Saint-Gervais-les-Bains has two faces that answer each other. Down below lie Le Fayet and its thermal park, where people come to take the waters. Up above are the village, Le Bettex and Saint-Nicolas-de-Véroce, all turned towards Mont-Blanc. In between is a town lived in all year round, as lively in January as it is in August.
That is what makes the question “what to do in Saint-Gervais?” such a pleasant one to ask: the answer changes with the season, but it is never short. Here is what our team, based in Saint-Gervais, recommends to guests, from the spa town to the foot of the Bionnassay glacier.
The essentials, whatever the season
Three experiences justify the stay on their own: the thermal baths, the Mont-Blanc Tramway and the baroque church of Saint-Nicolas-de-Véroce. The first two run in summer and winter alike; the third is open all year round.
Les Bains du Mont-Blanc, the thermal spa
The Les Bains du Mont-Blanc thermal spa sits at the heart of the thermal park in Le Fayet, at the foot of the Bonnant gorge. You spend half a day here between indoor and outdoor pools, a thermal water circuit, saunas, steam rooms, relaxation workshops and a herbal tea room. The spa is open all year round, with hours that vary by season.
Two practical tips. Book your slot in advance: it is the only way to guarantee entry. And if you are coming with children, check the sessions set aside for them, as entry for 3 to 12-year-olds is limited to certain slots, accompanied by an adult.
Next to the spa, the Thermes de Saint-Gervais offer medical thermal cures, notably for dermatology and the respiratory tract, from February to the end of November.
Thermal park, 355 allée du Docteur Lépinay, Le Fayet · Booking on the Thermes de Saint-Gervais website
The Mont-Blanc Tramway
Opened in 1909, the Mont-Blanc Tramway is a rack railway that leaves Le Fayet station, at 580 metres, and climbs to the Nid d’Aigle, at 2,372 metres. The line stops at Saint-Gervais village, the Col de Voza and Bellevue, among others.
In summer the train climbs to the Nid d’Aigle in just over an hour. The track has just been extended by 280 metres to finish as close as possible to the refuge, and the trains, delivered in 2022 and 2023, are brand new. In winter it generally stops at Bellevue, at 1,794 metres, giving access to the Prarion slopes.
In July and August, book your tickets online several days ahead: seats go quickly. Opening dates and fares are published each season on the tramway’s official website.
The baroque of Saint-Nicolas-de-Véroce
The church of Saint-Nicolas-de-Véroce is one of the finest examples of Alpine baroque in the valley. Built in the first half of the 18th century thanks to gifts from pedlars who had gone to make their fortune in the German-speaking lands, it hides behind a plain façade a gilded interior, five altarpieces in polychrome carved wood and vaults painted in a blue that has become famous, the “Saint-Nicolas blue”.
Entry is free, the church is open all year round, and a guided tour is offered on Fridays during the school holidays. Right next door, the Museum of Sacred Art displays the Saint-Nicolas treasure and the story of the village’s pedlars.
What to do in Saint-Gervais in winter?
In winter, Saint-Gervais divides its time between skiing, gentler snow activities and village life that does not switch off when the lifts close.
Skiing from Le Bettex
Le Bettex, at 1,400 metres, is the heart of the Saint-Gervais ski area, linked to the village by gondola. From there, the Mont d’Arbois gondola rises to 1,840 metres and opens up the Évasion Mont-Blanc ski area, shared with Megève, Combloux and Saint-Nicolas-de-Véroce.
Beginners will be in their element at the Marmottons area, at 1,840 metres, facing Mont-Blanc, with its gentle slopes and its “Charlotte la Marmotte” play zone. For details of lift passes, access points and season dates, see our guide to skiing in Saint-Gervais.
The Prarion by tramway
Another way to ski: take the Mont-Blanc Tramway from Le Fayet up to Bellevue, which gives access to the Prarion ski area, linked to Les Houches. The rack-railway ride through the snowy forest is worth the trip in itself.
Ice rink, hockey and evenings in the village
The indoor ice rink in Saint-Gervais is open to all, with equipment lent to children who are learning. During the holidays, the “Ice Garden” sessions led by Charlotte la Marmotte keep the youngest busy, and on match nights you can come and cheer on the Yétis, the local hockey team.
Between Christmas and New Year, the Lumières de Saint-Gervais festival fills the town centre with light and sound installations, free to visit, every evening.
What to do in Saint-Gervais in summer?
In summer, the town becomes one of the best base camps in the Mont-Blanc country for walking, cycling and getting up high.
Hiking, from the thermal park to the glacier
Saint-Gervais has dozens of routes, from one hour to a full day. Three ideas, in order of effort:
- The thermal park footbridge loop: under a kilometre, about 45 minutes, with a suspension footbridge almost 51 metres above the Bonnant gorge. Easy, but best avoided if you have no head for heights.
- The Nid d’Aigle and the Bionnassay glacier: from the tramway terminus, the Nid d’Aigle refuge is very close, open from June to the end of September, and the Bionnassay glacier is just a stone’s throw away. The finest way to touch the high mountains without being a mountaineer.
- The Tour du Val Montjoie: a route designed with the local guides and the tourist office, through the Miage valley. One to prepare carefully.
Mountain biking, paragliding and via ferrata
In summer, the Le Bettex and Mont d’Arbois gondolas carry walkers and mountain bikers, generally from late June to early September. The mountain bike area spreads out from Le Bettex, at 1,400 metres.
The most seasoned will take on the thermal park via ferrata, in three sections graded from difficult to very difficult, open from spring to late autumn. It is off limits to inexperienced adults and unaccompanied minors: the Compagnie des Guides de Saint-Gervais runs guided outings. To see the massif from above, paragliding is available with an instructor, facing Mont-Blanc.
Museums and culture
Saint-Gervais has four exhibition venues. La Cure, near the village church, hosts exhibitions of mountain painting and a space devoted to the stained glass of Father Kim En Joong. Pile Pont Expo, set inside a pillar of the village bridge, shows contemporary art every summer. The Maison forte de Hautetour, a 13th-century fortified house, is devoted to the mountains and mountain guides. The fourth is the Museum of Sacred Art in Saint-Nicolas-de-Véroce.
What to do in Saint-Gervais with children?
Saint-Gervais is a naturally family-friendly destination, with activities for every age and every season:
- In winter: the Marmottons area for first steps on skis, sledging, the ice rink and its Ice Garden sessions.
- In summer: the Mont-Blanc Tramway, the outdoor swimming pool, a picnic at the Lac de Joux, pushchair-friendly walks.
- All year round: the children’s sessions at the thermal spa and easy walks, on foot in summer and on snowshoes in winter.
And for a change of scene, Megève is close by: find our ideas in what to do in Megève.
FAQ – What to do in Saint-Gervais-les-Bains
Does the Mont-Blanc Tramway run in winter?
Yes. In winter it generally runs from Le Fayet up to Bellevue, at 1,794 metres, the starting point for the Prarion ski area. The Nid d’Aigle terminus, at 2,372 metres, is served in summer only.
Can you go to Les Bains du Mont-Blanc with children?
Yes, but at set times: 3 to 12-year-olds are welcome with an adult during certain hours, which change during the school holidays. Check them on the Thermes website before booking.
What is the altitude of Le Bettex?
Le Bettex sits at 1,400 metres. The Mont d’Arbois gondola then rises to 1,840 metres, home to the Marmottons beginners’ area.
What to do in Saint-Gervais when it rains?
The Les Bains du Mont-Blanc thermal spa, the indoor ice rink, the baroque church of Saint-Nicolas-de-Véroce and the town’s museums are the best options in bad weather.
Staying in Saint-Gervais
Our chalets and apartments in Saint-Gervais are chosen for their access to the lifts, the tramway and the thermal baths. Discover our properties in Saint-Gervais, or browse our Saint-Gervais page. During your stay, our concierge service takes care of bookings, equipment hire and ski lessons.
Sources
- Les Bains du Mont-Blanc, location, facilities, year-round opening and children’s access: tourism.saintgervais.com (Saint-Gervais tourist office)
- Thermes de Saint-Gervais, treatment areas and opening period: hautesavoiemontblanc-tourisme.com
- Mont-Blanc Tramway, opened in 1909, stations and altitudes, 280 m extension, new trains: Haute-Savoie Département press kit (hautesavoie.fr, June 2026)
- Mont-Blanc Tramway, opening seasons and winter terminus at Bellevue: tourisme-haute-savoie.com
- Church and Museum of Sacred Art of Saint-Nicolas-de-Véroce, history, decoration and visits: hautesavoiemontblanc-tourisme.com
- The four museums of Saint-Gervais: tourism.saintgervais.com
- Mont d’Arbois and the Marmottons area, altitude of 1,840 m: ski-saintgervais.com
- Le Bettex at 1,400 m, gondolas and summer mountain bike area: hautesavoiemontblanc-tourisme.com
- Saint-Gervais ice rink and Ice Garden sessions: passy-mont-blanc.com
- Thermal park footbridge, thermal park via ferrata, Nid d’Aigle refuge: hautesavoiemontblanc-tourisme.com
- Lumières de Saint-Gervais festival: hautesavoiemontblanc-tourisme.com
- Hiking, paragliding, swimming pool, Lac de Joux: saintgervais.com
