a walk-through of the people, sports, and mountaineering of Chamonix, With original collections of books, paintings and equipment from some of the first explorers of Chamonix and climbers of Mont Blanc.
The Crystal Museum is filled with beautiful stones, rocks and crystals from all over the French Alps, Switzerland, Austria and Italy. Newly renovated in 2021 this modern museum is a real treat for everyone.
Spa
Spring is a lovely relaxing time of year and where best to relax than the thermal spa, with heated pools, saunas and relaxation room where you can really unwind and refresh, or take in a massage to ease those muscles after a day on the mountain.
There are a lot of different things that can be done in springtime in Chamonix and the weather warm means you can still enjoy the mountains but also relax and enjoy the town of Chamonix and it’s surrounding areas.
