Do you love winter sports but want to limit the environmental impact of your stay? Today, many ski resorts are accessible by train. Given that transport accounts for a significant proportion of the carbon footprint of our vacations, replacing the car with the railroads can greatly reduce our impact. If you'd like to change your transportation habits, here's a list of the best French ski resorts accessible by train.
1- Alpe d'Huez, the Alps just a train ride away
TheAlpe d'Huez ski resort is one of the most famous in France. Every year, numerous sports enthusiasts flock here to enjoy one of the country's largest ski areas. It's also home to the famous Tomorrowland Winter electro festival. To get there, all you have to do is get to Grenoble train station, where a special shuttle service runs to the resort in about an hour and a half.
Where to stay in Alpe d'Huez?
For your stay in Alpe d'Huez, here is a selection of the best-rated hotels:
- Royal Ours Blanc Hôtel Spa: discover a comfortable hotel with spa and swimming pool. Book your stay here.
- Le Pic Blanc: enjoy a chic chalet atmosphere with breathtaking mountain views. You can book your nights here.
Good to know: once you've chosen your accommodation, don't forget to book your ski equipment in advance. With the code petitfuteski you can benefit from a 10% discount on our partner's website.
2- Avoriaz in the Alps
The resort of Morzine-Avoriaz gives you access to the French-Swiss Portes du Soleil ski area and its 600km of ski runs. To get to this not-to-be-missed Alpine resort, you'll need to take a train to Cluses or Thonon-les-Bains, where shuttles will take you directly to the foot of the slopes. For your winter sports holiday in Avoriaz, discover the best things to do in the resort.
Good to know : if you prefer an all-inclusive stay, you can choose the accommodation package that suits you best on our partner's website.
Where to stay in Avoriaz?
Here's a selection of the best-rated accommodation in Morzine-Avoriaz:
- Hotel Les Rhodos Morzine: this hotel offers comfortable, well-equipped rooms. There's a bar and a traditional restaurant. Book your stay here.
- Le Mas de la Coutettaz: this charming Savoyard mansion boasts the sobritish patina of its owner and offers refined rooms. The establishment also serves as a table d'hôtes. You can book your stay here.
3- Serre-Chevalier by train to Briançon
"Serre-Chevalier is the largest winter sports resort in the Southern Alps. It offers an exceptional ski area in a vast natural environment, just a stone's throw from the Ecrins National Park. To get there, take the train to Briançon. The town of Vauban is just a stone's throw from the slopes. If you want to save time on your journey, you can even take an overnight train there. Once in Briançon, a shuttle bus will take you to the resort.
Article to read: to help you organize your stay, discover the must-do activities in Serre-Chevalier in winter.
Where to stay in Serre-Chevalier?
To make the most of your stay in Serre-Chevalier, here's a selection of the best-rated accommodations:
- Le Grand Hôtel & Spa Nuxe. This 4-star establishment offers cosy, fully-equipped rooms at the foot of the slopes. Book your stay now.
- Hôtel du Mont Thabor. This 3-star establishment offers comfortable rooms, some with mountain views. Book here.
4- The best ski resorts accessible by train: Chamonix-Mont-Blanc
Chamonix is one of the most beautiful mountain villages in the Alps. It is a popular destination for mountaineers, who flock here every year to tackle the famous Mont-Blanc. To get to Chamonix, you'll need to take the train to Saint-Gervais Le Fayet station. From there, take the Mont-Blanc Express, the mountain train linking France and Switzerland. It's well worth the effort: you'll pass through some impressive Alpine scenery, which you can admire from the train's panoramic carriages.
Where to stay in Chamonix?
Here's a selection of the best-rated accommodation in Chamonix:
- Hôtel Aiguille du Midi. This historic establishment has been offering a wide range of activities and tastefully decorated, fully-equipped rooms for over a hundred years. Book your stay now.
- L'Auberge du Bois Prin. This luxurious mountain chalet offers rooms with balconies overlooking the Aiguille du Midi. You can book your stay here.
5- Skiing at La Norma
The La Norma ski resort in Savoie offers almost 65km of pistes for all levels, spread out between altitudes of 1350m and 2750m. In addition to an impressive vertical drop, this family-friendly resort boasts top-quality snow cover throughout the season. To get there, you'll need to stop at the Saint-Michel-Valloire train station. From there, a shuttle bus will take you to the resort.
Where to stay in La Norma?
For your stay in La Norma, we recommend staying at the Résidence Goélia Les Balcons d'Anaïs. This three-star residence offers fully-equipped apartment-hotels at the foot of the slopes and a stone's throw from the ski lifts. You can book your stay today.
6- The best ski resorts accessible by train: Ax-les-Thermes
If you prefer the Pyrenees to the Alps, head for Ax-les-Thermes. In addition to theAx 3 Domaines ski resort, the village has been a renowned spa since Roman times. If you want to try the hottest thermal water in the Pyrenees, don't forget to pack your bathing suit! To get to the resort, get off at the Ax-les-Thermes train station. If you're staying further up the resort, shuttle buses will take you there.
Where to stay in Ax-les-Thermes?
For your stay in Ax-les-Thermes, here's a selection of the best-rated accommodations:
- Le Clos Saint-Louis. Here you'll find fully-equipped accommodation, or private rooms with en suite bathrooms. More information and booking here.
- Hotel Le Chalet. This 3-star hotel offers well-equipped rooms close to the ski lifts. For reservations and further information, click here.
7- Saint-Gervais-les-Bains, a stone's throw from Mont-Blanc
At the foot of Mont Blanc, the resort of Saint-Gervais-les-Bains is famous for both its thermal waters and its breathtaking views of the mountain. This family-friendly resort gives you access to the Evasion Mont-Blanc ski area, with its 400km of pistes and 2000m vertical drop. To get there, you'll need to take the Tramway du Mont-Blanc, France's highest cog railway, to the Saint-Gervais Le Fayet station.
Where to stay in Saint-Gervais-les-Bains?
To help you find the best accommodation for your stay in Saint-Gervais, here is a selection of the best-rated :
- Le Châlet-Hôtel des 2 Gares. This superb, completely refurbished establishment offers comfortable rooms and local cuisine. For further information and reservations, click here.
- Le Saint-Gervais Hotel & Spa Handwritten Collection. This 4-star establishment promises a sumptuous stay with spa, cosy rooms and mountain views. Don't wait any longer to book !
8- The best ski resorts accessible by train: Les Arcs
In the heart of the Alps, the resort of Les Arcs is part of the excellent Paradiski domain, the second largest linked ski area in the world. To take advantage of its 425km of slopes and beautiful views of Mont Blanc, travel to Les Arcs by train to the Bourg-Saint-Maurice station. Don't forget to put on your wetsuit on the train, because when you arrive, all you have to do is take the funicular. In just seven minutes, you'll be at the foot of the Arc 1600 slopes.
Related article: What to do in Les Arcs in winter? Our top 15 must-do activities
Where to stay in Les Arcs?
Here is a selection of top-rated accommodation for your stay in Les Arcs:
- Pierre & Vacances Le Belmont. At the foot of the slopes in Arc 1800, this residence offers comfortable apartments with balconies overlooking the mountains, and numerous activities. Reservations and information here.
- L'Hôtel Arcadien. In Arc 1600, this modern hotel with a mountain atmosphere offers good value for money and is located at the foot of the slopes. Book your stay now.
9- Haute-Savoie: take the train to La Clusaz
Located in Haute-Savoie, La Clusaz is one of the best ski resorts to spend Christmas in. Despite its strong tourist appeal, La Clusaz has managed to retain its character. Spread over five mountain ranges, the ski area offers 125km of pistes, and up to 210km if you join the Domaine des Aravis. To get there, take the Annecy train station and the shuttle to La Clusaz.
Where to stay in La Clusaz?
To help you find the best accommodation, here's a selection of the best-rated in La Clusaz:
- The Chalet Alpage hotel. This renovated former farmhouse is now a charming three-star establishment, with comfortable, well-equipped rooms. For more information and reservations, click here.
- Hôtel Les Sapins. This 3-star hotel in the heart of the village is just a stone's throw from the slopes. The cosy rooms are decorated in typical Savoyard style, and some have balconies. Book here.
10- Skiing in the Jura by train: Les Rousses
Prefer to go winter sports in the Jura? No problem, the resort of Les Rousses is also accessible by train. This resort boasts the largest Nordic ski area in France and Europe, perfect for cross-country skiers. There are two ways to get there. From France, you can take the shuttle to the Morez resort. Or from Switzerland to the La Cure train station.
Related article : What to do in Les Rousses in winter? Top 10 must-do activities
Where to stay in Les Rousses?
To help you make your choice, here is a selection of the best-rated accommodation in Les Rousses:
- Le domaine du Mont-Saint-Jean. This 3-star hotel offers comfortable, well-equipped rooms. Parking is free and the location is ideal for staying in the resort. Book here.
- Le Lodge Hôtel Les Rousses. At the foot of the slopes, this cottage offers cosy, pleasant, well-equipped rooms. Book your stay now.
11- The best ski resorts accessible by train: Le Lioran
Located in the Cantal region, the family-friendly resort of Le Lioran is the leading ski area in the Massif Central. You'll find 60km of downhill ski runs, and 5kms of marked Nordic trails. Take the opportunity to climb to the summit of Plomb du Cantal and admire the surrounding scenery from a superb panoramic vantage point. To reach the resort, take the Le Lioran train station. From here, you can even take a ski lift to the resort's large snowfield.
Where to stay in Le Lioran?
If you're looking for a place to stay in Le Lioran, we recommend the Rocher du Cerf, a hotel at the foot of the ski slopes offering rooms with panoramic mountain views and good value for money. For further information and reservations, click here.
Why choose the train for your ski holiday?
As skiing is a tourist activity that has a negative impact on the environment, it's important for skiers and travelers to take action in the areas available to them. Of the total carbon footprint of ski resorts in France, 57% is linked to travel. By choosing to travel by train rather than by car or sometimes even by plane, you can greatly reduce your impact on the environment.
Tempted by our selection? Take a look at our train fares and book now!
