Cheap flights to Chambéry
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Quick summary
Country
France
Continent
Europe
Airport
CMF
Currency
Euro (EUR)
Time zone
UTC+1 (UTC+2 during daylight saving time)
Deals already spotted to Chambéry
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Why track Chambéry with SniperAir
The gateway to the Alps, old capital of the Dukes of Savoy, between lake and mountains
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Chambéry is the prefecture and largest city of the Savoie department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of France, with about 60,000 inhabitants (60,251 in 2022 according to English and French Wikipedia, 59,964 on 1 January 2023 according to German Wikipedia). Wikivoyage (EN) calls it a beautiful town, the birthplace and historic capital of Savoie, and a crossroads to the Alps since the 11th century. It lies at the foot of the French Alps between the Bauges and Chartreuse mountains (Wikipedia EN). The House of Savoy acquired it in 1232 and made it the capital of the county in 1295 according to French Wikipedia and German Wikivoyage; the annexation of Savoy merged the city into France in 1860 (Wikipedia EN). To the north, only a few kilometres away, lies Lac du Bourget, the largest natural lake in France (Wikipedia EN, DE, ES). Chambéry was Alpine Town of the Year 2006 (Wikipedia EN, DE). This guide presents Chambéry as open sources describe it, as a base for the lake, the vineyards and the ski areas; SniperAir tracks fares to CMF, compares them with the real price history of the route and alerts you when one drops below your budget.
Airport and getting into town
An airport 10 km north of the city, linked to the ski resorts by shuttle buses
Chambéry – Chambéry Savoie Mont Blanc Airport (CMF)
Chambéry Savoie Mont Blanc Airport (CMF) lies on the communes of Le Bourget-du-Lac, La Motte-Servolex, Voglans and Viviers-du-Lac, 10 km from Chambéry and 5 km from Aix-les-Bains, very close to the southern shore of Lac du Bourget, according to French Wikipedia; German Wikivoyage puts it about 11 km north of the centre. French Wikipedia mentions flights by several airlines to Britain and charter flights specialising in ski holidays, and German Wikivoyage adds that in winter the flights come mainly from the British Isles, with no direct service from German-speaking countries. A network of shuttle buses links the airport to the main winter sports resorts of Savoie and Haute-Savoie (Wikipedia FR; Wikivoyage DE). By rail, a direct TGV links Paris Gare de Lyon in about 3 hours (Wikivoyage DE), and the city sits at the midpoint of the Turin-Lyon high-speed line (Wikipedia EN).
Distances according to English Wikipedia: Lyon about 100 km, Geneva about 85 km, Turin about 214 km. Airline lists change from one season to the next; we do not publish timetables or fares.
For a price alert, CMF is the code to watch. German Wikivoyage also mentions Grenoble, 75 km away, Lyon-Saint-Exupéry, about 90 km away with direct TGV trains in a little over an hour, and Geneva, within reach: extra alerts can be useful if you are willing to continue by train or road. Entry conditions, travel advice and flight connections can change depending on where you start from: check your own government's official advice and confirm that flights actually operate before you book.
Landmarks
Sainte-Chapelle, the valley, Nivolet and Lac du Bourget
Chambéry is a city of mountains and a lake. The six views below are followed by other places mentioned in the text, such as the Elephants Fountain and the castle of the Dukes of Savoy.
The Sainte-Chapelle and the old town roofs
The Sainte-Chapelle, built between 1408 and 1430, housed the Holy Shroud from 1453 to 1578, before it was moved to Turin, according to French Wikipedia; German Wikivoyage confirms that the shroud stayed in Chambéry until 1578. It is part of the castle complex of the Dukes of Savoy. The photo shows its baroque pale-stone facade, the grey roofs of the old town and the mountains around it.
The valley, Chartreuse and the city from Nivolet
From the Nivolet ridge the view takes in the city in the hollow of the valley and the neighbouring massifs. English Wikipedia places Chambéry in a large valley surrounded by the Bauges massif, dominated by the Nivolet, with Mont Granier (Chartreuse) and Belledonne to the south, the Épine range to the west and Lac du Bourget to the north.
The Nivolet above the houses
The Nivolet rises above the residential districts of the city, here with a thin layer of snow. French Wikipedia notes that the climate is partly mountain, with light to moderate frost and not much snow, but snow does fall in most winters.
The Nivolet cross under snow
A large metal cross stands on the western ridgeline of the Nivolet and can be seen from the valley, according to Wikivoyage (EN), which adds that reaching it can take a substantial hike, with benches and picnic spots and a fine sunset.
Lac du Bourget and its shores
Lac du Bourget is the largest natural lake lying entirely in France (Wikipedia DE, EN, ES). According to Spanish and German Wikipedia it covers about 44.5 km² and is about 18 km long, with a maximum depth of 145 m, and it has been an important tourist destination since the 19th century. This view shows its turquoise water below wooded slopes.
The lake from above
Seen from the heights, the lake stretches between the Épine range to the west and the Bauges massif to the east (Wikipedia DE). Aix-les-Bains is 5 km from the airport, which sits close to the south shore (Wikipedia FR); Wikivoyage (EN) lists Aix-les-Bains, Annecy and La Féclaz among possible next stops.
More places in Chambéry: the castle of the Dukes of Savoy, once their residence and now housing departmental offices (Wikivoyage EN); the Elephants Fountain on Boulevard de la Colonne (Wikipedia FR; Wikivoyage EN); Place Saint-Léger, with handsome 18th-century houses built around a small island of the Albanne (Wikipedia DE); the cathedral of Saint-François-de-Sales (Wikivoyage EN); Rue de Boigne, cut through the centre in the 19th century (Wikipedia DE); and the historic centre, partly destroyed by the bombing of May 1944 (Wikipedia FR).
Museums and culture
Fine arts, natural history, the Savoy museum and Les Charmettes
The fine arts museum
The Musée des Beaux-Arts has been installed since 1889 in the former grain hall known as the Grenette, according to French Wikipedia. It holds temporary exhibitions and a permanent collection. Opening days and conditions change, so check before you go. We give no admission prices or opening hours.
Natural history and the Savoy museum
French Wikipedia lists the natural history museum, founded in 1846 in the gardeners' house of the castle and holding about 120,000 specimens, including Alpine mammals and birds and fossils, and the Musée savoisien, the departmental museum of the history and cultures of Savoie.
Les Charmettes
French Wikipedia recalls that Jean-Jacques Rousseau settled at Les Charmettes between 1736 and 1742 with Madame de Warens and enjoyed there, in his words, a century of view and pure happiness. The house is one of the city's memory sites. Check visiting arrangements before you go.
Food and drink
Fondue, tartiflette, crozets and Savoie wines
Mountain dishes
English Wikivoyage suggests fondue savoyarde, tartiflette, crêpes and goat's cheese. French Wikipedia also cites crozets, péla, diots and polenta among the dishes of the region.
Desserts and vineyards
For dessert French Wikipedia cites bugnes, milk jam and blueberry tart. White wine from the nearby vineyards of Apremont, Chignin and Arbin goes into fondue savoyarde (Wikipedia FR), and Wikivoyage (EN) mentions many vineyards to visit.
Market and places to eat
On Saturdays the market is full of cheeses, meats and Alpine produce according to Wikivoyage (EN). We name no address and no brand; ask locally.
Getting around
On foot, by bike and by bus
Walking
English Wikivoyage describes a compact city, easy to explore on foot in a short time, with a well-preserved medieval quarter. French Wikipedia adds that a protected sector of 19 hectares was created in 1969.
Buses
The Synchro Bus network has five Chrono lines and three complementary lines serving four interchange hubs in the centre: Curial, Ducs, Gare and Halles (Wikipedia FR). We publish no fares.
Bike and car
Wikivoyage (EN) mentions cycle routes from the centre to Lac du Bourget and to the vineyards, and car rental for exploring the mountains and the wine country. French Wikipedia describes Chambéry as an Alpine crossroads with heavy transit traffic.
Budget and precautions
Budget, health and general precautions
Price level
The open sources we consulted do not allow us to publish reliable, cross-checked price ranges. We therefore give no amounts. The currency is the euro. The ski season moves flight and accommodation prices alike: following a price over several weeks helps spot a real drop.
Flights, entry rules and insurance
SniperAir tracks prices to CMF and compares them with the route's history, but it does not sell or book tickets. Entry rules, travel advice and health cover depend on where you start from and can change: check your own country's official advice before booking.
Mountains, snow and weather
If you head to the resorts or up the Nivolet, check the weather, road conditions and the equipment you need, and follow local instructions. Shuttles and timetables change with the season.
When to go
A temperate mountain climate, with summer storms and little snow in town
Winter
French Wikipedia describes winters with light to moderate frost and little snow, though snow falls in most winters in town. The ski areas in the nearby mountains have more.
Spring
Springs are pleasantly mild and less rainy according to French Wikipedia, a good time for the lake and for walks.
Summer
Summers are often dry and hot, punctuated by fairly regular storms, and temperatures can be scorching (Wikipedia FR). It is the season for the lake, hiking and paragliding, which Wikivoyage (EN) calls popular.
Autumn
Autumns are generally rainy, but fine late seasons are also frequent (Wikipedia FR).
French Wikipedia describes a climate that is partly mountain, because of the nearby Épine range and the Bauges, Chartreuse and Belledonne massifs, but relatively temperate, with good sunshine and little fog. The other languages we read give no figures, so take this description as qualitative.
By length of stay
What to do in Chambéry depending on how long you stay
The essentials
The castle of the Dukes of Savoy and the Sainte-Chapelle, the Elephants Fountain, Place Saint-Léger and a walk towards Lac du Bourget.
Chambéry in depth
The museums, a walk up the Nivolet, the Savoie vineyards and a trip to Aix-les-Bains or the lakeshore.
Beyond the city
Annecy, La Féclaz or the ski areas of Savoie and Haute-Savoie, reached by shuttle from the airport (Wikipedia FR; Wikivoyage EN, DE).
In pictures
Chambéry in pictures
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FAQ
Frequently asked questions about flights to Chambéry
How far is CMF airport from Chambéry?
Chambéry Savoie Mont Blanc Airport (CMF) is 10 km from Chambéry and 5 km from Aix-les-Bains according to French Wikipedia; German Wikivoyage gives about 11 km north of the centre.
Can I reach the ski resorts from Chambéry airport?
Yes: a network of shuttle buses links the airport to the main resorts of Savoie and Haute-Savoie, according to French Wikipedia and German Wikivoyage. Timetables and prices change with the season, so we do not publish them.
What should I see first in Chambéry?
The castle of the Dukes of Savoy and its Sainte-Chapelle, the Elephants Fountain, Place Saint-Léger and, nearby, Lac du Bourget and the Nivolet, according to Wikipedia (FR, DE) and Wikivoyage (EN).
What is special about Lac du Bourget?
It is the largest natural lake lying entirely in France, about 44.5 km² and 18 km long, according to German and Spanish Wikipedia.
What entry rules apply when travelling to France?
This depends on where you start from and can change: check your own country's official advice before booking.
How many days do I need in Chambéry?
Two days cover the old centre and the lake, three or four add the museums, the Nivolet and the vineyards, five or more let you reach Annecy or spend a ski week.
How much does a flight to Chambéry usually cost?
The price depends mainly on your departure city, the time of year and how far ahead you book. The "opportunities" section above shows real examples of prices SniperAir has already detected to this destination.
How do I get alerted when a flight to Chambéry drops below my budget?
Create an alert profile with your departure airport, Chambéry (CMF) as the destination and your maximum budget. You are notified automatically as soon as a matching price is detected. SniperAir monitors and alerts, it does not sell or book tickets.
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