5 Lyon’s closest ski resorts

Contents

• Les Plans d’Hotonnes, 1 hour 30 minutes from Lyon
• Villard-Corrençon, 1 hour 30 minutes from Lyon
• Autrans-Méaudre, 1 hour 45 minutes from Lyon
• Les 7 Laux, 2 hours from Lyon
• Chamrousse, 2 hours from Lyon

1. Les Plans d’Hotonnes, 1 hour 30 minutes from Lyon

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Plateau de Retord - Plan d'Hotonnes

Located on the Retord Plateau in the Bugey region, this family-friendly resort is ideal for discovering the joys of snow, whether you enjoy downhill skiing, cross-country skiing or snowshoeing.

Downhill and cross-country skiing on the Retord Plateau

Nestled in the unspoilt natural surroundings of the Jura, Les Plans d’Hotonnes, on the Retord Plateau, is just 1 hour 30 minutes from Lyon and offers a refreshing day in the great outdoors:

• more than 150 km of trails for cross-country skiing, including fun areas for beginners;
• a small, affordable family downhill ski resort with 13 slopes that are perfectly suited to beginners and occasional skiers;
• 11 snowshoe trails through vast snow-covered landscapes;
• a biathlon stadium where you can try the sport with a qualified instructor;
• a tobogganing area.

Practical information and prices

Located at an altitude of between 900 and 1,350 metres, the resort is open from mid-December to the end of March, depending on snow conditions. Find detailed information about slope openings.

In 2026-2027, day pass prices are:

• Downhill skiing: between €18 and €23
• Cross-country skiing: between €6.50 and €10
• Walking pass: between €3 and €4

Season passes are also available, ranging from €45 to €173 depending on age and purchase period.

How to get there

The Retord Plateau is not accessible by public transport. To reach the resort from Lyon, take the A40 motorway, exit 8 Saint-Martin-du-Fresne and Hauteville, for Les Plans d’Hotonnes and the Retord Plateau.

2. Villard-Corrençon, 1 hour 30 minutes from Lyon

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OTCorrençon-Village-Corrençon-VueGénérale

Head for the Vercors! Connected as part of the same ski area, Villard-de-Lans and Corrençon-en-Vercors offer a vast playground for winter sports, with beautiful high-altitude slopes and stunning views over the Alps.

Two villages, one large ski area

The Villard-Corrençon ski area is one of the Vercors’ leading downhill ski areas. Located between 1,050 and 2,050 metres above sea level, it offers superb views of the Alps and Mont Blanc. The area is also renowned for biathlon, with Fourcade brothers and Marie Dorin-Habert among the champions who have made their mark on the sport in the Vercors.

The programme includes:

• 57 downhill ski slopes covering 125 km, with areas dedicated to beginners;
• 23 cross-country ski trails and 152 km of routes for skating or classic skiing;
• 6 toboggan runs at La Colline des Bains in Villard-de-Lans;
• activities for a change of pace, including dog sledding, snowshoeing and icefall climbing.

Practical information and prices

The 2026-2027 season is scheduled to begin on November 28 for downhill skiing, on December 5 for cross-country skiing and on December 19 for the toboggan park, subject to snow conditions. Find detailed information about slope openings.

For the 2026-2027 season, downhill skiing prices start at €28 for 3 hours and €36 for a full day. Discovery passes for the smaller ski area are also available from €27. The cross-country ski pass costs €14 for adults, €11 for seniors and €7 for young people aged 6 to 20. Find full details of the prices.

How to get there

From Lyon, allow around 1 hour 30 minutes by car via the A48 and D531.

If you do not have a car, start by travelling to Grenoble, which is 1 hour from Lyon by bus or TER train. Cars Région buses connect Grenoble with Villard-de-Lans and Corrençon all year round via routes T64 and T65. In winter, the Transaltitude service also operates coaches from Grenoble and Valence TGV station, from December 19, 2026 to March 28, 2027, at weekends, on public holidays and during school holidays. Find all the transport information.

3. Autrans-Méaudre, 1 hour 45 minutes from Lyon

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Autrans Méaudre

Also located in the heart of the Vercors, the Autrans and Méaudre ski areas welcome skiers of all levels in a beautiful natural setting of spruce forests, wide-open plains and panoramic ridgelines.

Activities for every taste

Between the downhill ski slopes of Autrans and Méaudre and the Vercors’ vast Nordic landscapes, there is something for everyone to enjoy in the snow:

• two downhill ski areas, in Autrans and Méaudre, with slopes for beginners and more experienced skiers;
• 120 km of cross-country ski trails, groomed for classic and skating techniques, across plains, forests and ridgelines;
• a biathlon stadium where you can try cross-country skiing and rifle shooting;
• snowshoeing and hiking trails;
• Méaudre’s 1,250-metre-long giant zip line, as well as other original activities such as dog sledding and speed luge.

Practical information and prices

Subject to snow conditions, the ski areas are scheduled to open on December 19, 2026.

As for prices, a day of downhill skiing costs €24.20 for adults, €21.10 for young people, students and seniors, while a cross-country skiing pass costs €14, or €7 for young people and €11 for seniors.

The Nordic Pass Vercors Hiver also allows you to ski across several Nordic areas in the Vercors. For the 2026-2027 season, it costs €164 for adults, €57 for young people and students, and €89 for seniors.

How to get there

From Lyon, allow around 1 hour 45 minutes by car via the A48 and the Veurey exit.

To reach the resort without a car, you can take a train or bus to Grenoble, then take advantage of the Skiligne offer. This includes a return coach journey from Grenoble bus station and a ski pass, costing €21 for cross-country skiing and €26 for downhill skiing when booked online. The service operates from December 19, 2026 to March 7, 2027, at weekends and during Zone A school holidays.

Alternatively, Transaltitude coaches serve Autrans and Méaudre from Grenoble and Valence TGV station from December 19, 2026 to March 28, 2027, at weekends, on public holidays and during school holidays.

4. Les 7 Laux, 2 hours from Lyon

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Les 7 laux

In the heart of the Belledonne mountain range, facing the landscapes of the Chartreuse, Les 7 Laux ski resort offers excellent winter sports opportunities less than two hours from Lyon.

A large ski area in Belledonne

With its three sites, Prapoutel, Pipay and Le Pleynet, Les 7 Laux reaches an altitude of 2,400 metres and offers:

• 53 downhill ski slopes for all levels, with a great mix of green, blue, red and black runs;
• a snowpark at Le Pleynet, with features for different levels, a 3 km boardercross course and a more technical area for experienced riders;
• Nordic areas at Prapoutel and Le Pleynet, where you can discover cross-country skiing;
• activities for a change of pace, including snake gliss, Wiz Luge, dog sledding and snowshoeing trails.

Practical information and prices

The 2026-2027 season is scheduled to run from December 19, 2026 to March 29, 2027, subject to snow conditions.

A day pass for downhill skiing costs €42 on weekdays outside the school holidays and €45 at weekends and during the holidays. Four-hour and two-hour passes, the latter valid from 2:30 p.m., as well as multi-day and season passes, are also available. For cross-country skiing, prices are €9.50 per session for adults and €6 for children. View all prices.

Another option is the Grési’Mountain Pass, which gives you access to the ski lifts at Les 7 Laux and Le Collet without having to queue at the ticket office. Ski days are billed weekly, with discounts of up to 30% on lift passes. Membership for winter 2026-2027 is available for €15 until November 19, 2026, instead of €40.

How to get there

From Lyon, allow around 2 hours 15 minutes by car to reach Prapoutel, via the A43 and then the A41.

By public transport, take a train or coach to Grenoble, then the N94 Destination Neige service, which connects the bus station with Prapoutel in winter. Routes N95 and N96 also serve the resort from Crolles and Goncelin. Advance booking is strongly recommended.

To reach Les 7 Laux directly from the Lyon metropolitan area, Skimania also offers coach trips with ski passes included. Check its website for dates, departure points and prices.

5. Chamrousse, 2 hours from Lyon

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OT Chamrousse

Located two hours from Lyon, Chamrousse ski resort is a family-friendly destination in the Belledonne mountain range, with activities for all ages and ability levels.

Skiing and a wide range of activities

Its downhill ski area has 45 slopes and more than 90 km of runs, spread across the Recoin, Roche Béranger and Bachat-Bouloud sectors. Beginners can take their first runs in the beginners’ area, while families can enjoy Montagne de Téo, a fun area with visual and sound features, games and a relaxation zone. More experienced skiers will also find red and black runs for a varied skiing experience.

For a change from downhill skiing, Chamrousse also offers:

• a 42 km Nordic area with cross-country ski trails, spread across 9 routes, as well as 7 walking and snowshoe trails;
• night skiing on Thursdays during the school holidays and on Saturdays, from December 19, 2026 to March 6, 2027;
• Luge Park, with a 2.1 km snow toboggan run and a rail sled;
• other winter experiences, such as ice diving and ice bivouacking.

Practical information and prices

The 2026-2027 season at Chamrousse is scheduled to run from December 5, 2026 to April 11, 2027, subject to snow and weather conditions.

A day of downhill skiing costs €45.50 for adults, while a four-hour pass costs €40.50. Beginners’ area passes and multi-day packages are also available. For cross-country skiing, a day pass costs €10.50 for adults and €4.70 for children aged 5 to 10. Half-day, weekly and season passes are also available. Find all the prices for downhill skiing and cross-country skiing.

How to get there

From Lyon, drive to Grenoble via the A43 and A48, then follow the signs for Chamrousse.

By public transport, trains and coaches connect Lyon with Grenoble. From Grenoble railway station or Gières station, line N93 serves Chamrousse all year round. In winter, it becomes the “Destinations Neige” service and runs every day during the season, with advance booking required.

To travel directly from the Lyon metropolitan area, Skimania also offers coach trips with ski passes included. Dates, packages and prices vary depending on the departure point, so check the programme before booking.