Lyon Saint-Exupery Airport is 25 km east of Lyon and also serves as a major gateway to the French Alps. Costs vary significantly depending on whether you are heading into the city or up into the mountains.
Cost to Lyon city center
By Rhonexpress tram (to Part-Dieu) — fares published by the operator, 2026
- One-way booked online: 16.00 EUR
- One-way from a ticket machine: 17.10 EUR
- Return: 28.00 EUR online, 29.80 EUR from a machine
- Ages 12–25: 10.50 EUR one-way
- Children under 12: free
By taxi — Lyon taxis are metered on the prefectoral tariff; there is no flat airport fare. Lyon Airport publishes these indicative fares:
- Lyon centre, day: about 70 EUR
- Lyon centre, night (7 PM–7 AM), Sundays and public holidays: about 95 EUR
- Lyon Part-Dieu, day: about 67 EUR; night: about 90 EUR
By pre-booked transfer
- Prices are set by each provider rather than by any authority. Compare quotes against the airport's indicative taxi fares above.
Cost to Alpine destinations
No authority publishes fares for the Alpine routes, and every provider prices them differently, so the honest answer is that we cannot quote you a figure that would still be true when you read it. What we can give you is the distance and the drive — the two things that actually drive the price:
| Destination | Distance | Drive time |
|---|---|---|
| Grenoble | 110 km | 75–90 min |
| Chambery | 100 km | 70–85 min |
| Annecy | 140 km | 100–120 min |
| Courchevel | 190 km | 150–180 min |
| Meribel | 185 km | 150–170 min |
| Val d'Isere | 220 km | 180–210 min |
| Les Arcs | 200 km | 160–190 min |
| Chamonix | 215 km | 150–180 min |
Fixed-price private transfer
LYS Lyon City Center
From€79for 2 passengers
Other destinations
Get a written quote before you book. Prices rise during peak ski season (Christmas, February half-term, Easter), and night arrivals or early morning departures may carry supplements with some providers.
What drives the cost
Distance is the primary factor. Lyon to Grenoble is a motorway drive, while Alpine resorts involve mountain roads that are slower and require more experienced drivers.
Season matters for Alpine destinations. Ski season transfers cost more due to winter conditions (chains, winter tires) and high demand. Summer transfers to the same resorts are generally cheaper.
Time of day affects taxi fares (night supplement) but not most pre-booked transfers, where the quoted price is the final price.
Group size does not change the per-vehicle price but changes the per-person math. A transfer is quoted per vehicle, so dividing the quote by the number of seats is the comparison worth doing against a shared shuttle's per-person fare.
Budget alternatives
The Rhonexpress at 16.00 EUR online is the cheapest way to reach Lyon city — and free for under-12s. For Alpine destinations, shared transfer services (shuttle buses) run during ski season from the airport to major resorts. They are cheaper per seat than a private car but the service is shared, involves waiting for a full bus, and may include multiple stops. Check the operator's own site for the current fare.
BlaBlacar (ride-sharing) is popular in France and sometimes offers rides from the airport area to Alpine towns. Pricing is very low but reliability depends entirely on the individual driver.
The value calculation
For Lyon city: the Rhonexpress is excellent value for solo travelers and couples — and because under-12s travel free, it is often the cheapest option for families with young children by a wide margin, even after onward transport from Part-Dieu.
For Alpine destinations: a private transfer is the standard choice. The distances are long, conditions can be challenging, and having a professional driver in a suitable vehicle is worth the cost — especially after a flight.