Which airport for your ski resort? Geneva, Lyon, Chambery or Grenoble
Start from the flight, then check the transfer
Four airports serve the French Alps. They are not equal. Two of them are open all year and two are seasonal. The best choice is rarely the airport nearest to your resort on a map. It is the airport with a flight that suits you, combined with a transfer time you are happy to sit through after landing. The transfer times below are the ones published on our airport pages.
Geneva Airport
Geneva (GVA) is open year-round and is our busiest gateway to the Alps. It welcomes over 15 million passengers a year and is a hub for Swiss International Air Lines and easyJet Switzerland. It is about an hour from Chamonix and Megeve, two hours from the Three Valleys and under three hours from Paradiski and Espace Killy.
For the resorts of the French Tarentaise, the transfer takes about 2h20 to Courchevel, about 2h40 to Val Thorens and Les Arcs and about 2h50 to La Plagne. Verbier takes about 2 hours and stays in Switzerland from start to finish. If you land at Geneva, read our guide to the Swiss and French sides of the airport. See also our Geneva Airport transfers page.
Lyon Airport
Lyon Saint Exupery (LYS) is open year-round and is a convenient gateway to the whole French Alps. It sits very close to the motorway, so it is quick to leave. The airport has three terminals and its own TGV high-speed rail station next door. If you arrive by train from Paris, you can get off at the Lyon Airport TGV station and avoid the city traffic.
The transfer takes about 2h10 to Alpe d’Huez, Les Deux Alpes and Meribel, about 2h20 to Courchevel and about 2h40 to Val d’Isere. See our Lyon Airport transfers page.
Chambery Airport
Chambery (CMF) is only open during the ski season. It has a single terminal and handles mostly seasonal winter flights from the UK, with airlines such as British Airways, Jet2.com and TUI Airways. It is the fastest option for the Tarentaise and Maurienne valleys.
The transfer takes about 1h30 to Courchevel and about an hour and a half to Meribel, Les Menuires, La Tania, Valmorel and La Toussuire. It takes about 1h40 to La Plagne, about 1h50 to Les Arcs and Val Thorens and about 2 hours to Val d’Isere. See our Chambery Airport transfers page.
Grenoble Airport
Grenoble-Isere (GNB) was built for the 1968 Winter Olympics and sits near Saint-Etienne-de-Saint-Geoirs, about 45 km northwest of Grenoble. It operates mainly during the winter season. easyJet connects it to UK airports including London, Manchester, Bristol and Edinburgh. It is the closest gateway to the Oisans and Ecrins resorts.
The transfer takes about 1h50 to Alpe d’Huez and Les Deux Alpes. It takes about 2h40 to Les Arcs and Val d’Isere and about 2h50 to La Plagne. See our Grenoble Airport transfers page.
Resort by resort
- Courchevel. About 1h30 from Chambery. About 2h20 from Geneva and Lyon.
- Meribel. About 1h30 from Chambery. About 2h10 from Lyon.
- Val Thorens. About 1h50 from Chambery. About 2h40 from Geneva.
- La Plagne. About 1h40 from Chambery. About 2h50 from Geneva and Grenoble.
- Les Arcs. About 1h50 from Chambery. About 2h40 from Geneva and Grenoble.
- Val d’Isere. About 2 hours from Chambery. About 2h40 from Lyon and Grenoble.
- Alpe d’Huez and Les Deux Alpes. About 1h50 from Grenoble. About 2h10 from Lyon.
- Chamonix and Megeve. About an hour from Geneva.
These are typical journey times. On Saturdays and at other busy traffic times a transfer may take longer than usual, so allow extra time.
If the best flight lands at another airport
You do not have to choose the airport nearest to your resort. We run transfers from the airports above to ski resorts across the Alps. If the best flight for your dates lands at Geneva or Lyon, the transfer is longer but it is easy to plan. Run an instant quote from each airport on our home page and compare the journey time before you book your flight.
Delays and long travel days
A long transfer after a late flight can make the day feel endless. We track delays and wait for you free of charge for the first thirty minutes. Read our guide on what happens to your transfer when a flight is delayed or cancelled.
Questions we often hear
Which airport is closest to Courchevel and Meribel?
Chambery. The transfer from Chambery Airport to Courchevel takes about 1h30. From Geneva or Lyon it takes about 2h20. Chambery is only open during the ski season, so check that a flight is available on your dates.
Which airport is closest to Alpe d'Huez and Les Deux Alpes?
Grenoble. The transfer takes about 1h50 to both resorts. From Lyon it takes about 2h10. Grenoble operates mainly during the winter season.
Which airports are open all year?
Geneva and Lyon are open year-round. Chambery is only open during the ski season. Grenoble operates mainly during the winter season.
Is Geneva a good choice for French ski resorts?
Yes. Geneva is our busiest gateway to the Alps. It is about an hour from Chamonix and Megeve, two hours from the Three Valleys and under three hours from Paradiski and Espace Killy. Some French resorts are closer to Chambery or Lyon, so compare the transfer times for your resort.
Can I arrive by train instead of flying?
Lyon Airport has its own TGV high-speed rail station right next door. If you travel by train from Paris, it is convenient to get off at the Lyon Airport TGV station rather than going into the city. This avoids Lyon's urban traffic.
Does traffic change the transfer time?
On Saturdays and at other busy traffic times a transfer may take longer than usual. Allow extra time, especially on the long transfers from Geneva and Lyon.
What happens if my flight is delayed?
We track delays and wait for you free of charge for the first thirty minutes. For longer delays, let us know by email, SMS or WhatsApp and we will adjust.
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