Car parking in Chamonix

The first place to try in Chamonix is Parking Biolay on Avenue Cachat le Géant.

If that’s full, you could try: 

• behind the train station on Rue Helbronner
• along Route du Bouchet

If they’re all full

There are short term parking zones, known as Blue Zones, which have a maximum parking time of either 30 minutes or one hour (between 08:00 and 19:00) depending on the location. You need to use a standard European parking disk and leave it in the windscreen. You can get these at the town hall or the police municipal office near the train station.

If you still can't find a free space, you’ll probably need to use one of the paid car parks. 

It’s a bit easier to park for free in places like Les Houches, Argentière and Le Tour. Roadside spots are easier to find too. 

If you do get lucky with roadside parking during winter, bear in mind that snowploughs will need to get past.

It’s also worth remembering that some free car parks aren’t snow cleared. If it dumps overnight, you may find yourself burning more calories with a shovel than you do over the rest of your ski holiday.

Some of the ski lifts in Chamonix still have free parking, but this is being slowly phased out to be replaced by parking meters, as Chamonix moves towards encouraging people to use the buses and trains rather than their cars.

The lift car parks are often full by 09:00. Expect them to be even busier over Christmas and the February half term.

Our tip would be to get there early, nab a spot and go for a coffee until the lifts crank into life.

Le Tour
Paid car park. The later you arrive, the further down the hill you’ll be. If it’s full, you may be able to find a few spaces up the side roads to the right, but these are narrow residential streets so beware of blocking anyone in or parking in someone private parking spot.

Grands Montets
This is a huge car park and the later you arrive, the further from the lift you’ll be. The car park is at least flat. If it’s full, you might be able to get a spot alongside the road in Les Chosalets or up in Argentière itself.

Flégère
Relatively small, flat car park. All spaces are close to the lift, but they fill up quickly. If it’s full, there are one or two spaces alongside the Route des Praz, but you’ll end up having to walk a long way.

Brévent
Paid car park. The car park at the lift is relatively small and fills up quickly. If it’s full, your best bet is to try to get into the Saint Michel car park at the bottom of the hill. You’ll have to hike back up the hill, but it’s only about 10 minutes. 

Prarion (Les Houches)
Large car park that fills surprisingly quickly. The later you arrive, the further away from the lifts you’ll be (if you even get a space). It’s a flat walk though. If it’s full, follow the snaking road up under the lift. You might just find a spot up there, but don't try it if you don't have snow tyres and four-wheel drive, it's not a good place to get stuck.

If you don’t fancy clearing the snow off your car every morning in winter, there are three covered parking spots. 

Parking Saint-Michel
Convenient for the town centre, tourist office, cinema, ski school meeting place and the Maison de la Montagne

Parking Place du Mont Blanc
Ideal for the sports centre, ice rink, town centre and the Saturday market

Parking Entrèves
Use for Chamonix Sud and bus station

These are paid parking, but the first hour is free. 

There are a number of outdoor car park options.

All of these car parks are operated with electronic barriers and ticked pay machines. Simply take a ticket, park and pay at the machine on your return. Please note, with the exception of Grépon, these aren't long term parking options.

All of Chamonix’s car parks have disabled access. Saint-Michel has lifts on floors 1, 3 and 5.

For assistance getting into town once you’ve parked, there’s a free shuttle bus (Le Mulet) that stops close to many of Chamonix’s car parks, including Chamonix’s biggest car park, Grépon.

Le Mulet does laps of Chamonix town centre.

Most paid car parks give you an hour free. But if you’re staying long term, you’ll need to watch out. For 24 hours in a car park like Outa, it will set you back more than you might think. 

The best place in Chamonix for long term parking is Grépon.

Chamonix is gradually adding charging stations to its car parks. You can charge your car in the following places.

These are paid parking.

There are also charging points behind the Town Hall.

France is much more tolerant of van lifers than many other European countries. 

In summer, you’ll find plenty of vans parked up in the woods around Les Bois, as well as along the side of the Route du Bouchet. In general, if you’re respectful of your surroundings, you shouldn’t run into too many problems. 

The only official car park for motorhomes in Chamonix is Grépon. This is open all year round and there’s a ‘flot bleu’ here for sewage removal, water and electricity.

There's a 2m height restriction between December and mid-March.  

If you’re planning on staying for a while and want a few more creature comforts, why not stay in one of Chamonix’s campsites?