At the foot of Mont Blanc (4808m or 15,770ft), the highest mountain in western Europe, Chamonix's alpine town atmosphere and spectacular scenery attract people from all over the globe. It boasts one of the highest cable cars in the world.
The skiing, climbing and walking are all superb and are undeniably the best ways to combine sightseeing with adventure. But there is a lot that a pedestrian sightseer can experience as well.
While you can get a unique view of the mountains from just about anywhere, the cable car lifts provide a great starting point.
Take the Aiguille du Midi cable car from the valley floor to the summit at 3842m (12,605ft ). From the terraces at the top station the views are stunning.
Another way to get closer to the mountains is to catch the Montenvers train. This funicular railway climbs from the valley floor to the impressive Mer de Glace glacier.
Some people say that the best views of the Mont Blanc massif are from the top of the Brevent cable car, but as far as we are concerned, all of the views around here are incredible!
