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Transfer options for Tignes

Discover the top Tignes airport shuttle options

Updated

Tignes, located in the Tarentaise Valley in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region is near to the Italian border. It is not only one of the highest ski areas in Europe but also one of the largest, linked to the neighbouring resort of Val d'Isère for a total of 300km of ski runs. The most convenient airport for Tignes is Geneva as it offers the greatest choice of airlines, frequent flight times and the most competitive prices. To reach Tignes' world-famous pistes from Geneva airport quickly and comfortably, your best bet is to book an airport transfer.

We’ve got the inside track on what to know and watch out for when booking a transfer from Geneva airport to Tignes, so read on for our complete guide.

Snow White Ski Transfers

How to get from Geneva airport to Tignes

Geneva airport is 220km from the centre of Tignes. To get here, we recommend you book an airport transfer.

How do you get from Geneva airport to Tignes?
The easiest and most convenient way to get to Tignes is to book an airport transfer. The Geneva to Tignes transfer time is around 3h but will be longer on snowy days and in peak weeks, such as Christmas, New Year, school holidays and Easter.

Another option if you can't easily find transfers for the flight times you have chosen is to hire a car from Geneva airport, which also 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. From 1st November 2021 several French départements, including Savoie, require cars to be equipped with winter tyres or have snow chains in the boot during the winter season (November - March).

About Transfers to Val Thorens

Closest airport to Tignes

Even if Geneva is the most convenient airport when travelling to Tignes, it’s not the nearest one. There are other airports that offer shorter transfer times, however, they also present a few drawbacks.

What's the nearest airport to Tignes?
The closest airport to Tignes is Chambery, a little over 140km from the centre of resort. While it’s faster to get to Tignes from Chambery (around 2h), flights are generally more expensive and rarer, as they are usually tour operator charters.

These are the average transfer times and distances from the main airports and train stations to Tignes. The values are approximate and can be affected by snow, bad weather or peak holiday times.

Airport to Tignes Transfer Times & Distances
Geneva to Tignes 3h 220km
Lyon to Tignes 2h45 220km
Grenoble to Tignes 3h30 222km
Chambery to Tignes 2h 142km
Bourg St Maurice train station to Tignes 40min 30km
About Transfers to Val Thorens

Transfer prices in Tignes

Tignes 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 Tignes airport transfers cost?
The average price of a one-way shared transfer from Geneva to Tignes starts at around €50, going up to €400 for a private transfer. From other airports, most Tignes transfers are on a private basis, with a one-way starting at around €250. 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 €2,500.

Average airport transfer prices to Tignes:

Airport to Tignes Transfer Prices
Geneva to Tignes From €50 (shared)
Grenoble to Tignes From €450 (private)
Lyon to Tignes From €450 (private)
Chambery to Tignes From €250 (private)
About Transfers to Val Thorens

Shared vs private transfers

When booking your airport transfer you’ll find that there are two main Tignes 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.

About Transfers to Val Thorens

Public bus transfers to Tignes

Using public transport can help keep the costs down on your trip to Tignes. However, it can take considerably longer than a shared or private transfer as buses usually stop several times along the way and you may need to make a connection in Bourg Saint Maurice, the nearest transport hub in the area.

How do you get from the airport to Tignes using public transport?
Public bus transfers run from the airports to Tignes in the winter season, especially during weekends. Many also stop at the closest train station, where Eurostar ski trains from London St Pancras stop, in Bourg Saint Maurice.

Public transport lines travel between Bourg Saint-Maurice and Tignes a couple of times per day in summer and winter, stopping in Val d'Isere along the way. The Bourg Saint Maurice to Tignes bus transfer time is around 1h15. You can find the latest bus timetables on our Bus Services in Tignes page.

More inspiration...

Read our How to Get to Tignes Guide for more information on all the different ways to travel to Tignes, including by plane, by train and by coach.