Travel tips · Lyon · France
Lyon travel tips: what to know before you go
The etiquette, money and practical details that make the first day easier.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Aldg692VX, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Lyon was the capital of Roman Gaul, a Renaissance banking and printing centre and the heart of the French silk industry, whose workers, the canuts, staged famous uprisings in the 1830s. Its reputation as France's gastronomic capital rests on the 'mères lyonnaises', women cooks whose bouchons fed the city, and on chefs such as Paul Bocuse.
Key facts
- Language
- French
- Currency
- EUR
- Plugs
- Type C and E sockets, 230 V, 50 Hz
- Tap water
- Tap water is safe to drink.
- Emergency
- 112 (European emergency number)
Things to know
- Say 'Bonjour' when entering a shop or restaurant and 'Merci, au revoir' when leaving.
- In bouchons, tables are close and conversation with neighbours is normal.
- Ask for the bill ('l'addition, s'il vous plaît'); it will not arrive until you do.
- In traboules, keep your voice down and close doors behind you; people live there.
- Dress respectfully in the basilica and cathedral.
- Eat your main meal at lunch, when bouchon and bistro set menus cost far less than dinner.
Tipping
Service is included by law. Locals round up or leave a euro or two for good service; around 5–10% in a finer restaurant is generous but optional.
Language
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Bonjour | Hello / good day |
| Merci beaucoup | Thank you very much |
| L'addition, s'il vous plaît | The bill, please |
| Un pot de Côtes du Rhône | A pot (46 cl) of Côtes du Rhône |
| Une carafe d'eau | A jug of tap water |
What to wear
Smart-casual is the norm; comfortable shoes are essential for cobbles, stairs and the steep slopes of Fourvière and the Croix-Rousse.
Practical details
- Plugs and voltage
- Type C and E sockets, 230 V, 50 Hz
- Drinking water
- Tap water is safe to drink.
- Emergency number
- 112 (European emergency number)
- Phone and internet
- EU roaming applies to European SIMs; free Wi-Fi is available in many cafés, the stations and some public spaces.
- Time zone
- Europe/Paris
Lyon is generally safe for visitors, but pickpocketing occurs in crowds, on the metro and at the Fête des Lumières. Some areas around Place Gabriel-Péri and the Part-Dieu and Perrache stations can feel uncomfortable at night.
Entry requirements
Visa and passport rules depend on your nationality and change often. Check France's official government guidance and your own government's travel advice before booking.
Plan the trip
Questions travellers ask
+Do you tip in Lyon?
Service is included by law. Locals round up or leave a euro or two for good service; around 5–10% in a finer restaurant is generous but optional.
+Can you drink the tap water in Lyon?
Tap water is safe to drink.
+What plugs are used in Lyon?
Type C and E sockets, 230 V, 50 Hz
+What language is spoken in Lyon?
French.