When your family and friends want to go skiing, but it really isn't your cup of tea, don't panic.
Non-skier things to do in Chamonix
Can't ski, won't ski? It's not all downhill you know
You don't have to be a skier to fall in love with Chamonix. Whilst the valley is famous for its world-class slopes, it's also packed with unforgettable experiences for visitors who'd rather keep their feet off the pistes. From soaring cable cars and scenic mountain railways to snowshoe walks, indulgent spas and cosy cafés with spectacular views, there's plenty to enjoy at every pace. Whether you're travelling with skiers or simply looking for a different kind of alpine escape, here are the best things for non-skiers to do in Chamonix.
Hire a guide or go on a tour
You can really get away from it all and disappear into nature on some snowshoes (raquettes). Either under your own steam with a printed guide from the tourist office or book a snowshoe excursion with an activity company to see a side of the mountains that most skiers will never see. Full-day, half-day and night-time options are available to take you into the heart of the mountains – from the highest peaks to the wildest valleys. Equipment and transport are usually included, check when you book.
For some at altitude hiking there marked and groomed walking trails dotted throughout the valley floor, they are well signed and criss-cross with snowshoeing and cross-country trails. Always dress for the weather - layers are the key, sunglasses and sun cream are vital even on a cloudy day. Stick to the trails, respect the environment and be aware of changing conditions.
If you've decided the days of skiing up the mountain all-day, every-day, are well behind you, those with previous skiing / snowboarding experience could try ski touring. There are marked ski touring routes across the valley's ski areas, and it's a great way to work up a sweat, earning your burger whilst the rest of the world takes the lifts. Hire a guide and pull on some skins for an adventure far from the madding crowd.
-
Visit website 
Photography workshop - "L'Art du Regard"
Inspiring half-day in nature, led by an award-winning photographer
Join an award-winning photographer for a half-day course focused on improving your observation, exploring light, and developing your photographic eye. This workshop is suitable for all levels, ages, and equipment types.
-
Visit website 
Climb Mont Blanc in three or five days
3 or 5 day course to climb Mont Blanc
If you are thinking about climbing Mont Blanc, and have little or no mountaineering experience but have a good level of fitness and motivation, then this is the course for you!
-
Visit website
Off-piste and ski-touring guides
Professional mountain guides and ski and snowboard instructors
This school offers off-piste and backcountry guided skiing and snowboarding in the Chamonix Valley, Courmayeur (Italy) and Verbier (Switzerland).
-
Visit website 
Snowshoe guided walks
Half day and full day snowshoe walks in Vallorcine
Explore the fantastic natural scenery around Vallorcine, Le Tour and Montroc by going off the beaten track on snowshoes!
-
Visit website 
Mountain Guides & Off-Piste Lessons
Handpicked multilingual guides across the Chamonix valley
Explore Chamonix's off-piste terrain and develop your skiing skills with group off-piste coaching. Whether you're looking to make the move from piste to powder or improve your technique in varied snow conditions, these sessions offer a practical way to build confidence and get more out of your ski holiday. Join an existing group or arrange a shared session, with the opportunity to learn alongside other skiers and share the cost. With coaching adapted to your ability and carefully selected terrain, you can work towards your goals while discovering more of what Chamonix has to offer.
-
Visit website 
Chamonix Mont Blanc Guides
Off-piste skiing adventures with UIAGM qualified high mountain guides
Chamonix Mont Blanc Guides specialises in high mountain guiding, skiing and alpinism. Based in the Chamonix Valley, at the foot of the Mont Blanc range, they have all the experience and expertise to make your dream adventure become a reality.
Après-ski with everyone else
You don't have to ski to enjoy "après-ski". Meet up with the rest of your group in a local bar and share stories from your day over a beer. La Folie Douce is legendary, and the original alpine party company opened its first hotel here, bringing its table dancing, cabaret shows and live music to the foot of the Savoy piste. Alternatively you could head to one of the ice rinks for a fun evening set beneath the snow-clad Alps. If you still want more, grab a sled and go to the nearest nursery slope, sledging access is free.
Bars & Clubs in Chamonix
See all Bars & Clubs in Chamonix-
Visit website 
L'Amnesia Nightclub
Late night fun in this Chamonix nightclub located in the Chamonix Sud area
L'Amnesia (formally Le Garage) is ideally located near to the Aiguille du midi cable car in Cham'Sud and is a legendary Chamonix nightclub and melting pot for all the late night (and sometimes all-night) party-goers!
-
Visit website 
Bighorn Bistro Bar
Craft ales, quirky cocktails, American cuisine and home cooked baked goods
At Bighorn in Chamonix, the food blends gourmet flair with comforting alpine soul. The menu offers dishes like succulent steaks grilled to perfection, smoky ribs, and hearty burgers — ideal after a day of skiing. Fresh salads, seasonal sides and crispy fries round out meals for a balanced touch. Locally sourced produce and fine cheeses enhance flavor and authenticity. For dessert, expect rich chocolate creations or creamy cheesecake. Whether you’re hungry for a filling dinner or a casual bite, Bighorn delivers.
-
Visit website 
La Folie Douce Bar
The most famous mountain clubbing hotspot in the Alps comes to Chamonix
La Folie Douce in Chamonix is the ultimate destination for après-ski with a twist. Perched in the heart of the resort, its vibrant terrace provides panoramic mountain views that make every sip and every step feel unforgettable. From early afternoon onward, the lively atmosphere builds with energetic performers, live music, and DJ sets, creating a celebratory environment where guests can unwind, dance, and fully embrace the spirited, high-altitude party culture throughout the entire afternoon there.
-
Visit website
Big Mountain Basecamp Bar & Restaurant
Local craft beer, artisan pizzas and epic mountain views in the heart of Chamonix
Whether you’re hungry or thirsty after a day in the mountains, Big Mountain Basecamp has you covered. Come for fresh craft beer, a relaxed restaurant atmosphere, an on-site micro-brewery, a large sunny terrace, shady beer garden and a take-out beer shop.
-
Visit website 
Le Janssen Cocktail Club
Folie Douce Hotel's cocktail bar next to the Savoy nursery ski area
Step into Le Janssen Cocktail Bar, where the glamour of the Roaring Twenties meets the charm of the Alps. With its Gatsby the Magnificent ambience, this elegant bar is the perfect spot to start a winter evening in style. Plush interiors, soft lighting, and tasteful décor create a sophisticated yet welcoming atmosphere that invites you to relax, sip, and savour the moment.
-
Enquire
Le Vert Bar
Fun and lively bar with great food near Lake Gaillands in Chamonix
Le Vert Bar is a lively hotspot at the heart of Chamonix’s nightlife, dedicated to good music, good people, and unforgettable evenings. Conveniently located just a short walk from Pèlerins station and opposite the local free bus stop at Lake Gaillands, it’s easy to drop by after a day on the slopes or to start a night out in town.
Nordic skiing
Still looking for something to occupy your time? There's always cross-country skiing to try. An extremely popular mountain sport, known as 'ski de fond' in France, there are cross-country tracks available across the valley floor, usually with skating style and classic courses running alongside each other. You can hire equipment and arrange lessons locally, and the views are to die for!
Ski School Lessons in Chamonix
See all Ski School Lessons in Chamonix-
Visit website 
Group ski lessons
Group ski and snowboard lessons for children and adults of all ages and abilities
This ski school offers group ski lessons for both children and adults, catering to all ability levels. Their group lessons provide a great and affordable way to improve your skiing in a safe, social and supportive environment.
-
Visit website 
Private Ski Lessons
Exceptional coaching tailored to your needs for unforgettable skiing
Improve your skiing with personalised private lessons in Chamonix, with a world-class team of instructors available across the valley and at all meeting points. Every lesson is tailored to your ability, learning style and ambitions, with individual coaching, carefully chosen terrain and a focus on helping you build confidence, develop your technique and become a more independent skier.
-
Visit website 
Private ski lessons
Private skiing and snowboarding lessons with highly rated instructors
This ski school connects snow sports enthusiasts of all abilities with expert ski and snowboard instructors across Europe’s top resorts. With thousands of top-rated, verified instructors to choose from, their private lessons offer a flexible and personalised learning experience.
-
Visit website 
Private ski lessons
British school offering a wide range of private lesson options tailored to all ages and abilities
Established in 1991, this ski and snowboard school was one of the first British-run ski schools in France. Their team is known for going the extra mile, offering excellent customer service and delivering outstanding lessons and guiding.
-
Visit website 
Group ski lessons
Largest French ski school offering group ski and snowboard lessons
The perfect choice for group ski lessons in the Chamonix Valley if you're staying in Vallorcine, Le Tour or Montroc, or would like to discover the beautiful Balme ski area at the top end of the valley.
-
Visit website
Group ski lessons
Largest French ski school offering group ski and snowboard lessons
This ski school welcomes everyone from beginners to experts in group classes.
Book a table up the mountain
You don't have to ski when you go up the mountain. There are a number of piste-side restaurants that offer some slap up French cuisine with a glass of fine local wine. Many restaurants have well priced lunchtime set menus offering the same cuisine as their main menus, but often with considerable discounts. Some offer wine tasting sessions also.
-
Visit website 
Les Ecuries de Charamillon Restaurant
Great food and good value on the slopes at Le Tour, beside the Chatelet piste
Located underneath the Autannes chairlift at Le Tour, this restaurant is one of the best mountain restaurants in the resort.
-
Enquire 
Argentero Restaurant
Popular restaurant at the foot of the Plan Joran télécabine at Grands Montets
Right on the edge of the Lognan piste in Grands Montets, this restaurant with it's a large sunny terrace and chic interior is the perfect spot for lunch or après drinks during a day on the mountain.
-
Le Café Comptoir Restaurant 
Le Café Comptoir Restaurant
Situated at the end of the Foret Verte piste, near the base of the Vallorcine gondola
Café Comptoir is open winter and summer, this place serves delicious food in a beautiful mountain-side setting.
-
Le Hors Pistes Restaurant 
Le Hors Pistes Restaurant
A busy mountain restaurant with regular live music, enjoy lunch in the sun on the slopes
Brilliantly located in the heart of the Les Houches Prarion ski area.
-
Enquire 
La Cascade du Dard Restaurant
Small chalet serving fresh homemade food set in a spectacular location
This charming old stone building is located next to a dramatic waterfall. They serve a simple menu on a pretty flower-filled terrace.
-
Enquire 
Le Chalet de Charamillon Restaurant
Mountain restaurant at Le Tour ski area at the top of the Charamillon gondola
Welcome to Charamillon! A single chalet and two catering options: Chara (takeaway) and Charamillon (self-service).
Visit some local highlights
Chamonix offers a surprising range of museums and cultural attractions for a small mountain town. Highlights include the Musée Alpin, the Espace Tairraz Crystal Museum, and the Maison de la Mémoire et du Patrimoine, which showcases historic photos and valley heritage, along with talks and guided tours. Visitors can also enjoy English-language cinema screenings marked VOST/VO.
Non-skiers can explore the mountains with a pedestrian lift pass, access high-altitude restaurants, or ride the Aiguille du Midi cable car for panoramic Mont Blanc views. The Montenvers train also takes visitors to the Mer de Glace glacier and its ice caves.
-
Visit website 
VerticAlp funiculars and train
Just over the border to Switzerland you can journey up to the Emosson Dam
At the edge of the Franco-Swiss border lies the 'VerticAlp' experience, which is made up of a steep funicular, a panoramic train and a smaller funicular taking you up to the Emosson Dam.
-
Enquire 
Les Houches summer lifts
Gondola access to VTT and hiking trails and the Tour du Mont Blanc route
Les Houches sits at the bottom end of the Chamonix Valley and is a popular place for hikers, mountaineers and mountain bikers in the summer months.
-
Visit website 
Aiguille Rouge nature reserve
Walk amongst this protected natural area and enjoy beautiful scenery in the summer
The Aiguilles Rouges Nature Reserve was created in 1974 and is a bio-diverse area of around 16,000 hectares with spectacular views of the Col des Montets. There is an information centre where you can find out about the animals and plants of the area and buy a drink or snack.
-
Visit website 
Alpine museum
Musée Alpin de Chamonix currently closed for renovations, planned reopening: June 2026
The museum is currently closed for renovations
-
Visit website
Crystal museum
Musée des Cristaux has a collection of minerals and crystals collected in the valley
Discover the minerals from the Mont Blanc Valley, famous throughout the world, and learn more about the art of mountaineering.
-
Visit website 
Maison de la Memoire et du Patrimoine, Chamonix- Centre
A modern museum dedicated to the history of Chamonix located on its oldest street
This museum houses exhibits of Chamonix's past.
Read more about Maison de la Memoire et du Patrimoine, Chamonix- Centre
Treat yourself
Or if all of that sounds far too active and you really just want to pamper yourself and read your book, or stare at the view, there are numerous spas and treatment rooms you can enjoy. Many hotels have exclusive luxury spas which are open to non-guests for a fee, and mobile massage companies will arrange to visit you at your chalet or apartment.
-
Visit website 
La Folie Douce sports club and spa
Spa and relaxation at La Folie Douce Hotel's 'Feel Good Club' with exceptional treatments and luxury products
Why not spend a morning or afternoon relaxing at the spa in La Folie Douce. Unwind and allow yourself to be pampered.
-
Visit website 
Faucigny Hotel Spa, Chamonix
Centrally located spa providing treatments and massages with sauna and Jacuzzi
This chic modern spa is situated in the centre of chamonix in the Place de l'Eglise. It's part of the boutique Faucigny Hotel.
-
Visit website 
Mont Blanc spa
A wide range of spa treatments as well as a large pool and fitness centre
Situated in Vallorcine just minutes away from the train station and local bus stop, this spa is easily accessible to all in the Chamonix valley and includes everything you need to unwind.
-
Deep Nature Spa 
Deep Nature Spa
Luxury spa in the centre of Chamonix with heated outdoor pool offering exception Mont Blanc views
Within Le Refuge des Aiglons hotel, this spa is easily situated for everyone to access after an active day on the mountain.
-
Enquire 
Grand Hotel des Alpes spa
Release aches and pains by unwinding in the tranquillity of the Grand Hotel des Alpes spa
Located in the centre of Chamonix, the Grand Hotel des Alpes wellness centre offers a peaceful atmosphere.
-
Enquire 
Hotel Mont Blanc spa
Exclusive spa area with wide range of treatments and massages using Clarins
This spa, located in the five-star Hotel Mont Blanc, has a gym and a heated outdoor pool and Jacuzzi with stunning views of the mountain peaks. There is also a choice of face and body treatments.
Things to do in Chamonix
Take to the skies for a bird's eye view of the mountains with a helicopter tour, or book yourself a tandem paragliding flight. You'll be able to get as close to Mont Blanc as is physically possible (without actually climbing it yourself).
The Richard Bozon sports centre is home to swimming pools, spa, indoor sports courts, a bouldering room, gym and a whole host more. Guaranteed to have something to keep you entertained if swimming doesn’t tickle your fancy, perhaps a quick work out in the gym will help you feel better about over-indulging in the nearest patisserie? So don't forget to pack your gym kit and a swimsuit (speedo-style only boys).
You can also become a musher on a sledge pulled by huskies (or opt to be a passenger in the guide's sledge for a more sedate experience). Located near the golf course in Les Praz, booking in advance is recommended as this is a very popular activity. And don't forget there's also the alpine rollercoaster open all winter at the Planards slope, a 1,300m track with numerous twists and turns, the only thing you can control are the brakes.
Things To Do in Chamonix
See all Things To Do in Chamonix-
Visit website
Kids' snow camp & ski lessons
Club Piou Piou, kids activities & beginner ski lessons for little ones in resort
Piou-Piou club is part of the French ski school. The French ski school in Chamonix provides more than just ski lessons!
-
Visit website
Climb Mont Blanc in three or five days
3 or 5 day course to climb Mont Blanc
If you are thinking about climbing Mont Blanc, and have little or no mountaineering experience but have a good level of fitness and motivation, then this is the course for you!
-
Visit website 
Kids Club & Entertainment
Childcare and ski lessons for children aged between 4 and 12 from 08:30 to 21:00
The Kids' Palace is a place open all winter and during the summer holidays. They appreciate that every child is unique and, as such, offer a variety of childcare packages including an early evening session allowing you to enjoy some Après-Ski!
-
Visit website 
Cinema VOX
English films and digital 3D equipped
Chamonix's own Cinema VOX is situated right in the centre of town, slightly tucked back on the Place Balmat (main square in the centre). There are three recently refurbished screens equipped with digital 3D projectors show the latest French and International films, as well as a number of premieres and specialist mountain-sports films.
-
Visit website 
Childcare & Babysitting
Independent nannies and babysitters based in Chamonix
Book and choose your own experienced ski nanny in Chamonix online. Register for free, share your holiday dates and childcare requirements, and receive profiles of available in-resort nannies within three days. Review their experience, qualifications, DBS checks and references, then speak to your preferred nannies as many times as you like, even before leaving the UK. With the freedom to choose your own nanny and arrange childcare around your ski plans, it's a convenient way to organise childcare for your holiday.
-
Visit website
VerticAlp funiculars and train
Just over the border to Switzerland you can journey up to the Emosson Dam
At the edge of the Franco-Swiss border lies the 'VerticAlp' experience, which is made up of a steep funicular, a panoramic train and a smaller funicular taking you up to the Emosson Dam.
