Where to stay in Chamonix – The 7 best towns in the valley

Deciding where to stay in Chamonix can be a tiring task because there are many options and the cost of accommodation can vary widely.

Let me tell you first that it’s not all about Chamonix Town. This is a great destination, especially if you are after bars, restaurants and a great nightlife, however, it may not work well on a family trip or if you are looking for easy-intermediate slopes.

In this guide, I suggest the 7 best towns to stay in Chamonix Valley that are all fantastic options and fits different kinds of travellers, for either winter or summer, for skiing or just hiking, walking and enjoying the beautiful views.

I have also compared them in a handy table below, a great starting point to see what could work best for you.

Where to stay in Chamonix – Key points

In the table below you will find a snapshot of the 7 best towns to stay in Chamonix Valley. Click on the area name to see a full description, including all the pros and cons besides my suggested hotels.

On a mobile swipe left or right to see all the columns.

Area/Town	Ideal for	Pros	Cons	Accessibility	Skiing	Restaurants	Families	Nightlife	Character
Chamonix Town	Nightlife, access to the iconic Aiguille du Midi	Central location, vibrant nightlife, wide range of accommodation options	Can be very busy, especially during peak season	Central location with train stations	Access to Aiguille du Midi and Brévent-Flégère area	Excellent	Not the best	Excellent	Cosmopolitan atmosphere
Argentière	Couples, proximity to the Grands Montets ski area	Traditional Alpine charm, quieter than Chamonix Town, après ski bars	Fewer amenities than Chamonix Town, no major nightlife	Located about 8km up the valley from Chamonix Town	Mostly red to black runs	Good	Good	Moderate	Traditional Alpine village
Les Houches	Families, ski-in/ski-out accommodation	Family-friendly, easy access to ski area	Not central to the Chamonix Valley	8-10km south of Chamonix Town	Ideal for beginners and intermediate skiers	Good	Excellent	Low	Traditional Alpine village
Les Praz & Les Bois	Luxury holiday, quiet and serene atmosphere	High-end accommodation options, next to the Flégère ski area	Fewer amenities, expensive	Just outside Chamonix Town, on the way to Argentière	Proximity to the Flégère and Grands Montets ski areas	Good	Good	Low	Prestigious areas with traditional and modern architecture
Vallorcine	Secluded time, traditional Alpine village experience	Secluded and peaceful, close to nature, good for hiking	Further away from Chamonix Town	35 minutes by train to Chamonix Town, near the Swiss border	Popular for cross-country skiing	Very Limited	Good	None	Traditional Alpine village
Les Tines	Quiet time, easy access to both Chamonix Town and Argentière	Quiet and peaceful, close to the golf course	Too quiet	Located between Chamonix Town and Argentière	Easy access to the Flégère and Grands Montets ski areas	Limited	Good	None	Quiet area with a peaceful environment

Chamonix Town

Chamonix Town is the beating heart of the valley. It’s the best area to stay for nightlife, restaurants, bars and of course great skiing in winter and fabulous trekking in summer.

True, hotels and apartments do not come cheap in Chamonix Town, and this is one of the drawbacks of planning your holiday here. However, there is quite a wide choice of accommodation, catering to any budget, from economical to luxurious stay. For a real budget stay, keep reading because you will have to look elsewhere.

One of the main advantages of staying in Chamonix Town is its proximity to the Aiguille du Midi cable car, which provides access to the legendary off-piste Vallée Blanche descent. This is not easy downhill, as you can imagine, in fact, you should be quite skilled with your skis or snowboard.

The northwestern edge of Chamonix, towards the Brévent-Flégère area, is known for receiving the most sunshine in town and offers stunning views of Mont Blanc.

Being in Chamonix means that you can ski on both the east and the west side of the valley, however, beginners may find the slopes here too challenging and Les Houches may actually work better for that.

If you plan a skiing week, I suggest buying the Mont Blanc seven days pass that although more expensive, will allow you to visit all skiing resorts, including Courmayeur on the Italian side of Mont Blanc, one of my favourite spots in the Italian Alps.

Having a car will make things much easier, however, you can also count on the local bus transportation system to move around the resorts. The timetable is widely available but keep in mind that buses can be very busy during the early morning and once the resorts close (4:30-5 pm)

Unfortunately, Chamonix Town can get very busy, especially during the peak season (around NYE/Christmas, Eastern time, and most weekends between January and April). The smaller villages and towns in the valley (more on that later) are a better option if you are after a laid-back and relaxing stay.

Argentière

If you are still wondering where to stay in Chamonix Valley, then you should consider Argentière, a picturesque village located about 8km up the valley from Chamonix Town.

It offers a more traditional Alpine charm compared to the cosmopolitan atmosphere of the main town. The chalets and hotels here are typically Savoyard in style, with more space and larger gardens than those in Chamonix Town.

From Argentière you can access Les Grands Montets Ski Area, up to 3275 m. Unfortunately, in 2018 there was a big fire that destroyed part of the skiing cable car. The good news is that finally with the new year service will restart with a new station.

If you’re an experienced skier looking for a challenge, Argentière is an excellent choice. In this area, you will find mostly red to black runs. Once again, for beginners and families with kids, Les Houches is a better option.

Of course. also in this case, you can decide to visit different ski resorts using public bus transportation, which is the biggest draw of staying in this valley.

Despite its laid-back vibe, the village offers a good selection of shops, restaurants, and après ski bars with live music.

However, Argentière has fewer amenities than Chamonix Town, and its nightlife is quieter.

Les Houches

Les Houches is one of the largest towns around. It’s sort of based on small villages connected by the main road (D213), the Rue de Bellevue which changes its name to Rue de l’Essert.

It’s one of the best towns to stay in Chamonix Valley for families, with good amenities, restaurants, and bars, and it’s home to the valley’s easiest ski area.

Les Houches is also home to some of Chamonix’s few ski-in/ski-out chalets, making it a convenient choice if you’re looking to maximize your time on the slopes.

The ski runs here are gentle and wide, ideal for beginners and intermediate skiers. In the summer, the town offers exceptional access to beautiful hiking routes.

The biggest drawback of Les Houches is probably its location, around 8-10km south of Chamonix Town. If you are planning to visit the entire valley, and possibly even go to Courmayeur, then you should factor in more travelling time.

In a few words, it’s a good place to stay and enjoy, but not a great base to explore the Chamonix Valley.

Les Praz & Les Bois

Les Praz and Les Bois are two prestigious areas just outside Chamonix Town, on the way to Argentière. This is where you will find the most boutique and luxurious chalets.

And it’s not only about an opulent stay, it’s also about the serene and relaxed environment, really the best area to stay in Chamonix Valley for a quiet time.

One of the main advantages of staying in Les Praz and Les Bois is their proximity to the Flégère ski area. This area is known for its sunny weather during the winter and offers stunning panoramic views of the entire Chamonix Valley, from Le Tour across to Les Drus, Mont Blanc, and down to Les Houches.

The accommodation options in these areas are typically high-end, with most hotels, apartments, and chalets offering exceptional views from their private terraces. The architecture is a blend of traditional and modern, making the entire area a little mountain paradise.

However, keep in mind that these areas have fewer amenities than Chamonix Town. You’ll find a couple of small shops, bars, and restaurants in Les Praz, but for a wider selection, you’ll need to head into Chamonix Town.

Also, accommodation in these areas tends to be more expensive, reflecting their prestigious status.

Vallorcine

Vallorcine is a small, traditional Alpine village located at the end of the Chamonix Valley, near the Swiss border. Honestly, you will not find much there, besides a peaceful and secluded stay immersed in a beautiful landscape.

In saying that there is a train station in town that will connect you to Chamonix Town in 30 minutes, and to Martigny in Switzerland, a city with around 20,000 inhabitants, in about 1 hour.

In winter the village is very popular for cross-country skiing. You have also access to the Vallorcine/​Le Tour ski area where you will find around 30 km of slopes, mostly easy to intermediate.

In summer, this is a great spot to start a few hiking trails.

In both seasons, this is a fantastic destination to just relax and unwind, away from the hustle and bustle of the larger towns in the valley.

Of course, Vallorcine has fewer amenities compared to Chamonix Town or Argentière. The selection of restaurants and bars is very limited, and this is part of its charm. You will feel pretty much straight away part of the village, not just a visitor.

Also, similarly to Les Houches, you are here on the far north end of the valley so you’ll need to factor in travel time if you plan to visit the other ski areas.

Les Tines

Les Tines is a quiet area located between Chamonix Town and Argentière, and just north of Le Bois. It’s another peaceful location with easy access to most of the valley towns and ski areas.

Les Tines is one of the best areas to stay in Chamonix Valley for golf players. In fact, it’s more of a summer destination than a winter one. The golf course has obviously some stunning views and it crosses the Arve River on multiple occasions, just to make things more interesting.

It’s also close to the Flégère and Grands Montets ski areas, making it a convenient location for skiers.

Les Tines is less developed if compared to Chamonix Town or Argentière. You will find just a bunch of restaurants, bars and shops around. For more action, and certainly for some nightlife, head to Chamonix Town.

Les Tines has also a train station that will connect you in just 5 minutes to Chamonix Town, very practical.

Frequetly Asked Questions