Lyon Saint-Exupéry Airport (LYS) is 184 km from Courchevel 1850 by road, about 2 h 15 on clear roads, so it is no further than Geneva. There are four ways to cover it: a pre-booked private transfer that runs on any day (from €267 per car on 26 October 2026), the LYS’Express airport coach that runs from Friday to Sunday (from €55 per adult), the direct OUIGO train from the airport’s own station to Moûtiers (2 h 58, from €10) with the last 24 km by road, or a hire car. The right choice depends on the day you land, the time your flight arrives and how much luggage you carry.
The four options at a glance
| Option | Door-to-door time | Price (October 2026) | When it runs | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private transfer | About 2 h 15 on clear roads, longer on winter Saturdays | From €267 per car, €299 per van | Any day, any time | Families, groups, evening arrivals |
| LYS’Express coach (Altibus) | Longer than by car: stops plus a change at Moûtiers | From €55 per adult | Friday to Sunday, 11 Dec 2026 – 3 Apr 2027 | Couples and solo travellers on weekend flights |
| OUIGO train, then bus or taxi | 2 h 58 to Moûtiers, then about 36 min by road | From €10 per adult, plus the last 24 km | One direct train a day, December to March | Budget travellers landing by late morning |
| Hire car | About 2 h 15 on clear roads | Rental, fuel, tolls and parking | Any time | Travellers who want a car in the valleys |
Private transfer: the option that works on any day
A pre-booked car is the only way from Lyon airport to Courchevel 1850 that does not depend on a timetable. It also takes you to the door of your chalet or hotel rather than to a bus station or a station platform. On 26 October 2026, GetTransfer listed starting prices of €267 for an Economy car, €299 for a van and €628 for a minibus on this route; the price is agreed when you book, before the journey.
Cost per person is what makes the van interesting. Two adults and two children aged 3 to 12 would pay at least €187 on the coach at its lowest fare (adults from €55, children 30% less), against €299 for a van of their own. The difference buys a direct ride on the day and at the hour you choose, with skis and suitcases in the same vehicle.
The routing time assumes free-flowing roads. Winter Saturdays, when most chalets and apartments change over, are slower across the Tarentaise valley, which is why our guide to the airports near Courchevel budgets 2 h 45 from Lyon.
The LYS’Express coach: cheap, but weekends only
Altibus sells seats on the LYS’Express, Lyon airport’s ski line. In winter 2026/27 it runs on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 11 December 2026 to 3 April 2027, with adult fares from €55. Children under 3 travel free, 3- to 12-year-olds get 30% off, and in a group of five the fifth ticket is free. Changing the date or time of a ticket online costs nothing.
There are two catches for Courchevel. First, it is not a direct stop: passengers change at Moûtiers station, and the last leg is a regular bus, a minibus or a taxi depending on the date and time. Second, on 26 October 2026 Courchevel was still listed as “coming soon”: tickets to Val Thorens, Tignes, Moûtiers and other stops were on sale, tickets to Courchevel were not. Coaches leave from the airport bus station (Terminal 1, level 0). For the journey home, Altibus asks passengers to allow at least three hours between the coach’s scheduled arrival at the airport and their flight.
The train: one direct OUIGO a day from the airport
Lyon Saint-Exupéry has its own TGV station, a few minutes’ walk from the terminals. OUIGO, the low-cost brand of the French railways, lists a direct train from there to Moûtiers that takes 2 h 58, with adult fares from €10 and children’s fares from €8. Its route page says the train runs every day from December to March and always leaves Lyon at 11:42. Each extra large bag costs €8. That makes the train the cheapest way to Courchevel, provided your flight lands early enough to catch it.
If you miss it, the rail route goes through the city. The Rhônexpress tram to Lyon Part-Dieu takes 30 minutes, runs every 15 minutes from 04:25 to midnight and costs €16.30 to €17.40 one way (free for under-12s). From Part-Dieu, regional TER trains reach Moûtiers in about three hours with one change. Whichever train you take, Moûtiers is 24 km below Courchevel 1850, about 36 minutes by road; a transfer for that last leg was quoted from €36 on the same day.
Driving: what the hire car really costs
Most of the drive is on the tolled A43 motorway via Chambéry, then up the Tarentaise valley to Moûtiers, before the final climb to the resort. Add tolls and fuel to the rental price, plus a week of parking in Courchevel 1850, which our page on parking in Courchevel covers in detail.
Winter equipment is a legal requirement, not just good sense. From 1 November to 31 March, cars in Savoie must have four winter tyres marked 3PMSF, or carry snow chains or snow socks to fit when it snows. Check which one your rental includes when you book, not at the airport desk.
When Lyon beats Geneva
By road, Lyon is not the long way round: GetTransfer’s routing gives 184 km and 2 h 12 from Lyon airport, against 188 km and 2 h 20 from Geneva airport. Lyon also has a direct train from the airport itself to Moûtiers, and the whole journey stays in France. A transfer from Geneva was cheaper on the same day (from €188 for an Economy car), so compare flight prices and arrival times before you choose. The Geneva route has its own guide, Geneva to Courchevel; for every gateway side by side, read how to get to Courchevel 1850, and for the kinds of transfer on offer, transfers to Courchevel.
Frequently asked questions
How far is Lyon airport from Courchevel 1850?
184 km by road, about 2 h 15 on clear roads. Allow more on winter Saturdays, when most accommodation changes over.
Is there a bus from Lyon airport to Courchevel?
Yes, in winter. Altibus’ LYS’Express runs from Friday to Sunday between 11 December 2026 and 3 April 2027, from €55 per adult, with a change at Moûtiers. On 26 October 2026, tickets to Courchevel were not yet on sale.
Can I take the train from Lyon airport to Courchevel?
As far as Moûtiers, yes. OUIGO lists one direct train a day from the airport’s TGV station between December and March, leaving at 11:42 and taking 2 h 58. The last 24 km to Courchevel 1850 are by bus, taxi or transfer.
How much is a transfer from Lyon airport to Courchevel?
On 26 October 2026, starting prices on GetTransfer were €267 for an Economy car, €299 for a van and €628 for a minibus. The price depends on the date and is fixed when you book.
Do I need snow chains to drive from Lyon to Courchevel?
You need chains, snow socks or winter tyres. From 1 November to 31 March, cars in Savoie must have four 3PMSF winter tyres or carry chains or snow socks.
Sources
- Altibus — Transfers and shuttles between Lyon airport and ski resorts
- OUIGO — Train Lyon Saint-Exupéry-Aéroport – Moûtiers
- Rhônexpress — Tickets and fares
- Lyon Aéroports — Bus station
- Horaires de trains — Lyon Part-Dieu to Moûtiers timetable
- ICI (France Bleu) — Winter equipment compulsory from 1 November in Savoie
- Préfecture de la Savoie — Équipements obligatoires en période hivernale