By Bus in Lyon and the Alps

Where there's no train service, SNCF often provides bus transport. Buses cover the entire region, but Lyon and Grenoble are the two main bus hubs for long-distance (national and international) routes. The Grenoble-Lyon connection on TER-SNCF (www.ter-SNCF.com/rhone-alpes) will get you from Grenoble to Lyon's Part-Dieu train station in 1 hour, 17 minutes for EUR 18.50. Buses from Lyon and Grenoble thoroughly and efficiently serve the region's smaller towns. Many ski centers, such as Chamonix, have shuttle buses connecting them with surrounding villages. Tourist destinations, such as Annecy, have convenient bus links with Grenoble.

Grenoble's Gare Routière is right next to the train station and is the place to catch VFD buses to Annecy (1 hr, 40 mins, EUR 9), Alpe d'Huez (1 hr, 30 mins, EUR 7.50), Chamrousse (1 hr, 15 mins, EUR 6.50), and Megève (2 hrs, 25 min, EUR 19.20). All buses leave Annecy from the Gare Routière right next to the train station on the Place de la Gare. From it, Voyages Crolard has routes around the Lac d'Annecy. Autocars Francony has buses to Chamonix. As for Alpine villages, regional buses head out from the main train stations at Annecy, Chambéry, Megève, and Grenoble.

Bus Information

Gare Routière Centre d'Échanges de Lyon-Perrache (Pl. Carnot s/n. 04-72-56-95-30. www.intercars.fr). Gare Routière Grenoble (11 pl. de la Gare. 04-76-87-90-31. www.transisere.fr).