Les Houches holidays

There’s a local Monday morning market in the Place Haute du Centre, with stalls selling fresh produce and local specialities. You’ll find all the residents getting their weekly supplies. If you’re after a bit more variety, the Saturday market in Chamonix’s easy to get to and makes for a great morning out.

There isn’t a huge amount of shopping here, but you’ll find all the essentials – supermarkets, bakeries and pharmacies. Plus, a few sports shops like Intersport dotted around. For a taste of local flavour, stop by Fromagerie de Bellevarde, a traditional cheese shop with a charming, authentic exterior – perfect for picking up supplies for a picnic in the mountains.

Les Houches isn’t the place for high-end shopping. But if a spot of retail therapy is on your mind, head into Chamonix for a bit more variety, from fashion boutiques to more trend-focused stores.

Enjoy a quiet drink at The Wine Factory on the main square and watch the evening go by.

For a fun-filled evening, pop by the Kitsch Inn behind the Bellevue cable car or Le Solerey Brewpub for a few drinks and a bit of live music.

When it comes to food, Les Houches is all about Savoyard tradition – think cheese, potatoes and charcuterie. If you’re after a true taste of the region, La Chavanne in the village centre serves up homemade family recipes – the tartiflette is one not to miss.

Scattered along the alpine trails, rustic mountain huts – known as buvettes – serve up cold drinks and local treats, making them the ultimate hikers’ pit stop. One popular stop is the Chalets de Chailloux at 1,850m, where you can kick back on the terrace and soak up the views of the Mont Blanc Massif.

If you’re into craft beer, this is the place to be. Le Solerey is the first and only brewpub in Les Houches, serving up beers on tap, straight from the on-site brewery. And the food’s not one to miss either with their speciality slow-cooked pork and beef BBQ platters. Throw in some live music and a relaxed, friendly vibe, and it’s the perfect spot to kick back after a day in the mountains.

Regular buses run through Les Houches, making it easy to reach the local cable cars and neighbouring villages. Line 1 runs every 30 minutes between Les Houches and Chamonix, with key stops including Les Houches Mairie in the village centre and Le Bellevue Téléphérique, a handy starting point for the Tour du Mont Blanc.

There are two lifts in Les Houches to choose from – the Prarion gondola and the Bellevue cable car. Tickets can be purchased directly at the lift stations, or for added convenience, you can buy a Mont Blanc Multi-Pass online in advance.

The train station is just outside Les Houches, about a 15-minute walk away. From here, you can get to Chamonix, and further up the valley to Vallorcine, or travel the other way to the neighbouring town of Le Fayet/St Gervais. You can also catch the historic Tramway du Mont Blanc from Bellevue, which climbs all the way up to the Nid d’Aigle – a popular starting point for walkers eager to explore the high mountains.

Getting around Les Houches on foot is easy – it’s compact and mostly flat, with everything from shops and restaurants to the cable cars within easy walking distance. You can stroll from one end to the other in around 30 to 40 minutes as you take in the valley views.

Begin at the base of the Prarion gondola and follow quiet paths through Les Chavants, passing charming old chalets and gardens. The gentle 1.8 km loop, taking around 2 hours, winds up to Charousse pasture, an idyllic clearing of stone and larchwood chalets set among wildflowers, streams and swaying lupins. From here, enjoy 360° sweeping views of the Mont Blanc Massif and the limestone crags of the Fiz.

For a more challenging hike, start from Les Houches train station and make your way up toward the Alpage de Chailloux. With a few steep sections, the 6.3 km route takes around 4 hours round trip. Follow forested trails, pausing at the Mont Blanc viewpoint, then take a left before Parc de Merlet to reach open alpine pastures. Here, old farmsteads have been transformed into small summer snack huts for hikers – perfect for a cold drink and a cheese platter before retracing your steps back down.