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Draft data. Times, fares and step counts are desk estimates awaiting field checks. Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify

Major city · France

Lyon

Give Lyon 2 nights: one for Vieux Lyon and Fourvière, one for Croix-Rousse and the food. Avoid August if you want full bouchon access; many close.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
EUR
Best months
May–Jun, Sep
avoid Aug (many restaurants shut), Dec 8 week (book months ahead for Festival of Lights)
Airport
LYS
Nights
2
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
Rules in force · 8Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…
  • Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
  • Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
  • France and Monaco ↗France has run temporary identity checks at its internal Schengen land borders since 2015; carry a passport or EU/EEA national ID on trains and buses from Italy, Spain, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland and Luxembourg.
  • France and Monaco ↗Nights in France and Monaco draw on the same Schengen 90-in-180-day allowance as the rest of the area; Monaco does not reset or pause it.
  • France ↗France is in the Schengen area. Check the entry rules for your passport on official sources; the EU's Entry/Exit System registers non-EU visitors' fingerprints and photo at the first Schengen border, and further pre-travel authorisation rules are being introduced.
  • France ↗TGV (including the low-cost Ouigo) and Intercités night trains need a seat reservation: a rail pass alone does not let you board.
  • France ↗Paris, Lyon and other large cities run low-emission zones that require a Crit'Air sticker on cars; check before you drive a hire car or your own car into a city.
  • France ↗Carry your passport or national ID card: police can ask for identification, and hotels register foreign guests.

Lyon is France's third city and its food capital, built where the Rhône and Saône meet. Two nights covers the UNESCO old town, the Roman hill and the bouchons; three nights adds a day trip. It sits 2 h from Paris by TGV and works as a stop between Paris and Provence.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Lyon, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • CoffeeCoffee at a café€1.50–3 (≈ US$2–4)
  • Beerbar / supermarket can€5–8 (≈ US$6–10)€1–2 (≈ US$2–3)
  • Metro or bus rideMetro or tram ride€2 (≈ US$3)
  • SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a week€10–25 (≈ US$12–30)
  • Museum or sight ticketMuseum entry€6–12 (≈ US$7–14)
  • Budget bedHostel dorm bed, a night, per person€30 (≈ US$35)
  • Mid-range bedDouble room, mid hotel, a night, per room€140 (≈ US$170)
  • High-end bedDouble room, mid hotel, a night, per room€300 (≈ US$350)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget €70 (≈ US$85) · Mid €120 (≈ US$140) · High €220 (≈ US$300)

Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Vieux Lyon and its traboulesFourvière basilica and Roman theatresBouchons and Lyonnais cookingCroix-Rousse silk historyFestival of Lights in December
Airports
LYS Lyon-Saint Exupéry (Rhônexpress tram to Part-Dieu, about 30 min; see the airport transfer page)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Lyon: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

7°C

1°C

9 rd

Feb

9°C

1°C

8 rd

Mar

14°C

4°C

8 rd

Apr

17°C

7°C

9 rd

May

22°C

11°C

10 rd

Jun

26°C

15°C

8 rd

Jul

28°C

17°C

7 rd

Aug

28°C

17°C

7 rd

Sep

23°C

13°C

8 rd

Oct

18°C

10°C

10 rd

Nov

11°C

5°C

9 rd

Dec

8°C

2°C

9 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

Metro, tram and bus (TCL) cover the city; the Presqu'île and Vieux Lyon are walkable. Buy a TCL day or 24 h pass if you ride three or more times. Funiculars climb Fourvière from Vieux Lyon (check current status).

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Pérouges

go

Door to door: About 1–1.5 h

Train to Meximieux then a short taxi or walk; or drive about 40 min

Medieval walled village; small, so half a day is enough.

Vienne

go

Door to door: About 45 min

TER train from Part-Dieu or Perrache, about 25–30 min

Roman theatre and temple, plus a compact old town.

Annecy

overnight

Door to door: About 2.5 h

Train via Aix-les-Bains or a direct service, about 2 h

Lake and canals; better as an overnight than a rushed return.

Beaujolais vineyards

go

Door to door: About 1 h

Drive or a guided tour from the city

Wine tasting in the hills north of the city; a car or tour helps.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Presqu'île (1st–2nd)

Between the rivers; Bellecour, Cordeliers, Hôtel de Ville. Walk to most sights and the best eating.

Vieux Lyon (5th)

Renaissance lanes under Fourvière; quieter at night, atmospheric, fewer hotels.

Part-Dieu (3rd)

Around the TGV station and business district; practical for early trains, thin on charm.

Croix-Rousse (1st/4th)

Village feel on the hill; markets and cafés, a metro ride from the centre.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
€60–95 (≈ US$70–120) excl. bed
Mid
€95–160 (≈ US$120–190) excl. bed
High
€160 (≈ US$190)+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Double room, mid hotel1 × 2 nights × €140€280
Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × €120€480
Rhônexpress LYS to Part-Dieu, one way2 × €17 · check€34
TCL 24 h transport pass2 × €6€12
eSIM, about a week of data2 × €15€30
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge€84
Trip total≈ €230 per person per day, bed included€920≈ US$1,100

2026 estimate in euros; flights and rail passes excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee at a café€1.50–3 (≈ US$2–4)
Bouchon lunch menu€18–30 (≈ US$25–35)
Beer: bar / supermarket can€5–8 (≈ US$6–10) / €1–2 (≈ US$2–3)
Metro or tram ride€2 (≈ US$3)
Museum entry€6–12 (≈ US$7–14)
eSIM or data SIM, about a week€10–25 (≈ US$12–30)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Lyon is a safe big city by day. The real risks are pickpockets around Guillotière and busy metro lines, and a few bars with no posted prices: ask the total before you sit.
  • Pickpockets work the Guillotière area and crowded metro lines; keep bags zipped.
  • Some bars near Guillotière and Part-Dieu have no posted prices: ask before you order.
  • In August many bouchons and shops close for holidays; check before you plan around a specific restaurant.
  • The Festival of Lights (around 8 Dec) fills hotels: book months ahead.

Emergency numbers

European emergency number
112
Ambulance (SAMU)
15
Police
17
Fire
18

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

LyonLyon

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

À cette adresse, s'il vous plaîtTo this address, please

Emergency

  • European emergency number112
  • Ambulance (SAMU)15
  • Police17
  • Fire18

Embassy

The US has a consulate in Lyon (check the address); most other countries: embassies in Paris.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • LYS → Part-Dieu, Rhônexpress: about €17 (≈ US$20), about 30 min (check)
  • Taxi Part-Dieu → Bellecour: €15–25 (≈ US$18–30)
  • TGV Lyon → Paris: about €60–120 (≈ US$70–140), about 2 h

Say or show

  • Bonjour — Hello / Good day (bon-ZHOOR)
  • Merci — Thank you (mair-SEE)
  • L'addition, s'il vous plaît — The bill, please (la-dee-SYON seel voo pleh)
  • C'est combien ? — How much is it? (say kom-BYEN)
  • Je peux payer par carte ? — Can I pay by card? (zhuh puh pay-yay par kart)
  • Où sont les toilettes ? — Where is the toilet? (oo son lay twa-LET)

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Lyon. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: May–Jun, Sep · avoid Aug (many restaurants shut), Dec 8 week (book months ahead for Festival of Lights) · month by month →
  2. 1 airport and 4 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 4 day-trips, door to door
  6. 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for LYS: last Rhônexpress departures field-checked, taxi fallback, overnight rung.
  2. Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: Presqu'île, Vieux Lyon and Fourvière, Croix-Rousse, Part-Dieu.
  3. Place pages with verified cutoffs (Fourvière, Roman theatres, traboules, museums) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Golden and hostile arrival fixtures so gates A–D can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to France

Sources