Transport
Getting There
Lyon is a major transportation hub in France, second only to Paris. It is easy to get there in almost any kind of transportation.
| By Train | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| From | Via | Time | Time |
| Calais | A26 to A5 to A31 to A6 | 6:30 hours | via Lille 3:45 hours |
| Paris | A6 all the way | 4:30 hours | TGV 2 hours |
| Dieppe | N27 to A151 to A13 to A86 to A6 | 6 hours | via Rouen and Paris 5 hours |
| Le Havre | A13 to A86 to A6 | 6:15 hours | TGV direct 4:30 hours |
| Cherbourg | A13 to A86 to A6 | 7:30 hours | via Paris 6:15 hours |
| Caen | A13 to A86 to A6 | 6:15 hours | via Paris - TGV 5 hours |
| Marseilles | A7 | 3:30 hours | TGV 1:40 hour |
Air: Lyon has a major international airport with flights from many European and French cities. Click here for list of all direct destinations served by the Lyon airport.
Bus: There are several long distance bus operators going to this city from different cities in France (and Europe). Click on one of the links below to see which departure city is covered.
Flixbus
Ouibus
Within Lyon
Lyon is a very big city, and you’ll end up having to take public transportation to get around. But the public transportation system is very good, it’s everywhere and it’s relatively cheap.
There is also a good metro (underground/subway) system operating throughout Lyon. The transportation company of Leon, TcL, have on their web site a function that calculates which system and route you need to take to get to your desired destination. Click here to access it.
They also have a smartphone app (Apple and Android) that allows you to find out which system you need to get anywhere. Click here to download the free app in iTunes, and click here for the free app in Google Play.
You can buy a day card, called Liberte, that for €5.50 gives you access to every public transportation available in Lyon for the day.
But Lyon also has a bicycle rental system based on the Paris one (meaning you can take a bicycle at one place, and drop it off at another). And like the one in Paris, Lyon also offers an electric car rental program.
You can electronically rent an electric car, pick it up from one of the many charging stations in Lyon, and drop it off at any of the other charge stations. The service is called Bluely!
NOTE: The service was closed down end 2020 and no longer operates!
Alternatively, you can go downhill with a skateboard….
Restaurants
If you can’t get good food in Lyon, you’re doing something very wrong! Lyon is considered the world capital of gastronomy, with some of world’s greatest chefs coming from Lyon, or at least having learned their trade there. Paul Bocuse, the many times over 3-star Michelin chef based in Lyon, is considered the superstar. You’ll see his face everywhere.
There are some 2,650 restaurants in Lyon! Many are ethnic type restaurants with a majority of them Indian or Pakistani.
Hotels
Lyon is a busy city so the accommodation offering is enormous, ranging from luxury hotels to campings. Prices are on the high side.
Things To See/Things To Do
To see most of Lyon, you will need at least a minimum of 3 days, a week will do the trick to see everything.
- Wander the streets of Old Lyon (“Vieux Lyon“), take in as many “Traboules” as you can find
- Wander the streets of the Almost Island (“Presqu’Ile“)
- Visit the Basilica
- Enjoy the great view from the Basilica.
- Enter any of the many churches and have a look.
- Visit the Roman Theatre
- Admire all the mural paintings, especially the “Mur des Canuts“
- Visit the many museums (Fine Arts museum, Lumiere Institute and museum, Miniatures and Cinema museum, Gallo-Roman museum, Confluences Museum, Resistance Museum, etc)
- Follow a guided tour of the main Mairie (City Hall) of Lyon (you will need to book it at the Tourist Office)
- Visit the “Les Halles Lyon Paul Bocuse“ (and sample some delicious food)
- If you’ve got the money and time to plan/reserve, eat at the Paul Bocuse restaurant.
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