Travelling To Chamonix

The fastest way to get to Chamonix is to fly to Geneva and take the ski bus direct to the ski resort. There are other options, which include driving, trains and buses. Driving to Chamonix is also fairly straightforward owing to the coverage of major motorways in this region including the A40 motorway from Geneva. Trains do not run here directly from any major centre; however, a change at Annecy to a local service is all that is required when coming from Paris. Bus services arrive from Switzerland, France and Italy, and getting about the resort by bus is the cheapest option.

By car

Those who are driving and coming from the UK have about an 8-hour, 550-mile drive from Calais. By taking the motorway route, you will also have to pay tolls, although this is by far the fastest option. Many visitors to Chamonix fly to Geneva and hire a car from there. The drive from Geneva Cointrin Airport is only about 50 miles and takes around an hour, depending on traffic; follow the A40 Autoroute Blanche southeast and then take the N205 and the D243. Lyon also has an international airport and is 150 miles to the west. Parking in Chamonix can be tight in-season if your hotel doesnt have a car park. Car parks can be found on Route du Bouchet, rue des Allobroges and in Chamonix Sud, although they will be full in-season if you dont get there early.

By rail

High-speed TGV trains run to nearby Annecy, from where standard services run to Chamonix. TGV trains also run to Lyon and St Gervais les Bains, from where local services run directly to Chamonix. There is no direct service from Geneva to Chamonix; you will have to go via St Gervais les Bains. Chamonix Mont Blanc Station is located on avenue Michel Croz and has good facilities including left luggage.

By bus

Buses come in from Geneva Bus Station, with the journey taking about 2 hours, and 3 hours from Annecy. Services also arrive from Italy through the Mont Blanc Tunnel and long-distance buses from the UK usually go through Paris and Geneva. Chamonix Bus Station is located in the train station building on Avenue Michel Croz. Bus travel within Chamonix is the cheapest way to get around, with yellow/blue buses running frequently to the cable car stations around town and to other villages in the valley.

By air

Geneva Cointrin Airport is the nearest and most preferred international airport for getting to Chamonix. The airport is situated just to the north of Geneva and just over 50 miles from Chamonix. It is a modern, 24-hour airport, able to handle in excess of 10 million passengers annually and processes numerous daily international and domestic flights through major carriers.

The one terminal building is divided up into Swiss and French sectors, the latter of which must be accessed when taking a bus to Chamonix. Passenger facilities and services at Geneva Cointrin Airport are excellent and include: banks, currency exchange booths, cash machines, a medical centre and a post office. There is also a lost property office and left luggage services at the train station. Other facilities include conference rooms and internet acces, and you will also find a comprehensive selection of shops, cafs, restaurants and bars.

The airport railway station is a few minutes walk from the arrivals floors and taking a train to Chamonix will involve a change at Geneva Cornavin Station in Geneva and another change at St Gervais les Bains, near Chamonix. The AeroSki Bus runs directly from the airport to the ski resorts of the Chamonix Mont Blanc region in about 90 minutes. If you intend on hiring a car and driving to Chamonix, the A40 motorway provides fast access. You could also take a taxi direct to Chamonix from the airport, although this will be an expensive option.

Alternatively, visitors could fly to Lyon if flights to Geneva are hard to obtain. Trains run to Annecy and onto Chamonix from Lyon, while buses run direct.

Taxis

Making use of taxis in Chamonix is the easiest way to get between the villages and to the cable car stations. A taxi stand is located outside the train station for transport to hotels. Minibuses are also available.