11 superb ski resorts in Europe that you can reach by train

Airport queues, carbon-intensive flights and long transfers—flying to a ski resort has always been a means to an end. However, for snow lovers looking for a more relaxing and low-carbon journey, travelling to the slopes by train has never been easier—with new overnight rail options for winter 2026–27.

The Travelski Night Express, introduced last season from Paris to the French Alps, now has a new, low-cost route from Brussels too. UK-based skiers can easily connect to this with a Eurostar train from London to either capital.

Meanwhile, a variety of other daytime and overnight options can help you reach resorts in France, Austria, Andorra, and Switzerland.

Here’s our pick of some of the best and how to get there.

St-Martin-de-Belleville, France

Centred around a 17^th-century bell tower, tranquil St-Martin provides easy access to the largest interlinked ski domain on the planet, the legendary Trois Vallées. While light on local slopes, the resort is a few lift rides away from neighbouring Les Menuires and Méribel, combining the best of French skiing with a quiet and authentic resort base.

Gourmets in particular should take note, as St-Martin has a reputation for exceptional dining, as well as a plethora of private, Michelin-starred chefs. For haute cuisine at a (relatively) low price, we recommend the set menu at Simple & Meilleur, in the resort’s trendy Caseblanche area.

Après-ski is suitably tasteful, ranging from the charming, old-world Le Dahlia at the foot of St-Martin’s home run, to the stylish Pourquoi Pas, where you can sip craft beer beside the fire.

Get there: Depart London St Pancras on the 17:31 Eurostar to Paris-Nord; change to Paris-Lyon and take the 22:52 Travelski Night Express, arriving Moûtiers station at 07:36. From there it’s a 25-minute taxi or bus ride.

Aussois, France

As the smallest resort on this list, Aussois also has the honour of feeling the most ‘local’ by far. The 55km of piste goes from 1,500m up to 2,700m, with a laid-back feel and ample room to cruise quiet slopes past spectacular panoramas of the Vanoise National Park.

The main village hits every French mark: excellent brasseries, creperies, and boulangeries, plus a 12th-century Catholic church with a gorgeous centrepiece. Après-ski is mostly limited to a local beer and fondue in a cosy, wood-and-timber restaurant, and non-ski activities are more low-key—a dip in the local pool, or a yoga session in the snow.

Altogether, Aussois is perfect for those seeking genuine relaxation—away from the glitz and glamour of many other Alpine resorts.

Get there: Depart London St Pancras on the 08:01 Eurostar to Paris-Nord; change to Paris-Lyon and take the 12:46 TGV, arriving Modane station at 16:48. From there it’s a 15-minute taxi or bus ride.

Bad Gastein, Austria

Bad Gastein may be the most beautiful ski resort in Austria, thanks to its dramatic gorge scenery and unique Belle Époque architecture. Like France’s Saint-Gervais, the resort began life as a royal spa town centring around its natural hot springs. These remain open today as part of a state-of-the-art health facility, easily accessible to visitors. Continuing its aristocratic streak, Gastein has become a popular destination for celebrities eager to sample its luxury hotels and music festivals, as well as health-conscious skiers attracted to the resort’s overall wellness philosophy (particularly Scandis).

Conversely, over the past seven years, the resort has also played host to Red Bull’s urban freeskiing tournament: a world-unique event, where competitors race and perform tricks through the narrow, 19th-century streets of downtown Gastein.

Get there: Depart London St Pancras on the 15.04 Eurostar to Brussels-Midi, then take the 19.07 Nightjet sleeper train Salzburg Hbf, and then the 08:12 InterCity, arriving Bad Gastein at 09:41. The railway station is in the village.

Grandvalira, Andorra

Once a party resort for broke students, Grandvalira is now the Pyrenees’ premier skiing destination. The resort has undergone extensive redevelopment over the past 20 years, expanding its coverage while modernising its lift infrastructure.

Today, it’s one of the best-value-for-money resorts in Europe, largely thanks to Andorra’s duty-free status. Picture a day of sunny, treelined skiing—perhaps with some off-piste around Grau Roig—followed by a delicious Catalan meal in a wood-and-timber farmhouse, all at a bargain price. Given Andorra’s small size, Grandvalira is so much more than skiing, too: the country’s capital is a 15-minute bus ride away, containing cocktail bars and designer shops, fascinating museums, and southern Europe’s largest spa, Caldea. Finally, no matter which of the resort’s seven base villages you choose to stay in, thanks to its high-speed ski lifts and reliable shuttle bus, you can get across the mountain in no time.

Get there: Depart London St Pancras on the 17:31 Eurostar to Paris Nord; change to Paris-Austerlitz and take the 22:13 Intercités de Nuit to Andorre-L’Hospitalet, arriving at 09.43. From there it’s 35 – 55 minutes by bus or taxi.

Les Arcs, French Alps, France

Les Arcs is one of the biggest names in French skiing, and rightly so. Its endless terrain, easy rail access, and iconic modernist design draw visitors from across Europe. With five constituent villages (including Bourg-Saint-Maurice), each with its own particular flavour, skiers are spoilt for choice.

Thanks to its network of long, sweeping blues, skiing here caters best to intermediates. However, Les Arcs also boasts one of the longest pistes in the Alps: a 7km long, 2000m black-to-red vertical from the resort’s summit, the Aiguille Rouge (3,226m). The resort is linked to neighbouring La Plagne via cable car, accessed from Peisey-Vallandry.

Après-ski here is perhaps more low-key than other nearby resorts, but Les Arcs does boast its own Folie Douce if you’re looking for an afternoon boogie.

Get there: Depart London St Pancras on the 09:01 Eurostar Snow to Bourg St Maurice, arriving at 17:59; from there it’s seven minutes by funicular railway to Arc 1600, with bus connections (15 – 25 mins) to the other villages.

Les Gets, Haute-Savoie, France

Combining peaceful slopes with a delightfully quaint village, Les Gets is the ideal winter getaway. Its gentle, local runs are great for families, with several toboggan runs for those still growing out their ski legs. At the same time, given Les Gets’ position within the immense Portes du Soleil ski area (including neighbours Morzine and Avoriaz), antsy experts have over 600km of piste to play with and ample freeride opportunities on the far side of Mont Chéry.

Ski touring became very popular here during the pandemic and has remained so, with new trails opening in the Les Chavannes sector. Finally, complementing its traditional architecture (the foundations date back 1000 years), you’ll find exemplary Savoyard cuisine at restaurants like Les Copeaux and La Fruitière. There’s even a 24/7 tartiflette vending machine.

Get there: Depart London St Pancras on the 09:31 Eurostar to Paris-Nord; change to Paris-Lyon and take 14:18 TGV, changing at Bellegarde, to arrive in Cluses at 18:52; from there it’s 25 minutes by bus or taxi.

Alpe d’Huez, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France

Alpe d’Huez’s global reputation is well-established. The resort is a magnet for expert skiers, attracted to its high-altitude steep terrain, long unbroken piste, and attractive chalet style. This includes the legendary Sarenne, beginning at a mountaintop glacier: at 16km, the longest black run in the Alps.

Alpe d’Huez is so much more than skiing, however. The resort hosts a wide range of seasonal activities, including ski-joëring, snow-karting, and trips to its Ice Cave, containing a rotating display of hand-carved ice sculptures. There’s just about a bar and restaurant for everyone in the centre of town, as well as several nightclubs popular with saisonnaires. The resort also has a sizeable selection of charming, three-star hotels, alongside many self-catered chalets in its satellites of Villard-Reclusas and Oz-en-Oisans.

Get there: Depart London St Pancras on the 10:31 Eurostar to Paris-Nord; change to Paris-Lyon and take the 15:14 TGV, arriving Grenoble station at 18:13. From there it’s a 90-minute taxi or bus ride.

La Rosìere, Savoie, France

La Rosière is a ski resort with two faces: its north-facing Italian side and south-facing French. This adds up to the perfect day out: a petit dejeuner of pâtisseries and sunny, freshly groomed piste, followed by a midday meal of wood-fired pizza, espresso, and vino, and an afternoon on those slopes shielded from the sun.

In La Rosière, off-piste is always on the menu: the resort recently opened a new freeride sector at Mont-Valaisan, increasing its lifts’ summit to 2,800m and adding several magnificent, ungroomed blacks. Non-skiers are also spoiled for choice, with activities ranging from bowling to paragliding. Celebrating the success of France’s biathlon team in the 2026 Milan Olympics, the local ESF even provides laser-rifle lessons, available from age seven upwards.

Get there: Depart London St Pancras on the 17:31 Eurostar to Paris-Nord; change to Paris-Lyon and take the 22:52 Travelski Night Express, arriving Bourg-Saint-Maurice station at 08:09. From there it’s a 40-minute taxi or bus ride.

St Anton, Austria

St. Anton remains one of the most prestigious resorts in European skiing. Not only does it boast some of the world’s most exciting runs and excellent annual snowfall, but it’s also Austria’s capital for après-ski. Those looking to ski hard & party harder are spoilt for choice at legendary venues like Mooserwirt and Krazy Kanguruh, after conquering the mighty Valluga—one of skiing’s most spectacular vistas. Don’t be too intimidated, though: St. Anton has some good nursery slopes around Nasserein and Gampen, as well as excellent progression blues for intermediates.

It’s also got a charming base village, with plenty of shopping, dining, and accommodation options, and a new state-of-the-art indoor climbing centre, arl.rock, for some active afternoon downtime. Plus, if you’re looking for a change of scenery, St. Christoph is just up the road.

Get there: Depart London St Pancras on the 07.31 Eurostar to Paris Gare du Nord; change to Paris Gare de Lyon and take the 12.22 TGV to Zurich, then the 16.40 Railjet to St Anton, arriving at 19.01.

Méribel, French Alps, France

One of France’s most celebrated party resorts, Méribel is perfect for those more interested in the après than the ski. That’s not to say the skiing here isn’t superb: Méribel’s immense 600km (as part of Les Trois Vallées) ensures both something for everyone and that no one gets bored.

Yet, it’s the good times Méribel is best known for, starting with an afternoon dancing on tables at La Folie Douce, and followed by DJ sets at Le Rond Point and a night of rock music at Le Rambler. If you are looking for something more ski-focused, consider the village of Méribel-Mottaret further up-valley: its accommodation is largely ski-in, ski-out, with easy access to the resort’s summit of Mont Vallon (2,952m), and generally quieter nightlife.

Get there: Depart London St Pancras on the 17:31 Eurostar to Paris-Nord; change to Paris-Lyon and take the 22:52 Travelski Night Express, arriving Moûtiers station at 07:36. From there it’s a 35-minute taxi or bus ride.

Saas-Fee, Switzerland

Car-free since 1951, high-altitude Saas-Fee is surrounded by 4,000m peaks on one side and traditional raccards on the other. As one of the most popular ski resorts in Switzerland, Saas-Fee has a lively, concentrated feel.

Most skiers start and end the day in the same places: the resort’s revolving restaurant at the summit of Mittelallelin (3,500m) and the strip of après-ski venues at the foot of its piste, respectively—after several hours cruising its long, swooping reds.

Saas-Fee also has a strong events calendar, including the annual Ice Climbing World Cup in January and Fasnacht (Carnival) in February, as well as Christmas markets and a New Year’s Ice Gala. Dining here is suitably Swiss, with mountain huts like Gletschergrotte serving up hearty homemade burgers and strudel beside the slopes.

Get there: Depart London St Pancras on the 09.31 Eurostar to Paris Gare du Nord; change to Paris Gare de Lyon and take the 14.10 TGV to Geneva, then the 18.10 InterRegional to Visp, arriving at 20.23. From there it’s a 50-minute ride on a connecting bus

Fact File

Rail tickets online: Eurostar, SNCF, Rail Europe, Trainline.

Rail-booking agents: Trainseurope  and Railtrail

More info: SnowCarbon and at Seat61.

The new European Rail Map (£12.99 + p&p) is available from here.