Departing from Paris, which is particularly well-served by train stations, it’s easy to reach many ski resorts by train, whether in the Alps, Vosges, Jura, etc. Outside the capital, if you live in a major French city, there are also plenty of options to replace the car with the train for your winter holidays.
Whether you are based in Lyon, Toulouse, Bordeaux, Marseille, or Strasbourg, discover enjoyable resorts where you can go skiing in France during a stay, or even for some, just for a day or a weekend. Book your tickets and head to the station!
Ski resorts accessible by train from Strasbourg
From Strasbourg, you have several quick options to reach ski resorts by train.
- La Bresse-Hohneck:
From Strasbourg, you can ski at La Bresse-Hohneck (1h40 train ride, getting off at Remiremont). Its 34 km ski area, set among forests and lakes and facing the Hohneck (the highest mountain in the Vosges), is delightful. Accessible by train, a cross-country skiing paradise, offering night skiing as well, La Bresse-Hohneck is a family-friendly resort suitable for all levels, ideal for skiing in pristine nature.
- Gérardmer:
Also located in the Vosges, Gérardmer can be reached via Remiremont station. Its lake, rivers, gorges, and nearby waterfalls, along with the beauty of its wooded 40 km family ski area, make it a popular destination. The resort has snow cannons, so skiing is possible for much of the year.
Note: It is faster to reach by car (about 1h40) than by public transport (several hours).
Ski resorts accessible by train from Lyon
To find ski resorts accessible by train, Lyon is ideal: it is arguably the best major city in France for skiing easily, conveniently located near Alpine resorts, like Grenoble.
- Saint-Pierre-de-Chartreuse:
A small Alpine resort at 900 meters altitude, Saint-Pierre-de-Chartreuse is the closest by train from Lyon (1h30 by train plus 30 minutes shuttle). Perfect for those who enjoy ski touring or spa treatments. You can even catch views of Mont Blanc and other spectacular panoramas.
- Les Arcs:
For a large ski playground, head to Les Arcs to explore "Paradiski" with 425 km of slopes. Getting there by train from Lyon takes about 3 hours to Bourg-Saint-Maurice (connected to Les Arcs by a funicular in under 10 minutes). It’s also a convenient way to access the La Clusaz ski area (requiring an additional 30-minute bus ride from Bourg-Saint-Maurice), as Paradiski includes several resorts including La Clusaz.
Ski resorts accessible by train from Toulouse
Situated at the foot of the Pyrenees, Toulouse has a prime location to reach several winter resorts by train or car.
- Ax-les-Thermes:
Ax-les-Thermes is directly accessible by train from Toulouse (around 2 hours). This thermal resort specializing in rheumatology treatments appeals to families. You can visit the Bains du Couloubret for relaxation and wellness activities.
Its ski area suits all levels and features a snowpark, snow garden, and childcare. Ideal for hiking and snowshoeing as well.
- Luchon-Superbagnères:
In 2h20 (train to Montréjeau-Gourdan-Polignan, then a 50-minute shuttle), you can ski on 32 km of slopes with snow cannons suitable for all levels. Luchon-Superbagnères is a family-friendly resort, with tree-lined slopes, a snowpark, and a sledding track. Nearby peaks, including Pic d’Aneto, the highest in the Pyrenees, are stunning.
Ski resorts accessible by train from Bordeaux
From Bordeaux, the fastest way to go skiing is to reach the Pyrenees.
- Cauterets:
This ski resort is easily reachable by train from Bordeaux. Cauterets is under 4 hours from Saint-Jean station (2h30 TGV to Lourdes, then a 1-hour shuttle to Cauterets).
Its ski area is divided into 2 parts and connected to the charming thermal town by cable car. Cauterets is lively in the evenings as well.
- Grand Tourmalet:
The Grand Tourmalet combines Barèges and La Mongie. It is the largest ski area in the French Pyrenees (68 slopes), suitable for all skiers. Barèges is a family-friendly village, while La Mongie is a modern resort at the base of the slopes.
By train, it’s about 4h30 to Tarbes plus 1 hour by shuttle.
Ski resorts accessible by train from Marseille
Living in Marseille doesn’t mean just sunny seaside holidays. Several mountain resorts are reachable by train and car for winter skiing.
- Mont-Ventoux:
Mont-Ventoux is about 4h15 from Marseille (train + shuttle). A family-friendly resort, it offers skiing as well as snowboarding, snowshoeing, and views of Mont Ventoux.
- Pra-Loup:
With 180 km of slopes (including 4 boardercross tracks), Pra-Loup is popular with Marseillais. Family-oriented, it has ski school, childcare, and play areas.
Pra-Loup is also lively at night and accessible by train (around 5 hours including shuttle).
Check the SNCF website for train and bus schedules and book tickets to enjoy the slopes!
Do you live in another major French city (Paris, Grenoble, Nantes, etc.)? Looking for resorts near you by car as well? Discover our complete guide to plan your ski trip close to home.