subject: Enjoying Chamonix And Beyond [print this page] Every year, whether in the summer or winter months, people from all over the world travel from the airport at Geneva to Chamonix to spend their holiday in this beautiful hamlet in the French Alps. Despite its size, thousands of visitors come to this town for a variety of reasons.
Getting there
Travelling from Geneva to Chamonix, whether by car, bus, or train, can be positively transcendent. Two majestic mountain ranges provide a perfect backdrop for the town, giving rise to some of the most amazing scenery in the world. A network of cable cars and lifts enable easy access from the town proper to the valleys attractions, in addition to providing the best aerial views of the valleyperfect for amateur and professional photographers alike. Pristine Alpine forests pepper the countryside, supporting a wealth of flora and fauna that would delight any naturalist. The surrounding mountains provide some of the best natural landscapes for winter sports.
A gem of a town
The site of the first winter Olympics in 1924, the town is one of the premier ski towns in the region, featuring numerous runs and ski lifts, not to mention some of the best schools and most challenging runs in the world. In addition to skiing, athletes travel from their base in Geneva to Chamonix to engage in other high-octane winter sports, such as ice climbing, mountaineering, snowboarding, dog sledging, paragliding, and others.
As a town influenced by three countriesFrance, Switzerland, and ItalyChamonix is a cultural melting pot, as can be seen through its peoples warmth, traditions, and, especially, its cuisine. The Swiss border is mere minutes away, which makes flying in to the airport there and then transferring from Geneva to Chamonix very popular. Its location also makes it a perfect base for day trips to nearby areas. Buses and coaches run regularly to nearby town, and cars can also be rented for more leisurely explorations.
Going beyond the town
Among the places you can visit from Chamonix is the town of Courmayeur, in Italy, which can be reached by travelling via a tunnel through a mountain. Courmayeur has many shops and restaurants where visitors can have authentic Italian meals and soak up the atmosphere. The town also features several spas, including the Pr-Saint-Didier, one of the premier spas in the region.
Another place that can be easily visited is the beautiful lakeside city of Montreux, Switzerland, which has been dubbed the Swiss Riviera. Spend the day shopping, sailing on the lake, or simply admiring the citys beautiful architecture, Be sure to check out the Chteau de Chillon, which promises visitors one of Europes most spectacular views. From Montreux, you can move on to Yvoire, a tiny medieval town on the shores of Lake Geneva that many describe as being out of a fairytale.
