By the Best Mountain Hotels editorial team ·
The Grand Hôtel des Alpes is Chamonix's most intimate five-star hotel, a grand hotel of 1840 in the very centre of town, beautifully restored as a luxury boutique hotel with just over 30 rooms and suites. Its elegant salons look out at Mont Blanc, its spa overlooks the river and the mountains, and the Aiguille du Midi cable car and the Montenvers train are a short walk away. It suits travellers who want a refined, peaceful base in the heart of Chamonix without the scale of a large resort.
The Grand Hôtel des Alpes is Chamonix's most intimate five-star hotel, a grand hotel of 1840 in the very centre of town, beautifully restored as a luxury boutique hotel with just over 30 rooms and suites. Its elegant salons look out at Mont Blanc, its spa overlooks the river and the mountains, and the Aiguille du Midi cable car and the Montenvers train are a short walk away. It suits travellers who want a refined, peaceful base in the heart of Chamonix without the scale of a large resort.
Location: Chamonix, France
Chamonix is one of the great mountain towns of the world, set in a deep valley at the foot of Mont Blanc, the highest mountain in Western Europe at over 4,800 metres. It is the birthplace of modern mountaineering and hosted the first Winter Olympics in 1924. The Aiguille du Midi cable car climbs from the town to 3,842 metres, the Montenvers train runs to the Mer de Glace glacier, and the Vallée Blanche, one of the most famous off-piste descents in the world, begins high above town. Geneva Airport is around an hour away by road.
The Grand Hôtel des Alpes stands on a pedestrian street in the heart of town, a few minutes' walk from the Aiguille du Midi, the Montenvers Mer de Glace train and the Brévent gondola, and surrounded by Chamonix's best restaurants, bars and shops.
Rooms at Grand Hôtel des Alpes
There are around 32 rooms, including five suites, all completely renovated, with views of Mont Blanc or the Brévent. Some are set in the hotel's distinctive circular tower. The style is classic and elegant, with warm wood, soft fabrics and Alpine touches, and the scale means the atmosphere is calm and personal.
The public rooms are part of the charm: a Grand Salon with Mont Blanc views, a bar-library and a fireside corner, perfect after a day on the mountain.
Facilities at Grand Hôtel des Alpes
The renovated spa looks out over Mont Blanc and the river, with an indoor pool with counter-current, a jacuzzi, a sauna, a hammam and a salt wall for halotherapy, and massages are offered.
The hotel has no formal restaurant, a deliberate choice in a town with so many good places to eat, and the reception team will book tables for you. Breakfast is served each morning, and in winter the hotel lays on an afternoon sweet buffet and an early-evening savoury aperitif buffet in the salon, a lovely way to start the evening after skiing.
The mountain moment
The defining moment is stepping out of the front door on a clear morning, walking a few minutes through town to the Aiguille du Midi, and riding the cable car up into the high mountains, with the glaciers and spires of the Mont Blanc massif all around you.
Back at the hotel, warm up in the spa pool, then settle into the Grand Salon with a glass of wine as the evening light catches the snow on Mont Blanc.
Why Grand Hôtel des Alpes is one of the best mountain hotels
The Grand Hôtel des Alpes earns its place because it offers a rare combination in Chamonix: five-star comfort, history and a superb spa in an intimate hotel right in the centre of town. It is the best choice for couples and friends who want to explore Chamonix's restaurants and mountains on foot, and come back to somewhere peaceful.
For on-site fine dining, compare it with Le Hameau Albert 1er, or for a garden and outdoor pool, Hôtel Mont-Blanc. Our guide to the best luxury hotels in Chamonix compares them all.
When to go to Grand Hôtel des Alpes
The hotel opens for a winter season, from around mid-December to early April, and a summer season, from early June to early October. Winter brings skiing and the Vallée Blanche, while summer is the season for hiking, climbing and the high cable cars. September is often the best month of all, with settled weather and fewer people.
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Questions, answered
- Is the Grand Hôtel des Alpes five-star?
- Yes. It is one of Chamonix's three five-star hotels, a restored grand hotel dating from 1840 in the centre of town.
- Does the Grand Hôtel des Alpes have a restaurant?
- It has no formal restaurant, but breakfast is served, and in winter there are afternoon and early-evening buffets in the salon. Reception books tables at Chamonix's many restaurants.
- Does the Grand Hôtel des Alpes have a spa?
- Yes. The spa has an indoor pool with counter-current, a jacuzzi, sauna, hammam and a salt wall, with views over Mont Blanc and the river.
- When is the Grand Hôtel des Alpes open?
- It opens for winter, from around mid-December to early April, and summer, from early June to early October.
