Chamonix — Planning your trip

Chamonix is actually the colloquially name for Chamonix Mont-Blanc which is French commune (parish) in the Haute-Savoie department (county) of the French Alps. The town is very close (skiing distance) to the borders of Switzerland and Italy.

Geneva (Switzerland) airport is 88km away and Turin-Caselle (Italy) 171 km and Lyon-St-Exupery (France) 220km.

Flying to Chamonix

Chamonix's proximity to Geneva is both a strength and weakness. On one hand, the town is perfect for ski weekends and short breaks. Within fifty minutes' drive from the airport you could be on the slopes for lunchtime after an early morning flight. On the downside, the easy access can mean that in high season and at weekends, the traffic and capacity reaches fever pitch. Geneva is by far the easiest airport but the next biggest airports are Turin – reached through the Mont Blanc tunnel – or Lyon-St-Exupery.

Airport transfers to Chamonix

SAT bus runs regular public services from Geneva. For the quickest and most hassle-free way of travelling to Chamonix, take a private transfer from a company such as Cham Express or Mountain drop-offs.

Taking the train to Chamonix

The main TGV stops for changes to Chamonix are Annecy, Lyon, Bellegarde, Chambéry / Aix Les Bains and Saint Gervais Les Bains / Le Fayet. If you can get a train to Saint Gervais Les Bains / Le Fayet it will save you an extra change as this is where the Mont-Blanc Express departs for the Chamonix Valley – it goes all the way to Vallorcine on the Swiss border. You can download a timetable from the Chamonix tourist office website.

If you arriving in to Geneva by train be sure to allow plenty of time to cross the city as the trains to France leave from the old station at Eau Vive.

Driving to Chamonix

Driving to the resort from the UK will take you about 10 hours from Calais. The motorways are the quickest route but you will have to pay around €50-60 in toll charges each way. The most common journey passes by Calais, Reims, Dijon, Geneva and finally Chamonix. The upside of having a car in Chamonix means you can drive to your ski area of choice instead of taking the often-crowded buses. Make sure you carry snow chains and know how and when to use them – this is a legal requirement in the French Alps. If you want to factor in a stop off then Troyes or Reims are convenient.