Nestled in the highest mountains in western Europe, Chamonix-Mont Blanc takes a bit of time to get to, but it's not difficult, and it's well worth the trip.

Car

The 615-km (382-mile) drive from Paris to Chamonix takes about 6 hours (map)

From Lyon to Chamonix, (223 km/139 miles) about 2.5 hours.

From Geneva, Switzerland (82 km/51 miles), about one hour.

The A40/E25 autoroute zooms southeast from Geneva to Saint-Gervais-les-Bains, then becomes the N205 highway as it enters and passes through the Mont Blanc Tunnel to Italy.

Just before the tunnel entrance, D1506 begins and leads northeast up the Chamonix-Mont Blanc valley to Chamonix and Argentière before reaching the Swiss frontier.

Train

The fastest train time from Paris (Gare de Lyon) to Chamonix-Mont Blanc is about 5 hours and 39 minutes, changing trains twice: at Bellegarde, and at Saint-Gervais Les Bains.

Other trains go via Annecy and San Gervais, and take just over 7 hours.

From Lyon (Part Dieu), with at least five daily trains, the journey takes between 4.25 and 4.45 hours, changing trains at Bellegarde, or at Bellegarde and Saint-Gervais.

Bus

The Chamonix-Mont Blanc Bus system is an efficient local transport organization serving all of the communities in the Chamonix-Mont Blanc valley, from Servoz and Le Prarion at the southwestern mouth of the valley to Le Tour high at the northeastern end. More...

Plane

Chamonix has a heliport and small airport for excursion flights over Mont Blanc, but the nearest airports with intercity service are Geneva International Airport and, a bit farther away but still practicable, Aéroport Lyon St-Exupéry near Lyon.

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