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About Lyon-Saint Exupery Airport (LYS)
Lyon-Saint Exupery Airport (IATA: LYS) is France's third-busiest airport, handling approximately 12 million
passengers annually. Located 25 km east of Lyon city centre, it serves as the primary gateway to the
Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes region — including the French Alps, Burgundy wine country, and northern Provence.
The Rhonexpress tram-train connects the airport directly to Lyon Part-Dieu station in exactly 30 minutes, with
departures every 15 minutes from 06:00 to midnight. A single ticket costs approximately 16.40 EUR. Taxis to
central Lyon typically cost 55–70 EUR depending on time and destination. Car rental is available at the terminal
and is recommended for regional travel.
Why Lyon Is Worth the Trip
Lyon is France's second city by urban population and offers one of the most authentic travel experiences in the
country. Its historic centre — including the Renaissance-era Vieux-Lyon district and the Fourviere hill topped
by its iconic basilica — is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Lyon is widely considered France's food capital. Traditional bouchons serve classic Lyonnaise dishes such as
quenelles de brochet and regional charcuterie. The Halles Paul Bocuse covered market is a must-visit for food
lovers. Each December, the city hosts the Fete des Lumieres (Festival of Lights), attracting over 2 million
visitors with spectacular illuminated displays.
Day Trips from Lyon
- Beaujolais Wine Region: Just 40 minutes north, known for scenic vineyards and wine tasting.
- Vienne: A Roman city 25 minutes south, featuring ancient ruins and an amphitheatre.
- Ardeche Gorges: Around 1.5 hours by car, offering dramatic canyon landscapes.
- French Alps: Ski resorts like Chamrousse and Villard-de-Lans are 1.5–2 hours away.
- Geneva: Reachable in about 2 hours by TGV, ideal for cross-border travel.
Best Time to Fly to Lyon
- March–May: Spring brings beautiful countryside, fewer crowds, and competitive fares.
- June–August: Warm weather and lively evenings, though fares increase moderately.
- September–October: Harvest season with great weather and lower prices than summer.
- November–December: The Festival of Lights in December is a highlight — book early.
Otherwise, winter offers the lowest fares.
Pro tip: Tuesday and Wednesday departures typically offer the cheapest fares. Weekend flights
often cost more.
FAQs
As of 2026, there are no year-round nonstop flights from the United States directly to Lyon-Saint Exupery
Airport (LYS). The most efficient connections for US East Coast travellers involve a single stopover in
Paris CDG (Air France or Delta, then a 1-hour domestic connection), London Heathrow (British Airways),
Amsterdam Schiphol (KLM), or Frankfurt (Lufthansa). Total journey times from the US East Coast, including
the connection, typically run 12-15 hours. Within Europe, easyJet, Ryanair, and Vueling offer frequent
direct services to Lyon from UK and European cities at highly competitive prices.
The Rhonexpress tram-train is the fastest and most reliable option, running directly from Lyon-Saint
Exupery Airport to Lyon Part-Dieu station in exactly 30 minutes. Trains depart every 15 minutes from 06:00
to midnight, with a single ticket costing approximately 16.40 EUR (a return costs 26 EUR). At Part-Dieu,
Metro Line B connects onward to the city's main attractions, including Bellecour (the central square) and
Vieux-Lyon. Taxis from the airport to central Lyon cost approximately 55-70 EUR. Uber is available from
the terminal and is typically 10-15% cheaper than licensed taxis during standard hours.
Lyon is internationally famous for its food it has more Michelin-starred restaurants per capita than any
other city in France, and the city's traditional bouchon restaurants are an institution that Paul Bocuse,
the late godfather of French haute cuisine, helped define. Beyond food, Lyon is worth visiting for its
UNESCO-listed historic centre, particularly the Renaissance-era Vieux-Lyon district and the Fourviere
hill, which offers panoramic views over the confluence of the Rhone and Saone rivers. The city's network
of traboules secret passageways through Renaissance courtyards used by silk workers and wartime resistance
fighters are unlike anything else in France.
January and February consistently offer the lowest average fares to Lyon on European routes, as
post-holiday demand drops and airlines discount remaining inventory. For transatlantic connecting fares
via Paris or London, the same pattern applies. If you want lower fares combined with a reason to visit,
March is an excellent compromise the Beaujolais countryside is coming into bloom, fares are well below
summer levels, and the city's restaurants and cultural sites have no queues. Avoid early December if value
is your priority: the Fete des Lumieres drives a sharp demand spike that pushes fares and accommodation
rates to their annual peak.
Both cities are outstanding, but they offer very different experiences. Paris is larger, more
internationally famous, and has unmatched cultural attractions in the Louvre, Eiffel Tower, and Musee
d'Orsay making it the natural first choice for visitors on a short trip who want the iconic France
experience. Lyon is more compact, consistently rated as one of France's most liveable cities, and offers a
deeper, more authentically local experience particularly for food lovers and history enthusiasts. Many
travellers now combine both on a single trip: the TGV high-speed train between Lyon Part-Dieu and Paris
Gare de Lyon takes just 2 hours, making a two-city itinerary easy to plan with an open-jaw flight to avoid
backtracking.
