Getting to Ski Resorts by Rail

Getting to Ski Resorts by Rail

How to get to ski resorts in the Alps by train? Want to avoid airport queues and travel more enjoyably by rail? Here’s a selection of some of the best ski resorts in the Alps that you can reach conveniently by train.

There’s something about the feeling of slipping out of St Pancras on Eurostar, headed for the Alps. It’s more relaxing and sociable than navigating airport queues – and it creates far less pollution.

You might expect that going by train takes far longer than flying. So did I, originally. But depending on your starting point in the UK, daytime journeys by train can even rival flying for speed. Meanwhile, if you travel overnight on a sleeper train, you can ski the day you arrive and leave. That adds two extra days on the slopes.

Currently, the most direct rail option is ‘Eurostar Snow’. You take a Eurostar to Lille Europe, then switch to the adjacent platform to take another Eurostar (continental) train, headed for Moutiers, Aime-la-Plagne and Bourg-Saint-Maurice in the French Alps.

Travelling via Paris and changing stations gives an even wider range of options. High-speed TGVs from Paris directly reach resorts all across the French Alps and some in Italy, such as Sauze d’Oulx and Sestriere. Or, with a further change of train, you can reach resorts in Switzerland and some in Austria too.

French operator SNCF runs a nightly sleeper train from Paris to Briancon, which is convenient for resorts such as Montgenevre and Serre Chevalier. And a new weekly winter sleeper train from Paris to Bourg-Saint-Maurice has been launched by French ski-tour operator Travelski.

There are overnight options to Austria, too. Nightjet sleeper trains run several nights a week from Brussels to Salzburg and Amsterdam to Innsbruck. And the Urlaubs-Express is a weekly dedicated ski train that you can travel to meet at Cologne. It has a disco-café-bar and drops you at the foot of a huge variety of ski resorts in the Austrian Tirol and Salzburgerland.

Here are some of the best ski resorts you can reach conveniently by rail:

Tignes, France

Tignes is a purpose-built ski resort with fantastic slope-side access and a favourite among British skiers. Owing to its high base village altitude at 2100m, glacier access, and ample freeriding terrain, it’s known for being a ‘sporty’ resort: hosting the first Winter X Games outside of the USA in 2013, and famed for the Face de Bellevarde black, which it shares with neighbouring Val d’Isère.

While there’s not too much by way of tree skiing, freestylers and powderheads remain spoilt for choice on the 300km of slopes. The new Adventure Park in Val Claret now boasts a winter version. Its 10-metre-high wooden structure comprises two different courses and three high-flying zip lines. Tignes is considered more affordable than Val d’Isère. The cheapest accommodation is in the lower villages of Les Boisses and Les Brévières, a short shuttle ride from the slopes.

A variety of Tignes villages offer different advantages: Val Claret provides the best slopeside access and nightclubs; Le Lac offers some of the best hotels and restaurants; Le Lavachet has the quietest, family-friendly atmosphere; and Les Brévières offers excellent catered chalets. Ultimate Ski guide to Tignes >

Example rail journey

Depart London St Pancras 09:01 on Saturday on the Eurostar Snow service via Lille-Europe, arriving at Bourg-Saint-Maurice at 17:45. From there, it’s a 45-minute transfer.

Saint Gervais, France

Long before skiing took the Alps by storm, Saint-Gervais was renowned for its natural hot springs. From the Late Middle Ages onwards, Europe’s nobility made pilgrimage to Saint-Gervais Bains for their supposed curative properties (or, more likely, a relaxing spa dip). While the resort now shares an immense 455km of pistes with neighbouring Mégève and Les Houches, the springs remain one of its top attractions, and are (in our opinion) the perfect après-ski treat.

However, they aren’t the resort’s only speciality. Saint-Gervais’ Mont-Blanc-Tramway (TMB) must not be missed: Europe’s highest tramway and the last rack-and-pinion train in France, opened in 1909. At its terminus, you’ll find the best up-close panorama of Mont Blanc in the region, as well as the quiet, easy slopes of Les Houches. The resort has also created a unique gondola link, Le Valléen, from the train station to the village, making the transfer scenic and straightforward.

As a cosy, slow-living ski town, Saint-Gervais is well-suited for families and those who like a relaxed, friendly vibe. Its high-altitude beginners’ area, Les Marmottons (1,840m), guarantees good conditions for beginners, and powderhounds should check out the ‘Magic Garden’ between the Lanchettes and Radaz lifts, as well as the untracked slopes around the back of Mont d’Arbois and Mont Joux. Meanwhile, the resort goes all out for the festive season, the (literal) highlight being an annual light show imported from nearby Lyon, the Lumières Saint-Gervais. Ultimate Ski guide to Saint Gervais >

Example rail journey

Depart London St Pancras on the 07:31 Eurostar to Paris Nord; change to Paris-Lyon and take 12:18 TGV, changing at Bellegarde, to arrive St-Gervais-les-Bains at 17:18. From there it’s a 15-minute transfer by gondola, bus or taxi.

Les Arcs, France

A shining example of forward-thinking resort design, Les Arcs is famed for both its funky, modernist architecture and the speedy funicular connecting the resort to the nearest train station, Bourg-Saint-Maurice. Unique for France, the Les Arcs funicular runs directly from Bourg-Saint-Maurice’s station platform. Hence, visitors step off the TGV from Paris and into the waiting compartment.

Regarding the resort, it’s impossible to pigeonhole; Les Arcs comprises four slopeside villages (with accommodation also available in Bourg-Saint-Maurice), each with its own distinct flavour. Its immense 425km of pistes cater to all needs and speeds, with beginners best suited at Arc 1800, intermediates on the blues and reds above Arc 1600 and Vallandry, and experts bound for the Aiguille Rouge. From December 2025, Villaroger will have a new high-performance gondola that will take skiers to the top of Plan des Violettes in just seven minutes.

In terms of après-ski, the resort falls roughly in the middle of the pack—not too crazy, nor too calm. For a lively night, your best bet is Arc 1800, although PATATRAK, at Arc 2000, is worth checking out for a high-altitude rave. Finally, as a Famille Plus resort, Les Arcs has a good range of high-quality childcare facilities, including Les Ski Mômes kids’ club at Arc 1800, and the Yéti Camp & Crèche at Arc 1950. Ultimate Ski guide to Les Arcs >

Example rail journey

Depart London St Pancras 09:01 on Saturday on the Eurostar Snow service via Lille-Europe, arriving at Bourg-Saint-Maurice at 17:45. From there, it’s a seven-minute transfer to Arc 1600, with free connecting buses to onward villages (15 – 25 minutes away).

Méribel, France

Méribel is perhaps best known for its party scene, thanks to the resort’s Holy Trinity of Sully’s Bar, Le Rond Point, and Les Saint-Pères (as well as the obligatory Folie Douce, shared with Courchevel). However, it’s more than just a party town.

Thanks to its membership of the Three Valleys Domain, Méribel offers access to a record-breaking 600km of piste. Hence, if you’ve (somehow) exhausted the local slopes, take a short shuttle ride to neighbouring Saint Martin de Belleville or La Tania (the latter being a hidden gem for mountain restaurants).

Besides the resort’s clubs, you’ll find ample choice for après-ski at the many bars in the village centre. However, if you’re more invested in the skiing rather than what comes après, consider booking accommodation in Méribel-Mottaret: the highest and quietest neighbourhood, with the best slopeside access.

Lastly, although it is lively, Méribel (like all French resorts) does provide for families, with as many childcare providers as clubs to choose from, including the Mini Aventuriers kids’ club, the ESF-operated Les Saturnins crèche, and Club Piou-Piou. Ultimate Ski guide to Meribel >

Example rail journey

Depart London St Pancras 09:01 on Saturday on the Eurostar Snow service via Lille-Europe, arriving at Moûtiers—Salins at 17:00. From there, it’s 20-30 minutes by bus or taxi.

Alpe d’Huez, France

Above the Romanche Valley, in the heart of the Isère region, is one of France’s biggest and most consistently popular resorts: Alpe d’Huez. With over 250km of local slopes, five base villages, and a reputation for good winter sun, Alpe d’Huez remains rightfully iconic.

Given its size, visitors to Alpe d’Huez are spoilt for choice, with something to suit all tastes, budgets, and abilities. An immense network of beginner slopes, four ski schools, affordable chalet-style hotels, leisure centres, and a large skating rink make it as popular for families as it is for partygoers.

Due to its reputation, Alpe d’Huez will probably be one of the busiest resorts on this list, alongside St Anton and Méribel. However, it does have its quiet corners. If you’re looking for maximum tranquillity, we recommend the resort’s constituent village of Villard-Reculas: an 18th-century farming hamlet, a short chairlift ride away from the main ski area. Conversely, for the best winter discos, you can’t go wrong with the bar/clubs on the Rue du Coulet, nor the local favourite Underground Bar on Chemin de la Chapelle. Ultimate Ski guide to Alpe d’Huez >

Example rail journey

Depart London St Pancras on the 10:31 Eurostar to Paris Nord; change to Paris Gare de Lyon and take the 15:14 TGV to arrive in Grenoble at 18:13. From there, it’s 90 minutes by taxi or bus.

Montgenèvre, France

Situated just 2km from Italy, Montgenèvre is not only France’s first official ‘ski resort’ (established in 1907) but also the only resort in France to be part of the transnational Via Lattea Domain, comprising eight resorts (seven of which are Italian) and 400km of pistes.

Where a century ago, the resort catered exclusively to the Parisian jet set, today it’s an ideal destination for families, with a small, peaceful core village, excellent nursery facilities, and budget-friendly slopeside accommodation. As a bonus, given that Montgenèvre is north-facing, the resort has by far the best snow coverage in the entire Via Lattea area. Beginners can practice on the nursery slopes beside the village, before progressing to the gentle greens from Les Gondrans. More experienced skiers can try the off-piste at Rocher de l’Aigle and the Col de l’Alpet, or take the bus to Serre Chevalier across the border, included in the Via Lattea lift pass.

Most of the village is pedestrianised, with a wide range of non-ski activities including ice climbing, ice skating, and sleigh rides. While you won’t find much of a party here, we highly recommend the après-ski evenings run by the local ESF, involving fondue in a forest wigwam, beneath the mountains’ starry skies.

Example rail journey

Depart London St Pancras on the 10:31 Eurostar to Paris Nord; change to Paris Gare de Lyon and take the 14:53 TGV to arrive in Oulx at 19:23. From there, it’s 30 minutes by taxi or bus.

St. Anton, Austria

As the birthplace of Alpine skiing, St Anton is understandably well-regarded. Its global fame and clientele stem from this historic fact, as well as its highly prestigious hotels and heavyweight slopes. Indeed, in the words of Daniel Elkan, St. Anton is “pure bliss” for experts, with reds that would be blacks, and blacks that would be Olympic.

Off-piste skiers are spoiled for choice, but should be sure to head to Stuben for the descent into the Verwall Valley, while freestylers can catch air at the snowpark at Rendl: No. 3 in Ridestore Magazine’s Top 50 Snowparks in Europe.

Due to its size and popularity, St. Anton has been developed well beyond the ‘chocolate-box’ label ascribed to other Tyrolean resorts like Alpbach. Within the town centre, you’ll find many contemporary hotels and restaurants (several of which are Michelin-starred), as well as supermarkets, two state-of-the-art sports and leisure complexes (Arlberg WellCom and arl.park), and multiple bars and nightclubs. Ultimate Ski guide to St Anton >

Example rail journey

Depart London St Pancras at 09:31 on the Eurostar to Paris-Nord. Change to Paris-Lyon and take the 12:22 TGV from Paris-Lyon, changing in Zurich onto the 18:40 RailJet to arrive at 21:01 in St Anton.

Alpbach, Austria

Arguably one of the prettiest resorts in Tyrol, Alpbach combines picturesque, pine-clad slopes with textbook chalet architecture. It’s compact, close-knit, and warm with the smell of woodsmoke. The resort’s core village has medieval roots, growing around a church which is, bizarrely enough, named after an 8th-century Northumbrian saint, owing to missionaries from Scotland and Ireland.

Visitors arriving by train from London via Munich should expect atmospheric hotel stays, particularly within the historic four-star superior Hotel Boglerhof in the resort centre. Alpbach’s main ski area is ten minutes by bus from the village and from the top of Hornboden and Inneralpbach there are sweeping red and blue north-facing runs that hold their snow well.

Thanks to its forests and relatively low elevation, Alpbach boasts excellent visibility on white-out days; it also has some excellent off-piste powder along the far side of the Wiedersberger Horn. While most of the ski area caters to intermediates, beginners can find decent nursery slopes in Alpbach’s centre, and experts can ascend to the resort’s summit, Hornalm (2,032m), to find some more challenging blacks.

Finally, for a small village, Albach has a surprisingly large range of dining options, many of them hotel restaurants (including the Boglerhof and Albacherhof) and most offering traditional Austrian fare—we recommend Postalm. Ultimate Ski guide to Alpbach >

Example rail journey

Depart London St Pancras on the 15:04 Eurostar to Brussels, then the 19:06 Nightjet, changing at Rosenheim, to arrive in Jenbach at 08:22. From there, it’s 20 minutes by bus or taxi.

Gastein, Austria

As one of the older resorts on this list, Gastein is unfathomably romantic. Once the refuge of Austro-Hungary’s Emperor and Empress, the tight cluster of winding roads and Belle Époque hotels making up Gastein now host a wide range of guests, from Austrian day trippers to Hollywood celebrities.

Comprising four main villages (Dorfgastein, Bad Hofgastein, Bad Gastein, and Sportgastein), climbing a narrow, gorge-like valley, there’s ample choice for families and an easy railway link via Bad Gastein station, which connects directly to Salzburg. Given its low profile compared to big names like St Anton and Kitzbühel, Gastein also offers immense untapped powder, especially from Sportgastein (1,590m), the farthest basecamp up-valley.

Gastein’s tourist board places a strong emphasis on “health holidaying” owing to its underground hot springs and fresh, local cuisine. Most hotels have decent spas and in-house restaurants, including the resort’s historic centrepieces, the Hotels Straubinger and Badeschloss. Finally, while Gastein’s après-ski is reasonably low-key, if you’re visiting at the end of January, the Grand Lighthouse Festival is a European exclusive: a multi-room rave in the De L’Europe Grand Hotel.

Example rail journey

Depart London St Pancras on the 15:04 Eurostar to Brussels-Midi, arriving 18:05; then take the 19:06 Nightjet from Brussels to Salzburg arriving 07:26, and then the 08:07 Railjet, arriving at Bad Gastein at 09:28.

Wengen, Switzerland

The British have been making their annual pilgrimage to Wengen for years, with no sign of abating. When you get there, it’s obvious why. The car-free village scores 5 out of 5 for charm and the setting is spectacular. There’s a 30-minute train ride up to the top of the Kleine Scheidegg, and the resort is home to the 4.5km Lauberhorn run, the longest and oldest downhill run on the World Cup circuit.

Wengen shares 27 lifts with its neighbour, Grindelwald, and between the two of them there are about 30 mountain restaurants, such as the excellent Mary’s Cafe, famous for its hearty soups. The village has a station at its centre and the trip through Switzerland, with several easy changes, is a treat. Ultimate Ski guide to Wengen >

Example rail journey

Depart London St Pancras on the 07:31 Eurostar to Paris Nord; change to Paris Gare de Lyon and take the 12:22 TGV, changing at Basel SBB, Interlaken Ost and Lauterbrunnen to arrive at Wengen at 18:41.

Sauze d’Oulx, Italy

With a nickname like “Suzy” (after the Susa Valley), you can expect Sauze d’Oulx to be a fun, upbeat resort, just across the border from neighbouring Montgenèvre. Indeed, Sauze d’Oulx has quite a curious character: while formerly a British party resort in the 1980s and 90s, today, it’s a more prestigious affair (particularly among second-home-owners from Torino), while retaining some of that earlier oomph.

Regardless, if you’re after value-for-money skiing and high-quality Italian cuisine, it should be your first choice from this list. As with Montgenèvre (see above), Sauze d’Oulx is part of the immense Via Lattea Domain, giving you access to 400km of piste. Its local slopes, while relatively low-altitude, are all north-facing, protecting their snow from the afternoon sun. However, if you fancy fresh tracks after a few days in Sauze d’Oulx, head around the west face of Monte Triplex and take the Colò chair to arrive at Sestriere.

Sauze d’Oulx has good options for non-ski activities, including a cinema and ice rink, although you’re a little harder pressed for childcare beyond private babysitters and the local ski school. Of course, we feel the authentic Italian cuisine more than makes up for this last point, and if Italian isn’t your thing, try the tapas at Farola.

Example rail journey

Depart London St Pancras on the 10:31 Eurostar to Paris Nord; change to Paris Gare de Lyon and take the 14:53 TGV to arrive in Oulx at 19:23. From there, it’s 30 minutes by taxi or bus.

Authors: Daniel Elkan and Robert Thorne

Useful Rail Travel Guides and Resources

Guides on journeys into Europe and the Alps can be found at SnowCarbon.co.uk, Also, Seat 61 (seat61.com) and Ski Flight Free (skiflightfree.org). SnowCarbon has created a rail-ski map of France and a rail-ski map of Austria to help with journey planning, and another planning and travel companion is the Rail Map of Europe.

Journeys can be booked online at Eurostar (Eurostar.com), SNCF Connect (sncf-connect.com), Rail Europe (raileurope.co.uk) and Trainline (trainline.com). Or use expert rail booking agencies such as Railtrail (railtrail.co.uk) or Trainseurope (trainseurope.co.uk) to help plan and book your rail travel.