You have many options for 🏊♀️ swimming in the Chamonix Valley and in the 🏔 Pays du Mont-Blanc : swimming pools, lakes . . .
In this article, you’re sure to find something that suits your needs !
COLOUR CODE FOR LISTINGS
Chamonix Valley (Chamonix, Argentière, Les Houches, Servoz) & Vallorcine
Passy & environs
Sallanches, Combloux, Cordon & Domancy
Saint Gervais, Le Fayet, Saint Nicolas de Véroce, Bionnassay & environs
Megève, Praz-sur-Arly & environs
Les Contamines-Montjoie & environs
Further France
🇨🇭 Switzerland
[ good to know: please note that boys and men must wear a slip at the pools in the Chamonix Valley and au Pays du Mont-Blanc. If you arrive in shorts, you will be asked to buy a slip! ]
⇒ for more information about 💦 ephemeral summer waterslides, wibit inflatable zones on lakes, paddling pools and more, see separate MBFF article 💦 SUMMER SPLASH!
Chamonix Valley
If you’d like to go 🏊♀️ swimming in the Chamonix Valley, then you have various options:
- 💦 you might be lucky enough to be staying at a hotel or chalet with a pool;
- 💦 otherwise you can head to the public swimming pool at the Centre Sportif Richard Bozon;
- 💦 alternatively, some hotels in the valley let you use their pool if you eat lunch at their restaurant or use their spa facilities (see below for a couple of these options);
Centre Sportif Richard Bozon
Chamonix’s 💦 public swimming pool is located within the Centre Sportif Richard Bozon, and it offers plenty of splashing fun for all ages throughout the year, whatever the weather.
There are both 💦 indoor and outdoor pools with lanes, as well as a great selection of children’s pools with slides and other features, and a relaxation area with sauna, hammam and solarium.
💦 indoor – there is a 25m indoor pool with lanes and a children’s pool with rapids, water jets and a really fun slide;
💦 outdoor – the outdoor area is large and comprises the 50m Olympic pool (swimming in an outdoor pool with a view of Mont-Blanc is a special experience!), a children’s pool, slides and a children’s paddling pool. There is also a small lake (not for swimming) and a refreshment hut;
💦 AQUAGYM – see here for more details;
💦 swimming classes – group lessons can be arranged during the school holidays;
💦 babies and small children – as well as the indoor children’s pool and the outdoor paddling pool and slides, the Centre Sportif Richard Bozon offers special classes for babies and toddlers. On a Saturday morning at 10h, the Bébés Nageurs – Jardin d’Eau offers plenty of fun for babies and toddlers (from 6 months to 3 years) with one or two adults accompanying. At 11h is the Petits Poissons option for children from 3 to 5 years. Lots of toys are put out and the pool is slightly warmed for these classes.
🅿 parking: there is some free parking at the sports centre, depending on availability, otherwise there are paying car parks nearby;
[ ⇒ see here for more details, opening hours and current prices ]
address: Centre Sportif Richard Bozon, 214, avenue de la Plage, 74400, Chamonix;
tel: +33 (0)4 50 53 23 70;
Chamonix Valley hotel pools & spas (open to the public)
Several hotels in the Chamonix Valley allow non-hotel guests to access their 💦 smaller pool and spas (normally with the purchase of a massage or treatment), and this could be just what weary parents, grand-parents and child-minders need after days of family fun out in nature!
[ ⇒ see separate MBFF article on Chamonix Valley Spas & Massages for some options ]
And some hotels in the Chamonix Valley allow you to use their 💦 pool if you have lunch in their restaurant:
- La Fruitière at the Folie Douce (Chamonix);
- Hôtel Aiguille du Midi (Les Bossons) – this lovely hotel doesn’t advertise this, but you are discreetly allowed to use the outdoor swimming pool, if you have lunch at their delicious family-run restaurant!
Pays du Mont-Blanc
🏔 Au Pays du Mont-Blanc, there are also 💦 public swimming pools in:
Piscine de Marlioz (Passy)
The 
swimming pool in Marlioz is a ” piscine tournesol ” (from a 1970s nationwide project to improve the standard of swimming in France, after the poor results of the French swimmers in the Montreal Olympic Games of 1968 
!), a bubble shape opening up during the the warmer months to the spacious grassy area outside. There is a shallow end to the pool, but no paddling pool available, making it more ideal for older children learning to swim or already competent swimmers.
🅿 parking: free parking next to swimming pool;
good to know – in summertime, you can use the picnic tables on the lawn or set up picnic blankets, and the Marlioz swimming pool is very near Super U, if you need to pick up picnic supplies!
[ ⇒ see here for more details, opening hours and current prices ]
address: 489 avenue de Saint-Martin, Marlioz, Passy / tel: 04 50 78 23 06;
Centre Aquatique de Sallanches Mont-Blanc
The Braconne site (not far from Lac de Passy, and visible from the motorway) was the chosen location for the NEW aquatic centre in Sallanches.
There are 3 indoor pools: one smaller one with jets d’eau, bubbles and other water features (slightly warmer), ideal for children to play; another where the aquagym is set up, also ideal for children’s play; and one for lane swimming. You’ll also find a small paddling pool for little ones.
Outside, you’ll find a water play area for little ones, and in the warmer months, a pentagliss.
eating options: in summer, you can take a picnic, as there is lots of grassy space and there is also a buvette;
🅿 parking: free parking next to swimming pool;
[ ⇒ see here for more details, opening hours and current prices ]
website & FB page
address: route des Follieux - route de l'Arve, 74700, Sallanches;
Bô Domancy fitness & wellbeing centre (Domancy)
If you are looking to do some aquabike or aquafitness within a small pool, then Bô in Domancy offers different classes. You can pay by session or get a forfait;
website & FB page
Piscine de Saint-Gervais Mont-Blanc
The public swimming pool in Saint-Gervais was renovated and re-opened a few years ago now, and as of springtime 2018, it is now decorated with frescoes by street painting operative 2KM3 (see MBFF article for more details about the collective’s other work).
On offer, you have :
- indoor swimming pools – main pool (lane swimming and aqua classes), children’s shallow pool and paddling pool with toys / there is also a hammam and sauna;
- outdoor pool and slide;
- baby swimming: Bébé Plouf (for babies from 6 months to children 3 years, with an accompanying adult) on certain Saturdays, 9h45 to 10h30 and 10h30 to 11h15, with the water warmed 32°;
eating options: there is a bar / café for refreshments, in summe you can take a picnic to eat outside, and nearby you have the Clubhouse;
good to know: right next door, you will find the pumptrack, skatepark, tennis courts, and 
mini-golf;
🅿 parking: free parking next to swimming pool;
website address: 798 avenue de Miage, 74170, Saint-Gervais-les-Bains / tel: 04 50 93 42 87;
Centre Sportif du Fayet (Parc Thermal, Le Fayet)
This swimming pool (and climbing wall, gym and tennis courts) is NOT open to the public; it hosts school swimming lessons and club lessons.
It was originally built in the 1960s, to accommodate the growing number of students at the nearby lycée, and it recently underwent a huge renovation project !
Piscine de Megève (Le Palais, Megève)
Megève’s swimming pool complex re-opened its doors in 2017, after a renovation project.
You’ll find :
- indoor pools – there is one pool for swimming (25m x 12.5m), another for children and a baby paddling pool (with slides, water features and warm water, LOVELY!);
- outdoor pools (June until September) – there is an Olympic pool (50 x 21m), and two children’s paddling pools, one with animal & water features;
- pentagliss – 3 adjacent outdoor slides, for 6+ years;
- Espace Balnéoforme – wellness centre with jacuzzi, sauna, hammam, warm indoor and outdoor pool and short rapids;
Bébés Nageurs Aquakids classes – on some Sundays from 10h to 11h15 (check schedule); water heated to 32 degrees; 11,50€ per session;
eating options: you can picnic on the grass or eat at 
the on-site restaurant;
good to know: over the holidays, there are lots of family activities organised poolside: an open air cinema, workshops for children, a pool party . . . And, as the swimming pools are located within Le Palais, you can combine a visit with a visit to the 
the médiathèque, 
the climbing wall, 
a temporary exhibition or 
the ice-skating rink!
SWIMMMING POOLS, PARCS AQUATIQUES & WAVE POOLS further afield in FRANCE &
SWITZERLAND
Cluses public swimming pool
My boys have been down to Cluses pool, and enjoyed the slide immensely! There is a grand bassin (6 lanes), a pool with ramp access, a paddling pool for children aged 6 months to 5 years (with slides, animals, clowns), a giant slide leading to a separate pool for safety, a solarium and beach volleyball.
good to know: over the holidays, pool games and softplay structures are put out for children;
website
Aquacîme (Les Carroz)
You’ll find indoor & outdoor pools, and also spa, sauna & hammam at Aquacîme in Les Carroz.
website address: 455 route du Mont Favy, 74300, Arâches-la-Frasse;
Vitam parc aquatique in Neydens (near Saint-Julién-en-Génévois)
The indoor and outdoor pools (summer) at this huge parc aquatique are a top attraction in Haute-Savoie: swimming areas, wibit softplay, paddling pools, slides, spa area . . .
Vitam is ideally situated within a shopping centre and also has an large indoor play centre, and climbing wall.
Aquabébés (for children 6 months to 5 years);
website & FB page address: Vitam, 500 route des Envignes, 74160, Neydens / tel: +33 (0)4 50 84 66 66
Aquariaz parc aquatique in Avoriaz
Aquariaz is a 2400 m² 
tropical indoor water park, with water at 30°!
features: l’arbre à l’eau for little ones; slidewinder (a 10m high half-pipe that you descend on a rubber ring!); espace détente, within the main pool (river current, bubbles, benches in the water, jacuzzi);
website address: 142 route des Rennes, 74110 Avoriaz / tel: 04 50 74 24 42;
La Cité d’Eau (Publier-Amphion)
La Cité d’Eau is an indoor water park, with many great features : pools (some warmer), slides, a wave machine, paddling pools . . .
website & FB page address: 225 rue des Tilleuls 74500 Publier, France / tel: 04 50 74 24 42;
Aquaparc (Le Bouveret, Switzerland)
My boys have visited this aquapark in Switzerland (on the shores of Lac Léman), and they rave about it! With its pirate boat, wave machine, lazy river and more, there is so much to do !
website & FB page address: Aquaparc, route de la Plage, 122, 1897, Le Bouveret, Switzerland / tel:+41 24 482 00 00;
and even FURTHER AFIELD: FRANCE . . .
La Vague in Grenoble
A bit further afield, in Grenoble, you can catch some 
indoor waves at La Vague Grenoble! Inspired by artificial wave centres encountered on travels in the USA, this centre in Grenoble opened in 2019! You can try out bodyboards or flowboards, from 7+ years. There is a restaurant and lounge bar on-site: Le Container;
website & FB page address: 33 Cours Jean Jaurès, 38130, Échirolles;
City Surf Park in Lyon
A NEW indoor surf centre in Lyon, with water at 27°C (no sharks guaranteed!);
website & FB page address: 2 avenue Simone Veil, 69150, Décines-Charpieu;
Swimming pools within spa complexes in nearby Switzerland
Across the border in Switzerland, but not too far away, you will find some thermal baths with larger swimming pools and fun features for kids, some accepting babies and young children . . .
The two big favourites for families with younger children, not too far from the Chamonix Valley, are :
- Les Bains de Saillons – accepting babies / website;
- Les Bains de Lavey – accepting children 4+ years / website;
[ ⇒ for more information about these Swiss thermal baths & pools, and some brilliant ones a bit further afield, see separate MBFF article here ]
During the warmer months, if you’d rather splash about in one of the nearby lakes au Pays du Mont-Blanc, then there are several options au Pays du Mont-Blanc, some with sandy beaches:
- 💦 Lac de Passy – the most famous of our valley lakes;
- 💦 Lacs des Ilettes (Sallanches) – a swimming lake and another dedicated to watersports and fishing;
- 💦 Plan d’Eau Biotope (Combloux) – a stunning location for this bio lake, the water filtered naturally by plants;
- 💦 Lac de Baignade in the Parc de Loisirs du Pontet (Les Contamines-Montjoie) – this lake is re-filled each summer, and there is lots more family fun to be had in this park in the summer in the summer;
- 💦 Lac de l’Etape (Les Contamines-Montjoie) – a small lake at altitude, with access via the 🚡 Télécabine de la Gorge;
- 💦 Plan d’Eau de Praz-sur-Arly – set to open summer 2023 !
- 💦 Plan d’Eau de Flumet – a great little lake, with a sandy beach;
[ ⇒ for more information about all of these swimming lakes au Pays du Mont-Blanc, as well as further afield lakes, see separate MBFF article LAKES & WATERSPORTS au Pays du Mont-Blanc ]
Over the summer months, more outdoor pools open near the 🏔 Pays du Mont-Blanc, and water games and wibit structures set up on our some of our local lakes . . .
[ ⇒ for more information about summer pools, waterslides, wibit games and paddling pools au Pays du Mont-Blanc (and beyond), see separate MBFF article SUMMER SPLASH ]
Mont Blanc Family Fun 