Apres Ski in Chamonix

Popular with skiers and boarders from all across the world Chamonix has a buzzing après ski scene that is just as exciting as its ski areas.

Chamonix apres ski

Being a town with a traditional yet cosmopolitan atmosphere, it’s has après ski to suit all tastes. Options vary from venues which cater for the party crowd who want to carry on drinking late into the night – to more intimate establishments which welcome those wishing to swap cosy ski stories in more chilled out surroundings with good food. There’s even a casino!


The most direct après ski in Chamonix usually consists of a few drinks in the town centre bars where in Spring you’ll find the outdoor tables full of skiers. The Café la Terrasse is a nice place to stop for a drink on the way back to base from the slopes! It offers a perfect chance to relax and meet up alongside stunning views of Mont Blanc – often with live music.

The entire pedestrianised street of Rue du Molin is host to an array of bars and restaurants with many run by British ex-pats. Recommended bars include the Irish Coffee, the Brasserie du Rond Point and the Chamouny. Directly opposite the train station at the Gustavia hotel you’ll find Chambre 9 (or Chambre Neuf!) another popular après ski hang-out – often host to guest DJ’s and live music. For more straightforward bars head to Mill Street and the Bumble Bee. If you simply must have your daily fix of Guinness, a cosy and friendly spot is the O’Byrne Pub, which is situated on Rue du Lyret. Other main players include The Expedition a small cosy bar with a great chill out area and The Queen Vic pub with the obligatory pool tables, TV screens and Beamish on tap! Dick’s Tea Bar is renowned for its themed parties (fancy dress, beach etc!) and a buzzing crowd.


Chamonix skiing

Chamonix boasts a superb snow record, a long season (Dec-May), unrivalled off-piste skiing, and views to die for.

chamonix ski chalets

Chamonix has an international reputation as having some of the most spectacular, challenging and exhilarating skiing and snowboarding available anywhere in the world.

The Chamonix valley is both huge and daunting, and that’s before you count the neighbouring resorts. The Mont Blanc lift pass covers 8 local and 13 regional ski areas with terrain up to 3840m, over 200 lifts and 700km of piste – with the majority of the ski areas being above 2000m. It caters for all standards, from beginners right through to experts.

The major ski areas are : Brevent, Flegere, Les Grands Montets, Le Tour, Les Houches and the Aiguille du Midi.

SNOW RELIABILITY:

Very good high up; poorer low down

The top runs on the north-facing Grands Montets slopes above Argentière generally have good snow, and the season normally lasts well into May. The risk of finding the top lift shut because of bad weather is more of a worry.

There’s snowmaking on the busy Bochard piste and the run to the valley. Balme has a snowy location, a good late-season record and snowmaking on the run down to the valley at Le Tour.

The largely south-facing slopes of Brévent and Flégère suffer in warm weather, and the steep black runs to the resort are often closed.

Don’t be tempted to try these unless you know they are in good condition – they can be very tricky. Snowmaking was increased at Flégère this year to improve the link to Brévent. Some of the low beginners’ areas have snowmaking. Piste grooming standards are generally respectable.

Compared to other French ski resorts, the ski schools in Chamonix are particularly good.

Chamonix Skiing for Experts - For expert skiers Chamonix is one of the world’s great resorts.

Chamonix Skiing for Intermediates - There are some fantastic ski runs for intermediate skiers in Chamonix.

Chamonix Skiing for Beginners - There are limited but adequate nursery slopes either side of the town.

Chamonix skiing – Intermediate Skiers

There are some fantastic ski runs for intermediate skiers in Chamonix.

There are excellent shady, steeper runs, wooded lower down, on the north side of Tête de Balme, served by a fast quad. A lovely blue run goes on down to Vallorcine but it is prone to closure.
For less confident intermediates, the Balme area above Le Tour is good for cruising and usually free from crowds.

The other areas have some blue and red runs. Even the Grands Montets has an area of blues at mid-mountain. The step up to the red terrain higher up is quite pronounced, however.

If the snow and weather are good, confident intermediates can join a guided group and do the Vallée Blanche.