Winter has already begun, and the February and Christmas vacations are fast approaching. So if you're a winter sports fan, now's the time to head to the French mountains for some skiing, tobogganing and snowboarding... And this year, we've decided to leave the car behind and take public transport instead! And we promise it's a lot easier than it sounds.
Skiing without exploding your carbon footprint is possible, especially as ski resorts are relatively well served. For a few hours by train and sometimes an extra hour by bus, you're guaranteed a trip that's a lot more chill than driving, and with no traffic jams to worry about! So, from Paris, many of the major railway stations are very close to the ski resorts or have all-day service to take you to the foot of the slopes from other major stations, such as Grenoble, Tarbes, Annecy... It's time to hit the slopes this winter!
1. Les Orres (Hautes-Alpes)
Night train to Embrun, then 30-minute bus ride to the resort.
2. Ax-les-Thermes (Ariège)
Direct night train from Gare d'Austerlitz.
3. Méribel, Ménuires and Val Thorens (Savoie)
For all resorts, direct train from Paris to Moutiers, then a 40-minute bus ride to Méribel, 35 minutes to Ménuires and 1h15 to Val Thorens.
4. La Norma (Savoie)
Train to Modane (direct from Paris) then 15-minute bus ride to La Norma.
5. Puy-Saint-Vincent (Hautes-Alpes)
Night train to Argentière-les-Ecrins, then 30-minute bus ride to Puy-Saint-Vincent.
6 Montgenèvre or Serre Chevalier (Hautes-Alpes)
Night train to Briançon, then 35-minute bus ride to Mongenèvre or 25-minute bus ride to Serre Chevalier.
7 Les Angles (Pyrenees)
Night train to Latour-de-Carol then 2h bus to Les Angles resort.
8. Vars (Hautes-Alpes)
Night train to Mont-Dauphin-Guillestre then 45-minute bus ride to Vars.
9. Avoriaz (Alps)
Train to Thonon-les-Bains or Cluses, then approx. 1h30 by bus.
10. Les Arcs (Savoie)
Direct train from Paris to Bourg-Saint-Maurice station, then funicular to the resort!
11. Saint-Gervais Mont Blanc (Alps)
Train from Paris to Saint-Gervais-le-Fayet station, then take the Mont Blanc tramway - France's highest cog railway - and for travel between Saint-Gervais and the Chamonix valley, take the Mont Blanc Express!
12 Cauterets (Pyrenees)
Night train to Lourdes (or day train), then bus to Cauterets, approx. 1h.
13. Alpe d'Huez, les 2 alpes , Chamrousse, Alpe du Grand Serre, Villard de Lans or les Sept Laux (Alps)
For each resort, first take the train from Paris to Grenoble, then a 1h bus ride to Chamrousse, Alpe du Grand Serre, Villard de Lans, 1h30 to Sept Laux or 1h45 to Alpe d'Huez or les 2 alpes.
14. Montclar or Orcières Merlette (Alps)
Night train to Gap, then 1h40 to Montclar or 45 minutes to Orcières Merlette.
15. Le Lioran (Massif Central)
Train to Le Lioran station, then take the ski lift out of the station to the ski slopes.
16. La Clusaz (Alps)
Train to Annecy, then 1h bus to La Clusaz.
17. Monts Jura (Haut Jura)
Train to Bellegarde-sur-Valserine, then 45-minute bus ride to the resort.
18. Grand Tourmalet (Hautes-Pyrénées)
Night train to Tarbes, then 1h25 bus ride to La Mongie.
19. Les Arcs 1600 or La Rosière (Alps)
Train to Bourg-saint-Maurice, then funicular to the resort. For La Rosière, allow 45 minutes by bus from the station.
