Getting Here
If you are coming to the Hautes Alpes, it’s easy!
There are many airports and train stations. Also options by bus and a car.
BY PLANE
Here are the six closest international airports:
#1 TURIN (Aeroporto di Torino-Caselle, TRN)
Driving: 1h40
Public transportation:
1. Shuttle (30 min): Airport => Torino Porta Susa
2. High-speed train TGV (1h20): Torino Porta Susa => Modane
3. Bus (1h25): Modane => Briançon Champ de Mars
NOTE : There was before a bus line between Oulx and Briançon. It is now replaced by another bus line between Modane and Briançon. Thus, you will have to stop in Modane (France) if you come from Turin, and then take this replacement bus. The trains deserving Modane are the French TGVs and you should book your ticket on https://www.sncf-connect.com/en-en/. There are only 2-3 connections per day. Bus departures usually correspond to the arrival times of the trains, but make sure of it by checking the bus line timetable.
Or direct link every Saturday and Sunday during the winter season (1h50)
#2 GRENOBLE (Aéroport de Grenoble, GNB)
Driving: 2h30
Public transportation:
1. Shuttle (1h): Airport => Gare de Grenoble
2. Bus LER35 (2h50): Gare de Grenoble => Briançon Place de l’Europe
Or direct link every Saturday the winter season (3h)
#3 LYON (Aéroport Lyon-Saint Exupéry, LYS)
Driving: 2h50
Public transportation:
1. Shuttle (1h): Airport to Gare de Grenoble
2. Bus LER35 (2h50): Gare de Grenoble => Briançon Place de l’Europe
Or direct link every Saturday and Sunday during the winter season (3h30)
#4 MILAN (Aeroporto di Milano-Malpensa, MXP)
Driving: 2h50
Public transportation:
1. Shuttle (2h): Airport => Torino Porta Susa
2. High-speed train TGV (1h20): Torino Porta Susa => Modane
3. Bus (1h25): Modane => Briançon Champ de Mars
NOTE : There was before a bus line between Oulx and Briançon. It is now replaced by another bus line between Modane and Briançon. Thus, you will have to stop in Modane (France) if you come from Turin, and then take this replacement bus. The trains deserving Modane are the French TGVs and you should book your ticket on https://www.sncf-connect.com/en-en/. There are only 2-3 connections per day. Bus departures usually correspond to the arrival times of the trains, but make sure of it by checking the bus line timetable.
#5 GENEVA (Genève Aéroport, GVA)
Driving: 3h00
Public transportation:
1. Bus (2h): Airport => Gare de Grenoble
2. Bus LER35 (2h50): Gare de Grenoble => Briançon Place de l’Europe
#6 MARSEILLE (Aéroport Marseille Provence, MRS)
Driving: 3h00
Public transportation:
BY TRAIN
There are four options to reach Briançon by train
There is only one public train company in France, SNCF. You can book all your tickets on https://www.sncf-connect.com/en-en/.
#1 From Paris
- Direct night train Intercités (12h): PARIS AUSTERLITZ => BRIANCON
=> Our favorite choice. Go sleep in Paris, wake up in Briançon!
#2 From Paris
- High-speed train TGV (4h): PARIS GARE DE LYON => MODANE
- Bus (1h25): Modane => Briançon Champ de MarsNOTE : There was before a bus line between Oulx and Briançon. It is now replaced by another bus line between Modane and Briançon. Thus, you will have to stop in Modane (France) if you come from Turin, and then take this replacement bus. The trains deserving Modane are the French TGVs and you should book your ticket on https://www.sncf-connect.com/en-en/. There are only 2-3 connections per day. Bus departures usually correspond to the arrival times of the trains, but make sure of it by checking the bus line timetable.
#3 From Valence
- Regional train TER (5h): VALENCE TGV => BRIANCON
This line also goes through Gap.
#4 From Marseille
- Regional train TER (5h): MARSEILLE ST CHARLES => BRIANCON
This line also goes through Gap.
BY BUS
Bus LER35 (2h50): Gare de Grenoble => Briançon Place de l’Europe
Flixbus and other bus services connect Grenoble to many destinations throughout Europe.
BY CAR
With your own
*** First thing to know: AVOID FREJUS TUNNEL AT THE FRENCH-ITALIAN BORDER. It will make you save 15 minutes, but you will pay them 45-50€ (click here for prices). That said, if you are coming during heavy snow falls in winter, and Lautaret pass (Col du Lautaret) is closed, it could make you save 1h30. Galibier pass (Col du Galibier) is closed in Winter. Check on http://inforoute.hautes-alpes.fr/www/index.html to see which routes/passes are open. ***
There are 3 main routes leading to Briançon:
- North West: Going through Col du Lautaret, 2058 m, which can be closed in winter after heavy snow falls, but usually never more than couple days. The road goes to Grenoble (2h drive).
- North East: Going through Col de Montgenèvre, 1850 m, very rarely closed. It takes about 40 min drive to reach Oulx and the highway E70 (Fréjus Tunnel in one direction, Torino in the other).
- South: Road leading to Guillestre (35 min) and to Gap (1h30). Never closed.
A little tip: if you are in no hurry, and coming from north during summertime, take the highway to Saint-Michel-de-Maurienne, and then drive up to Col du Galibier. It is one of the highest drivable mountain passes of the French Alps (2 642 m) and it is beautiful :D.
Rideshare
#1 BlaBlaCar
Rideshare/Carpooling is quite active in France and usually works really well. It could make you save a lot of time and money. And maybe, you will even meet cool people in the car!
#2 Facebook group CO-VOITURAGE HAUTES ALPES
You can also join this group, keep an eye on the rides people post, or post your plan and hope a driver contacts you!