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

How long does the trip from Geneva Airport to Courchevel take and how much does it cost: trains + bus?

The result of our trip on one beautiful Saturday was a journey on three trains and one bus. We spent 51.60€ per person one way and it took us 5 hours and 45 minutes. We got on the first train at Geneva Airport at 11:25 and entered the hotel in Courchevel at 17:10.

to make it easier to understand the whole journey, we post here a map with the whole route from Geneva Airport to Courchevel: the blue, pink and dark pink lines schematically show the sections of the journey that we traveled by train, and the blue line shows the section by bus, from Moutiers to Courchevel.

The table shows all time intervals, the duration of waiting, when changing transport and the amount of money that we paid, calculated for 1 person.

I think that the trip was not the easiest, but also not so that it was impossibly difficult. Everyone who traveled with us were strong and young enough people, so carrying luggage and waiting for the next transport was not very tiring, rather it was part of the adventure. However, for older people or those who are used to comfort, not everything in such a trip may be liked.

Next time I would prefer to take plane tickets so that to make it in time for the bus at Geneva Airport and with a transfer in Moutiers get to Courchevel. I think this is the most convenient of the cheap ways to get to Courchevel.

Or even better, gather a group of friends bigger than 6-8 people and order an individual transfer. In this case the price will be approximately the same as for the train or bus, but it will be much more comfortable and faster.

1st train from Geneva Airport to the railway station in Geneva (Genève Cornavin)

So now let's study our journey in more detail and step by step. We arrived at Geneva Airport on Saturday. We collected our luggage and left the terminal at about 11:15 in the morning. Unfortunately, we did not make it to the bus that went from the airport to Moutiers. It left before us at 11:00. The next bus was at 14:30, we of course did not want to wait for it.

First of all, we thought about the option of an individual transfer. The operator informed us that the driver could pick us up in about 20 minutes. But we were not very satisfied with the cost of the transfer from Geneva Airport to our hotel in Courchevel 1650. We did not want to pay 350 euros for three people.

It was good that there was still an option to go by train. We quickly ran to the railway station, which is located right at Geneva Airport (you do not need to go far). At 11:25 we got on the IC907 train which took us to the railway station in Geneva (Genève Cornavin), since the train to France goes from there, not from the airport.

We traveled only 1 stop, it takes approximately 7 minutes. A ticket for one person is 2 CHF (approximately 2.2€) in a 2nd class carriage. If you are interested in 1st class, it costs 3.5 CHF.

Trains from the airport to Geneva run very often, every 10-20 minutes. All cost the same. You can buy tickets at the ticket office or online in advance.

Thus, we arrived at the Geneva railway station (Genève Cornavin) at 11:32 in the morning. Next we had to get on the second train from Geneva to Aix-les-Bains (Le Revard).

2nd train from Geneva to the railway station Aix-les-Bains (Aix-les-Bains-Le Revard)

At the Geneva railway station (Genève Cornavin) we drank coffee, walked around and after 30 minutes of waiting got on the second train TER 96638. At 11:57 it left the railway station and took us to the station Aix-les-Bains (Aix-les-Bains). The train was comfortable and quite new. The pleasant trip took us approximately 1 hour and 7 minutes.

At the Aix-les-Bains (Le Revard) railway station we got off the train at 13:04, arranged our luggage and started waiting for the next train.

There are train options with a transfer in Chambery, but our train suited us perfectly well.

3rd train from the railway station Aix-les-Bains to Moutiers (Moûtiers - Salins - Brides-les-Bains)

We stayed at the Aix-les-Bains station for a short time - waited 45 minutes. The station is not very large and quite cozy. Exactly at 13:39 we already left on our third TER 883117 train and headed towards Moutiers. We traveled this part of the journey in 1.5 hours. We took our suitcases, skis and got off at the Moutiers Salins Brides les Bains railway station at 15:10.

Arrival in Moutiers and transport options from Moutiers to Courchevel

So we arrived in Moutiers at 15:10. I think we were very lucky with the previous transport. Yes, we did not manage to get on the bus at Geneva Airport, but we did not have to wait long for the train, all transfers were quite fast and from Geneva to Moutiers we traveled on two trains, not three.

Next we had the last part of our journey from Moutiers to Courchevel. The distance to Courchevel can be different, it depends on which station your hotel is located at. If you live in Courchevel 1300 (Le Praz), then from Moutiers to your hotel it is approximately 16 km. But if you settled in Courchevel 1850, then the length of the section from Moutiers will already be 24 km.

Our hotel Hôtel Blanche Neige was located in Courchevel 1650 (Moriond), it was necessary to drive almost 21 km to it.

The train did not go further to Courchevel, so there was only a winding mountain road and three transport options: bus, taxi and transfer (wheeled transport).

The time that we would spend getting from Moutiers to Courchevel would not depend much on the selected transport, since they all travel on the same road. Yes, the bus makes many stops and of course it takes longer to travel this section. But traffic jams and snowfall in the mountains have a greater effect on travel time. Therefore, from Moutiers to Courchevel you can travel for 30 minutes, or you can travel for 2 hours. The station to which you are going, of course, also greatly affects the time.

Of course, we decided to choose transport based on its cost. There were 3 of us with 2 pairs of skis and 3 suitcases.

First we went to the taxi (they are located next to the railway station). We talked to the taxi driver, asked him to calculate approximately how much the trip to our hotel would cost. We looked at the traffic jams - it was about 1 hour to drive. The taxi driver said that he could not calculate exactly, because traffic jams could become worse on the way and we could travel longer, which means the price would increase. We asked him a little more and he calculated approximately. As a result, from Moutiers to Courchevel 1650 the taxi price was 200-220€. We did not like this option for three people at all, 70€ per person is too much.

Next we wrote and called several individual transfer services and tried to order a car. The result was better - transfer price 150-180€, depending on the car: smaller or larger, regular or business class. If there were 6 or 7 of us, I think we would have taken a transfer, because it would have been 25 euros per person. Not very cheap, but more or less. But there were three of us, so we went to the bus station.

The Moutiers bus station is located right here, next to the Moutiers railway station. You do not need to travel to it, just walk a little.

S65 bus from Moutiers to Courchevel

At the bus station we found out that the regular S65 bus goes to Courchevel. We bought tickets at the ticket office. A bus ticket from Moutiers to Courchevel cost €12.50 for 1 person. If we were under 26 years old or took tickets immediately in both directions, we would have paid less, but we were older and had not yet decided when and where we would go after our holiday in Courchevel.

We put the suitcases and skis in the luggage compartment on the bus and took our seats (by the way, quite comfortable seats).

We had to travel 21 stops to our hotel. We traveled for approximately 1.5 hours, because there were quite a lot of cars and not everyone was in a hurry to pass the snowy turns. The serpentine road to Courchevel is not the most extreme, of course (for example, driving to Tignes is much harder) and the road is very well cleaned, but still it is not very pleasant to drive. I think by car it would be faster, but not much (about 50-60 minutes).

We got off at 17:00 in Courchevel 1650 at the Moriond (Office de Tourisme) bus stop. Our hotel Hôtel Blanche Neige was 75 meters from the stop. We easily dragged the suitcases and skis to its doors and felt the taste of the long-awaited freedom. We were standing at the hotel doors at 17:10.

Other important information and useful tips for travelers about the trip from Geneva Airport to Courchevel by train?

We already understood how to get from Geneva Airport to Moutiers by train and then by bus or car. It remains only to give you some tips and recommendations so that the trip goes as conveniently and quickly as possible.

How long does the transfer in Moûtiers take?

In some trips you need to calculate the time of arrival at the Courchevel hotel (for example, to have time to check in) or buy a bus ticket.

For this you need to know how long you will be getting off the train in Moutiers and getting to the next transport.

I am glad to inform you that everything in Moutiers is convenient and compact. The bus stop, taxi stand and parking for transfer cars are located in the immediate vicinity of the railway station. Therefore, for the transfer in Moutiers from one transport to another you will spend 10-15 minutes, depending on how quickly you move on foot with suitcases and skis.

Where else does the S65 bus stop in Courchevel?

The S65 bus route includes many stops at all Courchevel stations: Courchevel 1300 (Le Praz), Courchevel 1400 (La Tania), Courchevel 1550 (Courchevel Village), Courchevel 1650 (Moriond), Courchevel 1850 (Courchevel 1850), as well as stops along the way and in Brides-les-Bains.

The S65 bus stops in different places. You can simply open Google Maps, find the hotel in Courchevel where you will stay, and then write "Bus station". That's all, the map will show you the nearest stops. From the stop to the hotel you can plot a walking route on the map and understand whether you have enough hands and strength to carry the luggage to the hotel!!

If your hotel or chalet is in Courchevel 1850, pay attention that the final stop is Gare routière / Courchevel 1850.

How long does the trip along the serpentine road from Moutiers to Courchevel take?

In the very best case you will spend 30 minutes on the trip from Moutiers to Courchevel, but unfortunately this is extremely unlikely.

The thing is that this section of the road passes along a mountain serpentine road. Yes, it is intensively cleared of snow by road services. And yes, there is often no snow on it at all (it lies closer to the ski slopes, and lower down it manages to melt during the day). But heavy precipitation happens and the roads become covered with a thick layer of snow and ice. In such situations accidents happen or cars get stuck. Because of this the trip becomes long 1 - 2 hours.

You will also spend from 2 to 3 hours, during periods of European school holidays and on the last Saturday of the year and the first Saturday of the new year. On all Saturdays, in principle, there are more cars in the Three Valleys than on weekdays, because the main check-in and check-out in hotels is on Saturdays.

S65 bus schedule from Moûtiers to Courchevel

When you choose a train from Geneva, be sure to check the S65 bus schedule, which can take you from Moutiers to Courchevel. Otherwise, you can arrive by train in Moutiers and wait for the bus for 2-3 hours. Which of course cannot be called the best way to spend your vacation.

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

Railway tickets can be bought online on the websites. For the first train from Geneva Airport to the railway station in Geneva on the site https://www.sbb.ch/. Register on the site and select the required dates, time and direction Genève-Aéroport → Genève Cornavin.

Then to go to France, buy a ticket on https://www.ter.sncf.com/. To get to Moutiers it is necessary to select the trains Genève Cornavin → Aix-les-Bains → Moûtiers.

If it is inconvenient for you to buy tickets online, you can purchase them on site at the ticket offices. It does not always cost the same, but sometimes it is faster.

Luggage and skis on trains from Geneva to Courchevel

During the trip from Geneva Airport to Courchevel you will have to travel on 3 trains and 1 bus. This means that every time you will need to take your suitcases, backpacks and ski or snowboard covers out of the train and carry them to the next train or bus. Certainly this is not easy physically. Therefore, if you are not ready for such exercises, it is better to take a transfer or taxi. Load everything into the car once and drive directly to the hotel doors. The driver and hotel employee will help you with the things.

You will use trains of two companies: the Swiss SBB and the French TER SNCF. Skis and snowboards can be transported for free with you in both. This is included in the ticket price, you do not need to pay separately for transporting skis. However, the transportation rules state that equipment and luggage must be placed so that they do not block aisles, doors, emergency exits and do not disturb other passengers.

If you take the last section of the journey from Moutiers to Geneva by bus, you also do not need to pay extra. The rules say that you can take with you: 1 hand luggage, 1 luggage and 1 pair of skis/snowboard, they are included in the ticket. All these things are placed in the luggage compartment of the bus

Other blog articles and pages about ways to get to Courchevel

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

If you are considering other airports, you can also fly to Lyon Airport and from there get to Courchevel. Prices and car options can be found on this page Private transfer with driver from Lyon Airport (LYS) to Courchevel resort . Tourists use Lyon Airport as an alternative option if seats on planes to Geneva have run out or the flight arrives at a more convenient time.

Frequently Asked Questions about how to get from Geneva Airport to Courchevel by train (FAQ)