The Alps isn’t just for ski season. In fact, summer in the Alps will have you wanting to let loose your inner Vontrapp and sing ‘The Hills are Alive’. The tinkling of cowbells, the scent of flowers from countless window boxes, and impressive mountain views make the Alps an idyllic setting.
Getting there is easy, and train tickets won’t break the bank. Download our app and book journeys on your phone with no booking fees. Then, opt for an eticket to skip queues at the station’s ticket office. Read on for Alpine inspiration.
Trains to Bourg St Maurice (for the French Alps)
Catch the train to Bourg St Maurice, a pretty mountain village in the French Alps, for sunny hikes, family picnics, and downhill mountain biking (for you adrenaline junkies out there). The 40 marked trails will give you plenty to explore.
It may be small, but Bourg St Maurice is well connected by TGV trains, run by SNCF. Foldable bikes can be brought on for free, and for mountain bikes and other non-foldables, you can reserve a space for just €10. Unsure? Read our FAQ, Can I take my bike on the train?
Trains to Milan (for the Italian Alps)
High-speed train fans will welcome the chance to gobble up the miles on the TGV from Paris to Milan. Tickets start at as little as €29 each way, and the journey takes a minimum of six and a half hours. It’s just a short hop from Milan to Lake Como, so close you could even catch a bus. Did you know we sell tickets for buses in Europe too?
The Alps are a charming backdrop to the lake, and there are regular boat services to link you to the small villages nearby – handy. Settle down in one of the many enoteche (wine bars) of Bellagio or Laglio (a favourite of George Clooney). There are plenty of walking routes offering panoramic views and clean mountain air. Feeling ambitious? Take on the six-day Via dei Monti Lariani, a 125km trail once used by farmers in the area to take their animals to the higher pastures.
Trains to Munich (for the Austrian Alps)
Getting to the Austrian Alps in time for dinner is easy thanks to its great train links. Catch the Eurostar from London to Brussels, then board a super-fast ICE train in Germany via Frankfurt to Munich.
Regular regional trains make the cross-border trip into Austria a breeze, and with single fares for the 11-hour journey available from under €70, it’s good value too. Jump off the train at Kitzbühel and book a cable car up the infamous Hahnenkamm mountain, site of the daring winter races.
Along the way, keep your eyes peeled for some mind-blowing views of the countryside, as the train winds its way through the valleys.
Trains to Geneva (for the Swiss Alps)
One of the quickest ways to reach the Alps is the TGV Lyria service from Paris to Geneva, taking under four hours.
From Geneva, board the Chocolate Train, a day-long excursion that takes you along the shores of Lake Geneva, before climbing through pretty Alpine scenery. Along the tour, you’ll stop in at the village of Gruyères to sample Switzerland’s most mouth-watering cheese. If there’s room left, round off the afternoon at the Cailler chocolate factory in Broc.