Station-to-ski-resort transfers

Whether by bus or taxi, transfers from train stations to ski resorts are far shorter than transfers from airport. 

Transfers to French resorts, for example, typically take between 20 minutes and 50 minutes from the nearest train station. Airport transfers take much longer, usually between two and five hours. However, I've heard of nine-hour airport transfers, because on popular travel days, the roads from airports to resorts get heavily congested. Shorter transfer times are a clear win for train travel.

If you would want to go by taxi from the train station to you accommodation, it's cheaper to book with a local taxi company than an airport transfer company.  In most cases, airport transfer companies just aren't set up logistically to serve train stations, and so they have to charge more (we'd love to hear of exceptions to this rule, of course).

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Bus transfers

Photo: Daniel Elkan

Taking a bus from the train station to your resort is the best way to reduce transport costs, traffic, and carbon emissions. It’ll take slightly longer than a taxi, but not by too much. By bus there are usually few (if any) stops between the train station and the resort.
Transfer buses are essentially coaches. They’re big, warm, and can take skis, snowboards, and other luggage for free. Buses always depart from outside the train station, so you don’t have to walk far to get on.
Depending on where your bus stops, you’ll be right outside your accommodation or within walking distance—check beforehand. If it’s a long walk, ask your accommodation if they can pick you up from the bus stop.

Transferring by bus is one of the most cost-effective modes of travel. Fares for most French resorts are around €12 one-way for adults, and €8 one-way for those under 26.
Most buses can be booked in advance. Although you can sometimes buy tickets on the bus or at the station, it makes sense to pre-book. For each resort on Snowcarbon, we have a 'Transfer guide' section with advice on booking tickets.

As a general rule, when arriving in the Alps by train, allow at least 15 minutes between your train arriving and the bus departing, so that you can make your transfer in good time. At the end of your holiday, allow at least 30 - 45 minutes between your bus arriving at the station and the train departing, in case of delays on the road. 

For French resorts, most bus services are booked though Altibus, an umbrella bus-booking service. You can book buses on the website, www.altibus.com, as well as checking bus timetables. You can email Altibus at info@altibus.com or phone Altibus on +33 4 79 68 32 96

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List of bus timetables

This is a list of bus timetable PDFs that we have gathered for the 2023-24 season. The 2024-25 season will probably have similar timings; however 2024-25 bus timetables aren't publshed until late November, so use those below as a guide in the meantime.

Alpe d'Huez, France
Here's the Grenoble to Alpe d'Huez winter 2023-24 bus timetable in French

Auris en Oisans, France
Here's the Grenoble to Auris en Oisans winter 2023-24 bus timetable in French

Chamrousse, France
Here's the Grenoble to Chamrousse winter 2023-24 bus timetable in French

La Clusaz, France
Here's the Annecy to La Clusaz and Le Grand Bornand winter 2023-24 bus timetable in French

La Plagne, France
Here's the Aime la Plagne to La Plagne winter 2023-24 bus timetable in French

La Rosiere, France
Here's the Bourg St Maurice to La Rosiere winter 2023-24 bus timetable in French

Le Grand Bornand, France
Here's the Annecy to La Clusaz and Le Grand Bornand winter 2023-24 bus timetable in French

Les Gets, France
Here's the Cluses to Les Gets and Morzine winter 2023-24 bus timetable in French

Les Menuires, France
Here's the Moutiers to Les Menuires winter 2023-24 bus timetable - in French

Les 2 Alpes, France
Here's the Grenoble to Les 2 Alpes winter 2023-24 bus timetable in French

Les 7 Laux, France
Here's the Grenoble to Les 7 Laux winter 2023-24 bus timetable in French

Meribel, France
Here's the Moutiers to Meribel winter 2023-24 bus timetable in French

Morzine, France
Here's the Cluses to Les Gets and Morzine winter 2023-24 bus timetable in French

Sainte Foy
Here's the Bourg St Maurice to Sainte-Foy Tarentaise winter 2023-24 bus timetable in French

St Martin de Belleville, France
Here's the Moutiers to St Martin de Belleville winter 2023-24 bus timetable - in French

Tignes, France
Here's the Bourg St Maurice to Tignes winter 2023-24 bus timetable in French

Val d'Isere, France
Here's the Bourg St Maurice to Val d'Isère winter 2023-24 bus timetable in French

Val Thorens, France
Here's the Moutiers to Val Thorens winter 2023-24 bus timetable - in French

Valmorel, France
Here's the Moutiers to Valmorel winter 2023-24 bus timetable in French (coming soon)

Vaujany, France
Here's the Here's the Grenoble to Vaujany winter 2023-24 bus timetable in French

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Taxi transfers

Taxi transfers from Moutiers stationPhoto: Daniel Elkan

How much do taxi tranfers cost?
If you want to go by taxi from the train station to your accommodation, it's cheaper to book with a local taxi service than an airport transfer company.  Most airport transfer companies aren't set up to serve train stations, so they’ll charge more (we're keen to hear of any exceptions to this rule).

Local taxi prices typically vary from €45 to €115 one way per taxi, depending on the destination. Taxis can take up to eight skiers with luggage, including skis and snowboard bags (some taxis prefer a maximum of seven people if you’re bringing skis). It's normally a sliding scale in price depending on how many people are in your group. For example, if there are only two of you, you may pay less than the price for a four-seater; if you’re a group of five, you won't pay as much as for an eight-seater.

How to book taxi transfer
Taxis can be booked by phone, email or online (company dependent). At popular train stations like Bourg St Maurice, Moutiers, or Grenoble, you can usually turn up without booking and find taxis at the taxi rank outside each station. However, we’d definitely advise reserving in advance, unless you’re a small group and wanted to see if you could share a taxi with other people to reduce the cost (and save the world some petrol too).

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Table of taxi duration and prices

Here is a list of taxi transfer durations and prices for popular French ski resorts, to help you plan your journey. 

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Chalet transfers/pick-ups

If you’re staying in a catered chalet, they’ll likely offer a pick-up service from the local station, either for free or for a reasonable charge depending on your time of arrival.

Generally, chalets prefer guests to come by train as it’s a more reliable mode of transport, requires a shorter transfer time, creates less pollution, and because guests arrive having had a more relaxing journey. Many chalets offer free train station pick-ups to encourage this.

Most chalets will write something on their 'Getting Here/Travel' page about transfer services, but if in doubt, just ask them. 

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