While many Parisians enjoy going skiing, the car journey is rarely the most pleasant part of their vacation… So, what’s the solution? Take the train! No more traffic jams, snow chains incompatible with your car, or mountain passes closed due to bad weather. But how to choose your ski resort? Sport 2000 presents a selection of ski resorts in France accessible by train from the capital. All you have to do is pick one, book your tickets, and head to the mountains and the slopes!
Les Arcs: ski resort directly accessible by train from Paris
From Paris, you can easily reach Les Arcs, located in the Northern Alps. The journey takes around 5 hours. Once you arrive at Bourg-Saint-Maurice, just take the funicular that connects the station to Les Arcs ski resort (Arcs 1600) in less than 10 minutes. In other words, this is the only ski resort directly accessible by train from Paris without needing to change transportation to reach your destination.
Alternatively, you can stay in Bourg-Saint-Maurice, a small town at the foot of the mountain at 840 meters altitude. The first slopes are just 10 minutes away by funicular or road.
L’Alpe d’Huez: the sunny resort in Isère
With exceptional sunshine and microclimate, stunning panoramas, and a unique ski area of 250 km of slopes, it’s hard not to fall for L’Alpe d’Huez. Take one of the TGV trains from Paris to Grenoble. From there, it’s about an hour by bus to reach L’Alpe d’Huez.
From Paris, including train and shuttle, expect around 4 hours to reach the heart of the Alps and start skiing.
La Bresse-Hohneck: a human-scale Vosges resort
To reach La Bresse-Hohneck in eastern France, it takes just over 3 hours. First, take the train from Paris to Remiremont, then complete the 25 km shuttle transfer.
This family-friendly ski resort is accessible by train from Paris, where you can ski as early as 6 a.m. It’s loved for its many après-ski activities and enchanting landscapes. Its numerous snow cannons ensure good snow cover throughout the winter season.
Gérardmer: lake, skiing, and winter activities
Nicknamed "The Pearl of the Vosges," Gérardmer is a charming, affordable, family-friendly resort at 660 meters altitude. Located near a lake, there are many natural sites to explore nearby (lakes, waterfalls, Grand Ventron nature reserve…). Local gastronomy is also a highlight. Its 40 km ski area, though low in altitude, is highly appreciated for its spruce and fir forests. Play areas and the sledding stadium are free.
To reach this ski resort accessible by train from Paris, it takes about 3 hours by train to Remiremont (then 30 minutes by road), Saint-Dié-des-Vosges (then 40 minutes by road), or Épinal (45 minutes by road).
Serre-Chevalier: heading to the Southern Alps
If you don’t arrive directly at Serre-Chevalier from Paris (as with L’Alpe d’Huez), no worries: 25 minutes by bus after around 12 hours by night train. This way, you arrive in the morning rested and ready for a day on the slopes.
Serre-Chevalier, a ski resort accessible by train from Paris, is worth the trip: a magnificent 250 km ski area, rich surrounding nature, and the fortified town of Briançon, built by Vauban and listed as UNESCO World Heritage.
Mont-Dore: a family resort in Auvergne
5h20 by train and shuttle brings you to this small family-friendly resort in the Massif Central (30 km of slopes) packed with activities: sledding, covered conveyor lift, play areas, and a "speed-riding" zone. In addition to alpine skiing, Le Mont-Dore is also popular for cross-country skiing.
Barèges: Pyrenees resort accessible by train from Paris
Allow just under 5 hours for the Paris-Lourdes journey, then 1 hour by shuttle to reach the Pyrenean ski resort accessible by train from Paris. Barèges and La Mongie form the Grand Tourmalet ski area, the largest in the French Pyrenees.
There is also now a night train from Paris to Tarbes to reach Barèges, taking 10 hours.
Once there, don’t hesitate to visit a ski rental shop to get equipped and enjoy your mountain holiday. You can also pre-book your equipment rental for convenience and better prices. Reserve online when booking your accommodation and train tickets with SNCF, and you’ll be all set for your winter vacation!
Note: This list is not exhaustive. You can take TGV or TER trains to many other destinations in the Alps (arriving in Lyon, Annecy, or Grenoble, then shuttle by bus), Jura, Vosges, Massif Central, or Pyrenees. If you want to spend your winter holiday at La Clusaz, Val Thorens, Saint Lary, Val d’Isère, Val Cenis, the Portes du Soleil area, Luz-Saint-Sauveur, Chamonix-Mont-Blanc or elsewhere in France, you can travel entirely by public transport from Paris. If needed, you can also rent a car from the arrival station to the ski resort.