Where to buy train tickets from the Swiss border to Chamonix
A traveler named Karen is planning a trip from Geneva to Chamonix for two nights, arriving in the late afternoon. She's confused about how to buy train tickets once she reaches the border into Chamonix, given that she has already purchased a Swiss Travel Pass and needs advice on managing the French trains.
- For the best route from Geneva to Chamonix, consider taking a direct shuttle bus or shared transfer, especially since the Swiss Travel Pass isn't valid on buses.
- Your Swiss Travel Pass is valid only up to Annemasse, so it's best to buy tickets from there to Chamonix at the Geneva Airport station.
- To avoid delays, do not book an early shuttle bus from the airport; aim for the later 20:35 departure if necessary.
- If you prefer to stay in Chamonix, ensure you check the train schedule for a smooth return journey from Vallorcine back to Martigny.
AI-generated summary-
We are flying into Geneva in the late afternoon and my husband preferred that we go straight to Chamonix rather than do a day trip from Geneva. We have already purchased our Swiss rail pass, but the websites are a bit confusing about getting our tickets at the border into Chamonix. We’re only staying 2 nights and will need to come back to Geneva to continue our trip through Switzerland, so just need some advise on managing the French trains. Do we get off at the border, buy a ticket on the spot and get on a different train? Or is it one train all the way and we purchase our ticket before getting on in Geneva? Any help would be great!
-
Hello Karen
Welcome to MySwissAlps
Judging by your last sentences, you are very unsure as to how to get from Geneva Airport to Chamonix.
I am assuming you ARE travelling in the next few weeks.
There are two possible routes from Geneva Airport to Chamonix.
Have a good map in front of you.
Via Annemasse and St Gervais-les-Bains (The French route)
This is the shorter and the quicker of the two routes. But your Swiss Travel Pass will be only be valid for the short section to Annemasse, which is actually just in France.
If you leave Geneva airport station at 16 14 (4 14 pm) and change at Geneva city centre, Annemasse and St Gervais-les-Bains, you get to Chamonix at 19 13.
If you depart at 17 14 you will arrive at 20 13, and if you depart at 1814 you arrive at 21 13. 1914 arrive 22 05 (there is no need to change at Annemasse on this departure.)
You could also depart at 20 14 and get to Chamonix at 23 20. But this would involve taking a bus from Annemasse to Chamonix.
If you take this French route, get the booking office at Geneva Airport station to sell you tickets from Annemasse to Chamonix. (Show your Swiss Travel Passes.)
Via Martigny (The Swiss route)
Currently, this is not a satisfactory route.
The only possible departures are at 16 14 and 17 14. There are no later possibilities.
If you manage to catch the 16 14 train bound for Brig, you stay on this train as far as Martigny. There you will have to change to a rail-replacement bus for the short ride to Vernayaz. There you get the train to Vallorcine, where you change into another train to Chamonix.
This route take three hours and 29 minutes.
If you take this Swiss route, get the booking office at Geneva Airport station to sell you tickets from LE CHATELARD FRONTIERE to Chamonix. (Show your Swiss Travel Passes.)
I am now going to stop… at least to give you time to think and discuss.
Given these complications, I personally think it would be better for you to visit Chamonix as a day excursion from Geneva. Go one way, come back the other. Get a Swiss booking office in Geneva to sell you the necessary tickets for the French sections of your journey.
(Another possibility would be to stay in MARTIGNY for two nights. The Swiss booking office at Martigny would be able to sell return tickets from Le Chatelard Frontiere to Chamonix. Martigny to Chamonix takes 91 minutes.)
Best wishes for your deliberations.
Roger
Roger, thank you for all of this valuable information. We are actually planning ahead and travelling June 7. We originally planned to stay in Geneva but with such a short trip to Chamonix my husband wanted to stay there instead of Geneva. Our flight arrives around 4:30 so I will use your information to navigate. However, having travelled this area do you see any reason we shouldn’t stay in Chamonix and navigate the sightseeing on our own vs. staying in Martigny or Geneva and doing a day tour?
Hi Karen,
If your flight arrives at Geneva Airport at 4.30PM, I think the best options for travelling to Chamonix would be to take a direct shuttle bus or shared/private transfer.
Flixbus operates several services daily from Geneva Airport to Chamonix Mont Blanc.
For shared or private transfers, you can find further details on the Chamonix website (and scroll to Taxis and Shuttles).
You can find further information and tips on how to travel between Switzerland and France here: https://www.myswissalps.com/travel-guide/france-switzerland/
Hope this helps.
Regards,
Anna
Hello again
I have consulted the Flixbus website. On June 7th there are two possible departures from Geneva Airport to Chamonix-Mont Blanc, at 17 35 (5 35 pm) and 20 35. The 17 35 gets to Chamonix at 19 10; the 20 35 gets to Chamonix at 22 00.
I would NOT GAMBLE and book a seat on the 17 35. Your flight may be delayed and/or there might be hold-ups at immigration. That leaves you the 20 35 with a late arrival in Chamonix, probably after dark.
Your Swiss Travel Passes are, of course, not valid on Flixbus.
The case for a day trip from Martigny.
While typing my earlier reply I remembered that the only time I have ever visited Chamonix was on a day trip from Martigny! That is the course I would recommend to you.
On June 7th, catch any fast train from Geneva Airport to Martigny. These trains run THREE TIMES AN HOUR and seat reservations will not be required! Stay two nights in Martigny.
Your STPs will be valid for the whole journey to Martigny.. The trans leave Geneva Airport at 14, 30, and 55 minutes past the hour, and take about one hour and fifty minutes. (The trains will be going to Brig, or terminating at Martigny.)
I have some good news for June 8th. The work at Martigny station will have finished, and trains will be running through to Vallorcine, where you change for Chamonix
Trains to Vallorcine leave Martigny at 06 55, and then at 08 14, and then every hour at 14 minutes past the hour. The very scenic journey to Chamonix takes 91 minutes. Sit on the left side of the train in the direction of travel. As I said in my previous reply, the Swiss booking office at Martigny would be able to sell you return tickets from Le Chatelard Frontiere to Chamonix. You do NOT get off at the Frontiere.
Trains back from Chamonix (changing of course at Vallorcine) are at 28 minutes past each hour, and the journey back is slightly slower at one hour and 41 minutes. The last train is at 20 28 (8 28 pm).
On June 9th you can commence your Swiss travels in earnest. There is no need to go back to Geneva. Note in particular that there are two fast trains an hour from Martigny to Brig. The stop before Brig is VISP, where you can change for Saas Fee or Zermatt in a southerly direction; or for Bern or the Bernese Oberland in a northerly direction! Martigny to Visp takes about 50 minutes!
I rest my case
Roger
- The thread ‘Where to buy train tickets from the Swiss border to Chamonix’ is closed to new replies.
