Image illustrative
© Alpe d'Huez Tourisme - Lionel Royet

Getting to Isère

The department of Isère is in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France. With regular flights from the UK to Grenoble, trains (via Paris or from Barcelona), short bus transfers to resorts and an extensive motorway network, you can be on the slopes before you know it.

By train

Isère is one of the easiest regions to reach by train. Isère’s main train station, Grenoble, has excellent national and international rail connections.

Whether you’re travelling from the United Kingdom, Belgium, Holland, Switzerland, Italy, Spain or anywhere within France, you can take advantage of the TGV network. High-speed trains whisk you to Grenoble, allowing for smooth, scenic, low-carbon journeys as you watch picturesque landscapes glide by.

From Grenoble, reaching any of Isère’s 21 ski resorts is a breeze. Transaltitude buses depart from the bus station conveniently located right next to the train station. Alternatively, you can pre-book a taxi or use the taxi rank available at the station.

© Adobe Stock

Let’s discover how easy it is to come to Isère by train!

How long does it take to reach Grenoble by train?

Here are some of the fast connections from international cities to Grenoble by train.

  • From London: 6hr 12min (change stations in Paris)
  • From Amsterdam: 7hr 33min (change at Brussels and Lyon)
  • From Brussels: 5hr 22min (change at Lyon)
  • From Geneva: 2hr 3min (direct)
  • From Barcelona: 4hr 30min (change at Valence TGV)
  • From Milan: 5hr 47min (change at Turin and Chambéry) due to landslide it takes much longer at the moment
  • From Turin: 3hr 56min (change at Chambéry) due to landslide it takes much longer at the moment

How to change stations in Paris?

Some journeys to Grenoble from the UK, the Netherlands, or Belgium require changing stations in Paris, such as transferring from Gare du Nord to Gare de Lyon. You can make this transfer by Metro/RER or by taxi.

Alternatively, you can use the taxi rank at the station or pre-book a taxi to meet you on arrival. This film shows two skiers from the UK changing stations in Paris using a pre-booked taxi.

Watch the movie

Buses from Grenoble train station to the resorts

In winter, on arriving at Grenoble station, you can travel on to resorts with Transaltitude buses departing from Grenoble bus station. The bus station is right next to the train station, making your transfer easy. Most Transaltitude buses are scheduled to connect with arriving or departing trains.

For more info or to book your ticket online

Taxis from Grenoble to resorts

Here are some of the fast connections from international cities to Grenoble by train:

How to find train timetables?

Useful websites for looking up journey schedules include raileurope.com thetrainline.com, sncf-connect.com and sbb.ch, Note that schedules are usually available online only when trains go on sale, typically several months in advance. If you can’t find schedules for your preferred travel date, try entering an earlier date to get an idea of the expected timetable once tickets are released.

Travelling from the UK?

If you are travelling from London to Grenoble this winter, you can use the Snowcarbon Journey Planner. Click here to view recommended journey schedules.

How to book train tickets?

Train tickets for travel to Grenoble can be booked at a station, online or through expert-rail booking agencies.

Online ticket sellers:

By plane

Grenoble Alpes Isère (GNB)

Grenoble Alpes Isère Airport is located in Saint-Étienne-de-Saint-Geoirs, just 30 minutes from Grenoble.

Destinations include London, Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dublin and Guernsey.

www.grenoble-airport.com

Then, Ben’s Bus provides services to both Grenoble and Lyon airports, connecting to the following resorts: Alpe d’Huez, Les Deux Alpes, Chamrousse, Le Bourg-d’Oisans, and Rochetaillée (for Vaujany and Oz-en-Oisans).

bensbus.co.uk

Lyon Saint-Exupéry Airport (LYS)

Lyon Saint-Exupéry Airport is approximately a 1-hour drive from Grenoble.

www.lyonairports.com

Geneva Airport (GVA)

Geneva Airport is approximately a 1hour 30min drive from Grenoble.

www.gva.ch

By car

Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes is the region in France with the most extensive motorway network, making Isère easy to reach.

  • Grenoble to Genève: 143 km (88 miles)
  • Grenoble to Turin: 236 km (147 miles)
  • Grenoble to Paris: 570 km (354 miles)
  • Grenoble to Barcelone: 630 km (391 miles)
  • Grenoble to Bruxelles: 822 km (511 miles)
  • Grenoble to Calais: 869 km (540 miles)
  • Grenoble to Londres: 1 035 km /643 miles)

Travelling to Isère from the UK takes between 8 and 10 hours from Calais.
For more information about Driving in France, please read here.

Parking: in ski resorts, plenty of car parks allow you to leave your car for the week. The average cost is around €45 to €70 per week.

Cross-channel operators

By Le Shuttle

Le Shuttle has up to 4 train shuttles per hour travelling to France taking just 35 minutes between Folkestone and Calais. All chunnel ticket prices include your car and up to 9 passengers.

www.leshuttle.com

By ferry

Operators include: Brittany Ferries, P&O Ferries, DFDS Seaways and Irish Ferries.

By bus

Buses from the UK to Grenoble change in Paris. Journey time is approximately 9 hours.

Ouibus.com