Getting to the Alps and getting around in the Alps is definitely something to consider when planning a trip. The Alps are a formidable mountain range, so it poses some challenges. If you have booked flights to Milan Malpensa, for example, but you have booked accommodation in Zermatt, you’re in trouble. It’s only 88 km as the crow flies, and in that sense, Malpensa is the closest airport. But in a car, it’s at least half a day driving. In wintertime, mountain passes are closed, so you could be looking at a train journey or a cross-border tunnel. You pick. Knowing your way around or at least being able to read maps and ask questions is a skill you need.
Flights
There are some 15 smaller and bigger airports in and around the Alps. So there are numerous ways to get to the region, either directly or with a stop-over at one of the major hubs like Frankfurt (FRA), London Heathrow (LHR), Amsterdam (AMS), or Paris (CDG). Each of these places in itself is worth a visit by the way. So if you’re able to spend a day or two in one of these places, since you’re there anyway…
From the airports in the Alpine region itself, there are always transfers available to the ski resorts they service. They’re not cheap though, and they only get you to your destination, obviously. In a bigger ski area such as Les Trois Vallées, you won’t need any other transportation while you’re there except a pair of skis. In some places, getting around is just as important as getting there in the first place.
Trains and buses
As opposed to North America, there is an extensive train network in the Alps. There are train lines connecting airports to ski resorts, night trains and tonnes of regional lines that run through valleys. There are even ski resorts that have train stations that are within walking distance from lifts and slopes:
St. Anton am Arlberg (Ski Arlberg), Austria
Bad Gastein (Ski Amadé), Austria
Mayrhofen (Zillertal), Austria
Arosa (Arosa-Lenzerheide), Switzerland
Zermatt (Zermatt-Cervinia), Switzerland
Davos (Davos-Klosters), Switzerland
Andermatt (Andermatt-Sedrun), Switzerland
Bourg-Saint-Maurice (Les Arcs), France
Briançon (Serre Chevalier), France
Aosta (Pila), Italy
Mühlbach (Gitschberg-Jochtal), Italy
Ried (Kronplatz), Italy
Versciaco (Drei Zinnen), Italy
Here are links to the national railway websites of the Alpine countries:
Austria: https://www.oebb.at/en/
France: https://www.sncf.com/en
Germany: https://www.bahn.com/en#slc
Italy: https://www.trenitalia.com/en.html
Switzerland: https://www.sbb.ch/en
Here's a link to a recent and quite extensive railway map of Europe: https://www.eurail.com/content/dam/pdfs/eurail/Eurail-Map-2021.pdf
And there are some websites that can be very helpful in finding your way through Europe with public transport:
https://www.happyrail.com/en/european-train-planner
https://www.omio.com/
Cars and driving
A (rental) car offers the quickest option to get from airports to ski destinations and to get around within a valley or region. Most rental companies offer automatic transmission for a few extra Euros, too. Just make sure you get winter tires and snow chains (for an extra charge), since having those is compulsory in all alpine regions. And they are not necessarily a standard option. Especially in places like Venice, Nice, or Lyon - not purely ‘winter destinations’ - winter tires are not a default option. So, be sure to check.
All in all, car rental may be the best option to get around, both in terms of price and of course flexibility. And if you want to go to a region that’s not that well-connected by train or requires some local transport - even though there are local busses just about everywhere - having a car is great.
Italy is much cheaper in terms of car rental than the other Alpine nations. I don’t know why exactly, but it can make quite a difference (up to 40% cheaper). Want to ski in Zermatt? Stay on the Italian side instead, in Breuil-Cervinia. Much cheaper to stay, it’s in the same ski area, and it’s only a two-hour drive from Milan Malpensa airport. Moreover, if you buy the extended ski pass for a few Euros more, you can go skiing in some other Aosta Valley resorts while you’re there (Monterosa, Pila, Courmayeur & Mont Blanc).
Flights
There are some 15 smaller and bigger airports in and around the Alps. So there are numerous ways to get to the region, either directly or with a stop-over at one of the major hubs like Frankfurt (FRA), London Heathrow (LHR), Amsterdam (AMS), or Paris (CDG). Each of these places in itself is worth a visit by the way. So if you’re able to spend a day or two in one of these places, since you’re there anyway…
From the airports in the Alpine region itself, there are always transfers available to the ski resorts they service. They’re not cheap though, and they only get you to your destination, obviously. In a bigger ski area such as Les Trois Vallées, you won’t need any other transportation while you’re there except a pair of skis. In some places, getting around is just as important as getting there in the first place.
Trains and buses
As opposed to North America, there is an extensive train network in the Alps. There are train lines connecting airports to ski resorts, night trains and tonnes of regional lines that run through valleys. There are even ski resorts that have train stations that are within walking distance from lifts and slopes:
St. Anton am Arlberg (Ski Arlberg), Austria
Bad Gastein (Ski Amadé), Austria
Mayrhofen (Zillertal), Austria
Arosa (Arosa-Lenzerheide), Switzerland
Zermatt (Zermatt-Cervinia), Switzerland
Davos (Davos-Klosters), Switzerland
Andermatt (Andermatt-Sedrun), Switzerland
Bourg-Saint-Maurice (Les Arcs), France
Briançon (Serre Chevalier), France
Aosta (Pila), Italy
Mühlbach (Gitschberg-Jochtal), Italy
Ried (Kronplatz), Italy
Versciaco (Drei Zinnen), Italy
Here are links to the national railway websites of the Alpine countries:
Austria: https://www.oebb.at/en/
France: https://www.sncf.com/en
Germany: https://www.bahn.com/en#slc
Italy: https://www.trenitalia.com/en.html
Switzerland: https://www.sbb.ch/en
Here's a link to a recent and quite extensive railway map of Europe: https://www.eurail.com/content/dam/pdfs/eurail/Eurail-Map-2021.pdf
And there are some websites that can be very helpful in finding your way through Europe with public transport:
https://www.happyrail.com/en/european-train-planner
https://www.omio.com/
Cars and driving
A (rental) car offers the quickest option to get from airports to ski destinations and to get around within a valley or region. Most rental companies offer automatic transmission for a few extra Euros, too. Just make sure you get winter tires and snow chains (for an extra charge), since having those is compulsory in all alpine regions. And they are not necessarily a standard option. Especially in places like Venice, Nice, or Lyon - not purely ‘winter destinations’ - winter tires are not a default option. So, be sure to check.
All in all, car rental may be the best option to get around, both in terms of price and of course flexibility. And if you want to go to a region that’s not that well-connected by train or requires some local transport - even though there are local busses just about everywhere - having a car is great.
Italy is much cheaper in terms of car rental than the other Alpine nations. I don’t know why exactly, but it can make quite a difference (up to 40% cheaper). Want to ski in Zermatt? Stay on the Italian side instead, in Breuil-Cervinia. Much cheaper to stay, it’s in the same ski area, and it’s only a two-hour drive from Milan Malpensa airport. Moreover, if you buy the extended ski pass for a few Euros more, you can go skiing in some other Aosta Valley resorts while you’re there (Monterosa, Pila, Courmayeur & Mont Blanc).
Last edited:
