Everyone knows the French Alps for skiing, but did you know they are an incredible place to visit in the warmer months as well?

This year, we went to the French Alps for warm-weather activities for the first time, and wow, it is a beautiful sight with loads of things to do!

If you visit the French Alps, expect to see the wildflowers blooming and the wildlife active. If you go early in the season, it’s not too hot and it can be very quiet. Here are a few of our favourite things you can do when visiting the French Alps!

Things to do in the French Alps

Take on a Via Ferrata

I’ve put this one at the top as I think it’s arguably my favourite activity. You get the incredible views you’d expect from hiking, with the excitement of scrambling or easy climbing. What’s not to love! There are via ferratas for a range of abilities, so even beginners can enjoy the fun! The French Alps have a great selection to choose from, from via ferratas scaling the sides of mountains on steep rock faces to routes that follow rivers through gorges. There’s no better way to experience France.

One of my favourite via ferratas in the French Alps was the Via Ferrata Du Diable. This via ferrata follows a beautiful river and is set within a historic fort, surrounded by mountains. You can find out more about this via ferrata and the route we did in our blog post “Du Diable Via Ferrata: Our honest review and a loop to connect them”

Top Tip! Check out this free google maps link which maps out via ferratas across Europe.

Enjoy a Hike

There are countless hikes you can do in the French Alps. It is important to remember that if you go in spring, it is still early in the season, and not all hikes will be accessible to the average hiker. Some hikes may require more mountaineering equipment, like crampons, so check your route! That being said, there are still hikes everywhere you look.

We did a hike up Le Grand Châtelard, which was a beautiful hike with varied terrain ranging from gravel paths to grassy boulder fields. At the top, the wildflowers were starting to bloom, so an array of colourful flora was on show. We continued our hike up to another peak called Le Grand Truc. By that point, it was starting to get pretty hot, so it was a slow hike, but there were still some patches of snow for our dog to roll around on at 2,100m.

Sample French Cheese

Of course, France is well known for its wonderful cheese, and honestly, it is really well priced! You could go on a cheese-tasting tour and learn about the cheese-making process or the history of the cheeses. Alternatively, take a picnic! Even the small food stores often have a very good cheese selection and, more often than not, a small cheese counter.

So go and buy yourself a few small blocks of cheese, go to a viewpoint and enjoy your own DIY cheese tasting with a wonderful view.

Enjoy the Scenery

You may need a day off adventuring, which would be understandable! There are many viewpoints which do not require a lot of effort to get to; they can sometimes even be viewed from the comfort of your car!

One place where we really enjoyed some downtime was Lac du Mont-Cenis, which is right on the Italian border. This is a beautiful lake surrounded by mountains, which you can drive right up to and then sit and enjoy the view. There is a fort a short walk up one of the hills (30–45 minutes), but honestly, you don’t need to walk up there to enjoy this place!

Visit a Winery and Take a Tour

France is famous for its incredible wines, and as you drive through the countryside, you cannot miss the vast vineyards that weave through the valleys. Savoie is arguably the most famous region for wine production in the French Alps, with a host of vineyards around, so you’ll be spoilt for choice. So why not take some time to check out a local vineyard and sample some local wines?

For those of you less keen on wine, France also has some French-made beers on offer. The Brasserie du Mont-Blanc beer has the incredible honour of becoming dad’s and Eli’s favourite beer! What better accolade could you ask for?

Visit a Local Town

There are many French villages and towns, especially on your way to the French Alps. When we went to the French Alps, it was still spring, and a lot of shops and restaurants were still shut until mid-June, so keep this in mind when planning your trip. These villages will often bring a traditional French town feeling, with narrow streets on steep hills, housing artisanal shops and boulangeries (French bakeries).

Go Climbing

This may not be for everyone, but if you enjoy sport climbing or bouldering, then the French Alps are for you. The French Alps host a range of climbing locations, including some in the iconic Chamonix, with a view of Mont Blanc, and many more throughout the Alps.

When we went to the French Alps to climb, we were still very new to sport climbing, so we probably didn’t make the most of the area. What we did climb, we thoroughly enjoyed: climbs set in the middle of the mountains, offering incredible views and calm breezes to keep you cool. There are some iconic climbing areas in the French Alps, like the Les Gaillands area outside of Chamonix, where you can see Mont Blanc from the top of the routes!

Visit a Thermal Spa

France has spas in most towns. They may be called thermal baths, and they are a brilliant way to unwind. They tend to include a selection of saunas, hot tubs, heated pools, hammams, cold plunges and more.

Undoubtedly, a highlight of my time in France was visiting the Radiana Hotel Spa the day after hiking Le Grand Châtelard. This was my first visit to a thermal bath, and it blew me away. The facility had five heated pools, along with a hot tub on the roof which had views of the surrounding mountains. This was a very relaxing experience, and after days of hiking, it was needed! Check out local hotels, spas and even public swimming baths to find a nice sauna and hot tub to soothe your aching muscles.

Top Tip! Look out for early-bird offers! We visited the spa between 10:00–12:00 on an ‘early-bird’ offer for 15 euros per person.

Mountain Biking

The Les Deux Alpes and Chamonix areas are very popular for mountain biking. We saw many people mountain biking, and there were shops offering mountain-bike rental.

In the summer, many of the chairlifts and cable cars are adapted to take bikes up the mountain, so you can enjoy the downhill fun much quicker. So hop onto a bike and enjoy the views in a speedier way!

Take a Cable-Car Ride

As the Alps are ski areas, they have various cable cars, chairlifts and gondolas which can take you up to a lovely viewpoint or take you to the start of a fabulous walk. Not all of the lifts are open in summer, so make sure to check the lifts before setting off.

You can buy multi-day passes in areas like Chamonix. For example, the Mont Blanc area has a three-day pass for around £120, giving you access to many lifts in the area.

Ride an Alpine Coaster!

Alpine coasters are a quick bit of exciting fun and should be part of your road trip to the Alps. The alpine coasters are luge-style rides which allow you to control your own speed whilst racing down a track.

We visited the Norma Loop, which is 900m of fun! It reaches a maximum of 40km/h, so if you’re looking for a thrill you can try hit the top speed! The Norma Loop was a very memorable part of our time in the French Alps. Having been on a roller coaster once in my life, I found the experience particularly memorable! I think a picture speaks 1,000 words in this scenario.

FAQ about activities to do in the French Alps

When should I visit the French Alps?

We visited in spring, and I found this a beautiful time to visit. It was quiet, not too hot, the wildflowers were blooming, and there was still some snow on the mountains, making for lovely views. However, spring is ahead of the peak season, so if you are looking for lively towns and exciting nightlife, you may want to wait for summer. Additionally, if you’re looking to bag some high-altitude peaks, spring may be a bit early, as there will likely be a lot of snow still present.

Should I take my campervan to the French Alps?

Yes, absolutely! Our entire time in France was in our campervan. France is very well equipped for campervans, with free and paid aires all over the Alps. You will not struggle for overnight parking, fresh water and wastewater disposal. Check out our other post “Should I take my Campervan to France?” or, if you want more logistics, then check out our post “Taking your Campervan to France: Everything you need to know for your first trip”.

How long should I spend in the French Alps?

Honestly, you could be in the French Alps for months! There’s so much to do if you love the outdoors. But realistically, we don’t all have months to spare! So I’d recommend two weeks, but even in one week, you could fit in loads of activities and you’d leave feeling fulfilled.

Best free activities in the French Alps

You don’t need a big budget for the French Alps if you enjoy the outdoors. Planning a few walks and hikes is the most cost effective way to enjoy the Alps whilst keeping cost low (other then potential parking costs). There’s a lot of free parking in the quieter parts of the French Alps (away from Chamonix).

Some low cost but not free options could include tackling a via ferrata. For via ferratas, the cost will be associated with hiring the equipment. From experience, that can be around 20 euros per person.

Look out for offers on spas. Usually, the offers are for early or late access; we paid 15 euros per person for two hours of spa access at one of the nicest spas I have ever visited.

Closing thoughts on things to do in the French Alps

The French Alps are a must-visit location for any outdoor lover. You will not regret your decision to go to the French Alps. Beautiful scenery, nice weather, brilliant food and drinks, vibrant flowers, incredible wildlife and an array of fun activities—what is there not to love?

With such a variety of high-energy activities, it can be easy to get carried away. Remember to plan in some time to take a break! Check out a spa, enjoy some local food and bask in the atmosphere. Your body and mind will thank you!

I hope this guide gives you a starting point when you are planning your trip to the French Alps.