We’re rounding up 6 French ski resorts near Lyon. It makes sense, regardless of the length of your ski holiday to try to find the shortest transfer from airport to ski resort. Let’s face it, this has to be the least enjoyable part of any ski holiday – sitting on a bus for hours on end. You should start your next ski break with a pleasantly brief journey.
We’re looking at the best ski resorts with the shortest transfers from Lyon airport. Giving you more time to spend in the mountains and less time on the road.
Looking for a ski weekend or short ski break? Here are our favourite ski weekend resorts.
Skiing near Lyon airport
Lyon is France’s third-largest city making it a bit of a French transport hub. Which is super helpful when you’re trying to get as close to the mountains as possible. One of our favourite things about flying into Lyon is that it opens up some of the lesser-known ski resorts of the Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes. Therefore, not only do you get short transfers you also get quieter and more authentic resorts to chose from.
Our 6 closest ski resorts to Lyon airport:
Brides Les Bains – France
- Transfer time – 105 minutes
- Ski area – 600km
- Resort height – 600m
Brides Les Bains is amazingly overlooked as a ski destination. It’s actually part of the three valleys – the largest linked ski area in the world! Plus it has one of the largest spa and wellness centres in France in the Grand Thermal Spa.
The lesser-known nature of the resort means it offers some fantastic value with a great range of accommodation. There’s a gondola that links you to the middle valley (Meribel) in just 20 minutes.
- Best for – great value and huge ski area
- Stay at 3* Residence Cybele for great value self-catering apartments with a pool and sauna
La Clusaz – France
- Transfer time – 105 minutes
- Ski area – 210km
- Resort height – 1100m
This is a real taste of authentic French skiing. The village is built around a traditional stone church and is full of character with plenty of bustling squares, boutique shops and restaurants. Arguably one of the prettiest ski villages in France.
Five interlinked mountains make up the ski area with a great range of runs from gentle confidence-building slopes to easily accessible off-piste adventures.
- Best for – village charm, you can’t beat it
- Stay at – 5* Hotel au Coeur de Village for a little luxury right next to the slopes
Le Grand Bornand – France
- Transfer time – 105 minutes
- Ski area – 90km
- Resort height – 950m
Le Grand Bornand is another ski area super easy to get to, it’s just around the corner from La Clusaz (above). A 10-minute complimentary shuttle bus takes you to La Clusaz linking into 210km of piste.
It’s a wonderfully family-friendly ski area with great value on the piste and a laid back, traditional atmosphere.
- Best for – families and beginners with 16 green runs
- Stay at – 4* Le Village de Lessy a traditional wooden chalet-style building on the slopes in the village centre
Les Deux Alpes – France
- Transfer time – 120 minutes
- Ski area – 220km
- Resort height – 1650m
Les Deux Alpes ticks a lot of ski boxes. With high altitude glacier skiing, extensive off-piste options, lively apres ski and a vast ski area. One of our favourite things about the glacier is that it has some fairly mellow slopes meaning all ski levels can get up high here.
It’s a great all-round resort with plenty to off the slopes as well. If you get a 6-day lift pass you get entry into the swimming pool and ice rink as a bonus.
- Best for – snow sure and varied skiing
- Stay at – 3* Hotel Cote Brune a family-run hotel close to the main lifts
Meribel – France
- Transfer time – 120 minutes
- Ski area – 600km
- Resort height – 1450m
Meribel is one of the most well-known ski resorts for English skiers. In the centre of the largest linked ski area in the world. Meribel has great access to some incredible skiing.
The resort is pretty, within the tree line with low rise wood-clad chalet-style buildings. The apres scene here is all about live music creating a great atmosphere in town. On the mountains, you have some of the best apres bars around with the Rond Point and Folie Douce in full swing by the early afternoon.
- Best for – Live music and a vast ski area
- Stay at – 3* Hotel L’Eterlou at the base of the slopes with a heated outdoor swimming pool and sauna
St Martin de Belleville – France
- Transfer time – 120 minutes
- Ski area – 600km
- Resort height – 1400m
St Martin de Belleville is the beautiful Savoyard village at the other end of the Belleville valley to Val Thorens. The village square has a huge choice of great restaurants offering much better value than the rest of the three valleys.
A fast gondola links you up to the slopes of Meribel and Les Menuires and you can get back to the village by a winding blue or the much-coveted Jerusalem red run with its huge undulating rollers.
- Best for – access to a huge ski area with the feel of an authentic village
- Stay at – brand new 4* Chalets Caseblanche in a ski in, ski out location just 300m from the village centre
So there you have our 6 closest ski resorts to Lyon airport. If you want to know more about any of the above resorts just give our ski specialists a ring on 020 8877 8888 or browse through the website some more.
Looking to ski in January? Take a look at our best places to ski in January.