Valence
Valence is 253 km from Geneva Airport, about 2 hours 30 minutes by road, with a route that crosses the border into France and passes Annecy, Chambéry and Grenoble before reaching the Rhône. Capital of the Drôme, the city is traditionally said to mark the point where the South of France begins, with more sunshine, tiled roofs and the first Mediterranean flavours. AirportsTransfers.ch drives you there directly from Geneva arrivals.
- Distance from GVA: 253 km
- Drive time: about 2 h 30
- Border crossing: into France
- Known for: the Peynet bandstand, the Maison des Têtes, Rhône valley wines, the Suisse pastry
- Best for: gastronomy, wine, a gateway to the Ardèche, Vercors and Provence
The journey from Geneva Airport
Leaving Geneva, the motorway heads south through Haute-Savoie past Annecy, then continues to Chambéry and along the Isère valley to Grenoble, framed by the Chartreuse and Belledonne mountains. From Grenoble, the A49 follows the Isère downstream at the foot of the Vercors cliffs to reach Valence on the banks of the Rhône. It is a varied, scenic route, entirely on motorway.
Rail journeys from Geneva to Valence usually involve a change, often in Lyon, and the city has two stations, one in the centre and a high-speed station outside town. A private transfer avoids the change and the extra hop into town, and is often the simplest option for families or groups with luggage.
A walk through Valence
The historic centre is compact and rewarding. The Cathedral of Saint-Apollinaire, a Romanesque church rebuilt several times, stands near the Maison des Têtes, a Renaissance house whose façade is decorated with carved heads representing winds, philosophers and figures from antiquity. Narrow streets known locally as côtes climb towards the upper town, and the Champ de Mars, a wide esplanade, looks across the Rhône to the ruined castle of Crussol perched on its cliff on the Ardèche side.
In the Jouvet park, below the esplanade, stands the Kiosque Peynet, a nineteenth-century bandstand made famous by the illustrator Raymond Peynet, whose drawings of lovers there became an emblem of romantic France. The Musée de Valence, in the former bishop's palace, has a notable collection of drawings by Hubert Robert and archaeology from the region.
Food, pastry and wine
Valence has a lively food scene and the surrounding Drôme is a garden of fruit, herbs and lavender. The local speciality is the Suisse, a shortbread biscuit shaped like a Swiss Guard, said to recall the Pope's Swiss Guards who accompanied Pius VI when he died in exile in Valence at the end of the eighteenth century, an amusing detail for travellers arriving from Geneva. Other regional treats include the pogne, a brioche scented with orange blossom, and ravioles, tiny cheese-filled pasta from the nearby Royans area.
Just north of the city, the steep granite slopes of Hermitage, Crozes-Hermitage, Cornas and Saint-Joseph produce celebrated northern Rhône wines, mainly from the Syrah grape. Tain-l'Hermitage, across the river from Tournon, is also known for its chocolate-making tradition.
Day trips from Valence
- Vercors: limestone plateaus, gorges and cliff roads, ideal for walking and cross-country skiing
- Ardèche gorges: the river canyon and the natural arch of the Pont d'Arc
- Crest and Grignan: a towering medieval keep and a Renaissance château amid lavender fields
- Hauterives: the Palais Idéal of the Facteur Cheval, a postman's handmade dream palace
- Montélimar: known for its nougat, on the way to Provence
A chauffeur by the hour, with a minimum of two hours, allows you to combine a wine tasting and a village visit without anyone needing to drive.
Where to stay and practical tips
Most visitors stay in the city centre, close to the old town and the Champ de Mars, or in country guesthouses among the vineyards and orchards. The climate is warmer and sunnier than in Geneva, but the mistral wind can blow hard down the Rhône valley. Summer weekends see heavy traffic on the A7 motorway heading south, which is worth keeping in mind for return journeys.
Booking your transfer to Valence
Reservations with AirportsTransfers.ch are made online, with a fixed price for the vehicle shown before you confirm and pay by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay. Your chauffeur follows your flight, waits in arrivals with a name sign and includes waiting if your plane lands late. Mercedes E-Class and S-Class sedans take up to three passengers, the V-Class van takes up to seven with ten bags, and the Sprinter minibus suits larger groups. Child seats are available on request, and skis, bicycles or golf bags should be declared at booking. Call or WhatsApp +41 78 346 56 77 for any question.
