Links for Chamonix valley, including going via Saint Gervais
How to get from the train station to your accommodation
Key facts
Where to get off the train
Check which resort in Chamonix Valley you are staying in in order to be sure you get off at the right stop. The ski area is spread out across a few villages that are served by the same train line – trains stop in Les Houches, Les Bossons, Les Pélerins, Les Moussoux, Chamonix – Aiguille du Midi, Chamonix – Mont Blanc, Les Praz du Chamonix, Les Tines, Lajoux, Argentière, Montroc le PLanet, Le Buet and Vallorcine.
Buying your ticket
Tickets from Saint Gervais to Chamonix valley are available online or in the station. In the station there is a ticket office and machines you can use. The cost is from 10€.
In Chamonix a 1 hour ticket is 1.50€, and a full day is 4.50€. Group and longer term tickets are also available.
Tickets can be bought online or at the digital kiosks in the Les Houches and Chamonix tourist offices, in the Grépon parking lot, at the Maison de la Mobilité, and at Chamonix SNCF station, or the mobile “Boutique de la mobilité” For online purchase click here.
Finding your bus
Once in Chamonix there is lots of public transport to get around the valley, both rail and buses. An interactive map on their site helps you plan your journey to your accommodation.
There are a few different bus lines, Skibus, Proxibus, le Mulet & Chamonuit. A link to updated timetables is on the site. Be aware that timetables change according to the season, and some lines need to be reserved.
Saint Gervais-le Fayet train station information
Chamonix has an SNCF train station in the resort : Mont Blanc Express. However you are likely to have to change in Saint Gervais-Le Fayet to get the final train to Chamonix.
Crossing Saint Gervais le Fayet station
There are many direct trains from Paris and Lyon to Saint Gervais. Alternatively if you take a train to Geneva, the “Léman Express” cross-border network between France and Switzerland serves St Gervais-le Fayet station. There are regular trains from Geneva and Annemasse to Saint Gervais-Le Fayet. The timetable is here.
The SNCF train service serves all villages from St Gervais-les-Bains-le Fayet to Martigny (Switzerland), including Servoz, Les Houches, Chamonix, Argentière and Vallorcine. The train from St Gervais-Le Fayet to Chamonix takes around 45 minutes.
Tickets are available online or in the station. In the station there is a ticket office and machines you can use. The cost is from 10€
Useful facilities
There is a waiting room in the station and a small square in front of it with various restaurants. La Pause is just opposite the station and serves food and drink, and is open till late. The Lovegood café is a nice café 2 minutes walk from the station open during the day. If you walk up the road past la Pause you will find plenty of other options including a bakery and a pizzeria.
Toilets are available on platform 4. There are also public toilets in a car park a 2 minute walk from the station up the road opposite the station.
There is a cash machine at the post office, it is about a minutes walk away up avenue de la gare opposite the station entrance.
Buses
There is also a bus between Saint Gervais and Chamonix. The Y82 which takes 30 minutes and costs 6€ for an adult. There are 4 buses per day in each direction. You can find the timetable here.
What to do in Saint-Gervais-Le Fayet
The new “ascenseur valléen” lift links the village of le Fayet to the resort of St Gervais. The lift leaves from the train station so enables you to easily reach the St Gervais ski area.
The thermal baths are also very close to the train station.
Chamonix train station information
The main train station is Chamonix-Mont Blanc but there are many other stations in Chamonix Valley so be sure to check which one is best for your accommodation.
Leaving on foot
When leaving from Chamonix Mont-Blanc the main exit leads out to Place de la Gare and towards the centre. Alternatively a foot bridge allows you to cross over the rail lines to go in the direction of Gare du Montenvers and the mer de glace. To reach this turn right out of the main station, walk past the station building and toilets to go up the steps opposite you.
Getting around Chamonix
Once in Chamonix there is lots of public transport to get around the valley, both rail and buses. An interactive map on their site helps you plan your journey to your accommodation.
There are a few different bus lines, Skibus, Proxibus, le Mulet & Chamonuit. A link to updated timetables is on the site. Be aware that timetables change according to the season, and some lines need to be reserved.
The local “mulet” free bus stops opposite the station outside Chambre Neuf bistro. Other local lines can be taken on Place du Mont Blanc which is 500 metres away up avenue M Croz. Leave the station and walk up the road directly opposite to reach it. The regional bus services 81, 82 and T74 are 800m away on Avenue de Courmayeur. Turn left out of the station and walk up rue des Allobroges to reach it.
Using the buses
Attention : Schedules are often not published long in advance, and the timetable can be found online once available.
Times can vary in bad weather so check online.
The frequence of buses depends on the line needed but can easily be found on the online timetable
A 1 hour ticket is 1.50€, and a full day is 4.50€. Group and longer term tickets are also available.
Tickets can be bought online or at the digital kiosks in the Les Houches and Chamonix tourist offices, in the Grépon parking lot, at the Maison de la Mobilité, and at Chamonix SNCF station, or the mobile “Boutique de la mobilité” For online purchase click here.
Taxis
There is a taxi rank in front of the train station just on the right hand side as you exit on Place de la gare. Local services can also be booked in advance. Find a list here.
Useful facilities
There are free public toilets in Chamonix Mont Blanc train station. Go out of the station, turn right and they are in the station building a few metres away on the right.
There is a locker service opposite the station where bags can be left, it is called called Cham Lockers and is open 7am-11pm.
For a cash machine, walk straight out of the station and cross the road passing Chambre Neuf on your left and Elevation 1904 on you right. A crédit mutuel is on the left just after Chambre Neuf.
Eating
Chambre Neuf brasserie and bar serves food all day and is directly opposite the station exit as is Elevation 1904 café bar which serves breakfast 6-11 and lunch/dinner food from 11.30. For Lykke hôtel and bistro turn left on exiting and it is right next to the station. Their kaffe and kro bistro are open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
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