Private car transfer
from Milan to Val d'Isere

Overview: car trip from Milan to Val-d'isère

A car trip with Daytrip from Milan to Val-d'isère will take you away from the breathtaking architectural wonders of Milan and to the foothills of snowy mountains in Val-d'isère. Two places are a study in contrast with Milan's awe-inspiring cityscapes and Val-d'isère's home to a ski resort village with approximately 1,500 people living there year-round, providing drastically different travel adventures.

On your way to Val-d'isère, you can enjoy many mini adventures when you stop and sightsee. Car enthusiasts will love visiting the Alfa Romeo Museum, which has six floors of history. Those who enjoy a good view should ask their professional English-speaking driver to stop at the Basilica of Superga. This gorgeous Basilica was built sometime after the Battle of Turin, and visitors can look forward to sweeping panoramic views of Turin and the mountains within sight.

Afterward, you might want to go to the Museum of Contemporary Art Rivoli before stopping in the medievally scenic town of Avigliani. Also, before you get to Val-d'isère, ensure your driver tells you more about the massive Romanesque Sacra di San Michele monument before you tour its walls. These side trips are the appetizer to your main meal of traveling through Val-d'isère, where you'll get to climb mountains, ski, enjoy fine dining, and spa luxury.

About Val-d'isère

A Milan to Val-d'isère transfer by bus, train, or door-to-door private car service will get you to Val d'Isère. Val d'Isère is a populist ski resort and village in the French Alps, and it has earned its title as one of the most beautiful French ski resorts in the world. It is located near the Italian border, which is why many Italians visit the village every year. Since Val d'Isère is found near Tignes, it is part of the Espace Killy ski area.

When you visit, you will find the town nestled in a cute valley at the foot of the mountains, with the surrounding town filled with chocolate box-shaped chalets and numerous high-end luxurious hotels. Yet, this village town wasn't always a must-visit destination for avid ski enthusiasts and those who love the exaggerated look of snow-topped mountains.

Val-d'Isère was originally a small alpine farming village with a history of over a thousand years. Yet it didn't begin transforming into a ski resort until the 1930s. In World War II, the village gained prominence and global attention. With the construction of the first ski lift in 1936, Val-d'Isère began its development as a major winter sports destination. Ever since, it has hosted events like the 1992 Winter Olympics and the Alpine Ski World Championships.

Nowadays, Val-d'Isère is renowned for its extensive ski terrain, luxurious accommodations, and vibrant après-ski scene, which attract visitors from around the globe. Despite its modernization over the years, it has maintained its traditions and village feel. Those visiting can expect more than simply skiing and the mountains. Val-d'Isèreis is home to small hamlets on the village outskirts that can be visited, shops, fine dining establishments, and even a museum.

From Milan to Val-d'isère: travel tips

We all know that checking the weather, ensuring you have your identity documents, and planning your travel to avoid peak times if you don't want to contend with high prices and crowds are important. Yet, there are a few other notable travel tips those traveling from Milan to Val-d'isère need to know.

In the snow season, snow chains are compulsory

Once you reach a certain point in your travels from Milan to Val-d'isère, you will need snow chains on your vehicle if you visit during the snow season. According to legal regulations, snow chains in and around Val-d'isère are compulsory on a minimum of two drive wheels if there are snow-covered stretches of road.

If you are driving yourself, you can stop and put chains on your tires at "La Raie," where there is a chaining area. This area is found after Sainte-Foy Tarentaise. Val-d'isère. To avoid this schlep, consider driving with a door-to-door car service like Daytrip.

Listen to the news

Weather conditions can change drastically when driving from Milan to Val-d'isère, so listening to the news and updates on the various road networks is a good idea. While in the village, it's still a good idea to tune in to hear if anything changes with the weather or snow during your stay.

You'll want to memorize or ask your driver to switch on the news radio station Radio Val d'Isère (96.1 Mhz). You can also check various social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for road and safety information when you get to Val d'Isère.

Pack appropriate clothing

The weather in Val d'Isère is very different from Milan, so you must pack appropriate clothing when planning a Milan to Val d'Isère transfer. With Val d'Isère at an altitude higher than 1800 meters, you can expect the climate to be cold – especially during the snow season when most people travel to Val d'Isère. For this type of climate, normal winter wear isn't going to cut it.

You need specialized gear, including waterproof clothing, gloves, hats, and warm inner clothing. You should also invest in a pair of quality snow sunglasses, as the glare on the mountains can be blinding.

How to get from Milan to Val-d'isère

Since Val d'Isère is a resort village, there are no flights offered, and there is no airport. Instead, when traveling from Milan to Val d'Isère, you must take a bus, train, or private car transfer service. We've briefly touched on each transportation option to help you choose.

From Milan to Val-d'isère by bus

You must take a direct bus from Milan to Turin to travel by bus. You can take a bus from Turin to Val d'Isère, but these buses often offer limited services, especially if you plan on traveling to Val d'Isère in the off-peak season. The bus line you would need to book for the Milan to Turin trip is Flixbus, and for the Turin to Val d'Isère trip, you need to book with Savada or another local bus service.

Since you need to take two buses, the total price of a trip is between $32 and $64 (€30-€60), making it one of the cheapest transportation options. However, the trip lasts between six and seven hours, so you will likely be uncomfortable throughout the trip, but you will get to see scenic views.

From Milan to Val-d'isère by train

Taking a train is likely the hardest and most exhausting way to travel from Milan to Val d'Isère. Since there is no direct train from Milan to Val d'Isère, you must start your trip by taking a train from Milan to Turin with Trenitalia, which takes about an hour.

You will take an SNFC train transfer from Turin to Modane, which will take about an hour and a half. Once you get to Modane, you must take a local bus or taxi to Val d'Isère, which will take another hour and a half. This means the entire trip will take between four and five hours.

Not only is this time-consuming, but anything can go wrong travel-wise with delays and last-minute changes to bus timetables. You might also encounter waiting times between connections, so paying between $59 and $128 (€55-€120) for the entire trip is often not worth it. You might pay even more for the taxi.

From Milan to Val-d'isère by private car transfer

With a private car service like Daytrip, you can travel directly from Milan to Val d'Isère without encountering any transfers or stops. You won't need to consult itineraries or a timetable, and there is no chance of things changing travel-wise without you knowing.

This is because Daytrip offers a door-to-door service, where you get to choose where you are fetched and dropped off and the time you travel. You will also enjoy scenic views as you converse with your professional English-speaking driver, who navigates foreign roads and shares travel insights with you.

Yet, best of all, unlike when you travel by bus, train, or taxi, you will get to stop and sightsee along the way to places like Avigliana, Sacra di San Michele, and the medieval town of Cornflans. If you travel directly, you should also expect the trip to take only five hours, and the total price will be about $169 (€158).

Things to do when you get to Val-d'isère

After completing a Milan to Val-d'isère transfer, what is there to do in this tiny resort village? The answer: more than you would expect. Below, we've listed a few things you might enjoy doing when visiting this snow-capped wonderland.

Skii and enjoy winter activities

If there is one thing you should do when visiting Val-d'isère, it's ski down the fluffy white slopes of the Espace Killy ski area. With more than 200 miles (322 km) of slopes that are suitable for all skill levels, you're likely to thoroughly enjoy yourself.

Also, those looking for an adrenaline rush will love to try their hand at heli-skiing, which gives skiers access to untouched powder! There is also ice climbing along frozen waterfalls and icy cliffs and dog sledding for those who want to explore the area's snowy terrain.

Tour the village

After a day out on the slopes, you will likely want to do something relaxing. Relaxing doesn't mean boring, which is why you might want to plan to spend a few hours exploring all that Val-d'isère has to offer in the village's town center.

This village offers everything from a cinema to a sports center to high-end boutiques and luxury spas, where you can book a relaxing massage and unwind those muscles that worked hard on the slopes. If you don't feel like any of this, you can simply wander through the village and enjoy the traditional Savoyard architecture seen throughout the town.

There is also a heritage museum to explore if you want to learn more about the local history and culture of Val-d'isère, and you can tour the 11th-century Church of Saint Bernard de Menthon.

Visit the Vanoise National Park

The Vanoise National Park might not be strictly within Val-d'isère, but it's worth traveling the short distance to visit. Val-d'isère is situated near this national park, which was established in 1963. It was one of France's first national parks and features stunning landscapes and diverse wildlife.

When you visit this national park, you can hike while enjoying the stunning Alpine scenery or try your hand at wildlife spotting. The park is known to be biodiverse and abundant with numerous animal species, including golden eagles, chamois, and ibex, as well as plenty of lakes and peaks.

When is the best time to visit Val-d'isère?

The best time to travel from Milan to Val-d'Isère depends on your interests. Typically, the best months are between December and April. Peak snow conditions are usually in January and February, making these months perfect for skiers and snowboarders who want to enjoy fresh snow.

However, visit between June and September if you want to enjoy hiking, mountain biking, or wandering around the resort village center without snow.

Additionally, unlike other places in the European region, the summer is not the peak season in Val-d'isère. During summer, the weather is mild (with temps around 67°F/19°C), and the landscape is gorgeously lush and green, making it the perfect time to visit if you don't like the idea of so much snow and want to tour the village resort without crowds and exorbitantly high peak season pricing.