Comparison · Geneva vs Lyon · Switzerland / France
Geneva vs Lyon
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
Choose Geneva for Jet d'Eau and United Nations; choose Lyon for Gastronomy, Bouchons and lower day-to-day costs. Lyon is generally less expensive, and the two are about 112 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 112 km
- Less expensive
- Lyon
- Best time for Geneva
- May–September
- Best time for Lyon
- April–June and September–October
Side by side
| Geneva | Lyon | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Switzerland | France |
| Known for | Jet d'Eau, United Nations and Lake Geneva | Gastronomy, Bouchons and Vieux Lyon |
| Best time to visit | May–September | April–June and September–October |
| Ideal stay | 3 days | 3 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $280–$450 | $150–$250 |
| Cost level | Very expensive | Moderately priced |
| Warmest month | July, 26°C (79°F) | July, 28°C (82°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 5°C (41°F) | January, 7°C (45°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 12 | 10 |
| Day trips in our guide | 8 | 6 |
| Beaches | — | — |
| Airports | GVA | LYS |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Geneva for…
Jet d'Eau and United Nations. Geneva sits at the south-western tip of Lake Geneva, where the Rhône flows out of the lake, with France wrapped around most of the canton. The 140-metre Jet d'Eau marks the harbour, the hilltop Old Town climbs around St. Pierre Cathedral where Calvin…
Choose Lyon for…
Gastronomy, Bouchons and lower day-to-day costs. Lyon sits where the Saône meets the Rhône, with a UNESCO-listed historic centre that runs from the Roman theatres on Fourvière hill through the Renaissance lanes of Vieux Lyon to the silk-weavers' slopes of the Croix-Rousse. It is best known for food…
Top sights compared
| # | Geneva | Lyon |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jet d'Eau | Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière |
| 2 | St. Pierre Cathedral | Vieux Lyon and the traboules |
| 3 | Old Town and Place du Bourg-de-Four | Roman theatres of Fourvière and Lugdunum museum |
| 4 | Reformation Wall and Parc des Bastions | Saint-Jean Cathedral |
| 5 | Palace of Nations | Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse |
Food compared
| Geneva | Lyon |
|---|---|
| Perch fillets | Pike quenelles |
| Longeole | Sausage in brioche |
| Lake whitefish | Lyonnaise salad |
| Cardoon gratin | Silk worker's brain |
Which is cheaper?
Lyon is usually the less expensive of the two: a mid-range day costs about $150–$250 per person there, against $280–$450 in Geneva (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Lyon on a budget.
Can you visit both?
Yes. Geneva and Lyon are about 112 km apart, so they combine well in one trip: allow 3 days in Geneva and 3 in Lyon.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Geneva or Lyon cheaper?
Lyon is usually less expensive: about $150–$250 a day mid-range against $280–$450 (estimates).
+Is Geneva or Lyon better for a first trip?
Pick Geneva for Jet d'Eau and United Nations, or Lyon for Gastronomy, Bouchons and lower day-to-day costs.
+How far is Geneva from Lyon?
About 112 km in a straight line.