Skiing by train: 20 resorts accessible without a car this winter
Do you dream of snow, hot chocolate, and zooming down the slopes, but have no desire to get out the snow tires or spend hours stuck in traffic?
Good news: choosing a ski resort accessible by train is now a real alternative, practical and accessible, whether you are going for a weekend or a full week.
In this article, we review a selection of resorts in France and in neighboring countries (Switzerland, Germany, Italy) where you can arrive by train, then finish the journey by shuttle, bus, or cable car.
And if the idea of a night train appeals to you, we have also written a complete guide on the Travelski Night Express, which offers an all-inclusive trip (night train + shuttle + pass + 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: you get on board, read, sleep, work if you want, but you don't spend hours concentrating on the road, going from one motorway rest area to the next, and praying that the chains hold. Upon arrival, you simply have a shuttle or a bus to catch, and you can be on the slopes sometimes less than an hour after the station.
- Next, for the climate: a round trip from Paris to the Alps by car or plane weighs heavily on the carbon budget of your vacation. Choosing a ski resort accessible by train from Paris or your nearest large city means greatly reducing the footprint of your ski trip, without sacrificing the joy 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 break up the journey. Some regions and stations even set up combined train-snow offers (train + transfer + pass or discount), which simplifies the calculation even further.
Bonus: for peace of mind! Going without a car is simply freer. If you are 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 with complete freedom.
How we selected these resorts
Before presenting our selection, here is how we selected the resorts. For each of them, we checked:
- That a railway station exists at a reasonable distance from the resort (in the resort itself or in the valley below).
- That an organized connection links the station to the resort: regular shuttle, regional bus line, cable car, or funicular.
- For major cities, that a train route exists from Paris within a duration deemed realistic for a vacation (in general between 4 and 8 hours, sometimes a little longer for the most distant destinations).
Ski resorts accessible by train in France
France is quite well-served when it comes to "train-snow" options. Between the major Alpine stations (Grenoble, Chambéry, Albertville, Bourg-Saint-Maurice, Briançon, Embrun...) and the more niche lines like the Lioran one, you already have enough to fill several winters without touching a steering wheel. Sites like Travelski also list hundreds of resorts and allow you to filter according to your criteria (family, large area, atmosphere, etc.).
The large Tarentaise ski areas
Les Arcs - Bourg-Saint-Maurice (Savoie)
If you are looking for a ski resort accessible by train with a large ski area, Les Arcs is a classic. The TGV takes you directly to Bourg-Saint-Maurice (about 5 hours from Paris). From the platform, you connect to the funicular which climbs to Arc 1600 in about seven minutes, then free shuttles connect Arc 1800, 1950, and 2000.
The Paradiski area (Les Arcs + La Plagne) offers more than 400 km of slopes, enough to vary the pleasures for an entire week, with real options for both beginners and experienced skiers. It's a good starting point if you want to try a first train-snow trip without complicating your life.
La Plagne (Savoie)
If you are looking for a family resort, head to La Plagne. For access, the Aime-La-Plagne station is your main gateway. Buses then climb towards the various sites (Plagne Centre, Belle Plagne, Plagne Bellecôte, etc.). The Paris-Aime journey is done by TGV + TER, with a travel time that oscillates around 6 to 8 hours depending on the connection.
Once there, you enjoy the same Paradiski area as from Les Arcs. If you are looking for a ski resort accessible by train where everyone finds something they like, it's hard to be more versatile.
Tignes and Val d'Isère: altitude without the car
Tignes (Savoie)
Tignes is served by the Bourg-Saint-Maurice station (about 5 hours by TGV from Paris), about 30 km from the resort. Then, regular shuttles and buses take around forty minutes to climb up to the various districts (Tignes le Lac, Val Claret...).
The Tignes - Val d’Isère area is one of the most renowned in Europe for its snow cover and its off-piste opportunities. It is a very good option if you are 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 as well, then you take a bus (Altibus type) up to the village for a journey of about 30 to 40 minutes, (which is about six hours total door-to-door from Paris).
Mont-Blanc and Aravis
Chamonix-Mont-Blanc (Haute-Savoie)
Chamonix is one of the rare major French resorts where the station is directly in the town! The Mont-Blanc Express serves Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, but also Argentière or Vallorcine, and the tourist office prominently features this rail access. From Paris, you reach Chamonix in about 5h30 to 6 hours, via connections at Bellegarde or Saint-Gervais-Les-Bains. If you want a stay where you can do everything on foot or by local bus, this is a very good candidate.
Megève (Haute-Savoie)
Megève does not have a station in the resort, but the Sallanches - Combloux - Megève station is only about a dozen kilometers away. Then, you can easily reach the resort by bus or shuttle. From Paris, allow about 4h30 to 5 hours up to the Sallanches station, then the climb up to Megève. This is an excellent option if you are looking for a ski resort accessible by train with a more "village chic" style, with many non-ski options.
La Clusaz (Haute-Savoie)
La Clusaz is reached via the Annecy station. From there, Altibus operates regular bus lines between Annecy, La Clusaz, and Le Grand-Bornand, with increased service in winter. Paris-Annecy is done by direct TGV in about 3h40, then you must add the bus journey. You can therefore be on the slopes by late morning if you leave early, which makes it one of the most efficient ski resorts accessible by train from Paris for an extended weekend!
Portes du Soleil and French Great Alps
Avoriaz (Haute-Savoie)
Avoriaz is a pedestrian resort perched above Morzine. For the train, the stations of Cluses, Thonon-les-Bains or Geneva serve as gateways, with buses that then climb up to the resort. From Paris, allow about 4h30 to 5h up to Cluses or Thonon, then about an hour by bus. You arrive in a car-free village where everything is done on foot or by horse-drawn carriage.
Alpe d'Huez (Isère)
For Alpe d’Huez, the main reference station is Grenoble. Direct TGV trains Paris-Grenoble take around 3 hours, then Transaltitude buses provide a regular connection between the Grenoble bus station and the resort, in about 1h50. If you want to try a simple "train-snow" trip, this is an ideal combination: TGV to Grenoble, bus to the resort, and off you go to hit the slopes.
Les Deux Alpes (Isère)
The same logic applies to Les 2 Alpes: you arrive by train at Grenoble, then you follow up with a Transaltitude bus or a regional bus that goes directly up to the resort. With its glacier, very sporty atmosphere, and numerous ski schools, the resort is suitable for groups of friends, families, and experienced skiers alike.
Hautes-Alpes and Massif Central
Serre Chevalier (Hautes-Alpes)
Serre Chevalier has a double advantage on the train side. On the one hand, the Briançon station is the terminus of the Paris-Briançon night train, making it a flagship destination for a night train ski trip. On the other hand, the Italian station of Oulx, accessible by train via the Paris-Lyon-Turin line, is connected to the valley by the regional bus line ZOU 76. From these stations, buses serve the different villages in the valley (Monêtier-les-Bains, Villeneuve, Chantemerle, Briançon). This is one of the clearest examples of a ski resort accessible by train by combining major SNCF lines, an Italian line, and a regional network. And to go further, don't hesitate to check out our article "What to do in the Hautes-Alpes in a weekend".
Les Orres (Hautes-Alpes)
For Les Orres, the key station is Embrun. The Sud region operates a ZOU 560 shuttle between the station and the resort, with schedules adapted to train arrivals during the winter season. Paris-Embrun is done by combining TGV and TER, with a best time around 6 hours to 6h30, although the average is closer to 9 hours. It is an interesting destination if you want sun, a human-sized ski area, and secure access without a car. And to go further, you can check out our guide to Embrun!
Vars and Risoul - Domaine de la Forêt Blanche (Hautes-Alpes)
Vars and Risoul share the same access station: Montdauphin-Guillestre. ZOU shuttles then connect the station to the two resorts, especially for late-day arrivals. From Paris, the minimum journey time is about 6h30, again with a TGV + TER mix. This is a good option if you are looking for a modern ski area but without the excess of the very large Savoyard complexes.
Le Lioran (Cantal - Massif Central)
Le Lioran is a special case, since the SNCF station is directly at the foot of the slopes! In other words, you get off the train and you are practically on the ski lifts, with local shuttles to reach the accommodation. And as a bonus, combined offers like Skirail liO (regional train + transfer + pass) exist from several cities in Occitania and Auvergne, making it an ideal playground to test the train-snow option without crossing all of France.
Les Saisies (Savoie - Espace Diamant)
Les Saisies are reached via the Albertville station. Seasonal buses then climb up to the resort, with schedules designed for skiers. This is a very interesting option if you are looking for a family atmosphere, open landscapes, and a reasonable ski area, while maintaining the possibility of going there without a car.
And what if you chose a committed resort?
Some French resorts have obtained the Flocon Vert label, which guarantees a sustainable approach (soft mobility, energy, water management, responsible accommodation, etc.). Among the resorts present in this article, you will find notably:
- Chamonix
- Les Arcs / Bourg-Saint-Maurice
- Val d'Isère
- La Clusaz
- Megève
- Les Saisies
Ski resorts accessible by train in neighboring countries
Want to discover the neighboring mountains? Head to Switzerland, Germany, or Italy by train.
Switzerland
Zermatt, the car-free village
The village of Zermatt is entirement pedestrian and trains arrive directly at the center of the village, approximately every half hour, via the Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn. From Paris, allow between 6h50 and 7h30 approximately, with connections in Switzerland (Geneva, Lausanne, Visp, depending on the route). If you want to live a very "car-free" mountain experience, this is probably one of the most beautiful examples of train-snow in Europe!
Verbier, access via Le Châble
Verbier is accessible by train up to the Le Châble station, at the end of the valley. From there, a modern cable car climbs directly to Verbier in just 13 minutes. From Paris, allow about 5h20 by train up to the Le Châble station for a total of 6h15 when combining TGV, regional trains, and the cable car.
Andermatt-Sedrun-Disentis, the central Graubünden area
Andermatt is also easily accessible by train via the Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn, which connects Andermatt, Sedrun, and Disentis. From Paris, allow about 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 resort in Bavaria, at the foot of the Zugspitze. For access, the simplest solution is to reach Munich, then take a direct regional train. Deutsche Bahn Regio operates a Munich-Garmisch connection in about 1h15, with up to twenty trains per day. From Paris, routes combining TGV and ICE allow you to reach Garmisch-Partenkirchen in about 7 hours in the best case, with one connection in Germany. If you are looking for a ski resort accessible by train to discover an atmosphere very different from the French Alps, you should find what you are looking for in Garmisch: arrival at the station at the foot of the town, then local bus or walking to the lifts depending on the district.
Italy
Sauze d'Oulx / Via Lattea, at the border's edge
The Via Lattea area (Sauze d'Oulx, Sestriere, etc.) is directly connected to the railway network by the Oulx station, which is located on the TGV Paris-Lyon-Turin-Milan line, with a stop only 6 km from the Sauze d'Oulx lifts. Buses generally wait at the exit of the station to take you to the villages in the area. From Paris, the reopening of the Paris-Milan line via Maurienne at the end of March 2025 makes a 100% train journey to Oulx realistic again, with travel times around 6-7 hours depending on the schedules and connections. Once in Oulx, you just need to take a bus to reach the resort in about fifteen minutes.
Limone Piemonte, the "Riserva Bianca" by train
Limone Piemonte is also a super mountain destination accessible by train. With regular connections from Cuneo and Vintimille, you can very easily combine French and Italian trains. Specifically, you can organize a Paris-Nice or Paris-Vintimille itinerary, then take a connection to Limone. The overall time will be longer than for the French Alps, but if you are looking for a cross-border experience, this is the ideal resort.
Practical advice for organizing your train-snow trip
Choosing a ski resort accessible by train is good. Organizing your itinerary calmly is even better. A few tips to avoid unpleasant surprises:
- Always check the shuttle schedules between the station and the resort (and not just the train schedules). Many resorts align their buses with TGV arrivals, but some shuttles are seasonal or limited to certain days of the week.
- Anticipate your connection time. We recommend allowing 30 to 45 minutes between the train's arrival and the bus's departure, especially with children or bulky luggage.
- Compare "day" and "night" options. For certain destinations like Serre Chevalier or the Hautes-Alpes, the night train can be more comfortable: you sleep on board, you arrive early, you gain a day of skiing. More info in this article.
- Look at combined offers between regional offers like Skirail and the packages offered by operators like Travelski; sometimes there are interesting ticket + accommodation + pass combinations.
Q&A: travel time, price... Understanding ski resorts accessible by train
How long does it take from Paris to reach a ski resort accessible by train?
The answer depends a lot on the destination, but we can establish some rough estimates:
- between 3 hours and 4 hours for resorts 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 Tarentaise like Bourg-Saint-Maurice (Les Arcs, Tignes, Val d'Isère) or certain Swiss resorts like Verbier,
- between 6 hours and 8 hours for more distant destinations or those requiring multiple connections, such as Zermatt, Andermatt or Garmisch-Partenkirchen.
This is where the "night train" strategy can become interesting, especially for the Hautes-Alpes or certain Swiss valleys.
What is the best ski resort accessible by train from Paris for a first try?
If you want to try it without complicating your life, you can aim for:
- a direct or almost direct journey like Paris-Grenoble (Alpe d’Huez, Les 2 Alpes) or Paris-Annecy (La Clusaz),
- or a destination very structured around the train like Les Arcs via Bourg-Saint-Maurice or Le Lioran with its station at the foot of the slopes.
What prices should I expect?
Prices vary depending on the period, the class, and the time of your purchase:
- OUIGO Paris → Bourg-Saint-Maurice: starting from $\approx$ €19-€30 for a one-way ticket (booked in advance)
- TGV INOUI Paris → Grenoble / Annecy: starting from $\approx$ €25-€30, often around €60-€80
- Night train Paris → Briançon: couchette starting from $\approx$ €39, but often €60-€100 or more depending on comfort
- Paris → Switzerland (e.g., Zermatt): starting from $\approx$ €80-€100, frequently €120-€160, and can go >€180-€200
Our recommendation: book 2 to 3 months in advance (or more) to maximize your chances of low prices!
For an interactive map of ski resorts, visit the Railee website.
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.
