Getting around · Lyon · France
Getting around Lyon
Public transport, passes, airport connections and when a car makes sense.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Corentin Eustacchi, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Quick answer
Lyon's centre is walkable, but the hills are steep. The TCL network of four metro lines, two funiculars, trams and buses covers the city on one ticket, and the Vélo'v bike-share is widely used along the flat riverbanks. No.
Key facts
- Main way around
- Metro
- Airports
- LYS
- Need a car?
- No
- Travel pass
- Lyon City Card
Ways to get around
Metro
Four metro lines connect the Presqu'île with Vieux Lyon, Part-Dieu, the Croix-Rousse and the suburbs; line C climbs the Croix-Rousse hill on a rack.
Buy tickets in the TCL app or at machines; validate every time you board.
Cable car
Two funiculars (the 'ficelles') leave from Vieux Lyon station for Fourvière and Saint-Just; they accept regular TCL tickets.
Tram
Tram lines link Part-Dieu, Perrache, the Confluence and the university campuses; the Rhônexpress tram runs to the airport.
Walking
Vieux Lyon, the Presqu'île and the Terreaux are within 15–20 minutes on foot of each other across the Saône footbridges.
Cycling
Vélo'v bike-share stations cover the city, and riverside paths along the Rhône and Saône are flat and car-free.
Tickets and passes
Lyon City Card
Free entry to many museums, guided tours and a river cruise, plus unlimited public transport, for one to four days.
TCL day ticket
Unlimited travel on metro, trams, buses and funiculars for 24 hours or more.
From the airport
Lyon–Saint-Exupéry Airport is about 25 km east of the centre. The Rhônexpress tram reaches Part-Dieu in about 30 minutes; taxis take about 30–45 minutes depending on traffic. The airport also has its own TGV station.
Do you need a car?
No. Public transport covers the city and trains reach most day-trip destinations. A car helps for the Beaujolais villages and rural Burgundy.
Reaching the day trips
| Destination | Travel time | How |
|---|---|---|
| Pérouges | About 35 minutes by train, then a 30-minute walk | Regional train from Part-Dieu to Meximieux-Pérouges |
| Vienne | About 20–30 minutes by train | Regional train from Part-Dieu or Perrache |
| Beaujolais villages | About 45 minutes by car | Car or organised tour; train to Villefranche-sur-Saône covers part of the way |
| Annecy | About 2 hours by train | Regional train from Part-Dieu, often direct |
| Parc des Oiseaux | About 45 minutes by train | Regional train to Villars-les-Dombes |
| Beaune | About 1 hour 45 minutes by train | Regional train via Dijon or direct services |
Questions travellers ask
+Do you need a car in Lyon?
No. Public transport covers the city and trains reach most day-trip destinations. A car helps for the Beaujolais villages and rural Burgundy.
+How do you get from the airport to Lyon?
Lyon–Saint-Exupéry Airport is about 25 km east of the centre. The Rhônexpress tram reaches Part-Dieu in about 30 minutes; taxis take about 30–45 minutes depending on traffic. The airport also has its own TGV station.
+What is the best way to get around Lyon?
Metro: Four metro lines connect the Presqu'île with Vieux Lyon, Part-Dieu, the Croix-Rousse and the suburbs; line C climbs the Croix-Rousse hill on a rack.