Are you wondering how to get from Grenoble airport to Alpe d'Huez? If you want to learn how far the airport is from Alpe d'Huez, how long it takes to arrive, what transfer options you have or how to book your seats with the best Alpe d'Huez transfer companies, we’ve got the inside track on what to know and watch out for.
How do you get from the airport to Alpe d'Huez?
The best airport for Alpe d'Huez is Grenoble as it's the nearest one and offers the greatest choice of airport transfers. Alpe d'Huez is located in the Isère region of France and boasts one of the largest ski areas in Europe. There are several ways to get here, the fastest of which is flying to Grenoble airport and then getting an airport transfer to Alpe d'Huez. Even if Geneva and Lyon have a wider selection of airlines and more frequent flight times, there are regular connections from Grenoble to most European capitals, including many cities in the UK.
What's the nearest airport to Alpe d'Huez? The closest airport to Alpe d'Huez is Grenoble, just over 100km from the centre of resort. Grenoble to Alpe d'Huez transfer time is around 1 hour 40 minutes but will be longer on snowy days and in peak weeks, such as Christmas, New Year, school holidays and Easter.
These are the average transfer times and distances from the main airports to Alpe d'Huez. The values are approximate and can be affected by snow, bad weather or peak holiday times:
| Airport to Alpe d'Huez Transfer Times & Distances | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grenoble to Alpe d'Huez | 1hr40 | 105km | ||
| Chambery to Alpe d'Huez | 2hrs | 130km | ||
| Lyon to Alpe d'Huez | 2hrs | 152km | ||
| Geneva to Alpe d'Huez | 3hrs | 210km | ||
Another option, if you can't easily find transfers for the flight times you have chosen, is to hire a car from Grenoble airport to Alpe d'Huez, plus it gives you the freedom to move around and visit neighbouring resorts. Nevertheless, driving on the snow means that you have safety and potential damage to consider, while snow tyres should be added to the final cost on the hire options.
How much is a transfer from the airport to Alpe d'Huez?
Alpe d'Huez ski transfer prices will vary depending on whether you're booking a private or a shared transfer, as well as on dates (with off-peak weeks generally offering cheaper transfers), times (it may be cheaper to travel in the middle of the day as transfer companies will be able to group more people together), availability, vehicle and/or group size, etc.
How much do Alpe d'Huez airport transfers cost? The average price of a one-way private transfer from Grenoble to Alpe d'Huez starts at around €160. There are also regular buses from Grenoble airport to Alpe d'Huez, with prices starting at around €20 for a one-way ticket, while ski shuttles run on Saturdays from Geneva airport and start at around €60 (see below). If you’re after something a bit fancier and most definitely faster, the sky can literally be the limit with a private helicopter transfer taking off from €2,200.
Find out average transfer prices from the main airports to Alpe d'Huez:
| Airport to Alpe d'Huez Transfer Prices | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Grenoble to Alpe d'Huez | From €160 (private) | ||
| Chambery to Alpe d'Huez | From €250 (private) | ||
| Lyon to Alpe d'Huez | From €250 (private) | ||
| Geneva to Alpe d'Huez | From €60 (shared) | ||
What's the difference between shared and private transfers?
When booking your airport transfer you’ll find that there are two main Alpe d'Huez transfer options: shared or private. These depend on whether you book the whole vehicle for yourself and your group or you share it with other people.
What's a shared transfer? A shared transfer is when companies group passengers arriving at a similar time in the same vehicle, sharing costs among them. They are cheaper than private transfers, the trade-off is that they usually involve longer waiting and travel times. This is because they won't leave the airport until everyone’s plane lands, even if waiting times are usually under an hour. There will also be several stops on the way to drop people off, increasing the journey’s length.
What's a private transfer? A private transfer is when the vehicle is reserved for your party only. Generally more convenient than shared transfers, they’re also more expensive. They’re the best option for groups and a good alternative when you can’t find a shared transfer around your flight time. Private transfers will leave the airport as soon as you arrive and go straight to your accommodation, making the waiting and journey times shorter. Those who prefer to travel in style will be able to book the latest luxury eco-friendly cars or even fly high in a helicopter.
Are there public bus transfers to Alpe d'Huez?
Using public transport can help keep the costs down on your trip to Alpe d'Huez. However, it can take considerably longer than a shared or private transfer as buses usually stop several times along the way and you will need to make a connection in Grenoble, the nearest transport hub in the area.
How do you get from Grenoble airport to Alpe d'Huez using public transport? Public bus transfers run from Grenoble airport and Grenoble centre to Alpe d'Huez several times per day in the winter with additional frequencies on Saturdays, Sundays and bank holidays. The Grenoble to Alpe d'Huez bus transfer time is around 1 hour 40 minutes. There are coaches and trains to Grenoble from the main cities in France. From Geneva airport to Alpe d'Huez, you can take a ski shuttle, running every Saturday during the winter season with two shuttle buses each day travelling in both directions.
You can find the latest bus timetables on our Bus Services in Alpe d'Huez page.