Like the story of the tortoise and the hare, journeys to ski resorts never quite make sense. You’d imagine that, for speed, flying to the Alps would beat train travel hands down. But in my experience, it rarely works like that. Airport queues, cramped flights and crawling transfers (which invariably take longer than they are supposed to), can add up to long delays. I learned the hard way that flying isn’t the best way to the white stuff. Now, like many other skiers, I travel to the ski resorts of the Alps by train every time.
Ski holidays by train certainly feel different from flying: legroom, scenery, a café bar and most importantly, the feeling that your holiday has already started. Plus, your journey guzzles less fuel and produces only a fraction of the carbon emissions of flying, too.
So what are your options to get to ski resorts by train?
The New Eurostar Snow Train
It used to be that the simplest way to European ski resorts by train was always the direct Eurostar Ski Train direct from London to the Tarentaise region of the French Alps. Unfortunately it stopped during the pandemic. But in exciting news, Eurostar have relaunched it for the the 2025-26 season... sort of.
The Eurostar Snow Train (as it's now called) is actually designed to cater to the Dutch and Belgian markets—and so the trains run direct from Amsterdam and Rotterdam, or from Brussels and Antwerp to the Tarentaise, with stops in Chambéry, Albertville, Moûtiers, Aime-La-Plagne, Landry and Bourg-Saint-Maurice, which is ideal for the Three Valleys, La Plagne, Les Arcs, Tignes, Val d'Isère and a whole bunch of other resorts.
Don't worry if you're not lucky enough to live in Holland or Belgium: Brits can take advantage of this excellent service with only a single, simple platform change: just jump on a regular Eurostar from London, and join the Snow Train when it stops in Lille. Outbound journeys are every Saturday during the winter season, and there are returns on both Saturdays and Sundays.
Check the Eurostar website for times, details, and bookings.
The TravelSki Express
For the past three seasons, French tour operator TravelSki has chartered entire trains, rebranding them the ‘Travelski Express’. The downside of this is that you can only buy tickets for the Travelski Express as part of a whole ski holiday package, that includes train, transfer, accommodation, and a seven-day lift pass.
The ski resorts served by the new Tavelski Express however, do include of the French Alps big hitters: La Plagne, Les Arcs, Les Menuires, Méribel, Tignes and Val d’Isère. The outbound journey — overnight on Fridays — drops you in the Alps in time for first lifts on Saturday mornings. The included transfer means that there’s no waiting around for a bus and no need to book a taxi.
Like the Snow Train before it, the Travelski Express only has sit-up seats but no flat beds, so you might not get the best night’s sleep, and booze is banned. Coming back from the Alps, however, the journey is by day (and alcohol is permitted).
The Inghams Snow Train
Not to be outdone by their French counterparts, UK-based skiing experts Inghams allow guests to book train travel as part of their package — with those who do travelling the same route as the Eurostar Snow Train. So that's London St. Pancras to the Alps, with a simple platform change in Lille.
The tour operator began offering this option in 2023, but like a TGV gathering speed, demand has grown rapidly.
Travel by Train to the Alps with a Stop in Paris
The other way to get to the slopes by train is, of course, to catch a conventional Eurostar to Paris, and a train on from there. Travelling independently like this gives you a far wider choice of resorts. Combining a Eurostar and a TGV (mostly via Paris) will get you to any destination in France (not just the resorts around the Tarantaise Valley) and some resorts in Italy, within a day. By adding another train to the journey, you can get to resorts in Switzerland and some of Austria's finest ski resorts, too.
Some skiers are put off by the idea of changing stations in Paris, but if you don’t want to cross Paris by Metro, a taxi from the taxi rank or a pre-booked taxi makes it smoother. To get yourself into resort earlier on your first day or give yourself more rail options, you could also consider taking a Eurostar to Paris, Lille, or Brussels one night earlier, stopping over, and then catching a train to the Alps from there the next morning.
This is what SNOW's esteemed publisher did with his family last season—and both he and (perhaps more importantly, his kids) reckoned the train travel and the stop in Paris was one of the highlights of the whole trip!
Sleeper Train to the French Alps
As well as the TravelSki Express, there are a couple of other options for people wanting to take sleeper trains to the mountains. In 2016 the French government axed lots of popular sleeper-train routes. But skiers and the French public protested, and the sole survivor of the cull was the Paris – Briancon route—which if you're travelling to Serre Chevalier, Montgenevre or La Grave is a pretty good option.
There's also a sleeper train linking Paris to the Pyrenees, and the French railway authorities have made noises about reinstating more routes by 2030. Hopefully soon skiers will be able to look forward to more wine, cheese and cosy couchette bonhomie.
Sleeper Trains to Austria
The Tirol region is home to some of Austria’s best resorts, many of which have a train station located right in the village. Overnight journeys to this region are easy. You take a Eurostar to Brussels, switch to the adjacent platform and board an ICE train, whose restaurant carriages serve draft beer, wine, and the kind of hot meals and fresh salads that wouldn’t be out of place in any bistro.
At Cologne, grab a beer opposite the station before taking a NightJet sleeper train, which has two, three and four-berth sleeping compartments, to your ski destination. The overall journey is several hours longer than the direct TravelSki Express to France, but with a flat bed and privacy, you’re more likely to sleep soundly.
How to Book a Ski Holiday by Train
Booking train travel to the Alps isn’t as straightforward as booking a flight. Some journeys can be easily booked online, and good starting points are the Rail Europe and Trainline websites. Rail Europe in particular pride themselves on their excellent customer support and service.
Arguably the best website for info on cross border train travel is The Man in Seat 61. Run by a self-confessed train nerd, Mark Smith, it's packed with incredibly useful, info, route suggestions and booking links and is kept scrupulously up to date.
Which are the Best Ski Resorts to Travelling by Train?
Here are ten of the best ski resorts to get to by rail, and indicative travel times compared to what it might take you to fly. (NB: To calculate the comparative journey times, we’ve assumed that our example passenger lives in Central London, no more than a half hour away from St. Pancras station).
La Clusaz, France
10h 10m by daytime train / 7h 25m hours by plane
The beautiful ski resort village of La Clusaz, in the Aravis mountain range, is arguably one of the most romantic resorts in France, with an abundance of hospitable Savoyarde restaurants, and some great skiing. The resort’s Aqua Park has views over the surrounding snowy peaks from its indoor and outdoor pools.
Getting from London to La Clusaz by train
Depart London St Pancras on the 08.01 Eurostar to Paris Gare du Nord. Then take the 12.47 TGV from Paris Gare de Lyon to Annecy, arriving 16:30. Transfer time is 45 mins.
La Plagne, France
12h 20m by overnight train / 8h 45m hours by plane
The 11 villages that make up La Plagne offer some amazing ski-in-ski-out bases for exploring the vast 425km Paradiski area. There’s plenty to do in this ski resort apart from the skiing too, including moonbiking, which launches this winter on 100 percent electric machines that are a cross between snow-scooters and skidoos.
Getting from London to La Plagne by train
Depart from London St Pancras on the 19:45 Travelski Express to Bourg St Maurice, arriving at 06:16. Transfer time is 45 mins. Alternatively, book the Eurostar Snow Train from London St Pancras to Aime-la-Plagne, with a platform change in Lille. Transfer time is 20 minutes.
Söll, Austria
18h 40m by overnight train / 7h 55m hours by plane
Intermediate skiers will be in their element in the ski resort of Söll, part of the SkiWelt area. It’s a paradise for cruising, and you’ll quickly clock up the mileage in a ski area that boasts incredible views over the Wilderkaiser mountain range. The après ski and village vibe is lively too.
Getting from London to Söll by train
Depart London St Pancras on the 15:04 Eurostar to Brussels, arriving 18:05; take the 18:25 ICE from Brussels to Cologne, arriving 20:15; have dinner and take the 22:17 NightJet sleeper train to Kufstein, arriving 08:26. Transfer time is 15 mins
Les Gets, France
10h 50m by daytime train / 7h 35m hours by plane
The friendly village of Les Gets is part of the huge Portes du Soleil ski area. Its nearest neighbour is Morzine, and beyond that, Avoriaz. On its own picturesque local slopes there’s a new kind of accommodation, the Chéry Dôme, where skiers can sleep up on the mountain, under the stars with a stove and outdoor fire-pit.
Getting from London to Les Gets by train
Depart London St Pancras on the 09:31 Eurostar to Paris-Nord. Change to Paris-Lyon and take the 14:18 TGV to Bellegarde, and then local TER train to Cluses, arriving at 18:52. Transfer time is 25 mins.
Sauze d'Oulx, Italy
10h 45m by daytime train / 7h 45m hours by plane
Just over the French border in the Piedmont region, the village of Sauze d’Oulx makes a great base for exploring the 400km Milky Way ski area. You’ll find a friendly, relaxed vibe on the tree-lined slopes, and plenty of ambience in the village. Restaurants such as Da Salvo, Il Cantun and L’Ortiche have gained a deserved reputation for great Italian cuisine.
Getting from London to Sauze d'Oulx by train
Depart London St Pancras on the 08:01 Eurostar to Paris-Nord. Change to Paris-Lyon and take the 12:47 TGV to Oulx, arriving at 17:28. Transfer time is 15 mins.
Les Arcs, France
10h by Inghams ski train / 8h 50m by plane
Connected to the terminus at Bourg St Maurice by a funicular, Les Arcs is one of the quickest and most accessible ski resorts you can reach by train. But just because it's easy (especially with the new Inghams Ski Train option) doesn't mean you're compromising on the quality of skiing. Les Arcs makes up one half of the huge Paradiski area, and has a massive range of slopes and terrain to explore.
Getting from London to Les Arcs by train
Depart London St Pancras on the Eurostar Snow Train. Change platforms in Lille at 11.30. Depart Lille 12.15, and arrive into Bourg St Maurice, arriving at 18.20. Transfer time is 10 minutes by funicular railway.
Les Menuires, France
11h 20m by overnight train / 8h 40m hours by plane
One of the best-value resorts in the vast Three Valleys ski area, Les Menuires is introducing a new course in “wilderness skiing” this winter, where as instructor guides you through some of best spots in resort for spotting wildlife. These include Vallée des Encombres, home to ibex, the Lou Valley, with its frozen lake, and the forests of Les Yvosses.
Getting from London to Les Menuires by train
Depart London St Pancras on the 19:45 Travelski Express to Moutiers, arriving at 05:32. Alternatively, book the Eurostar Snow Train from London St Pancras to Moutiers, with a platform change in Lille. Transfer time is 45 mins.
Zermatt, Switzerland
23h 05m by train with stopover / 8h 55m hours by plane
One of Switzerland’s best-known resorts, Zermatt is famous both for luxury, and challenging skiing. The magnificent shape of the Matterhorn looms over the village, and the slopes on its flanks provide some of the best terrain anywhere in Europe.
Getting from London to Zermatt by train
Depart London St Pancras on the 18:01 Eurostar to Paris-Nord. Stopover in Paris and take the 07:56 TGV from Paris-Lyon to Lausanne, then an InterRegio to Visp and a local train up to Zermatt, arriving 15:14, in the village.
Tignes, France
12h 20m by overnight train / 9h 05m hours by plane
One of France’s most snow sure resorts, Tignes has an abundance of ski-in-ski-out properties on its high-altitude slopes. This winter, the resort is introducing adventure-survival courses on the lake, with explorer Alban Michon. Children on the course can learn to build igloos and practice trapping skills.
Getting from London to Tignes by train
Depart London St Pancras on the 19:45 Travelski Express to Bourg St Maurice, arriving at 06:16. Alternatively, book the Eurostar Snow Train from London St Pancras to Bourg St Maurice independently. You'll need to change platforms in Lille. Transfer time is 45 mins.
Val d'Isère, France
10h by Inghams ski train / 9h 30m by plane
Val d'Isère is a much-loved British favourite, and is now one of the three resorts (along with its neighbour, Tignes and Les Arcs) served by Inghams' new Eurostar Snow Train packages. With a vast modern lift system, 150km of pistes, and huge amounts of accessible backcountry terrain to explore, you'll no doubt appreciate the extra day's skiing that the new Inghams option allows.
Getting from London to Val d'Isère by train
Depart London St Pancras on the 9:00am Eurostar Snow Train. Change platforms in Lille at 11.30. Depart Lille 12.15, and arrive into Bourg St Maurice, arriving at 18.20. Transfer time is 40 minutes.
- READ NEXT: The Best Ski Resorts in Europe for Beginners
