From Clermont it is the round top with the antenna.
Since 2012 only the train goes up – 15 minutes, 1,850 feet of climbing.
At the top: a Roman temple, paragliders and 80 volcanoes in a row.
Scroll –
up by train
The old toll road up the Puy de Dôme has been closed to private vehicles since 2010. You get up by the Panoramique des Dômes rack railway or for free on foot. The most popular trail, the Chemin des Muletiers, is closed for works for the second time in 2026: from October 5 to 16.
Daily 9 am–7 pm every 40 minutes until November 1, then Wednesday to Friday and weekends 10 am–5 pm. Maintenance break November 16–20. No reservation needed, tickets valid for a year.
The mule trail from the Col de Ceyssat: 1.2 miles (1.9 km), about 1,150 ft (350 m) of climbing in 15 switchbacks. Closed for works from October 5 to 16, 2026, when the Col de Ceyssat parking lot is inaccessible as well.
The goat trail from the railway parking lot (GR 4-441): 1.5–2 hours through forest, the last 500 m on the service road beside the track. The only walking route during the Muletiers closure.
Permanently closed to private motor vehicles. Cyclists only during organized events such as the Montée du puy de Dôme (May 30 in 2026). Parking at the lower station: 1,000 spaces, free.
Photo: Medium69 · CC BY-SA 4.0
The train stops at 4,806 feet, and the wind is there at once – it is 9 to 14 °F colder up here than in Clermont. A paved loop trail circles the plateau: to the east the city and the Limagne plain, to the north and south the chain of cones, each one its own eruption. Paragliders circle over the meadows, sheep graze along the edge. And in the middle lie the walls of the temple of Mercury, which pilgrims reached 1,900 years ago on the same mule trail.
Affiliate links to GetYourGuide: if you book, we earn a commission and the price stays the same. Prices and ratings as of 22 September 2026. You do not need a tour for the Puy de Dôme itself – train tickets are sold at the lower station or by the operator.
Photo: Romainbehar · CC0
There is no quota and no mandatory reservation. What you need to know: when the train runs, what it costs, and where to check whether the trail is open.
volcan.puy-de-dome.fr tells you whether the Chemin des Muletiers is open and whether the train is running. In 2026 the trail was closed until March 27 and is closed again October 5–16.
Ticket office in Orcines; e-tickets skip the line. Tickets are valid for a year from purchase, with no fixed time – the next departure with free seats. The online shop was temporarily switched off on September 22, 2026.
July/August every 20 minutes until 8 pm, otherwise every 40 minutes until 7 pm, in winter hourly 10 am–5 pm and only Wednesday to Sunday. Summer night rides on Thursdays until midnight with reservation. Closed December 25.
If you climb the Chèvres or the Muletiers, buy just a one-way descent at the top (€14.40–15.50). Paragliding passengers also need only the ride up.
| Summit on foot, temple ruins, Espace Temple de Mercure, parking lots | free |
| Rack railway round trip, adults (low / high season) | €17.20 / €18.60 |
| Rack railway round trip, children 4–14 · under 4 free | €10.10 / €11.70 |
| One way, adults / children | €14.40–15.50 / €8.60–9.90 |
| Family ticket 2 adults + 2 children, round trip | €41.60 / €49.90 |
| Reduced round trip (62+, students, job seekers) | €15.40–17.70 |
| Dog (except category 1) | €5.50 |
| Guided tour of the temple of Mercury, 30 minutes, max. 25 people, sign up at the top | free |
| Vulcania day ticket adults / children 6–16 / ages 3–5 · under 3 free | €28–33 / €23–27.50 / €7.50–9.50 |
Photo: Kyro · CC BY 3.0
Four ways to reach or leave the summit. On foot costs nothing.
| Panoramique des Dômes rack railway · Orcines lower station (about 2,950 ft / 900 m) – summit (4,806 ft / 1,465 m) | 15-minute ride, whole visit about 2 hours according to the operator. Stations and trains accessible, strollers allowed. €17.20–18.60 round trip. |
| Chemin des Muletiers · from the Col de Ceyssat parking lot (3,510 ft / 1,070 m, D 68, free) | 1.2 miles (1.9 km), about 1,150 ft (350 m) of climbing in 15 switchbacks, 45 minutes to 1 hour. The descent is more technical, poles help, microspikes in winter. In July/August arrive before 10 am, the parking lot is small. Closed October 5–16, 2026. |
| Chemin des Chèvres (GR 4-441) · from the railway parking lot | About 3–3.7 miles (5–6 km), 1 hour 15 to 2 hours, forest, viewpoints, some stairs. The last 500 m on the service road beside the track. |
| Tandem paragliding from the summit · FFVL schools | Discovery flight 15–20 minutes from €100, long flight 30–45 minutes up to €180, from about age 5 / 44 lb. One-way train ticket extra. Launch only in suitable wind. |
Photo: Medium69 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Without a car: T2C bus line P36 from Clermont-Ferrand (from the train station: tram B to 'Europe', then P36 toward 'Orcines – Gare du Panoramique des Dômes'), about every 50 minutes, total 40–55 minutes, year-round, free on weekends. During the summer and fall school holidays additional 'Navettes Volcans' from the SNCF station / Ballainvilliers / Place de Jaude to the railway parking lot and to Vulcania (single ride €1.60, under 5 free; groups of 6 or more reserve 48 h ahead with Nenot). Off season, the Moovicité on-demand bus from Royat (04 73 87 40 83).
By car: From Clermont-Ferrand on the D 941 toward Limoges, 15 minutes; lower station in Orcines with 1,000–1,500 free spaces, motorcycle zone, motorhome and coach spaces (no overnight stays). For the Muletiers: Col de Ceyssat parking lot (1,070 m / 3,510 ft, D 68, free, limited; July/August before 10 am), closed during the trail works October 5–16, 2026. The summit road is closed to private vehicles.
Early or late: before 10 am the parking lot and the train are empty; in the evening in July/August the train runs until 8 pm and on Thursdays until midnight (reservation) – sunset over the chain. Clearest distant views (Mont Blanc in easterly winds) on cold winter days; fall (September/October) with a 40-minute interval and fewer crowds. In winter mind the schedule: nothing runs on Mondays and Tuesdays. In fog you see nothing at the top – check the webcam first.
Photo: PIERRE ANDRE LECLERCQ · CC BY-SA 3.0
Five miles away lies the Vulcania volcano park, right next door the neighboring cone with the perfect crater. And 30 miles to the south, the youngest volcano in mainland France.
Volcano theme park in Saint-Ours-les-Roches, 20 minutes by car from Clermont. 2026 season from March 25 to November 1, from 10 am, summer night openings until 10:30 pm. The park itself needs 5–6 hours – with the Puy de Dôme, better plan two days.
The neighboring cone with the textbook crater. Climb from the Parking des Goules (a stop of the Navette Volcans) in about an hour.
A circular maar lake in the Massif du Sancy, at about 6,700 years the youngest volcano in mainland France, 30 miles (50 km) to the south.
Photo: Pymouss · CC BY-SA 4.0
Round trip €17.20 in low season and €18.60 in high season for adults, children aged 4 to 14 €10.10 or €11.70, under 4 free. One way €14.40–15.50, family ticket €41.60–49.90.
Yes, for free: on the Chemin des Muletiers from the Col de Ceyssat (1.2 miles, 45 minutes to 1 hour) or the Chemin des Chèvres from the lower station (3–3.7 miles, 1.5–2 hours). From October 5 to 16, 2026 the Muletiers is closed for works.
No. The former toll road has been closed to private vehicles since 2010. Park for free at the lower station in Orcines (about 1,000 spaces), then take the train or walk.
Tram B to 'Europe', then bus P36 to 'Orcines – Gare du Panoramique des Dômes', 40–55 minutes, about every 50 minutes, free on weekends. During the summer and fall holidays the Navettes Volcans also run from the train station and Place de Jaude.
No. Tickets are valid for a year from purchase and for the next departure with free seats. Only groups of 20 or more and the summer night rides reserve.
As of September 22, 2026 the train runs daily 9 am–7 pm every 40 minutes. The Chemin des Muletiers will be closed October 5–16, 2026, together with the Col de Ceyssat parking lot; the Chemin des Chèvres stays open. Railway maintenance break: November 16–20, 2026.
No, individual visitors need no reservation; tickets are valid for a year from purchase and for the next departure with free seats. Only groups of 20 or more and the summer night rides should or must reserve.
Yes and no: the Chemin des Muletiers from the Col de Ceyssat (1.9 km / 1.2 miles, 45 minutes to 1 hour, about 350 m / 1,150 ft of climbing) and the Chemin des Chèvres from the lower station (5–6 km / 3–3.7 miles, 1.5–2 hours) are free. From October 5 to 16, 2026 the Muletiers is closed for works.
Yes: the train takes strollers, at the top there is a paved loop trail, the free exhibition on the temple of Mercury and picnic areas. The Muletiers is steep but short; children under 4 ride free.
Windbreaker and sturdy shoes, even in summer – at 1,465 m (4,806 ft) it is noticeably cooler and windier than in Clermont. Hiking boots for the Muletiers, microspikes in winter because the domite rock gets slippery.
The dome formed about 11,000 years ago, the Chaîne des Puys was last active about 8,400 years ago; there is no alert level. The hazards are wind, fog, rockfall on the Muletiers and paraglider traffic at the summit.
As a tandem passenger with an FFVL school from about age 5, 15–20 minutes from €100, longer thermal flights of 30–45 minutes around €180. Licensed pilots need their own license and must respect the Clermont airport airspace.
No. The ruins, the visitor trail and the Espace Temple de Mercure with models and films are free; the department offers free 30-minute guided tours (sign up at the reception at the top). Only the VR experience from age 12 costs money.
2026 season from March 25 to November 1, daily from 10 am. Adults pay €28–33 depending on the period, children aged 6 to 16 €23–27.50, ages 3–5 €7.50–9.50, under 3 free; 'Smart' tickets booked online are slightly cheaper.
Sources · accessed on 22 September 2026
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