How to get to Courchevel: train, plane or car

Nearly every route to Courchevel goes through Moûtiers. The railway station, the Tarentaise expressway and the ski coaches all meet there, and from that point it is only half an hour’s climb “on a wide road that is kept clear and safe”, as the tourist office puts it. So the real decision comes earlier: the train to Moûtiers, a flight to Geneva, Lyon or Chambéry, the car, or the small plane that lands directly on the altiport, at 2007m. Here is how to go about it, depending on where you are coming from and what you are travelling with.

By train: to Moûtiers, then 30 minutes by road

The nearest station is Moûtiers-Salins-Brides-les-Bains. According to Les 3 Vallées, “throughout the winter” plenty of direct TGVs arrive there from Paris, or stop at Albertville. From London, the Eurostar snow train leaves St Pancras on Saturdays from 19 December 2026 to 20 February 2027, with a change at Lille Europe, and serves Moûtiers; return journeys run on Sunday mornings or on some Saturday afternoons, from 27 December to 28 February.

From the station, there are two ways up. The S65 coach runs between Moûtiers and Courchevel all year round, more frequently in winter; check the season’s timetable before you set off. Taxis wait at the station, where there is a booking centre, and the tourist office keeps a list of the resort’s taxis.

AEC tip. If there are several of you, with skis and suitcases, book your taxi or transfer from Moûtiers before you even board the train: on holiday Saturdays, a great many people reach the station at the same time.

By air: Geneva, Lyon or Chambéry

The tourist office sets out the distances: Geneva airport is 179km away and Lyon-Saint-Exupéry 176km, both roughly two hours by road. Chambéry airport is the closest: the town is 95km away, or 1 hour 15 minutes. Be aware, though, that the airport itself says it is “not served by public transport”. To finish the journey by air, see our guide to the helicopter from Geneva to Courchevel.

From Lyon, LYS’Express coaches run this winter from mid-December 2026 to 3 April 2027, Friday to Sunday depending on the destination; the Courchevel service, with a connection at Moûtiers, was not yet on sale at the start of October. From Geneva, Alpskibus coaches leave every day in winter, also via Moûtiers; their 2026-2027 terms had not yet been published at the start of October. And if you want to save time, the tourist office suggests flying over the Alps by helicopter: “reach Courchevel in a few minutes from several airports and neighbouring resorts”.

The altiport: landing at 2007m

Opened in 1961, Courchevel altiport is one of the most unusual ways into the Alps. Its runway, 537m long and 40m wide, has a gradient of up to 18.5%: aircraft land uphill and take off downhill. Kept clear of snow at all times since 1971, it stays open all winter, from 9am to 7pm, as night flights are banned. It handles around 6500 movements each winter, 70% of them helicopters. For a private flight, from the business airport to the helicopter transfer, see our private jet and helicopter guide. Its history, its runway and where to watch the aircraft come in: it is all on our page about Courchevel altiport.

Access is tightly controlled. Under aviation regulations, the altiport is restricted to propeller aircraft of no more than 5.7 tonnes and to helicopters, and aeroplane pilots must hold a mountain rating or an access authorisation specific to the altiport. The tourist office adds that it “also welcomes some private and commercial flights”. Worth knowing: in France, since the 1985 mountain law (loi Montagne), dropping off skiers by aircraft in the mountains has been banned; here the helicopter is used for transfers, never for skiing.

By car: the Tarentaise and winter equipment

The route is simple: the A43 motorway then the A430 to Albertville, the RN90 to Moûtiers, then the climb to Courchevel, about 30 minutes. From Paris, Les 3 Vallées put the journey at around 630km and 6 hours 30 minutes to 7 hours by road.

From November to March, what you carry matters as much as the route you take. In mountain communes designated by the prefects, the law requires, from 1 November to 31 March, either four winter tyres, or chains or other anti-skid devices on board, enough to fit at least two driving wheels; since the 2024-2025 season, only tyres bearing the 3PMSF symbol count as winter tyres. Courchevel town hall reminds drivers that chains or winter tyres are compulsory in winter, and chain-fitting areas open during heavy snowfall. Without the right equipment, you risk a fine and having your vehicle immobilised.

Once you arrive, the car stays parked. The municipal parking authority runs covered car parks, with nearly 2600 spaces open day and night, and recommends booking for the season, as outdoor spaces are scarce and parking is tightly regulated. If you are taking a chalet, check its listing to see whether it has a garage or parking.

In the resort: shuttle buses, gondolas and car-sharing

Once you are in Courchevel, you can leave the car in the garage. Free shuttle buses serve all the villages, the hamlets and the neighbouring villages, and the Mobilité Courchevel app shows their times in real time. The urban gondolas from Le Praz and Les Grangettes climb to Courchevel 1850 in six and five minutes respectively; they are included in ski lift passes, except the 4-hour pass, and there is a pedestrian pass. For short trips, the Covoit’go car-sharing service is free and needs no booking. Routes, the last buses of the evening and the coach from Moûtiers: the whole network is set out in our guide to the Courchevel shuttle bus.

To choose where to stay with these journeys in mind, our guide “Courchevel 1850, 1650 or 1550: which village should you choose?” compares the resort’s six villages.

Where to stay

All our chalets and apartments in the resort are brought together in our Courchevel rentals, or by village: Courchevel 1850, Moriond, Courchevel Village, Le Praz and La Tania. To put your skis on at the chalet door, see our ski-in ski-out chalets in Courchevel; before you book, our guide to renting a luxury chalet answers the practical questions. For other resorts, our guides to getting to Megève, getting to Chamonix and getting to Val d’Isère follow the same approach.

The simplest way is still to write to us: send us your dates and how you plan to travel, and our agents will suggest a chalet that suits your arrival.

Then comes the last bend in the road, when the lights of 1850 appear above the fir trees.

Frequently asked questions