Climbing the Aiguille du Midi in Chamonix

At 3777 meters above sea level, the Aiguille du Midi is a must-see when visiting Chamonix. Renowned for its panoramic terraces, the Aiguille du Midi offers breathtaking views of the mountains, particularly Mont Blanc. But that’s not all: with its various facilities, visiting the Aiguille du Midi offers a wealth of experiences. So, what can you do when you visit the Aiguille du Midi in Chamonix?

In this article, you’ll find all the practical information you need to know before visiting the Aiguille du Midi, as well as everything you can discover once you’re there.

Contents

Informations pratiques sur l'activité
What to do at the top of the Aiguille du Midi?

Informations pratiques sur l'activité

In this section we’ll look at the practicalities of getting to the Aiguille du Midi, including prices, opening hours, and how to get there.

Prices and options

There are various price options for getting to the Aiguille du Midi. Depending on the time of year you visit, these prices may vary. Note that whatever the period, access is free for children under 5.

From November to May, you can visit the Aiguille du Midi at the following rates:

One-way adult ticket: €56
Return adult ticket: €74
One-way child/senior ticket: €44
Return ticket child/senior: €65
Family package including 2 adults and 2 children (additional children are free): €233

From June to November, you’ll find the same options but at different prices. Here they are:

One-way adult ticket: €57
Return adult ticket: €75
One-way child/senior ticket: €49
Return trip child/senior: €67
Family package including 2 adults and 2 children (additional children are free): €242

How to get to the Aiguille du Midi?

To reach the Aiguille du Midi, you need to take the Aiguille du Midi cable car, located in Chamonix Mont Blanc.

To reach the summit of the Aiguille du Midi, you'll need to take a two-stage route. The first is a cable car ride to the Plan de l'Aiguille, at an altitude of 2300 m. The second takes you to the panoramic terrace of the Aiguille du Midi.

There are several ways to get to the Aiguille du Midi cable car:

By bus, you can get off at the Chamonix Sud stop, which is the closest to the cable car.
By car, you can park in the Grépin and Courmayeur parking lots.

Gondola opening hours

The Aiguille du Midi site is accessible in both summer and winter. Please note, however, that from late November to mid-December, the cable car is closed for maintenance.

Otherwise, depending on when you plan to visit, the timetables are as follows:

From December to March, it's open from 8:10 a.m. to 4.30 p.m.
From April to May, it is open from 8:10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
From June to November, opening hours vary from 6am to 8am and from 4:30pm to 6pm.

How much time should I spend exploring the Aiguille du Midi?

Under normal circumstances, you can spend around 2 to 3 hours discovering the Aiguille du Midi, or almost half a day. This includes the roundtrip by cable car.

However, depending on how busy it is during the peak tourist seasons and what you're going to do on site, you may need to allow more time.

What to do at the top of the Aiguille du Midi?

Once you’ve reached the top, you’ll find plenty to do. So in this section, we’re going to take a look at some of the things you can do on the Aiguille du Midi.

Experience “Pas dans le vide", stepping into the void

A tourist attraction that opened its doors in 2013, the Pas dans le Vide is Europe’s highest attraction. Exclusively glazed from floor to ceiling on all 5 sides, it leaves visitors with a void of over 1,000 m below their feet.

And don’t worry about the safety of this glass cage, which has been designed to withstand winter storms and low temperatures, and is capable of supporting over 1500 kilos: so you can enjoy the experience as serenely as possible!

To access this attraction, once inside the Aiguille du Midi complex, you’ll need to take the elevator to the upper platform. But be warned: during the high season, this attraction usually takes around 30 minutes to complete.

Walking in the Tube

One of the other star attractions at the top of the Aiguille du Midi is its 32-meter steel gallery. At an altitude of 3700 m, this tube takes you all the way around the Aiguille du Midi.

With 5 windows overlooking Mont Blanc, you’ll enjoy a 360-degree view of the Massif.

Enjoy the view from its many vantage points and panoramic terraces.

At the Aiguille du Midi, you’ll find many viewpoints overlooking the mountain range and Mont Blanc. The site boasts 7 panoramic terraces offering different views of the Mont Blanc Massif.

You can also visit the Espace Mont Blanc, from where you can observe the entire Mont Blanc massif from benches installed behind large picture windows.

Discover the vertical space, the hypoxia landing, and the history space.

Within the complex, you’ll also have access to various areas providing information on mountaineering and altitude: the Vertical Space, the Hypoxia Landing, and the History Area.

The Vertical Space is the highest mountaineering museum ever built. A visit here will give you the opportunity to learn more about Mont Blanc, mountaineering, and other activities in the region, such as rock climbing.

The hypoxia level explains the effects of oxygen depletion at altitude on the body.

Finally, the history area, located close to the gondola’s departure point, gives you the opportunity to discover a retrospective exhibition on the construction of the ropeway and its impressive machinery.

Take the Panoramic du Mont Blanc to Pointe Helbronner.

During the summer season, from the end of May to the end of September, it is possible to reach the Pointe Helbronner in Italy from the Aiguille du Midi. To do this, you need to take the Panoramic du Mont Blanc gondola.

During your gondola ride, you’ll be in for a real treat as you fly over the giant glacier. For almost 50 minutes, you’ll enjoy a breathtaking panorama.

But don’t forget to bring your ID with you, as you’ll be leaving France.

Eating in a high-altitude restaurant

Finally, at the Aiguille du Midi, you have several options for eating out. There’s a snack bar and a high-altitude restaurant. So you can enjoy Savoyard specialities in a unique setting.

As you’ve probably guessed by now, Aiguille du Midi is a must-see on any trip to Chamonix. Whether you go there in summer or winter, you’ll find plenty to do. An ideal outing for families, you can enjoy superb panoramic views and learn more about the mountain thanks to fun facilities such as the hypoxia level.