Chamonix · Plan your trip
Getting to Chamonix
Chamonix sits 88 km from Geneva airport at the end of a motorway that runs almost to the lifts. Getting here is easy; getting here smartly, without overpaying or standing at the wrong bus stop, is what this page is for.
Geneva → Chamonix: pick your transfer
88 km, five honest options. Tell us your group and priority.
Travellers
What matters most?
★ Our pick for you
Scheduled coach (FlixBus / Swiss Tours)
Up to 11 daily departures in season from the airport bus station to Chamonix Sud. Cheapest way up the valley; book ahead for the best fares.
Watch out: Fixed timetable, luggage limits, drops at bus station only.
- Duration
- 1h25–1h45
- Price
- €10–25 per person
- Group estimate
- €34 (one-way, whole group)
Also worth considering
- Train (Léman Express + Mont Blanc Express)2h45–3h15, 1–2 changes€64
- Shared door-to-door shuttle1h15–2h (with other drops)€76
- Rental car1h15 via A40 motorway€90
- Private transfer1h10–1h20€250
Which airport?
Geneva
GVA88 km · 1h15
The obvious choice: closest, most flights, most transfer options.
Lyon-Saint Exupéry
LYS220 km · 2h30
Good long-haul alternative; direct A40 motorway.
Chambéry
CMF110 km · 1h45
Seasonal UK charter flights in winter.
Grenoble
GNB165 km · 2h15
Budget airline hub in ski season.
By train
Slower than the road, kinder to the planet, and the Mont Blanc Express finale beats any motorway.
- 1
From Paris
TGV Lyria or InOui to Geneva or Bellegarde (from 3h15), then Léman Express toward St-Gervais-Le Fayet.
- 2
From London
Eurostar to Paris and TGV onward, or fly to Geneva; total rail time ~6h30 door to door.
- 3
The final climb
At St-Gervais-Le Fayet, the Mont Blanc Express takes over: 40 scenic minutes up to Les Houches, Chamonix and on to Vallorcine.
By car
From Geneva
88 km on the A40 "Autoroute Blanche", about 1h15. Tolls ~€10 each way. The exit says Chamonix; you cannot miss it.
From Lyon / the south
220 km via A42/A40, around 2h30. Saturday mornings in February crawl near Cluses: leave early or travel Sunday.
From Italy
The Mont Blanc tunnel links Courmayeur in 20 minutes (~€53 one way, ~€67 return for a car).
Winter driving is regulated
Loi Montagne II: from 1 November to 31 March, vehicles in Haute-Savoie must have winter tyres or carry chains. Rental cars from Geneva usually comply; confirm at booking. Carry chains for the final kilometres to high car parks after snowfalls.Once you are here, skip the car
The valley's transport is genuinely good, and mostly free with the right card in your pocket.
Carte d'Hôte: the card that pays for itself
Every overnight guest in the valley gets a free Carte d'Hôte from their accommodation. It gives free valley buses, free Mont Blanc Express between Servoz and Vallorcine, plus discounts on pools and museums. Ask for it at check-in, you will use it every day.
Skibus + Mont Blanc Express
Nine winter skibus lines reach every lift base, free with any lift pass. The Mont Blanc Express train stops at Les Houches, Chamonix, Argentière and Le Tour, free between Servoz and Vallorcine with the guest card. Full details in our valley transport guide.
Good to know
What is the cheapest way from Geneva airport to Chamonix?
The scheduled coaches (FlixBus, Swiss Tours): €10–25 per person, 1h25–1h45, up to 11 departures a day in winter. Shared door-to-door shuttles (€30–45) are worth the difference with luggage or children.
Do I need winter tyres to drive to Chamonix?
Yes. France's Loi Montagne II makes winter tyres (or chains on board) compulsory in Haute-Savoie from 1 November to 31 March. Rental cars from Geneva usually include them, confirm when booking.
Can I get to Chamonix by train from Paris or London?
Yes: TGV to Bellegarde or Geneva (from Paris ~3h15; from London via Eurostar ~6h30 total), then Léman Express + Mont Blanc Express to Chamonix. The final hour up the valley is one of Europe's great rail rides.
Continue planning
Ski it with a local instructor
Our instructors ski these mountains every day. Book a private lesson and get the pass, area and timing questions answered for free.