How to get to and around Lyon?
Right at the heart of Europe, just a 2-hour TGV high-speed train ride from Paris and less than 2 hours by air from the capital cities of Europe, Lyon enjoys a strategic position at the intersection of European transport networks.
Getting to Lyon
Lyon Saint-Exupéry Airport
The 3rd French airport offers direct flights to more than 131 destinations and worldwide travel thanks to its connecting flights to other major European hubs, allowing for efficient, speedy connections. With more than 11 million passengers in 2018 (+7,4), the airport can count on two growth factors to develop its passenger traffic: international traffic, which represents 67% of total traffic and the rapidly growing low-cost segment.
It offers 99 international destinations including 59 European cities.
Fully interconnected, the airport is a multimodal hub, which can be easily and rapidly reached by motorway, high-speed train, and the Rhônexpress tram shuttle service (every 15 minutes) and by taxi 24 hours a day, or by TCL bus. Lyon-Saint-Exupery airport is situated only 25 minutes from the city centre.
The Terminal 1, linked to the old terminal, brings a new dimension to the airport and international-standard service quality. An area devoted to shopping has been integrated, as well as a recreational zone, including a play area, a 360-degree interactive screen and a virtual reality kiosk.
New: PARAFE, an automated border control system, which enables holders of a biometric passport from a European Union member country to save time, with new facial recognition terminals. The transformation continues with the arrival of a new car park near Terminal 1 and the redevelopment of Terminal 2 to be completed by 2023.
www.lyonaeroports.com
www.rhonexpress.fr
Lyon’s rail network
High-speed TGV and express trains connect Lyon with all major French cities. Services depart from the city’s 3 TGV stations: Part-Dieu, Perrache and Lyon Saint-Exupéry.
The SNCF (French Railways) offers no fewer than 23 daily journeys in each direction on weekdays, carrying passengers to Paris in under 2 hours.
Trenitalia also offers 4 daily journeys from Lyon to Paris by TGV.
There are also train services from Lyon to Switzerland, Italy, Spain, Belgium and the UK.
HST trips from Lyon
- Barcelona: 5h08
- Brussells: 3h43
- Geneva: 1h50
- Lille: 2h56
- London: 5h30
- Marseille: 1h40
- Nice: 4h21
- Paris: 1h57
- Strasbourg: 3h19
https://www.eurostar.com/fr-en
www.sncf-connect.com
Getting to Lyon by road
Lyon is two hours away from the lofty summits of the Alps and only three hours from the Mediterranean’s sandy beaches.
- Bordeaux A89: 555 km
- Geneva A40: 149 km
- Marseille A7: 315 km
- Montpellier A7- A9: 304 km
- Paris A6: 465 km
- Strasbourg A36 - A6: 490 km
How to get around Lyon
Lyon public transport (TCL)
With the 2nd biggest public transport system in France, and one of the country’s first bike sharing schemes, Lyon offers many ways to get around the city both quickly and easily.
TCL’s very dense network of metros, trams and buses lets you travel around the Lyon urban community and the region easily and rapidly.
In addition to its 4 metro lines, 7 tram routes, and the 2 funiculars on Fourvière Hill, Lyon is also served by 140 bus routes, 8 of which are operated by trolleybuses.
www.tcl.fr
The TCL network and sustainable development
- Handles 25% of transport in the Lyon urban community and generates only 3% of urban pollution.
- Electric facilities (metros, tram systems and trolleybuses) handle 70% for a total of 286 electric vehicles that allow the TCL network passengers to travel with clean, non-polluting energy.
- The buses are equipped with particle filters and catalytic converters and run on desulphurised diesel.
- A total of 749 buses are equipped, which represents 83% of road vehicles.
- 25% of the electricity used is generated by renewable resources.
- Gare de Lyon Part-Dieu-Centre de Congrès link in 12 min. by the C1 electric trolley bus
- Reduced rate for conference participants: TCL pass per day and per person for 10 people or more.
TCL Fares: www.tcl.fr/en/Fares/Fares
Velo'v
For cycling enthusiasts, 5,000 self-service bikes are available from 428 docking stations, including 6 at the Cité Internationale (Convention Centre).
So the city’s network of cycle lanes continues to grow.
With 10 years’ experience behind it, the Vélo’v network - which has just introduced the next generation Vélo’v bike - currently has more than 72,000 members.
www.velov.grandlyon.com
Cyclopolitain
If you’re looking for an eco-friendly way of getting around, hire a Cyclopolitain.
These electric tricycles are specially designed for short journeys in the city centre and cost only €1 per person per kilometre.
www.cyclopolitain.com
