Direct daytime trains (winter 2026-2027)

These "snow trains" run mostly at weekends and during school holidays. Exact times for each day are on SNCF Connect, which opens sales several months ahead.

From train to slopes: which resort?

  • Bourg-Saint-Maurice: a funicular goes from the station to Les Arcs, and shuttles reach Val d'Isère, Tignes, La Plagne and La Rosière.
  • Moûtiers: the gateway to the Three Valleys. Shuttles run from the station to Méribel (about 40 minutes), Les Ménuires (about 35 minutes) and Val Thorens (about 1h15). Direct TGVs stop here on the way to Bourg-Saint-Maurice.
  • Saint-Gervais - Le Fayet: the station for Chamonix, Saint-Gervais and Megève, with the Mont-Blanc Express to the Chamonix valley.
  • Modane: for La Norma, about 15 minutes by bus, and the Maurienne valley; Saint-Michel-Valloire serves Valloire.
  • Annecy: the TGV from Paris takes about 3h45, then a coach of about an hour reaches resorts such as Les Carroz.
  • Évian: for the Chablais and the Portes du Soleil, via Lake Geneva.

Night trains

The Travelski Night Express links Paris Austerlitz to Bourg-Saint-Maurice once a week, from 18 December 2026 to 27 March 2027, with stops at Albertville, Moûtiers, Aime and Landry. It is designed for leaving on a Friday evening and skiing on Saturday morning. Last season it started at €80 one way for an adult; the 2026-2027 fares are on the Travelski website.

For the Southern Alps, the Intercités de nuit from Paris Austerlitz to Briançon serves Serre Chevalier (by the Prorel gondola), Montgenèvre, Puy-Saint-Vincent and Risoul. Track work replaced some trips by buses last winter, so confirm the actual service before booking. In the Pyrenees, the night Intercités to Latour-de-Carol reaches Ax-les-Thermes, linked to the resort by the Skirail gondola.

How far ahead to book

TGV and OUIGO tickets open about four months before departure. Snow trains fill quickly on school-holiday weekends, so book as soon as sales open, especially with skis and luggage. Travelling outside the holidays (January, early March) is much easier.

With skis and luggage

Skis travel in a bag and go on the luggage racks; keep a compact bag for boots. Renting equipment on site removes most of the weight. For a weekend, a wheeled travel bag is enough.

Train or car?

The train avoids Saturday traffic jams, mountain driving on snow and chains, and lets you sleep on the night train. It is less flexible: fixed times, a shuttle to catch and no car on site. If you want to explore several valleys, a hire car on site is still useful.

Mistakes to avoid

  • Booking late for a holiday weekend. Direct trains have few seats.
  • Forgetting the shuttle. Between the station and the resort, count on an extra journey, sometimes over an hour for Val Thorens.
  • Choosing a resort that has no link to the station. Start from the station and pick the resort afterwards, not the opposite.
  • Assuming a train runs every day. Several lines run only on certain days.

Where to sleep and what to read before leaving

If you leave very early, a hotel near Gare de Lyon saves a taxi ride: see hotels near Gare de Lyon. For the Paris stations, read the guide to Paris train stations; for other ideas, see weekends by train from Paris.

Frequently asked questions

Which ski resort is easiest to reach by train from Paris?

Bourg-Saint-Maurice (Les Arcs) by direct TGV, with a funicular from the station, or Moûtiers for the Three Valleys.

How long is the train from Paris to Bourg-Saint-Maurice?

About 4h50 on the Friday TGV INOUI and about 5h45 on the OUIGO.

Is there a night train for skiing?

Yes: the Travelski Night Express, weekly from 18 December 2026 to 27 March 2027, and the night Intercités to Briançon.

Do I need to book ahead?

Yes, especially for weekends and holidays: snow trains have few seats.

The Paris Authority editorial team, 12 November 2026.