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Skiing near Lyon
Ski holidays in resorts near Lyon airport. Chalets, hotels and apartments.
Lyon Airport (LYS), also known as Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport, is an international airport located 20km outside of the city of Lyon, the third-largest city in France. The airport is an important transport link for the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region serving many ski resorts in the French Alps. If you require a quick transfer to resort but prefer a more established airport, Lyon Airport is a more suitable alternative to neighbouring ski airports Chambery and Grenoble. Some of the best ski resorts in France are within 2 and a half hours from Lyon Airport, including Chamonix, Alpe d’Huez, La Plagne, Les Arcs, Les Deux Alpes and Les Gets. British Airways, EasyJet and Jet2 fly from the UK to Lyon.
Built as a replacement for the old Lyon-Bron Airport, Lyon -Saint Exupéry Airport was an immediate success when opened in 1975 when an increasing number of passengers were flying. The new high-speed train line opened in 1994 connecting the airport directly to large European cities making travelling to the airport easier than ever. In 2000 the airport was renamed Lyon–Saint Exupéry Airport after the native French pilot and author Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. In 2018 the airport welcomed over 11 million passengers. To meet the growing traffic demands Airport owner and operator Aéroport de Lyon has invested €260m into improvements including expanding Terminal 1 to hold more check-in desks, commercial space, baggage claim space and built to high environmental quality (HQE) specifications.
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Closest ski resorts to Lyon Airport
Best ski resorts within two hours of Lyon
Sainte Foy, France
St Francois de Longchamp, France
Les Saisies Hauteluce, France
Valfrejus, France
Montchavin, France
Le Corbier, France
Les Sybelles, France
Le Grand Bornand, France
Best ski resorts within two hours and a half of Lyon
Best ski resorts within three hours of Lyon
La Joue du Loup, France
Superdevoluy, France
Where is Lyon Airport?
Lyon Airport is located 20km southeast of Lyon city, nestled in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in east-central France. With direct access to the motorway, ski transfers are easy to nearby ski resorts. Lyon Airport is often used in package holidays to Alpe d’Huez and Les Deux Alpes. Closest alternative airports are Grenoble (44 km away), Chambery (62 km away) and Geneva (98km away).
Lyon Airport terminals
There are 2 terminals at Lyon Airport, both split by 2 levels.
Terminal 1 is the main terminal serving both regional and international flights. In the Arrival Hall on Level 0 of Terminal 1, you'll find the car rental offices, bus stops, taxi ranks, short-stay parking and an information desk. Level 1 is the Departure Hall, which accommodates the check-in desks, several cafes, shops, a business centre, prayer rooms, a medical centre, an information desk and security gates.
Terminal 2 is smaller and is the main hub for Air France. The layout is the same as Terminal 1 – with arrivals on Level 0 and departures on Level 1. When the expansion on Terminal 1 is complete, Terminal 2 will close permanently.
Lyon Airport services
Lyon Airport has many of the services that you would expect from a modern airport. There is free Wi-Fi, several restaurants, shops, ATMs, currency exchange, a pharmacy, prayer rooms and a medical centre.
Lyon Airport shops
Passengers can enjoy world-class shopping at Lyon Airport. There is a great range of shops in both terminals. In Terminal 1 you will find a Duty-Free shop, gift shop, nail salon, pharmacy, L'Occitane and several more shops selling fashion clothing, electronics and children's toys. In Terminal 2 there are newsagents, Duty-Free, electronics shop, clothing shop and a nail salon.
Bars and restaurants at Lyon Airport
From traditional French baked goodies to contemporary international cuisine, Lyon Airport has a decent selection of bars and restaurants in Terminal 1 and 2.
Terminal 1:
- Alpage Lounge restaurant and bar
- Burger King
- Confluences self-service café
- Exki healthy takeaway cafe
- Monsieur Albert American style takeaway restaurant
Terminal 2:
- Paul bakery
- OL Brasserie sports bar
- Fly Me To The Food takeaway cafe
- Starbucks
- Atelier des 2 Rives gourmet restaurant
- Brioche Doree restaurant serving seasonal hot dishes and sandwiches
- 221 café
- Cafe LUG
- Les Marche self-service restaurant with terrace
Lyon Airport lounges
The lounges at Lyon Airport offer a great base for guests travelling on business or as a special start to your trip. There are 2 lounges in each of the terminals. Salon Confluence and Salon Mont Black in Terminal 1 and Air France Lounge and Salon Solano in Terminal 2. Each lounge has different opening times and facilities.
Transport at Lyon Airport
Most of our ski holiday packages include transfers from Lyon Airport already, but if yours doesn't, a few companies offer transfers independently. Always pre-book your transfer from Lyon Airport and check with the operator where you need to meet them.
There is a taxi rank outside both Terminals (on level 1) and at the train station. It takes 40 minutes to get to Lyon city centre by taxi.
Hiring a car is easy at Lyon Airport. Avis, Alamo, Budget, Enterprise, Europcar, National, Hertz, Thrifty and Sixt operate car rental from the airport. Offices are located on the ground level of both terminals.
Lyon Airport has both a train line and a tram line. The 'normal' TGV and OUIGO trains run to 29 cities every day, including Paris, Grenoble, Marseille, Milan and Turin. The Rhônexpress fast tram shuttle runs between Lyon Airport and Lyon's Part-Dieu train station. Taking just 30 minutes to reach the city centre, this is the fastest way to get to Lyon. The tram runs every 15 minutes between 6 am – 9 pm. The train station is located just a few minutes' walk from the airport.
No public buses run from Lyon Airport to Lyon city centre.
Lyon Airport FAQ:
Lyon Airport is 20km to the south-east of Lyon city in France. Lyon is one of France’s oldest cities and famous for its food and historical landmarks. The airport has excellent transport links to the city centre, surrounding cities and ski resorts.
There are over 100 ski resorts in France, Italy and Switzerland that are within a few hours of Lyon. The most popular resorts near Lyon are Avoriaz, Morzine, Alpe d’Huez, Les Deux Alpes, Meribel and Courchevel.
British Airways, Easyjet and Jet2 fly directly from the UK to Lyon.
Direct flights to Lyon are available from most major UK airports including all London Gatwick, London Heathrow, Bristol, Edinburgh and Manchester.
Lyon Airport is 20km outside of the city of Lyon. Regular trains can get you from the airport to the city centre in 30 minutes – take the Rhônexpress tram from the train station.
The easiest way to get to Val Thorens is to book a ski package with transfers included as there is no train connection between Lyon and Val Thorens. Alternatively, you can hire a car or book a shared transfer with Benbus or Alps 2 Alps. Val Thorens is approx. 3h 30m drive from Lyon Airport.
Most of our ski packages to Alpe d’Huez will include transfers from the airport. If you are making your own way to resort, you will need to hire a car or book a shared transfer with Benbus or Alps 2 Alps. Alpe d’Huez is approx. 2h 30m drive from Lyon Airport.
Skiing near Lyon Airport
| Resort | Country | Distance (km) | Est. time (hr) | Chalets | Hotels | Apartments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brides Les Bains | France | 170 | 2 | £685 | £428 | |
| La Tania | France | 180 | 2 | £995 | £921 | £690 |
| Valloire | France | 191 | 2 | £911 | £283 | |
| Sainte Foy | France | 202 | 2 | £391 | ||
| La Toussuire | France | 175 | 2 | £405 | £454 | |
| Vaujany | France | 143 | 2 | £381 | £368 | |
| Le Corbier | France | 174 | 2 | £407 | ||
| La Plagne | France | 196 | 2.15 | £677 | £437 | £340 |
| Les Arcs | France | 212 | 2.3 | £585 | £657 | £354 |
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