We will spend 3 nights there on arrival from US in September. No car. Any ideas besides taking the cable car up the Aquille du Midi? Is 3 nights good -- or should we do 4? Any restaurants moderate walks to recommend?
Posted by
OP
Chicago
8069 posts
Has anyone spent time in Chamonix in the fall? Need advice about what to do without a car for a few days there.
Posted by
Paris
6916 posts
3 nights is good, but if you can do 4 without "stealing" a night elsewhere, then you can do so.
Besides Aiguille du Midi, Brévent is very worthwhile, and you can hike from the mid-station to the Flegere cable car relatively easily (2-2.5 hours one way) with great views throughout (it's called "grand balcon sud").
On Aiguille du Midi, if Panoramic Mont Blanc cable car is still open on your dates then it is definitely worth it!
Mer de Glace is also worth visiting, with a fun cog railway ride. But the glacier has seen better days, it takes a lot of steps to get close to it these days...
Can't help with restaurants.
September weather shouldn't restrict you in any way, depending on the time in the month it is more "late summer" than fall.
Posted by
San Francisco area
1806 posts
I think much of what balso mentions is covered in the RS Lyon and Chamonix episode. Skip to about the 10 minute mark for Chamonix.
https://www.ricksteves.com/watch-read-listen/video/tv-show/lyon
Posted by
Moncton NB
1039 posts
Be adventurous and go beyond the Aiguille du Midi. From the Aiguille, you can take another cable car (Vallée Blanche Télécabine) past Mont Blanc and across the glacier to Hellbronner Peak (which is the border between Italy and France). From Hellbronner, there is a third cable car (Skyway Monte Bianco) down to a village in Italy.
We did it one way, as our mode of travel between Aosta and Chamonix. Two-way would be expensive, but oh so worth it. It was the biggest highlight of any of my trips to Europe.
Posted by
OP
Chicago
8069 posts
thanks and I'll definitely dial up the Rick Steves episode.
I would love to do the hikes mentioned -- I am not sure my husband is up to that much hiking -- but we will do the cable car things for sure. I am hoping we can find some hiking that is scenic for me without being too much for him. (he has arthritic hips but won't get hip replacements unless he has no other choice -- I wish he would but totally his choice of course)
Posted by
Used to be Steilacoom, now it’s Las Vegas
2189 posts
It took a bit to do some digging as I’m away from home and travel info. We did the Eastern France tour in 2018 in late August, which I know is earlier than your time frame. But, we were in Chamonix for 2 days. The day we arrived the weather was clear so we dropped our luggage and went right for the gondola to Aguille du Midi. Sadly, we didn’t continue on to the Italian side, but others did and enjoyed it. I did several long walks along the river which were flat but scenic. In the RS guidebook he mentioned a sporting goods store on the same street as the laundromat. It was inexpensive and we were able to buy what we needed to be comfortable without dragging extra weather gear.
One of our favorite restaurants on the trip was Le Monchu at 1 rue du Lyret. They have a terrace area where we devoured pierrades and fondue.
Posted by
Ohio
2135 posts
Hi Janet, we visited Chamonix as part of the RS Eastern France tour, loved it! We stayed at the
Hôtel de l’Arve, lovely hotel, great location, great breakfast (best baguettes I’ve ever had in France). There was also an adorable St Bernard puppy running around but I’m sure he’s grown up by now! On the advice of our guide we purchased the combo ticket for the Aquila du Midi and train to Montenvers (Mer du Glacé). They also offer a senior discount if applicable. We enjoyed dinner at Restaurant La Caleche. Hope you have a great trip!