Skyway Monte Bianco
A cable car from Courmayeur to a terrace at nearly three thousand five hundred metres, in cabins that rotate as they climb.
Updated 19 October 2026
AI illustration
The line runs in two stages from the valley floor above Courmayeur to Punta Helbronner at around three thousand four hundred and sixty metres, on the ridge at the head of the Mont Blanc massif. The cabins turn slowly through a full circle as they climb, so the view comes round without anyone having to move. The top station has an open terrace facing the summit and looking down the glaciers on the Italian side. At the middle station there is an alpine botanical garden planted at over two thousand metres, open in summer only. In summer a further gondola crosses the glacier to the French side.
History
The cable car, designed by the architect Carlo Rossi with cabins by Doppelmayr, opened on 23 June 2015 after the Pointe Helbronner station was rebuilt entirely; at 138 million euros with all its infrastructure it was the world's most expensive cable car installation when it opened, and the permit to build it required the old cable car to be removed (Wikipedia, Skyway Monte Bianco).
What to look for
- The rotating cabins - a full turn on each stage of the climb.
- The Punta Helbronner terrace - the open deck at the top, facing the massif.
- The alpine garden - high-altitude planting at the middle station, summer only.
- The crossing to France - the further summer gondola over the glacier.
When to go
Summer for the botanical garden and the onward crossing, winter for skiers and for the clearest air. Check the webcams at the top station before buying, because cloud on the ridge turns an expensive trip into a white wall. Book a timed slot in August, and go early, since cloud builds through the day.
Practical notes
It is among the most expensive lifts in the Alps and the price does not change if the top is in cloud. At that altitude you will be short of breath climbing a flight of steps, and the terrace is bitterly cold even in July. The last descent runs earlier than most people expect, which strands the unwary.
Nearby
Courmayeur sits below; the Val Ferret and Val Veny run either side of it.
Key facts
Source: Wikidata, item Q23012356, read on 18 October 2026.
What to pack for Skyway Monte Bianco
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
- Warm base layers - Merino or synthetic against the skin - never cotton, which chills when damp. Find on Amazon
- Comfortable walking shoes - Sightseeing means kilometres of pavement and cobbles daily. Find on Amazon
- An insulated + windproof jacket - A down or synthetic layer under a hard shell handles most cold. Find on Amazon
- A slim anti-theft daypack - Zips that close properly; keep it in front in crowds and on transit. Find on Amazon
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Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
