How to get from Geneva Airport to Courchevel by bus: detailed guide

1) From Geneva Airport to Moûtiers by Alpskibus

The first part of the route is Geneva Airport → Moûtiers. The seasonal Alpskibus line is used for this trip, which operates only in winter.

Alpskibus departs from Geneva Airport and passes the main railway stations and ski resorts of the Tarentaise Valley. Courchevel is also included in the list of resorts, however, you can get there only with a change in Moûtiers.

Alpskibus buses operate daily in winter, however, on weekdays and on Sundays there are very few departures, 1-2 times. On Saturdays there are more options, the bus departs 5 times. Therefore, before buying a plane ticket, be sure to check the bus timetable for the date you need for your trip.

Where to find the Alpskibus bus at Geneva Airport?

After you receive your luggage and pass customs control, you will find yourself in the arrivals hall of Geneva Airport. Do not leave the airport terminal building immediately and do not go to the regular city bus stops. You need to find the Alpskibus desk inside the arrivals hall.

When you exit into the general arrivals hall, turn left immediately. The Alpskibus desk is located next to Breitling Café. It is here that you can check in for the bus, and the Alpskibus employee will tell you the platform number and departure time.

Only after this, go to the bus stop, following the airport signs and the instructions received from the employee.

Do not confuse the Alpskibus desk with regular buses. The airport map will help you understand the location of the desk and the bus stop.

If the desk is closed and the Alpskibus employee is absent, follow the instructions indicated on the information sign in front of the desk or wait for the employee.

How long does the trip from Geneva to Moûtiers take?

The first part of the journey will take about 2 - 2.5 hours. However, in winter, especially on Saturdays, the time can be much, much longer because of traffic jams and snowfall.

On Saturdays during school holidays, the journey can take 4-5 hours, as a huge number of tourists and French people themselves travel to the ski resorts at the same time, and a week later everyone returns together.

2) Changing buses in Moûtiers

After you arrive in Moûtiers, you need to change to the second bus, which goes directly to Courchevel. This is the main point for changing for tourists traveling from Geneva to Courchevel, as trains also arrive there.

The Moûtiers bus station is located next to the SNCF railway station. From the station, you need to walk a little to the bus stop and find the bus going to Courchevel.

IMPORTANT!: do not buy a separate ticket for the second S65 bus if your Alpskibus ticket is already valid to Courchevel. When buying the ticket, check that Courchevel is indicated as the final destination on the ticket.

The Altibus website states that the second part of the journey can be made not only by a large bus, but also by a minibus. Therefore, do not be surprised if you are offered to get into a small minibus.

How long do you have to wait for the bus in Moûtiers?

The waiting time depends on what time you leave. When buying a ticket, the Altibus system selects the available options between Geneva Airport and Courchevel. Therefore, it is better to buy the whole trip rather than separately and not risk missing the second bus.

If you are traveling in winter, especially on Saturdays, allow at least 5-6 hours for the trip so that you do not miss hotel check-in or, even worse, miss your flight.

3) Second S65 bus from Moûtiers to Courchevel

The second part of the route is Moûtiers → Courchevel. It is covered by the regional S65 bus. The distance to Courchevel is approximately 25 km (depending on which Courchevel station you are interested in). In terms of time, it takes at least 1 hour (according to the timetable). But the route goes through the mountains on winding roads, so there can be heavy traffic jams, snow drifts and ice. Therefore, this short part of the route can also take 2-3 hours.

The S65 line operates all year round, and the number of services increases during the winter and summer seasons. The bus departs from the Moûtiers bus station, which is located next to the railway station.

Depending on where your hotel is located, the S65 bus passes through several towns and stops on the way from Moûtiers: Brides-les-Bains, Courchevel La Perrière, Courchevel Saint-Bon, La Tania, Le Praz 1300, Le Village 1550, Moriond 1650 and Porte de Courchevel.

Where does the S65 bus stop in Courchevel?

Courchevel consists of several stations located at different altitudes, so check before your trip which stop is closest to your hotel.

According to the timetable, the S65 bus makes stops at: La Tania, Le Praz 1300, Le Village 1550, Moriond 1650 and Porte de Courchevel. In addition, there are stops along the route in Brides-les-Bains, Courchevel La Perrière and Courchevel Saint-Bon.

The last stop indicated in the timetable in the direction of Courchevel is Porte de Courchevel. If you are heading to the Courchevel 1850 area, when booking and planning your trip, check which of the route stops is closest to your accommodation.

S65 timetable: Moûtiers → Courchevel

Below is the timetable for the S65 bus from Moûtiers in the direction of Courchevel. The times are indicated for the main stops along the route. The timetable differs on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays.

The table shows the main stops in Courchevel. Some services also stop in Brides-les-Bains, Courchevel La Perrière and Courchevel Saint-Bon.

The departure time from Moûtiers is shown in the first column, while the other values show the arrival time at the corresponding stops along the S65 route.

The times in the table are given for the corresponding stops along the S65 Moûtiers → Courchevel route. The "—" sign means that the stop is not served by this service.

Bus timetable from Geneva Airport to Courchevel

The timetable is one of the important points that must be taken into account when planning a bus trip. Unlike city transport, Alpskibus operates seasonally and has a limited number of departures.

This is the bus timetable that allows you to make a change in Moûtiers and continue to Courchevel:

Bus timetable from Courchevel to Geneva Airport

For the return trip, the route goes in the opposite direction: first the S65 bus takes passengers from Courchevel to Moûtiers, and then you change to Alpskibus and go to Geneva Airport.

Bus route timetables that allow you to make a guaranteed change:

When traveling from Courchevel to Geneva Airport, be sure to leave a large amount of extra time. At least 5 hours on weekdays and 6-8 hours on Saturdays, especially if there is a lot of snow or the trip falls on holidays.

How much does the bus from Geneva Airport to Courchevel cost?

The cost of the bus from Geneva Airport to Courchevel depends on the day of the week:

The exact cost must be checked when sales open on the official Altibus website.

How much does the bus from Moûtiers to Courchevel cost separately?

If you have independently reached Moûtiers (for example, by train or someone you know has driven you), then you can take the direct S65 bus from Moûtiers to Courchevel. Tickets for this bus can be purchased at the following prices:

When buying a ticket online more than 48 hours before departure you will receive a 10% discount.

It is better to book in advance, about 7 days in advance, as there are very many people traveling on these buses during the high season. Luggage transportation is included in the ticket price.

How to buy a bus ticket from Geneva Airport to Courchevel?

You can buy a bus ticket online on the official Altibus website. When searching, you need to indicate the start of the journey "Geneva Airport" and the final destination "Courchevel", namely the stop closest to your hotel.

The system will show the available travel options for the selected date, including the necessary changes. This is the most convenient way to check the timetable and price in advance.

• Buy the ticket at least a week in advance. The number of seats on seasonal buses is extremely limited.
• Check the final destination. If you need Courchevel, choose Courchevel itself, not only Moûtiers.
• Check the change. For Courchevel, the journey goes through Moûtiers.
• Save the ticket on your phone. You will need it during the journey and during the change, the controller may ask for it.

Luggage and skis on the Geneva Airport – Courchevel bus

Alpskibus buses are designed to transport passengers who travel to ski resorts with their ski equipment. Therefore, skis, snowboards and boots can be transported together with luggage according to the conditions of your fare.

The Alpskibus website states that the Eco fare allows you to take: 1 piece of hand luggage and 1 piece of luggage in the luggage compartment. For the Premium fare: 1 piece of hand luggage and 2 pieces of luggage. Additional luggage can be paid for when purchasing the ticket.

Before the trip, be sure to check the conditions of your fare, especially if you have a lot of suitcases, skis or snowboards.

How long does the trip from Geneva Airport to Courchevel take?

According to our data, the trip from Geneva Airport to Courchevel takes approximately 4.5 - 6 hours. The first section to Moûtiers takes approximately 2.5-3 hours, and the second section from Moûtiers to Courchevel takes approximately 1.5-2 hours. But because of traffic jams, you may spend much more time.

In addition to the travel time on the buses, you also need to take into account the time you will spend in Moûtiers waiting for the second route. Take all this into account so that you do not miss your flight or hotel check-in. It is better to allow 6-7 hours for the whole trip.

In winter, the journey can take much longer because of snowfall, ice, road works or a large number of cars on the approaches to the ski resorts - check the weather before the trip.

Route step by step:

1. At Geneva Airport: collect your luggage and check in for Alpskibus.

2. Geneva Airport → Moûtiers journey: about 2.5 - 3 hours by Alpskibus bus.

3. In Moûtiers: get off at the bus station and change to the second bus to Courchevel.

4. Moûtiers → Courchevel journey: about 1.5 - 2 hours by S65 bus.

5. In Courchevel: get off at the stop you need, closest to your hotel or chalet.

Can you get from central Geneva to Courchevel by bus?

If you are not at the airport but want to travel from the center of Geneva itself, the situation is a little different. The seasonal Alpskibus bus departs specifically from Geneva Airport.

Therefore, you will first need to get to the airport, by taxi or another bus.

Advantages and disadvantages of the bus from Geneva to Courchevel

Advantages:

• Low cost. The bus is significantly cheaper than a private transfer, taxi or especially a helicopter.

And unfortunately, this is the only advantage of the bus. In other respects, it is significantly inferior to other types of transport.

Disadvantages:

• There is no direct service to Courchevel. You need to change in Moûtiers.
• Limited timetable. You may arrive and wait for the bus for a very long time, and during some periods there simply will not be one anymore.
• Inconvenience with luggage. It is difficult to carry suitcases and skis in your hands, then put them into another bus, and finally walk with all of this from the stop to your hotel.
• You can miss the second bus. If the first bus is delayed because of a traffic jam, you may miss the second bus, because of which you will have to wait for the next one.

Brief summary of the bus trip from Geneva Airport to Courchevel with a change in Moûtiers

In winter, you can get from Geneva Airport to Courchevel by Alpskibus buses with a change to the S65 bus in Moûtiers. There is NO direct bus from Geneva Airport to Courchevel.

The total travel time is approximately 4.5 - 6 hours, however, on holidays or during heavy snowfall, buses may take even longer.

The main advantage of the bus is the price, but if you are traveling in a group of 4 - 6 people, it is more advantageous and much more convenient to order a private transfer.

From Lyon Airport to Courchevel

You can also consider flights arriving at Lyon Airport and then get to Courchevel from there. Tourists use Lyon Airport a little less often, but also very often. You can read about the options of what and how to get there in our article "Guide how to get from Lyon airport to Courchevel". If you know for sure that traveling by car with a driver is more suitable for you, then you can book a transfer on the page "Private transfer with driver from Lyon Airport to Courchevel ski resorts", and also study the conditions and prices.

Other blog articles about Courchevel

If you are planning a trip to Courchevel, you may also find our other articles about this resort useful: about ski slopes, lifts, entertainment and other ways to get to Courchevel: