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Puy de Dôme and Vulcania from Clermont, even without a car

Published 31 October 2026

Yes, you can go up to the summit of the Puy de Dôme and visit Vulcania from Clermont-Ferrand without a car. A regular bus line runs all year round to the Panoramique des Dômes station, and a seasonal shuttle serves Vulcania during the holidays. Here is how to organise yourself, with the times and seasons to check before you set off.

The Panoramique des Dômes: the train to the summit

The Panoramique des Dômes is a rack railway that climbs to the summit of the Puy de Dôme, at 1,465 metres, in about fifteen minutes. The departure station is in Orcines, chemin du Couleyras, with a free car park of around 1,000 spaces for those arriving by car.

• Opening: the train runs all year round, except on 25 December and a few days of annual maintenance (late March in 2026).
• Frequency: a departure every 20 minutes in high season, down to one an hour in low season. Evening trips, on booking, are offered on certain evenings.
• 2026 fares: adult return €18.60 from April to September and €17.20 the rest of the year, with a reduced fare for students, over-62s and jobseekers. Tickets are valid for one year, with no fixed date.

Times change depending on the period: check the Panoramique des Dômes times and fares page before you go.

Getting to the Panoramique station by bus

T2C bus line P36 runs from Chamalières to its terminus "Orcines – Gare du Panoramique des Dômes", at the foot of the volcano. It runs all year round, on weekdays and at weekends, with around a dozen departures a day in each direction (timetable valid since 31 August 2026).

1. From the SNCF railway station or the city centre, take line B towards Royat and get off at the Europe stop, in Chamalières.
2. Walk to the Chamalières Aristide Briand stop, less than 100 metres away, and board the P36 towards Orcines.
3. Get off at the terminus, next to the rack railway station.

Allow about 40 to 55 minutes from Clermont station, depending on the wait for the connection. A T2C ticket is all you need, and the network is free at weekends. Check the time of the last return bus on the T2C website: it leaves before 8 pm.

Walking up via the chemin des Chèvres

If you prefer to walk, two paths start from the Panoramique station:

• The chemin des Chèvres (Goats' Path): about 6 km and 1 hr 30 mins to 2 hrs of climbing up the north face. It first crosses the forest, then opens out onto the neighbouring volcanoes. Some sections are stepped. It is closed to groups and school trips.
• The chemin des Muletiers (Mule Drivers' Path): steeper, with hairpin bends. You can also join it at the col de Ceyssat, about 45 minutes to 1 hour from the summit.

A good combination: walk up and come down by train, with a single ticket. At the summit, it is often noticeably cooler and windier than in town. Bring a jacket, water and good shoes, and stay on the marked paths.

Vulcania: the Navette des Volcans

Vulcania, the theme park devoted to volcanoes and Earth sciences, is in Saint-Ours-les-Roches, about twenty minutes by car from Clermont. Its 2026 season opened on 25 March and ends on 1 November 2026. The 2027 reopening dates have not yet been published; the park usually reopens in spring.

Without a car, the Navette des Volcans (Volcano Shuttle) leaves from Clermont-Ferrand SNCF station. Its stops include Michel de L'Hospital, Maison de la Culture, Chamalières Europe, Royat, Orcines (La Baraque) and the parking des Goules, before Vulcania and the volcan de Lemptégy. In 2026, it ran:

• during the spring holidays, from 4 April to 3 May;
• on the long May weekends (8 May, Ascension, Whitsun);
• every day from 4 July to 30 August;
• during the All Saints' holidays, from 17 October to 1 November.

It is used with a T2C ticket (€1.60 per journey in 2026) and is free at weekends. The 2027 calendar will be published by T2C and by Vulcania before the season.

Our tips for a successful day

• One site per day. The two journeys use different connections: it is better to devote one day to the Puy de Dôme and another to Vulcania.
• Set off early. In the morning, the air is often clearer at the summit, and the train is less crowded.
• Check the mountain forecast. The summit can be in the clouds while it is sunny in Clermont.
• Note the last return times. Buses and shuttles do not run in the evening: find out the time of the last departure before you set off.
• Make the most of the weekend. With the network free, transport costs you nothing on Saturdays and Sundays.

Where to stay to explore the volcanoes

In central Clermont, the Résidence Jaude and our city-centre flats are close to line B stops and the departure point of the Navette des Volcans. To be as close as possible to the volcanoes, choose the Au Cœur des Volcans residence. Our houses around Clermont suit families and groups. All our properties can be booked from one night, with cleaning and linen included. For the rest of your stay in town, see also our ideas for discovering Clermont-Ferrand.