Get to Chamonix

1Decide if you want to get to Chamonix quickly or if you have time to enjoy a scenic route.  Access to the town of Chamonix Mont Blanc is by road, train or private plane.

2If arriving by plane, the closest airport is at Geneva and from there, about an hour and 10 minutes from Geneva airport to Chamonix. There are other regional airports at Lyon, Grenoble and Chambery but these are located further away

3There are three major road routes into Chamonix

    via the Autoroute Blanche on the French side from the direction of Geneva to Chamonix
    via the Mont Blanc tunnel from Aosta in Italy to Chamonix
    via Martigny on the Swiss side, across the Alps to Chamonix

4Arriving by train is somewhat complicated as the trains that service Chamonix operate only in the Chamonix valley and ply the route between Vallocine and St Gervais/La Fayet. There are two rail routes into Chamonix:

    From Switzerland, get the train to Chamonix from Martigny. This is a special narrow gauge train built to climb the Alps. A change of trains is necessary at Vallocine and passengers transfer onto the French rail system
    From the French side, book trains that will arrive at St Gervais les Bains/ La Fayet.  At this regional rail hub, change trains to get onto the local train that goes directly to Chamonix Mont Blanc. 
    There is no train service from Italy.

5If arriving by road, plan ahead for car parking at Chamonix, which is limited and on a user pays basis.  There are buses and private shuttles, which go directly from Geneva airport to Chamonix Mont Blanc.