The Chamonix valley is an extremely popular holiday destination all year round. As one of the Europe’s biggest ski resorts is attracts thousands of winter sports enthusiasts and other holidaymakers looking for a French mountain getaway in the Alps. If you’re considering Chamonix as your next holiday destination but wondering how to get there, you have a range of options.
When travelling to the continent you usually have three options – fly, drive or ride the train. Chamonix is easily accessible from most European countries and is well serviced by many transport companies. The quickest way to reach the French Alps from the UK is to fly, but there are plenty of choices!
Fly to Chamonix
The main transport hub for Chamonix is Geneva – which is actually in Switzerland! Geneva is well connected by many airlines from most European cities, and the transfer time from here to Chamonix is around one hour fifteen minutes. This is the closest airport to Chamonix – alternatively you can also fly to Lyon but this is an extra hour away by car.
From the airport you can hire a car, catch a public bus or arrange a private transfer to take you into your accommodation at Chamonix.
Take the train to Chamonix
During peak times it can be cheaper to get the train to your French holiday destination, thanks to the Eurostar. You can take a fast TGV train from Paris or Lyon followed by regional trains to Saint Gervais Les Bains, which is the best place to catch the Mont Blanc Express Train. This train will take you right into Chamonix, so it is possible to get all the way from London to Chamonix by rail!
Drive to Chamonix
If you plan to stop off at some other French destinations or want to turn your ski holiday into a longer roadtrip, then you might choose to self-drive to Chamonix. The Chamonix valley is a big place so it can sometimes be preferable to have your own car, but you could always hire one from the airport. If you want to drive from the UK to Chamonix you will have to take a cross channel ferry to a French port and then take the long car journey to Chamonix which is on the other side of France.
As one of the world’s most popular ski resorts, Chamonix is relatively easy to reach and there is a huge choice of transport options.