Lyon travel guide
Lyon Tourism | Lyon Guide
You're Going to Love Lyon
With a population of 472,317, Lyon is a must-see destination in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France. It is one of the most popular cities to visit in the country. We recommend you stay at least 3 days in order to fully appreciate everything Lyon has to offer.
When to visit Lyon
Looking for warm weather? Then head to Lyon in July, when the average temperature is 69.8 °F, and the highest can go up to 78.8 °F. The coldest month, on the other hand, is January, when it can get as cold as 32 °F, with an average temperature of 37.4 °F. You’re likely to see more rain in October, when precipitation is around 3.1″. In contrast, January is usually the driest month of the year in Lyon, with an average rainfall of 1.6″.
How to Get to Lyon
Plane
When flying to Lyon, you’ll arrive at Lyon-Saint Exupery Airport (LYS), which is located 13 miles from the city center. The shortest flight to Lyon from the United States departs from New York and takes around 10h 40m.
Train
SNCF is the most popular train carrier serving Lyon, followed by Trenitalia. The train journey from Lyon to Montpellier takes 1h 27m and costs around $11 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Marseille, expect to pay about $12 for a 1h 28m trip. Located 0.8 miles from the city center, Lyon Perrache is the busiest station in Lyon. Another popular train station is Lyon Part-Dieu, located 1.2 miles from the center.
Car
Another option to get to Lyon is to pick up a car rental from Nice, which is about 185 miles from Lyon. You’ll find branches of Europcar and Hertz, among others, in Nice.
Bus
Several bus lines operate bus routes to Lyon, including BlaBlaBus, FlixBus and ALSA. From Chambéry, the bus ride to Lyon takes 90 miles and will cost you around $14. From Clermont-Ferrand, the ticket costs about $21 for a journey of 125 miles. The most popular bus station is Lyon Vaulx-en-Velin La Soie, located 4 miles from downtown Lyon. Lyon Place Bellecour is also a commonly used station, and is 0.2 miles from the city center.
Airlines serving Lyon
Where to stay in Lyon
From 5-star hotels such as the Intercontinental Lyon Hotel Dieu to great affordable options like the Hôtel des Congrès, Lyon offers a range of accommodations for every taste. Average rates range from around $107 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $266 and up for a 5-star experience. If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include ibis budget Lyon Centre - Gare Part-Dieu and Hotel Saint Paul Lyon. There are also lots of vacation rental options in Lyon, with prices from $44 to $436 per night. 3rd arrondissement is the neighborhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, vacation rentals in Lyon are about 8% cheaper than a hotel room in the city.
7th arrondissement - In Lyon’s most popular neighborhood to stay, recommended hotels include Mama Shelter Lyon, ibis Lyon Gerland Musée des Confluences and Q7 Lodge Lyon 7.
5th arrondissement - Villa Florentine, Cour Des Loges and Collège Hôtel have some of the best reviews among hotels in this area. A 3-star room in 5th arrondissement will cost you about $146 per night.
Where to stay in popular areas of Lyon
Most booked hotels in Lyon
Renting a car in Lyon
Renting a car in Lyon costs $53 per day, on average, or $158 if you want to rent if for 3 days. Sixt, Europcar and Hertz are the agencies with the best reviews in the city. The most popular location to rent a car in Lyon is the Rentscape branch at 75, 75 Rue de la Villette, which is 1 mile from the city center.
You’re likely to save money by renting your car at the airport: locations in the city are, on average, 13% more expensive than at Lyon-Saint Exupéry.
Expect to pay $8.03 per gallon in Lyon (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $96.30 and $128.40. The most frequently booked car type in Lyon is Compact (Fiat 500X or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Economy rental cars (Volkswagen Fox or similar) are, on average, 80% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.