Travel Options to Briançon
Les Cimes is located in Briançon, in the heart of the French Alps and the Serre Chevalier valley. Below you’ll find an overview of the main ways to reach Briançon by plane, train, bus, and car.
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By Plane
Briançon is served by a number of airports with rental car, train, bus or private transfers between:
Turin is our nearest airport approx. 90 mins to the east of Briançon. Ryanair offer several flights every day between Stansted and Turin. BA fly from Gatwick. During the ski season there are many more flights with Easyjet, Jet2 and Tui. There is also a direct bus service from Turin Airport to Briançon – see bus section below.
Grenoble is approx 2 1/4 hours to the west of Briançon with a regular Line 55 Zou bus service linking the two.
Geneva is approx 3 hours to the north with the most flight options to the Alps.
Marseille, 3.5 hours to the south offers an alternative route passing through Aix-en-Provence and following the Durance river to Briançon.
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By Train
Briançon does have a train station which is the end of the line due to rather large mountains! Trains run several times a day from Marseille and Aix-en-Provence and there is a daily sleeper service from Paris.
There is a regular TGV service from Paris to Oulx (Oulx-Cesana-Clavière-Sestrière to give its official name) and the Line 76 Zou bus to Briançon is timed to meet TGV service to Oulx.
There is also a regular train service from Milan and Turin to Oulx, check timing to meet the 76 Zou bus/private transfer otherwise an impromptu Oulx side trip may be on the cards to kill time.
Eurostar provides the rail service from the UK to France and Paris is the primary hub for TGV and sleeper trains south.
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By Bus
A network of regional and seasonal buses connects Briançon with nearby cities and transport hubs, making it a practical option if you arrive by plane or train.
- From Grenoble – Coach and regional bus services run between Grenoble and Briançon, often timed with train arrivals. Details can be found here: LINE 55 Briançon – Grenoble – ZOU Reservation
- From Gap – Regular buses link Gap and Briançon, complementing the regional train services. Details can be found here: Bus Zou! between Gap and Briançon: a new traffic plan comes into force from 1 September – ram05
- From Turin and Oulx – From Turin or the high-speed train station at Oulx, shuttle buses and seasonal ski transfers cross the border via the Col de Montgenèvre pass to reach Briançon and the Serre Chevalier valley. The RESALP linkbus runs directly from Turin Airport to Briançon from late December to early April on Saturdays only #LINK1 | shuttles Turin >Serre Chevalier >Montgenèvre.
- The 76 Zou bus from Oulx runs approx 3 times a day to coincide with the TGV train arrival at Oulx station. Details can be found here: Line ZOU 76: Bus OULX < > Serre Chevalier Briançon
Timetables change between winter and summer seasons, so please check current schedules in advance of your trip.
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By Car
Driving to Les Cimes gives you maximum flexibility during your stay, and the surrounding mountain roads are well maintained. It is mandatory that all cars must be equipped with snow chains/snow socks from mid November to mid April. Rental companies in Turin/Geneva/Grenoble will automatically put these in the boot and they do not need to be booked as a paid extra. Check http://www.serre-chevalier.com website for live road conditions and webcam coverage of the Col du Lautaret. Key access routes include:
- Via the Col de Montgenèvre (from Italy) – If you are coming from Turin or Oulx, you will usually cross the border via the Col de Montgenèvre mountain pass, descending directly into Briançon and the Serre Chevalier valley. This is the fastest route and as the primary road between Italy and France is kept clear of snow the vast majority of the time.
- Via the Col du Lautaret (from Grenoble) – Coming from Grenoble, you can take a scenic route via the Col du Lautaret mountain pass directly to Briançon. This route offers beautiful Alpine views passing Deux Alpes, Alpe d’Huez and La Grave. It is a slightly longer journey than via Turin but is a wonderful drive through the mountains. Recent snowfall/storms can see the pass being temporarily closed while the snow clearing crews get to work. Check before setting off as there are 2 alternative but longer routes from Grenoble if the pass is closed.
- Via the A51 motorway (from Marseille/Aix-en-Provence) – From the south of France, follow the A51 motorway towards Gap and then continue on main roads to Briançon.
If snow/ice is forecast please allow extra time for your journey and check local traffic and weather conditions before you travel at Meteo Serre Chevalier