Chamonix Transport & Parking

In 1997, the villages of Chamonix, Les Houches, Servoz and Vallorcine established a Guest Card system, whereby every visitor to the area is given a card on arrival. The normal method is to ask at your hotel reception, or request one from your chalet/apartment provider.

The card is valid in summer and winter (for the duration of your stay) and entitles you to free travel on the buses and trains between these resorts (with the exception of the Chamo’nuit night bus). If you wish to take the train all the way through to Martigny in Switzerland (which is well worth it) or down to Le Fayet and St Gervais, you just need to pay the difference from Vallorcine or Servoz.

The Guest Card also entitles you to various discounts throughout the valley, such as discounted entry to the swimming pool, Alpine Museum, cross country skiing and more. So, ask for one at the Tourist Offices of Chamonix, Les Houches, Servoz and Vallorcine if you do not receive one when you check into your accommodation.

Chamonix has a regular fare-paying bus service run by Chamonix Bus, that circulates from approximately 7a.m. until 7.30p.m. everyday, up and down the valley. This is free with your lift-pass or carte d'hote (tourist card) and you can find copies of the latest timetables in our Bus & Train Timetables section below.

There is also free shuttle service that runs around Chamonix town centre called Le Mulet. This service was named after the mules which were once used in the valley to transport visitors to and from the scenic attractions. The new motorised versions run circuits around Chamonix centre where the large buses can no longer pass due to pedestrianisation schemes and a general trend towards removing diesel fumes from the streets of the resort. The Mulets have connection points to the main bus service that continues up and down the valley to the main lift areas and villages.

Equally, there is a regular train service operated by the SNCF along the valley floor (and beyond into Switzerland if you want a scenic trip) from early morning until the evening.

Getting around the valley and resort you may find the following maps and timetables for buses and trains useful. Shared transport is the way forwards for the planet, and with the centre of Chamonix being pedestrian or busy, your own car is often slower. Valley-long transportation options consist of the main buses and the train, with in-town hop-on, hop-off free bus service which are low pollution models. And to be really carbon friendly - walk!

There are 3800 car parking spaces in Chamonix, but the ease of parking varies considerably during low and high season. There are a number of free outdoor car parks available in resort (click here for town map), namely Les Planards (H20), l'Allée Recteur Payot (E18), Rue Helbronner (G19), Route du Bouchet (by running track) (F21), Rue des Allobroges (next to Mercure Hotel) (F19). Remember that in these car parks you may need to move your car after a snowfall to allow snow-clearing operations. Some of the outdoor car parks are closed on Saturday mornings (Place Poilu, map ref: F20) to facilitate the local market stalls. Cars parked in these areas will be towed away by the local authorities. Parking is generally free on the streets except in the centre of town where there are meters (and police municipal!) operating.

Chamonix has three covered car parks offering approximately 720 covered car parking places:

• Parking Saint-Michel (Map) - 611 Allée du Recteur Payot – 330 places. Gives convenient access to the town centre, Tourist Office, Espace Tiarraz, ski school meeting place and the Maison de la Montagne.
• Parking Place du Mont Blanc (Map) – Ave du Mont Blanc – 238 places. Convenient for the sports centre, ice rink, town centre and the Saturday market.
• Parking Entreves (Map) – Chamonix Sud - 150 places. Use for Chamonix Sud, bowling alley, bus station.

There are 2 price bands for these car parks: 
8am – 8pm first hour free, 1.25hrs €1, 1.5hrs €1.50, 2hrs €1.50, 3hrs €3.50, 12 hrs €8.
8pm – 8am first hour free, 2hrs €0.50, 4hrs €1, 12 hrs €1.50

A weeks parking pass, valid at all 3 of these car parks costs €50 (€40 in Entreves) (discounted rate with carte d’hote €35 (€30)). Passes are also available for 1 month (€80), 6 months (€300) and a 6 month night pass (7pm - 9am) for €60.

There is an open air pay car park in the centre of town – L’Outa (Map ref: E19) – 62 places - which is convenient for nipping to the post office, the cinema, tourist office etc and is free for the first 30 minutes. After that, rates are as follows:
8am – 8pm 1 hr €1, 1.5 hrs €1.50, 2 hrs €2, 3 hrs €4.50, 12 hrs €12.50.
8pm – 8am 2 hrs €0.50, 4 hrs €1, 12 hrs €1.50.

There is also free parking available at the following locations:
Le Corzolet, Rue des Allobroges near the train station (past Hotel Mercure), Les Planards, l'Allée Recteur, Payot and Rue Helbronner.

For the Aiguille du Midi the best place to park is the Grépon open air car park (700 places). Parking is free here for the first 30 minutes and then: 1 hr €0.50, 2hrs €1, 3 hrs €1.50 and then €0.50 for each additional hour. You can park for 10-15hrs for €5 and 16-24hrs costs €10. Camper vans are no longer allowed to overnight in this car park. If you are travelling here with a camper van you can park up (short term) in some of the free outdoor car parks mentioned at the top. There is also a beautiful spot by Lac des Gaillands but it is not possible to hook up in any of these places. For full access to power and washing facilities, it is best to book into one of the many camp sites in the valley.

The Mont Blanc Tunnel links France and Italy together, providing a vital transit between the two countries and facilitating the circulation of goods and services easily around Europe. The tunnel runs from the Vallée de l’Arve (Chamonix) in the Haute Savoie region, through to the Valle d’Aosta (Courmayeur) in Italy. ... see "Mont Blanc Tunnel" for more

For Chamonix, the most convenient airport is Geneva, situated  100 kms (1 1/4hrs) away.  From here, you have a number of different methods of transport to choose from to get you up to resort.

If you can’t get a flight to Geneva, the next best options are Chambery (1.5hrs), Lyon (2.5hrs) and Grenoble (3hrs) all of which are serviced by a number of the major airlines.  However, before succumbing to a bargain flight into one of these airports, take a few minutes to investigate your onward transfer options below; your flight may only cost you £50 but your transfer to resort could set you back €300 - €400!!

It is also possible to fly into Turin (2hrs) and St Etienne (3.5 hrs) airports, although neither of these are particularly convenient for Chamonix.  Unless you wish to hire a car, the onward transfer options are limited and likely to be expensive.