How to travel from Lyon to Chamonix, France

The distance between Lyon and Chamonix is around 223km (138 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to drive which takes around 2h 15m.

3 routes found

We've found 3 different ways to get from Lyon to Chamonix by bus, train and car. The recommended routes, which include information on duration, ticket price, and level of difficulty, can be found below.

👋 Also check out ChamonixLyon if you're planning a return trip.

💰 Cheapest
1
bus
+

Bus

Take the bus to Chamonix Sud - Bus station.

  • Duration3h 55m
  • Departsevery 20 mins
  • Typical cost
    €13($13)
Operated byBlablabus+ 2 others
2
train
+

Train

Take the train to St-Gervais-les-Bains-le-Fayet.

  • Duration4h 25m
  • Departs6 times a week
  • Typical cost
    €140($140)
🚀 Fastest
3
car
+

Drive

Drive to Chamonix.

  • Duration2h 15m
  • Distance223km (138 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Lyon and Chamonix

There are several options for getting from Lyon to Chamonix by bus, train and car. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around €13 ($13) and will take around 3h 55m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can drive and arrive in approximately 2h 15m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately €30 ($30).

The distance between Lyon and Chamonix is around 223km (138 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 159km (99 miles)

It takes around 3h 55m to get from Lyon and Chamonix by bus. If you are travelling by car it will take around 2h 15m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Lyon to Chamonix is to drive which takes around 2h 15m and will set you back approx €30 ($30).

The cheapest way to travel between Lyon and Chamonix, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around €13 ($13) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Lyon and Chamonix. It typically takes around 4h 25m and departs 6 times a week.

There are no direct train services that runs from Lyon to Chamonix. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in St-Gervais-les-Bains-le-Fayet. These services run 6 times a week and will take a minimum of 4h 25m.

Swiss Railways run train services between Lyon and Chamonix. Trains depart 6 times a week and will take around 4h 25m, however, this may vary depending on the particular service and whether it runs express or stops all stations.

Bus travel

Yes there is a bus that runs regularly from Lyon and Chamonix. It typically takes around 3h 55m and departs every 20 mins.

Yes there is a direct bus service that runs between Lyon and Chamonix with no changeovers required. The bus runs every 20 mins and takes 3h 55m.

Blablabus and FlixBus run regular bus services between Lyon and Chamonix. Buses run every 20 mins and take around 3h 55m on average but will vary depending on you book with.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Lyon to Chamonix. We recommend that you take the bus to Chamonix Sud - Bus station. instead which will take 3h 55m.

The closest major airport to Chamonix is Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport (LYS) (LYS) which is approximately 141km (87 miles) from Chamonix. Dole-Jura Airport (DLE) (DLE) and EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg (BSL) (BSL) are also nearby and might be a better alternative airport depending on where you are flying from.

Drive yourself

Yes it is possible to drive from Lyon and Chamonix. The distance is around 223km (138 miles) by road and it will take around 2h 15m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Lyon to Chamonix is to take the bus which takes, on average, 3h 55m and will usually cost around €13 ($13).

How do I get from Lyon to Chamonix

Compare travel optionsbetween Lyon and Chamonix

Transport options from Lyon to Chamonix
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Bus
3h 55m
€13($13)
every 20 mins248km (154 miles)
Train
4h 25m
€140($140)
6 times a week249km (155 miles)
Drive
2h 15m
€30($30)
on demand223km (138 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Lyon and Chamonix

Bus companies

Airports near Chamonix

The following major airports near Chamonix offer regular flights to various popular destinations within France and internationally.

LYS
Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport (LYS)
International Airport
Distance
141km (87 miles) from Chamonix
DLE
Dole-Jura Airport (DLE)
Domestic Airport
Distance
166km (103 miles) from Chamonix
BSL
EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg (BSL)
International Airport
Distance
193km (120 miles) from Chamonix