Transportation
Evian can be a starting point for the 741 km drive to Nice along the Route des Grandes Alpes. One of Europe’s great drives, it links Lake Geneva with the Riviera, crossing 35 passes along the way. Leaping from valley to valley, it’s open from end to end only in summer.
Get in
By train
The best way to approach Evian-les-Bains by train from the French Alps is through the gateway city of Annecy. Many trains from other parts of France and Switzerland require transfers through the railway junction of Bellegarde.
By car
If you’re driving from Geneva take N5 east along the southern rim of the lake. From Paris, take A6 south. Before Macon, you’ll see signs pointing to the turnoff for Thonon-Evian. From Thonon, N5 leads to Evian. Trip time is about 5 1/2 hours, which can vary depending on traffic.
By boat
Popular ferries leave Geneva from Quai du Mont-Blanc, at the foot of the rue des Alpes, or from Le Jardin Anglais. From May 28 to September 21, one ferry a day departs Geneva at 9am, arriving in Evian at 11:45am. The return trip leaves Evian at 5:50pm daily and reaches Geneva at 8:45pm.
Get around
Evian has a funicular railway line known as the small underground eviannais. The train line linking Evian to Switzerland from the east is no longer in service since 1998. But in 2005, an association was established with the aim to obtain the reopening of the line of Tonkin, in agreement with Mayor Marc Francina and General Counsel Louis Duret.