Skiing by train: 20 resorts accessible without a car this winter

Written by Sophie Renassia

Published on November 19, 2025, modified on February 11, 2026

Do you dream of snow, hot chocolate and downhill runs, but don't want to break out the snow tires or spend hours in traffic? Good news: choosing a ski resort accessible by train is now a real, practical and affordable alternative, whether you're going away for a weekend or a whole week.

In this article, we review a selection of 20 resorts in France and neighbouring countries (Switzerland, Germany, Italy) where you can arrive by train, then finish by shuttle, bus or gondola.

And if you're tempted by the idea of a night train, we've also put together a complete guide to the Travelski Night Express which offers you an all-inclusive package (night train + shuttle + package + equipment + accommodation).

Why choose a ski resort accessible by train?

Going skiing by train completely changes your travel experience, even before you put on your skis:

• First, for comfort and freedom You get on board, you read, you sleep, you work if you want, but you don't spend hours concentrating on the road, chaining together freeway service areas and praying that the chains will hold. On arrival, you simply have a shuttle or bus to catch, and you can be on the slopes sometimes less than an hour after the station. What's more, travelling without a car simply gives you more freedom. If you're traveling with children who can't stand the road, or if you want to extend your stay in a city on the way back, you can jump on the train and leave in total freedom.
• Then for the climate: A round trip from Paris to the Alps by car or plane weighs heavily on the carbon budget of your vacation. By choosing a ski resort accessible by train from Paris or your nearest major city, you can greatly reduce the carbon footprint of your ski holiday, without giving up the pleasure of the slopes!
• Finally, for your wallet: by train, you know your price in advance and don't have to add tolls, fuel, parking, snow tires or even a stopover hotel if you cut the road. Some regions and resorts even offer combined train and snow packages (train + transfer + ski pass or discount), which makes the calculation even simpler.

How we selected these stations

Before we present our selection, here's how we selected the stations. For each one, we checked :

1. That there is a railway station within easy reach of the station (in the station itself or in the valley below).
2. That a organized liaison links the station to the resort: regular shuttle bus, regional bus line, gondola or funicular.
3. For large cities, whether there's a itinerary by train from Paris within a timeframe deemed realistic for a vacation (generally between 4 and 8 hours, sometimes a little more for more distant destinations).

French ski resorts accessible by train

France is pretty well endowed when it comes to snow trains. Between the major Alpine stations (Grenoble, Chambéry, Albertville, Bourg-Saint-Maurice, Briançon, Embrun...) and more confidential lines like Le Lioran, you've already got enough to fill several winters without touching a steering wheel. Sites like Travelski are listed for hundreds of resorts, allowing you to filter them according to your criteria (family, large area, atmosphere, etc.).

The great Tarentaise estates

Les Arcs - Bourg-Saint-Maurice (Savoie)

If you're looking for a ski resort accessible by train with a large ski area, Les Arcs are a classic. The TGV takes you directly to Bourg-Saint-Maurice (approx. 5 hours from Paris). From the platform, you can take the funicular up to Arc 1600 in around seven minutes, then free shuttles link Arc 1800, 1950 and 2000.

The Paradiski area (Les Arcs + La Plagne) offers more than 400 km of runs, enough to vary the pleasures for a whole week, with real options for beginners and seasoned skiers alike. It's a great place to start if you want to try out your first snow train without making life too complicated.

La Plagne (Savoie)

If you're looking for a family resort, go to La Plagne. On the access side, the Aime-La-Plagne station is your main gateway. Buses then take you up to the various sites (Plagne Centre, Belle Plagne, Plagne Bellecôte, etc.). The Paris-Aime journey is by TGV + TER, with a journey time of around 6 to 8 hours, depending on the connection.

Once there, you can enjoy the same Paradiski area as from Les Arcs. If you're looking for a ski resort accessible by train where there's something for everyone, it couldn't be more versatile.

Tignes and Val d'Isère

Tignes (Savoie)

Tignes is served by the Bourg-Saint-Maurice station (about 5 hours by TGV from Paris), about 30 km from the resort. From there, regular shuttles and buses take around forty minutes to get to the various districts (Tignes le Lac, Val Claret...).

Visit Tignes - Val d'Isère ski area is one of Europe's most renowned for its snow cover and off-piste possibilities. It's a great option if you're looking for a ski resort accessible by train, with altitude and a long season.

Val d'Isère (Savoie)

The same logic applies to Val d'Isère you get off the train at Bourg-Saint-Maurice also, then take a bus (Altibus type) to the village for a journey of around 30 to 40 minutes (i.e. a total of around six hours from Paris door-to-door).

Mont-Blanc and Aravis

Chamonix-Mont-Blanc (Haute-Savoie)

Chamonix is one of the few major French resorts where the station is directly in the city ! Visit Mont-Blanc Express serves not only Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, but also Argentière and Vallorcine, and the tourist office promotes this rail access.

From Paris, you can reach Chamonix in about 5h30 to 6 hours, with connections at Bellegarde or Saint-Gervais-Les-Bains. If you want a holiday where you can do everything on foot or by local bus, this is a very good candidate.

Megève (Haute-Savoie)

Megève has no station in the station, but the Sallanches - Combloux - Megève station is only a dozen kilometers away. Then you can reach the station by bus or shuttle very easily.

From Paris, it takes around 4h30 to 5 hours to get to Sallanches station, then up to Megève. This is an excellent option if you're looking for a ski resort that's accessible by train and has a more relaxed style. "village chic", with lots of off-ski options.

Saint-Gervais-les-Bains (Haute-Savoie)

Saint-Gervais-les-Bains has a SNCF train station directly at Le Fayet at the station entrance. It is served by TGV (direct from Paris during the winter season), as well as with the TER Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and the Léman Express from Geneva.

From Paris, take the 5-hour train to Saint-Gervais-les-Bains-Le Fayet station. Once there, you can reach the resort and ski area without a car, either on foot or by local shuttle or via the Valléen gondola lift which links the station directly to the heart of Saint-Gervais and to the ski lifts.

La Clusaz (Haute-Savoie)

La Clusaz joins via the Annecy station. From there, Altibus operates regular bus routes between Annecy, La Clusaz and Le Grand-Bornand, with a reinforced service in winter.

Paris-Annecy is reached by direct TGV train in around 3 hours 40 minutes, then add the bus journey. So you can be on the slopes by late morning if you leave early, making it one of the most efficient ski resorts accessible by train from Paris for an extended weekend!

Portes du Soleil and the French Alps

Avoriaz (Haute-Savoie)

Avoriaz is a pedestrian station perched high above Morzine. On the train side, the Cluses, Thonon-les-Bains or Geneva stations serve as gateways, with buses then going up to the station.

From Paris, allow 4h30 to 5h to Cluses or Thonon, then about an hour by bus. You'll arrive in a car-free village where everything can be done on foot or by horse-drawn carriage.

Alpe d'Huez (Isère)

For the Alpe d'Huez the main reference station is Grenoble. Direct TGV trains from Paris to Grenoble take around 3 hours, and Transaltitude buses provide a regular link between Grenoble bus station and the resort, taking around 1h50.

If you want to try out a simple snow train, this is an ideal combination: TGV to Grenoble, bus to the resort, and off you go down the slopes.

Les Deux Alpes (Isère)

The same logic applies to Les 2 Alpes you arrive by train at Grenoble With its glacier, sporty atmosphere and numerous ski schools, the resort is equally suited to groups of friends, families and experienced skiers.

Hautes-Alpes and Massif Central

Serre Chevalier (Hautes-Alpes)

The Hautes-Alpes is one of the most attractive Alpine départements in which to go skiing by train, thanks to the Paris-Briançon line and the TER trains that serve the entire Durance valley.

Serre Chevalier has a double advantage on the train front. On the one hand, Briançon station is the terminus of the Paris-Briançon night train The Italian station of Oulx, which can be reached by train via the Alps, makes it a top destination for overnight ski trips. On the other, the Italian station of Oulx, accessible by train via the Paris-Lyon-Turin line is linked to the valley by the ZOU 76 regional bus service.

From these stations, buses serve the various villages in the valley (Monêtier-les-Bains, Villeneuve, Chantemerle, Briançon). This is one of the clearest examples of a ski resort accessible by train, combining SNCF main lines, Italian lines and regional networks.

And to find out more, take a look at our article "What to do in the Hautes-Alpes in a weekend" (in French).

Les Orres (Hautes-Alpes)

For Les Orres the key station is that of Embrun. The Southern Region operates a ZOU 560 shuttle service between the station and the resort, with timetables adapted to train arrivals during the winter season.

Paris-Embrun can be reached by a combination of TGV and TER trains, with a best journey time of around 6 to 6.30 hours, although the average is closer to 9 hours. It's an interesting destination if you want sunshine, a human-scale estate and safe access without a car.

And to find out more, take a look at our guide to Embrun !

Les Orres (Hautes-Alpes)

Puy-Saint-Vincent and Vallouise-Pelvoux (Hautes-Alpes)

In the same area of the Hautes-Alpes, the resorts of Puy-Saint-Vincent and Vallouise-Pelvoux are also accessible by train.

The most convenient station is L'Argentière-les-Écrins located on the line between Briançon and Gap. It is served by TER trains and the Paris-Briançon night train. From the station, seasonal shuttles and local bus routes take around 30 minutes to reach the resorts.

From Paris, allow around 8 to 9 hours during the day (TGV + TER) or a comfortable early-morning arrival with the night train.

These two resorts are particularly interesting if you're looking for a human-scale resort, a family atmosphere and an unspoilt natural setting in the heart of the Écrins massif!

Vars and Risoul - Domaine de la Forêt Blanche (Hautes-Alpes)

Vars and Risoul share the same access station: Montdauphin-Guillestre. ZOU shuttles then link the station to both, especially for late-day arrivals.

From Paris, the minimum journey time is around 6h30, again with a TGV + TER mix. It's a good option if you're looking for a modern domain without the excessiveness of the very large Savoyard complexes.

Le Lioran (Cantal - Massif central)

Le Lioran is a special case, since the SNCF train station is located directly at the foot of the slopes ! In other words, you get off the train and are practically on the ski lifts, with local shuttles to your accommodation.

And as a bonus combined offers type Skirail liO (regional train + transfer + ski pass) exist from several towns in Occitanie and Auvergne, making it an ideal playground for trying out the snow train without having to cross the whole of France.

Les Saisies (Savoie - Espace Diamant)

Les Saisies are joined by the Albertville station. Seasonal buses then take skiers up to the resort, with timetables designed with skiers in mind.

It's a great option if you're looking for a family atmosphere, open landscapes and a reasonable estate, while still being able to get there without a car.

Pyrenees

Saint-Lary-Soulan (Pyrénées)

Saint-Lary-Soulan is one of the biggest resorts in the Pyrenees, with over 100 km of pistes in three areas (Pla d'Adet, Espiaube and Vallon du Portet). From the village, you can easily reach the slopes by cable car or gondola.

To get there by train, the nearest station is Lannemezan. From the station, the liO 963 provides a direct link to Saint-Lary in about an hour, with more frequent service in winter.

From Paris, several daily routes take you to Lannemezan in about 6 to 8 hours depending on the timetable (TGV + Intercités or TER). So it's a realistic option if you're looking for a ski resort accessible by train in the Pyrenees, with a real village, a friendly atmosphere and a ski area worthy of the great Alps.

Why not go to a committed resort?

Some French stations have been awarded the Flocon Vert label, which guarantees a sustainable approach (soft mobility, energy, water management, responsible accommodation, etc.).

Among the stations featured in this article, you'll find :

• Chamonix
• Les Arcs / Bourg-Saint-Maurice
• Val d'Isère
• La Clusaz
• Megève
• Les Saisies

Ski resorts in neighbouring countries accessible by train

Want to discover the mountains nearby? Take the train to Switzerland, Germany or Italy.

Switzerland

Zermatt, the car-free village

The village of Zermatt is entirely pedestrianised and trains arrive directly in the village center every half-hour or so, via the Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn.

From Paris, the journey takes between 6.50 and 7.30 hours, with connections in Switzerland (Geneva, Lausanne, Visp, depending on the route). If you're looking for a very car-free mountain experience, this is probably one of the finest examples of t rain neige in Europe!

Verbier, access via Le Châble

Verbier is accessible by train to Le Châble station at the bottom of the valley. From here, a modern gondola takes you directly to Verbier in just 13 minutes.

From Paris, it takes around 5h20 by train to Le Châble station, for a total of 6h15 by combining TGV, regional trains and cable car.

Andermatt-Sedrun-Disentis, the central Grisons region

Andermatt is also easily accessible by train via the Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn, linking Andermatt, Sedrun and Disentis.

From Paris, it takes around 6h40 to reach Andermatt by train, with a few connections (Basel, Lucerne, Göschenen). Here again, you can make a 100% rail journey, largely comparable in total time to some connections to the French Alps.

Germany

Garmisch-Partenkirchen, the Bavarian classic

Garmisch-Partenkirchen is a historic Bavarian resort at the foot of the Zugspitze. The easiest way to get here is to reach Munich and then take a direct regional train. Deutsche Bahn Regio operates a Munich-Garmisch connection in around 1h15, with up to twenty trains a day.

From Paris, combined TGV and ICE trains take you to Garmisch-Partenkirchen in around 7 hours at best, with a connection in Germany.

If you're looking for a ski resort that's accessible by train and offers a very different atmosphere from our French Alps, Garmisch is the place for you: arrival at the station at the foot of the city then local buses or walk to the lifts depending on the area.

Italy

Sauze d'Oulx / Via Lattea, at the gateway to the border

Visit Via Lattea estate (Sauze d'Oulx, Sestriere, etc.) is directly connected to the rail network by the Oulx station located on the Paris-Lyon-Turin-Milan TGV line with a stop just 6 km from the Sauze d'Oulx ski lifts. Buses are usually waiting outside the station to take you to the villages in the area.

From Paris, the reopening of the Paris-Milan line via the Maurienne at the end of March 2025 makes a 100% rail journey to Oulx once again realistic, with journey times of around 6-7 hours depending on timetables and connections.

Once in Oulx, it's just a 15-minute bus ride to the resort.

Limone Piemonte, the Riserva Bianca by train

Limone Piemonte is another great mountain destination accessible by train. With regular connections from Cuneo and Ventimiglia, you can easily combine French and Italian trains.

In practical terms, you can plan an itinerary Paris-Nice or Paris-Vintimille then take a connecting train to Limone. The overall time will be longer than for the French Alps, but if you're looking for a cross-border experience, this is the ideal resort.

Practical tips for organizing your snow train trip

Choose a ski resort accessible by train is good. Organizing your itinerary with peace of mind is even better. Here are a few tips to help you avoid unpleasant surprises:

• Always check the SHUTTLE SCHEDULES between the station and the resort (and not just the train). Many stations time their buses to coincide with TGV arrivals, but some shuttles are seasonal or limited to certain days of the week.
• Anticipate your connecting time. We advise you to allow 30 to 45 minutes between train arrival and bus departure, especially with children or bulky luggage.
• Compare "day" and "night" options. For some destinations, such as Serre Chevalier or the Hautes-Alpes, the night train can be more comfortable: you sleep on board, you arrive early, you save a day's skiing. Find out more in this article.
• Look at the combined offers Between regional offers such as Skirail and packages from players like Travelski, there are sometimes interesting combinations of ticket + accommodation + package.

How long does it take from Paris to reach a ski resort accessible by train?

The answer depends very much on the destination, but it is possible to identify orders of magnitude:

• between 3 and 4 hours for stations connected to Annecy, Grenoble or Albertville (La Clusaz, Alpe d'Huez, Les 2 Alpes, Les Saisies),
• around 5 hours for the major Alpine stations in the Tarentaise region, such as Bourg-Saint-Maurice (Les Arcs, Tignes, Val d'Isère) or certain resorts Swiss like Verbier,
• between 6 a.m. and 8 a.m. for more distant destinations or those requiring several connections, such as Zermatt, Andermatt or Garmisch-Partenkirchen.

This is where strategy "night train can become interesting, especially for the Hautes-Alpes or certain Swiss valleys.

Which is the best ski resort accessible by train from Paris for a first try?

If you want to test without complicating your life, you can aim for :

• a direct or near-direct route such as Paris-Grenoble (Alpe d'Huez, Les 2 Alpes) or Paris-Annecy (La Clusaz),
• or a destination structured around the train, such as Les Arcs via Bourg-Saint-Maurice or Le Lioran with its station at the foot of the slopes.

What prices can we expect?

Prices vary according to period, class and time of purchase:

• OUIGO Paris → Bourg-Saint-Maurice: from ≈ 19-30 € one-way ticket (booked in advance)
• TGV INOUI Paris → Grenoble / Annecy: from ≈ 25-30 €often around €60-80
• Night train Paris → Briançon: sleeper from ≈ 39 €but often €60-100 or more depending on comfort
• Paris → Switzerland (e.g. Zermatt): from ≈ 80-100 €frequency from €120-160, rising to >€180-200

Our reco : reserve 2 to 3 months in advance (or even more) to maximize your chances of low fares!

And for an interactive map of ski resorts, go to on the Railee website.

Written by Sophie Renassia

Issue du monde de la communication et des médias, Sophie est Responsable éditoriale chez HOURRAIL ! depuis août 2024. Elle est notamment derrière le contenu éditorial du site ainsi que La Locomissive (de l'inspiration voyage bas carbone et des bons plans, un jeudi sur deux, gratuitement dans ta boîte mail !).

Convaincue que les changements d’habitude passent par la transformation de nos imaginaires, elle s’attache à montrer qu’il est possible de voyager autrement, de manière plus consciente, plus lente et plus joyeuse. Son objectif : rendre le slow travel accessible à toutes et tous, à travers des astuces, des décryptages et surtout, de nouveaux récits.

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