11 of the Best Ski Resorts by Train

Europe Rail-Accessible Ski Resorts 2025–26

For skiers contemplating a swap from aircraft or automobile to coach – and for these already travelling by rail – some fascinating new choices have arrived for winter 2025-26.

Firstly, there’s an enormous enchancment to the Eurostar Snow service from London to the French Alps by way of Lille-Europe. For 2 winter seasons, the service departed London on a Saturday and returned from the Alps on a Sunday. This created a logistical problem as a result of most Alpine lodging is offered on a Saturday-to-Saturday foundation, which means skiers or tour operators needed to discover eighth-night lodging.

Fortunately, for this winter, Eurostar has added a Saturday return, alongside their pre-existing Sunday return. Nevertheless, what stays an issue is that there are far too few seats on the service (solely 339 on every prepare) to deal with demand. Peak dates promote out shortly.

Therefore, an alternate and well-liked manner of attending to Alpine resorts is to take a high-speed prepare from Paris. Final season, a serious route between Paris and Turin was closed as a consequence of a landslide. Fortunately, it’s now reopened, which means that high-speed TGV and Frecciarossa trains from Paris to Oulx can as soon as once more ship you to resorts of the southern Alps corresponding to Montgenèvre, Serre Chevalier, Sauze d’Oulx and Sestriere.

There’s a brand new in a single day choice to France, too. French tour operator Travelski has chartered a sleeper prepare to run between Paris and Bourg-Saint-Maurice. It’s known as the Travelski Night time Specific (TNE), and it departs Paris on Friday nights, returning in a single day on the Saturday of the next week. There’s a restaurant-bar carriage on board, and travelling this fashion provides you eight days on the slopes as an alternative of six. Nevertheless, the prepare can solely be booked as a part of a Travelski all-in-one prepare + switch + lodging + ski go bundle. As with the TGV possibility above, the Eurostar between London and Paris must be booked individually.

For Austrian-bound skiers travelling at February half-term, a comparatively unknown prepare known as the Urlaubs Specific offers one other fascinating in a single day possibility. From London, you catch a Eurostar to Brussels, then one other Eurostar to Cologne, the place there’s time to seize some food and drinks earlier than becoming a member of Dutch and German skiers travelling in a single day to an unlimited array of Austrian resorts.

Austria’s ski resorts can be reached by combining a Eurostar to Paris or Brussels with a Nightjet sleeper prepare (pictured above), which runs a number of nights per week.

So, what are among the resorts you’ll be able to attain? Right here’s our number of among the best.

Saint-Martin-de-Belleville, France

As one of many smaller villages comprising Les Trois Vallées, Saint-Martin-de-Belleville has managed to maintain a comparatively low profile and, with that, a lot of its allure. Whereas ski improvement exploded throughout the Alps within the Fifties and 60s, Saint-Martin’s locals battled to protect their village’s historic character, the resort’s first piste not opening till 1983.

In consequence, Saint-Martin has only some actually ‘native’ slopes, with most of its snowboarding choices (as a part of Les Trois Vallées) requiring a shuttle bus to neighbouring Les Menuires and Val Thorens. That stated, count on a a lot quieter snowboarding expertise, with (hearsay has it) among the finest, untapped off-piste within the Tarentaise Valley. Unusually, whereas the resort doesn’t cater too properly for on-piste newcomers (having no greens and few blues), it does present a superb launchpad for newbie free-riders within the type of the Liberty Trip space: secure, patrolled, and all the time nearby of the elevate.

Past snowboarding, Saint-Martin is maybe finest recognized for the three Michelin-starred La Bouitte, arguably the very best restaurant within the French Alps, headed by native father & son cooks René and Maxime. Nevertheless, La Bouitte isn’t your solely possibility in terms of excessive (altitude) eating: Le Montagnard, L’Etoile des Neiges, and Easy & Meilleur every supply gorgeous reinventions of Savoyard fare. Mixed with many extra less-expensive (but equally tasty) eateries, Saint-Martin has earned its place as one of many Alps’ culinary capitals.

Highlights

– Charming historic village
– Distinctive selections for eating
– Massive emphasis on leisure: luxurious spas, tranquil forests, good meals

Instance rail journey

Depart London St Pancras 09:01 on Saturday on the Eurostar Snow service by way of Lille-Europe, arriving at Moûtiers—Salins at 17:00. From there, it’s a 25-minute switch.

St Anton am Arlberg, Austria

St. Anton in Tirol is extensively thought-about the birthplace of Alpine snowboarding, and it’s simple to see why. With among the world’s most fun runs, accessed by way of a elevate go protecting 280km of groomed terrain and 5 villages, it’s nothing in need of a snowsports mecca.

Given the resort’s fame, it could be exhausting to condense each side of it into a couple of paragraphs. But relaxation assured, no matter what you’re on the lookout for on and off the slopes, you’ll discover it right here. St. Anton could be very a lot a bucket-list vacation spot, and for that purpose can get fairly packed in peak weeks. Nevertheless, we expect the hype is value it. You actually can’t go unsuitable in terms of the resort’s snow high quality, surroundings, lodging, eating, and nightlife: St. Anton has all of it.

One spotlight that we should single out is St. Anton’s rail-accessibility. Even higher than Les Arcs, the place guests should swap from prepare to funicular, the prepare from Zurich HB pulls proper into St. Anton’s centre, on the highest mainline station in Europe. It’s not solely a feat of nineteenth century engineering—it’s fairly rattling handy too.

Highlights:

• A number of the finest snow and slopes in Austria
• Energetic but charming base village
• House to Europe’s highest mainline prepare station

Instance rail journey

Depart London St Pancras on Friday on the 09:31 Eurostar to Paris-Nord. Change to Paris-Lyon and take the 14:22 TGV from Paris-Lyon, altering in Zurich onto the 18:40 RailJet to reach at 21:01 in St Anton.

Crans-Montana, Switzerland

Crans-Montana is certainly one of Switzerland’s most prestigious ski resorts, catering to a extremely worldwide clientele. Perched 1,500m above the Rhône Valley throughout the border from Chamonix, it boasts over 140km of piste, together with glacier snowboarding at its peak of two,927m.

Whereas the resort’s south-facing slopes and decrease altitude make snowfall rather less dependable in comparison with resorts like Zermatt, additionally they imply that Crans-Montana receives a close to 12 months’s value of sunshine. Because of this, it’s equally well-liked within the summertime, particularly amongst golfers on its three sizeable programs. Come winter, Crans-Montana caters finest to intermediate skiers and snowboarders, with three-quarters of its slopes being reds.

Owing to its world renown, Crans-Montana is as a lot a snowboarding as a purchasing vacation spot. Anticipate designer manufacturers like Louis Vuitton, Boggi Milano, Moncler, and Vietti alongside the Rue du Prado, in addition to five-star lodges, and Michelin-star eating places. If you happen to’re on the lookout for one thing a little bit extra ‘all the way down to earth’, nonetheless, there are additionally some good saisonnaire joints, together with Zerodix (for après-ski) and the native legend Monk’is Bar.

Highlights

– Luxurious manufacturers, eating, and lodging
– Glorious solar, over 300 days of the 12 months
– Good for intermediate skiers

Instance rail journey

Depart London St Pancras on the 08:01 Eurostar to Paris Nord. Change to Paris Gare de Lyon and take the 12:18 TGV, altering at Geneva to reach at Sierre at 18:07. From there, it’s 12 minutes by funicular to Montana.

Tignes, France

Tignes is an previous favorite amongst British skiers, and significantly college ski socs. Nevertheless, few of them are in all probability conscious that it’s reachable by rail: taking the Eurostar to Paris, after which the TGV to Bourg-Saint-Maurice, earlier than a brief bus or taxi switch.

Like Les Arcs, it’s a purpose-built ski resort with improbable slopeside entry, albeit in a extra conventional design. Owing to its excessive base village altitude (at 2100m), glacier entry, and ample freeriding terrain, its gained a fame as a ‘sporty’ resort: internet hosting the primary Winter X Video games outdoors of the USA in 2013, and famed for the Face de Bellevarde black, which it shares with neighbouring Val d’Isère. Whereas there’s not an excessive amount of by means of tree snowboarding, freestylers and powderheads are spoilt for selection.

Relative to its neighbour, Tignes is mostly thought-about the extra reasonably priced resort, with the most cost effective lodging discovered within the decrease villages of Les Boisses and Les Brévières, a brief shuttle experience from the slopes. If you happen to’ve saved for a much bigger price range, nonetheless, you’ll discover that Tignes Val Claret offers the very best slopeside entry and nightclubs; Tignes Le Lac the very best lodges and eating places; and Tignes Le Lavachet a quieter, household pleasant ambiance.

Highlights

• Snow-sure and sporty, with steep slopes
• Good après-ski scene, with entry to La Folie Douce
• Typically extra reasonably priced than Val d’Isère, whereas offering entry to the identical slopes

Instance rail journey

Depart London St Pancras 09:01 on Saturday on the Eurostar Snow service by way of Lille-Europe, arriving at Bourg-Saint-Maurice at 17:45. From there, it’s a 45-minute switch.

Sestriere Credit score Turismo Torino

Sestriere, Italy

Sestriere is among the oldest ski resorts in Italy, and is maybe probably the most snowsure within the Italian Alps because of its north-facing slopes and base altitude of 2035m. As a part of the Through Lattea Ski Space, it offers entry to almost 400km of piste, unfold throughout the resort in addition to neighbouring Pragelato, Sauze d’Oulx, and Sansicario.

For households and college students, the resort’s excessive worth for cash makes it a no brainer. Anticipate price range lodges and pizzerias, with a couple of extra upmarket spots catering to rich Turinese weekenders. Furthermore, Sestriere strikes a powerful stability between a variety of newbie slopes (good for tots and late-learners alike) and a fair wider number of après-ski choices, should you’re thirsting for a festa.

Finally, whereas maybe not what some take into account when picturing an enthralling Alpine getaway, Sestriere greater than delivers on all of the necessities of a ski vacation: good meals, good music, and above all, good snow.

Highlights

• Snowsure resort, because of its excessive altitude
• Inexpensive lodging and eating
• Genuine Italian and Piedmontese delicacies

Instance rail journey

Depart London St Pancras on Saturday on the 09:31 Eurostar to Paris Nord. Change to Paris Gare de Lyon and take the 14:48 TGV to reach in Oulx at 19:23. From there, it’s 25 minutes by taxi or 45 minutes by bus.

Les Arcs, France

Les Arcs might be the funkiest-looking resort within the French Alps, with near-total slopeside entry rivalled solely by Tignes. It’s additionally one of many best to entry by prepare, because of a funicular main from the platform at Bourg-Saint-Maurice station, opened in 1989 and upgraded in 2019.

Designed within the Nineteen Sixties by visionary modernist architect Charlotte Perriand, Les Arcs contains 4 foremost villages: Arc 1600, 1800, 1950 (opened in 2012), and 2000. Every has its personal strengths and quirks, with the newest addition, Arc 1950, taking a noticeable departure in the direction of extra conventional, Savoyard structure. Nevertheless, owing to the resort’s founding rules of accessibility and pure immersion, the 4 villages share an unprecedented vary of ski-in, ski-out lodging, constructed instantly into the slopes.

This final level is essential when you think about the nearly limitless choices for snowboarding at Les Arcs, being a part of the Paradiski mega-domain. With over 425km of slopes, together with entry to neighbouring La Plagne by way of the world’s longest and highest cable automobile, the Vanoise Specific, you’ll wish to be out of your mattress and within the snow as shortly as potential.

Highlights

– Limitless snowboarding, because of the Paradiski area
– Immediately accessible from the prepare station platform
– Loads of slopeside lodging

Instance rail journey

Depart London St Pancras 09:01 on Saturday on the Eurostar Snow service by way of Lille-Europe, arriving at Bourg-Saint-Maurice at 17:45. From there, it’s seven-minute switch to Arc 1600, with free connecting buses to onward villages (15 – 25 minutes away)

Montgenèvre, France

In contrast to Les Arcs and different resorts constructed in the course of the post-WWII snowboarding increase, Montgenèvre is the oldest official ski resort in France, opening its slopes in 1907 to Paris’s haut monde. Over a century later, ‘Monty’ is now a well-liked household vacation spot amongst French and Brits alike, with cheap lodging and ski passes, simply accessible nursery slopes, and glorious childcare services.

Montgenèvre’s family-friendly picture has additional benefited from the preservation of its previous village. A significant infrastructure venture within the 2000s redirected cross-border visitors out of city, whereas the village itself has steadily pedestrianised, leaving an idyllic, old-world Alpine city, straight out of Magnificence and the Beast.

Lastly, because of its proximity to Italy, Montgenèvre is the one French resort that’s a part of the huge Through Lattea Ski Space, comprising 400km of slopes and quite a few Italian resorts, together with Sestriere. Because it’s predominantly north-facing, it’s additionally obtained the very best snow document inside that area, which means you’ll be able to ski throughout the border within the morning, earlier than stopping at a lunchtime pizzeria, and hopping again to France for a snowy afternoon.

Highlights

– Good for households, with loads of newbie and nursery slopes
– Charming, historic village
– Good powder alternatives for freeriders

Instance rail journey

Depart London St Pancras on Saturday on the 09:31 Eurostar to Paris Nord. Change to Paris Gare de Lyon and take the 14:48 TGV to reach in Oulx at 19:23. From there, it’s half-hour by taxi or bus.

Val Cenis, France

Nestled in an historical mountain go on the Franco-Italian border, Val Cenis is one thing of a hidden gem. Its lack of fame is not any measure of its character, nonetheless: as a small collective of year-round, working villages, its obtained a singular group feeling that may’t be discovered anyplace else within the Alps.

Quiet and unpretentious, Val Cenis nonetheless boasts a shocking 125km of panoramic, groomed runs and a strong document of snowfall. Novices are well-catered for, because of devoted services on the mountain’s foremost entry factors, and Europe’s longest inexperienced run, Escargot. Intermediates have additionally obtained a lot to work with, together with the views from the highest of the Met chairlift, whereas specialists can discover loads of untracked powder beneath the Glacier de l’Arcelle.

As acknowledged, Val Cenis is a working village, with bars and eating places constructed for locals. This has saved costs pretty low and family-friendly. It additionally means you’ll discover loads of non-ski actions, together with snow-tubing, mountaineering, and toboggan runs.

Highlights

• Beautiful, nearly untouched surroundings
• Very pleasant mountain group
• Good for newcomers on the lookout for light forest runs

Instance rail journey

Depart London St Pancras on Saturday on the 09:31 Eurostar to Paris Nord. Change to Paris Gare de Lyon and take the 14:48 TGV to reach in Modane at 18:50. From there, it’s half-hour by taxi or bus.

Val Thorens, France

As the best base village in Europe (at 2300m), Val Thorens narrowly edges out Sestriere and Tignes to the title of most snowsure resort. With a skiable summit of 3200m and assured snowfall from December to the top of April, it’s in all probability your best option for early and late-season enjoyable.

A part of the Les Trois Vallées area (alongside Saint-Martin), Val Thorens offers entry to over 600km of slopes. These above the village may be fairly extreme and wind-exposed, and thus type a superb testing floor for ‘newbie specialists’. Followers of big-bowl snowboarding can head over to Orelle, on the high of the resort, earlier than taking the lengthy route again to the village, the place the social gathering pops off fairly early on.

Certainly, we expect a superb tagline for Val Thorens may be ‘work exhausting, play more durable’. Après-ski lovers are spoilt for selection, from the best pub in Europe (The Frog) to the best nightclub (Klub Summit), in addition to a number of dance festivals all through its prolonged season—and naturally, there’s a Folie Douce too.

Highlights

• Unparalleled snow circumstances, all season lengthy
• Giant vary of ski-in, ski-out chalets
• Glorious nightlife and après-ski

Instance rail journey

Depart London St Pancras 09:01 on Saturday on the Eurostar Snow service by way of Lille-Europe, arriving at Moûtiers—Salins at 17:00. From there, it’s a 55-minute switch.

Zell am See-Kaprun, Austria

Inside Austria, Zell am See is to Salzburgerland what St. Anton is to Tyrol. Its beautiful lakeside location, full of life après-ski, and entry to the Kitzsteinhorn glacier have made it a favoured winter keep for Europe’s most glamorous for over 150 years.

Whereas its 138km of slopes make it a world-class ski vacation spot, a lot of the enchantment of Zell am See comes all the way down to the city itself. Like Chamonix, it’s a big city space at a distance from the slopes, with an enormous vary of eating, purchasing, and lodging choices, in addition to non-ski actions. In contrast to Chamonix, most of its buildings are Belle Époque relics, unbelievably gorgeous when set in opposition to the backdrop of the Kitzbühel Alps.

For that purpose, we’d suggest Zell am See not merely as a ski vacation spot, however as a historic landmark in Central Europe: full with castles, historical towers, and Romanesque church buildings. For musical followers, it’s the birthplace of the Von Trapp household and inspiration behind The Sound of Music; equally, motorheads will likely be happy to listen to that, because the seat of the Porsche household, Zell am See hosts an annual Porsche Ice Race on Lake Zell.

Highlights

• Giant and historic luxurious ski city, with many factors of curiosity
• Glorious rail entry, with the prepare pulling proper into the resort
• In depth eating, purchasing, and lodging choices

Instance rail journey

Depart London St Pancras on Friday on the 15:04 Eurostar, altering at Brussels-Midi to the 18:05 Eurostar to Cologne. There take the 22:45 Urlaubs Specific sleeper prepare to reach Zell-am-See at 09:00.

Vaujany, France

Tucked across the nook from the extra well-known Alpe d’Huez is Vaujany, a small and quiet farming village, with settlements relationship again to antiquity.

Relative to its huge brother, Vaujany is an Alpine idyll; assume vin chaud and winter walks, evenings on the native bowling alley, and rustic stone church buildings. Whereas the closest slopes from Montfrais (1650m) and Alpette (2050m) aren’t expansive, from Vaujany, you could have entry to the huge Alpe d’Huez Grande Domaine by way of a sequence of ski lifts. Therefore, skiers can get pleasure from a fast-paced day above one of many busiest ski resorts within the Alps, earlier than slowing down beside the hearth with a mug of sizzling chocolate, and a peaceable, snowy night outdoors.

Relative to the extra in-demand Alpe d’Huez, Vaujany’s out-of-the-wayness makes it vastly extra reasonably priced too, for free of charge to high quality. The structure is charming, the surroundings pristine, and, because of the Alpe d’Huez Grand Domaine, the snowboarding kind of the identical.

Highlights:

• Quiet and peaceable—good for a romantic or spa getaway
• Good household actions, with family-friendly costs
• Vary of restaurant choices, from effective eating to crêperies

Instance rail journey

Depart London St Pancras on Saturday on the 09:31 Eurostar to Paris Nord. Change to Paris Gare de Lyon and take the 14:14 TGV to reach in Grenoble at 17:13. From there, it’s 90 minutes by taxi or bus.

Helpful guides and assets

Guides on journeys into Europe and the Alps may be discovered at SnowCarbon, Seat 61 and Ski Flight Free.

A superb planning and journey companion is the Rail Map of Europe

Plan your journey and e-book your tickets direct by way of rail reserving companies corresponding to Railtrail or Trainseurope

Alternatively use on-line ticket brokers corresponding to Rail Europe and Trainline

Pic high credit score: Daniel Elkan

 

Uncover the best vacation spot in your subsequent getaway with our complete Resort Information. Discover high trip spots, discover journey ideas, and plan your good journey effortlessly. Go to Resort Information for all of the important data you want.

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