Lille stopover journeys to the Alps
Travel out to Lille the night before and then either take a direct TGV to the French Alps, or a combo of TGV and local TER train
Introduction
You can reach a number of ski resorts in the French Alps by Eurostar + TGV, changing train in Lille.
There are two ways of doing this:
1. Daytime journey via Lille.
2. Lille stopover journey
Daytime journeys via Lille
Doing it this way, you do all the travelling in one day. Your journey will almost certainly need one more change of train at Lyon Part Dieu, onto a local train bound for your resort. There is a wide array of French ski resorts that you can reach this way.
Lille stopover journeys
Doing it this way, you do all the travelling in one day. Your journey will almost certainly need one more change of train at Lyon Part Dieu, onto a local train bound for your resort. There is a wide array of French ski resorts that you can reach this way, such as Alpe d'Huez (pictured below).
Photo: Lionel Royet - OT Alpe d'Huez
Le Paris Stopover - the film - imagine this but for Lille!
The relaxed journey and the stop in Lille give even more opportunity for making the journey part of the holiday. Lille has several hotels that are very close to the station, so that after a good nights sleep you can wake up refreshed, walk over to the station and be on your way (perhaps picking up freshly baked croissant from the bakery by the station or the cafes inside).
We created a two-minute film about a stopover journey that we did via Paris, with a bunch of friends. Biut the principle is the same: the group had fun on the way and sneaked an afternoon on the slopes once they arrived, as this film shows.
Examples of morning TGV trains from Paris to the Alps
| Depart Paris-Lyon | Destination | Arrive | Resorts served include | Days of week |
| 06:28 | Oulx | 11:23 | Montgenevre, Sauze d'Oulx, Sestriere | Everyday |
| 06:49 | Moutiers | 11:03 | Meribel, Courchevel, Val Thorens | Saturdays |
| 07:11 | Cluses | 11:08 | Avoriaz, Flaine, Les Gets, Morzine, Samoens | Sat, Sun |
| 07:11 | Sallanches | 11:36 | Megeve | Saturdays |
| 07:11 | St Gervais | 11:45 | St Gervais, Les Contamines, Chamonix | Sat, Sun |
| 07:49 | Moutiers | 12:13 | Meribel, Courchevel, Les Menuires, Valmorel, Val Thorens | Sat, Sun |
| 07:49 | Aime-la-Plagne | 12:31 | La Plagne | Sat, Sun |
| 07:49 | Bourg St Maurice | 12:52 | Les Arcs, Sainte Foy, La Rosiere, Tignes, Val d'Isere | Sat, Sun |
| 08:45 | Moutiers | 12:59 | Meribel, Courchevel, Les Menuires, Valmorel, Val Thorens | Sat, Sun |
| 09:49 | Moutiers | 14:29 | Meribel, Courchevel, Les Menuires, Valmorel, Val Thorens | Sat, Sun |
| 10:11 | Cluses | 14:50 | Avoriaz, Flaine, Les Gets, Morzine, Samoens | Saturdays |
| 10:11 | Sallanches | 15:08 | Megeve | Saturdays |
| 10:11 | St Gervais | 15:19 | St Gervais, Les Contamines, Chamonix | Saturdays |
| 10:41 | Oulx | 15:23 | Montgenevre, Sauze d'Oulx, Sestriere | Everyday |
You can find out more about how to book these journeys in our guide to booking ski holidays by train.
Examples of afternoon TGV trains from the Alps to Paris
Notice that many of the journeys below can give you an extra final day on the slopes - because you can ski the whole day, or most of it, before catching your TGV back to Paris, where you can stay a night before continuing your journey home the next morning.
| Depart Alps | From station | Resorts served | Arrive Paris | Days of week |
| 13:15 | Bourg St Maurice | Les Arcs, Sainte Foy, La Rosiere, Tignes, Val d'Isere | 18:11 | Saturdays |
| 13:37 | Aime-la-Plagne | La Plagne | 18:11 | Saturdays |
| 13:57 | Moutiers | Meribel, Courchevel, Les Menuires, Valmorel, Val Thorens | 18:11 | Saturdays |
| 16:28 | St Gervais | Sainte Gervais, Les Contamines, Chamonix | 21:30 | Sundays |
| 16:36 | Sallanches | Megeve | 21:30 | Sundays |
| 16:54 | Cluses | Avoriaz, Flaine, Les Gets, Morzine, Samoens | 21:30 | Sundays |
| 17:15 | Oulx | Montgenevre, Sauze d'Oulx, Serre Chevalier, Sestriere | 22:31 | Everyday |
| 17:32 | Annecy | La Clusaz, Le Grand Bornand | 21:15 | Sat-Sun |
Lille hotels, coming soon.......
photo:Citizen M Citizen MJust by Paris Gare de Lyon station is the fantastic Citizen M hotel, overlooking the river Seine.
We've had some great recommendations from skiers who have stayed year, and of course you may already be familiar with the Citizen M hotel brand from their hotels in other cities.
The hotel and rooms are done in the attractive Citizen M style, and the rooms have XL king-size beds, ultra soft linen from Italy and powerful tropical rain showers (in the bathroom - not the weather...)
Prices start at €71.40
Contact details:
Phone: +33 1 86 65 07 40
Email: TBC
Website: https://www.citizenm.com/destinations/paris/paris-gare-de-lyon-hotel
Photo: OT La Rosiere
Like more help and advice?
If you'd like more help and advice the best train travel options, resorts and accommodation, feel free to contact Snowcarbon's founder, Daniel.
He can help with specific advice and suggestions, using his years of experience as a ski journalist and expert on how to travel to the Alps by train.
Daniel knows lots of great accommodation and tour operators and independent providers that can help, so you'll get some great suggestions.
Just send Daniel an email and he'll be back in touch.