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How to Get to Courchevel

Discover the top ways to get to Courchevel

Location
Courchevel 1850
Updated

With a nearby train station and several airports within a three hour drive, there are plenty of options for getting to Courchevel.

Courchevel sits at the heart of the Three Valleys, the world's largest ski area. 

Chambery is the closest airport, although Geneva is probably still the airport of choice for most international visitors. You can expect transfers from Geneva to Courchevel to take 2h30 or so.

Courchevel isnโ€™t on a train line, but high speed (TGV) trains from Paris and the Eurostar snow train stop at Moรปtiers, which is only 25km away. From there, you can catch a bus to the resort.

If you're driving, it's straightforward as far as Moรปtiers. The road after that gets increasingly twisty.

So given the options, whatโ€™s the best way to get here? 

Jump to

  1. Easiest way to get to Courchevel
  2. Flying to Geneva
  3. Getting from the airport to Courchevel
  4. Train to Courchevel
  5. Driving to Courchevel
  6. Coach to Courchevel
  7. Ferries to Courchevel
  8. Reducing your environmental impact
About Getting to Courchevel

Easiest way to get to Courchevel

Plane over snow-capped mountains

Flying to Geneva

Flying to Geneva is probably the easiest way to get to Courchevel for most international visitors.

You'll easily pick up a transfer from Geneva. You can also hire a car and be on your way in no time. Journey time is around 2h30.

The only trouble with flying anywhere is the environmental cost. Driving, coming by coach or catching a train are usually better options if you want to reduce CO2 emissions.

Flying to other airports

If you can’t get a flight to Geneva, try Chambery.

Chambery is closer than Geneva and journey time is only 1h30. But the airport is lot smaller and not as many airlines fly there.  

Lyon or Grenoble (both around 180km away) are also options for Courchevel. Journey times are around 2h15.

We wouldn't recommend flying to Turin or Milan - even if they look close on the map. It usually takes a lot longer to get to the resort, and you'll often have to rely on pricey private transfers.

About Transfers to Val Thorens

Getting from the airport to Courchevel

There are several ways to get from the airport to Courchevel.

Airport transfer options for Courchevel
Flying to Best option Journey time
Chambery Airport transfer
Regular bus services during the winter season, changing at Moûtiers
1h30+
2h40
Geneva Airport transfer  2h30
Grenoble Regular bus service, changing at Moûtiers
Airport transfer 
2h30+
1h45
Lyon Regular bus service, changing at Moûtiers
Private transfers
3h40
About Trains to La Plagne

Train to Courchevel

Getting to Courchevel by train may involve a few changes, which can be tricky with baggage or kids. But:

  • it's the most environmentally-friendly option
  • you get more leg room than on a plane or in a car
  • you normally won't have to pay extra for luggage
  • journey times can be similar to driving or flying if you're doing a trip like London to Courchevel

Which train station is closest to Courchevel

Moรปtiers is the closest train station to Courchevel. It's about 24km from the centre of the resort, or an hour by bus. 

High speed (TGV) trains from Paris and the Eurostar snow train stop here. 

If you're coming from the UK, London to Courchevel by train is about 11 hours.

About Transfers to Val Thorens

Driving to Courchevel

Courchevel is relatively easy to get to by car, but you don't really need your car once you're in resort, thanks to the free shuttle buses.

Read more about parking in Courchevel

If you're using the French autoroute, the journey as far as Moรปtiers is straightforward. The final hour is a little more arduous as you wind your way up the 25km stretch into Courchevel.

This road is cleared every day during winter, but it's not a trip for nervous drivers - especially in bad weather. 

Remember too that if you're coming here for a ski holiday, you'll need to fit winter tyres or keep snow chains in the boot of your car.   

Driving to Courchevel from the UK

It takes about 9h30 to drive from Calais to Courchevel - a distance of around 920km.

Unless you're driving an electric car to the Alps however, driving isn't very environmentally friendly.

About Transfers to Val Thorens

Coach to Courchevel

Getting to Courchevel by coach takes longer than flying. It's usually cheaper though, which makes it a good option if you're on a budget.

It's also a relatively environmentally-friendly way to travel.

International coach companies like FlixBus, Eurolines, BlaBlaBus and RegioJet run services to Lyon, Grenoble and Geneva. From there, you can pick up a bus transfer to Courchevel.

Coaches from London to Courchevel

There's a direct overnight coach from London to Courchevel that runs once a week during the winter. The coach stops in Moรปtiers, where youโ€™ll need to change on to a bus for the last 25km of the journey. 

Total journey time is about 20h15.

Ferries to Courchevel

About Getting to Val Thorens

Reducing your environmental impact

We know flying is often the most convenient way to get to Courchevel, but we'd encourage you to look at alternatives.

One option is to take the train as far as Geneva and do the last leg by transfer from the airport or city centre. This allows you to minimise your carbon footprint while still getting to the resort in good time.

Mode of transportCO2 per km per person
Train6 grams
Electric car with four passengers13 grams
Coach28 grams
Diesel car with four passengers43 grams
Petrol car with four passengers48 grams
Flying156 grams
Carbon footprint | Comparing ways to get to Courchevel

Source: Carbon footprint of travel per kilometre (ourworldindata.org)

Latest News & Reviews

Find out all about what is happening in the Courchevel area and how to make the most of your time here. The latest news, reviews of fun activities, current events and the trendiest restaurants, as well as interviews with leading locals, insider's guides and our top choices for things to do, see and experience in the region. Plus, during the winter season, our famous snow reports and dump alerts all in the same place.

See allLatest News & Reviews
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Upcoming Events

There are loads of events in Courchevel and the 3 Valleys year round. From quirky local events to large scale sporting spectacles, there is always something worth visiting. Every February, the spectacular International Festival of Pyrotechnic Art comes to resort. Summer highlights include the Courchevel Air Show, the 3 Vallées VTT mountain bike event and the occasional stage of the Tour de France.

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