Getting Around in Lyon

Public Transport
Transports en Commun Lyonnais - TCL , operates both the bus and Metro systems. The central bus station is based at Lyon Perrache railway station.

The Metro network in Lyon is excellent - clean and easy to use, with four different lines and 40 stations. Bus and Metro services operate 0500-2400.

The price of a single ticket is Pound Sterling 1.40, which gives access to all bus and Metro lines for one hour from the time of validation, which can be done in the machine on the bus or at the Metro station. Connections can be made for other lines or buses but return journeys on the same line are prohibited. Books of ten tickets (carnet) can also be bought for Pound Sterling 10.60. Tickets are available for purchase from automatic ticket machines in Metro stations, from the bus drivers and from TCL offices and many newsagents.

The Liberte Ticket pass costs Pound Sterling 3.80 and allows access to the whole TCL network for one day. A month-long City Pass costs Pound Sterling 41.62.

Taxis

Providers include Taxis Lyonnais , Taxis Radio and Teletaxi . it is also possible for travellers to hail taxis in the street or from taxi ranks. the airport is about Pound Sterling 30.50. Drivers do not expect tips.

Limousines

Limousines can be hired from Class Affaires Limousines, 48 rue Etienne Richerand , Loc Limousines, 134 rue Sully , or Affaires et Tourisme, 119 rue Challemal-Lacour. Half-day hire costs approximately Pound Sterling 232, on average.
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Getting in Lyon

By Air

Lyon-St-Exupery Airport (formerly known as Lyon-Satolas) is France’s fastest growing airport in terms of passenger numbers. it is located 25km (15.5 miles) to the east of Lyon city centre. Lyon-St-Exupery welcomes over six million passengers each year. More than 40 airlines regularly use the airport, flying to over 100 destinations, including 38 international cities.

Major airlines: Air France is the national airline. Other carriers include Alitalia, British Airways, Continental Ailines, Delta Airlines (which operates a direct line between New York and Lyon), Lufthansa and SAS.

Approximate flight times to Lyon: From London is 1 hour 35 minutes; from New York is 11 hours; from Los Angeles is 15 hours 40 minutes; from Toronto is 11 hours 30 minutes and from Sydney is 24 hours.

Airport facilities: These include ATMs, a post office, travel agency, infirmary, snack bars, restaurants, a newsagent, pharmacy, duty-free shops in all departure lounges and two hotels - Sofitel and Kyriad . There are also several car hire companies including ADA, Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz, National Citer and Sixt. All car hire offices are situated on a specific car park opposite Terminal One.

Business facilities: The Business Centreprovides office facilities and rooms, which are available for hire by the hour or day. All rooms are equipped with telephone and paperboard, while other facilities, such as overhead projectors, sound systems, VGA-SVGA video projectors, video recorders and TVs, Minitel and slide projectors are available on request. Secretarial and catering services are also available.

Arrival/departure tax: included in the price of the ticket.

Transport to the city: The cheapest alternative to the city centre is the Satobus coach, which operates Monday-Sunday 0600-2320, costing Pound Sterling 8.20 for a single, or Pound Sterling 14.60 return (journey time - 45 minutes). Taxis are also available at the airport and a fare to Lyon city centre costs approximately Pound Sterling 30.50 during the day or Pound Sterling 40 at night with GiE Taxi Aeroport .

There is a High-Speed Train (TGV) station , for connections to Paris, Avignon, Cannes, Nice and other destinations around France. Contact SNCF , for fare and timetable information, reservation and booking for further information.

By Rail

The city has two main railways stations - Lyon Part-Dieu, Place Beraudier, and Lyon Perrache, 10 Cours de Verdun. The stations share roughly equal amounts of the train traffic to and from the city. Both stations have a cafe, snack bar, ATM, newsagent, tourist information office and a bus link to Lyon-St-Exupery Airport.

SNCF is the national rail service provider. The French TGV network is now highly developed, branching out in three main directions - south-east (Paris-Lyon-Mediterranean), Atlantic and north.

National rail enquries should be directed to the SNCF Ligne Vocale hotline, which provides timetable and service information for all domestic and cross-border rail services. The line is available daily 24 hours.

Rail services: A high-speed TGV (Train Grand Vitesse) service leaves Lyon for Paris almost every half an hour (journey time -2 hours), providing 30 services between the cities per day. Direct services are also available to and from Geneva (journey time - 2 hours), Turin (journey time - 4 hours), Montpellier (journey time - 2 hours), Marseille (journey time - 2 hours) and Nantes (journey time - 7 hours).

Transport to the city: There are plenty of buses and taxis available at the railway stations. Both stations are also served by the Metro.

By Road

is located at the heart of a dense network of motorways, which are designated by the letter ‘A’ and a corresponding number, including the A6, A7, A42 and A43, although there are tolls on most French motorways. National roads bear the prefix ‘N’ and minor roads are classed as ‘D’ (departementale) roads.

The minimum legal driving age is 18 years old. Traffic drives on the right. Seatbelts must be worn by all front- and rear-seat passengers. A national driving licence, the car’s registration document and a red warning triangle must be carried at all times or the driver is liable to be fined. All headlamp beams must be adjusted for right-side driving by either using beam deflectors or tilting the headlamp bulb-holder. The French police fine motorists on the spot for driving offences such as speeding. The speed limit in urban areas is 50kph (31mph), 90kph (56mph) on main roads and 130kph (81mph) on the motorways. The maximum legal alcohol to blood ratio while driving is 0.05%.

EU nationals taking their own cars to France are strongly advised to obtain a Green Card, without which insurance cover is limited to the minimum legal cover in France. The Green Card tops this up to the level of cover provided by the car owner’s domestic policy.

Road and route information is provided by Societe des Autoroutes Rhône-Alpes and Autoroute du Soleil ASF .

Emergency breakdown service:

Automobile Club 24/24, 7/7 (08) 0008 0001

Routes to the city: Main routes to Lyon are the A6 from Paris, the A7 from Marseille, the A43 from Geneva and the A48 from Grenoble.

Approximate driving times to Lyon: From Grenoble - 1 hour; Geneva - 1 hour 30 minutes; Marseille - 2 hours 40 minutes; Paris - 4 hours.

Coach services: The coach station is situated at Lyon Perrache railway station, 10 Cours de Verdun. its facilities include cafes, restaurant, ATM and bureau de change. As there are no telephone numbers for the coach station, it is better to contact the individual companies directly. Within the Rhône-Alpes area, the main operator is Transports Publics Autocars. Eurolines provides links throughout Europe. Other operators include interbus to Spain and intercar for Portugal, Spain and Geneva.

Activities in Lyon

innovation and creation - Lyon has always favored this combination and in doing so has developed a strong cultural influence. Cultural events and institutions benefit from one of the largest chunks of Lyon’s budget - and it shows. The presence in Lyon of prestigious cultural institutions, such as the National Opera, the National Orchestra, the Lumière institute, La Maison de la Danse and the Celestins Theater, contribute to the city’s international reputation. Lyon also is a musical city, enjoying ancient, classic, contemporary,
international, traditional French songs, rap, rock and more. Of course, this is not to mention dance, theater and cabaret too, all of which are prevalent in the city. The city nurtures creation and hosts productions from around the world. The Conservatoire national superieur and the Conservatoire national de region are among the most important centers of musical learning in France outside Paris.

Tickets for theatrical or musical events can be bought from the booking offices directly or from FNAC, 85 rue de la Republique . Local newspapers and magazines, such as the weekly Lyon Poche or Lyon Capitale, carry information about cultural events taking place in the city.

Music: The National Opera, 1 place de la Comedie , houses several institutions. Among them is the Opera Orchestra, which started from scratch in 1983, with young musicians and experienced conductors. its musical director since 1998 has been Luis Langree and it alternates repertory works and new compositions.

The Lyon National Orchestra has its permanent residence in the Auditorium, 149 rue Garibaldi. A symphony orchestra with 102 musicians since 2000, under the direction of David Robertson, the Lyon National Orchestra has acquired an international reputation throughout the world.

The Palais des Congrès, 50 quai Charles de Gaulle , hosts famous French artists, such as Serge Lama or Enrico Macias, as well as many classical concerts. Theater: From classical to contemporary, all styles are represented in Lyon. The Celestins Theater, 4 rue Charles Dullin , is the oldest theater in Lyon and has had two centuries of continuous dramatic activity. it welcomes Parisian shows as well as regional companies, with productions ranging from classical theater to music hall. Le Theâtre des Jeunes Annees, founded by Maurice Yendt, at 23 rue de Bourgogne , in 1968, is a permanent venue for contemporary theater. it also offers special children’s productions.

Lyon was also the birthplace of the theatrical puppet figure known as Guignol, which was created in 1808, by Laurent Mourguet. This tradition is still alive today with the Compagnie Laurent Cappezone, 2 rue Louis Carrand.

There are many theaters offering young people an opportunity to be noticed, such as Les Maronniers, 7 rue des Maronniers , Les Clochards Celestes, 51 rue des Tables Claudiennes , Le Carre 30, 12 rue Pizay, and Le Theâtre de la Crois-Rousse, 3 place Johannès Ambre .

Dance: The Lyon Opera House Ballet Company, place de la Comedie , offers a contemporary repertoire of international standing. The Maison de la Danse, 8 avenue Jean Mermoz , was created in 1980. The company, directed by Guy Darmet, is completely devoted to choreographic art, with an emphasis on new creations and welcomes French and foreign companies.

Film: in 1895, the Lumière brothers invented cinematography and shot the first ever film. The Lumière institute offers cinema screenings every day, costing Pound Sterling 4.50. it is also the best place for film aficionados to catch celluloid rarities and arthouse movies.

There are many other cinemas in Lyon, offering a wide choice of movies, including CNP Bellecour, 12 rue de la Barre , UGC Cine-cite, 60 quai Charles de Gaulle , and Pathe, 79 rue de la Republique. There are, however, no options for visitors who do not understand the mother tongue - English-language theaters are non existent in Lyon.

There are many French movies that have been shot in Lyon, for example Lucie Aubrac (1996) by Claude Berry, Louis Enfant-Roi (1991) by Roger Planchon and Les Voleurs (1995) by Andre Techine. Cultural events: Les Nuits de Fourvière takes place from June to September and is one of the highlights of the summer events in Lyon. it offers a prestigious selection of musical and theatrical performances in the Gallo-Roman amphitheater of Fourvière.

Since 1991, Lyon has hosted the prestigious National Biennial Festivals of Dance and Contemporary Art. in 2003, the Biennial will be held between mid September and the end of the month. Hundreds of dancers, musicians and singers will present creations around the theme of South American territories ‘from the fire of the earth down to the Rio Grande river’. More than 100 artists from all over the world will come to present their creations in the Halle Tony Garnier, 20 place Antonin Perrin .

The Festival of Lights is one of Lyon’s most popular and traditional events. The 150-year-old tradition takes place on 8 December every year and is a religious celebration that honors the statue of the Virgin Mary on Fourvière Hill. The people of Lyon put lanterns on their balconies and their windowsills and then congregate on the streets to enjoy the spectacle. A range of different performances are also organized at the same time throughout other parts of Lyon.
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Sightseeing in Lyon

Touring the city of Lyon can easily keep even the most enthusiastic sightseer busy for a long weekend. Any sightseeing trip should begin with Fourvière Hill, now at the heart of Lyon’s UNESCO World Heritage Site. Access to the summit is on a funicular railway, known as la ficelle (the string), from the station in avenue Adolphe Max. This leads to the foot of the Basilica of Fourvière. Coming down from Fourvière Hill, the heritage area extends to include Vieux Lyon (Old Lyon), Croix-Rousse and the Presqu’ile
area.

Old Lyon is the largest Renaissance quarter in France. it is also notable for the St-Jean Cathedral and the famous traboules - the covered walkways linking entire blocks of houses. The area of Croix-Rousse is the quarter where the canuts (or silk-weavers) worked. At the center of place de la Croix-Rousse is a memorial to Joseph-Marie Jacquard, who developed a new type of silk loom at the beginning of the 19th century, which cemented Lyon’s place as a center for the silk trade.

The Presqu’ile area is home to the Museum of Fine Arts, as well as luxurious boutiques, such as Cartier and Hermès, which can be found on rue du President Herriot. Lyon also boasts a large number of restaurants, some of them among the finest in France to display the Michelin stars. Probably the most famous restaurant in Lyon is chef Paul Bocuse’s Restaurant Paul Bocuse, 40 rue de la Plage, Collonges-au-Mont-d’Or . if budgets do not stretch that far, a ‘must’ for any tourist is to enjoy some of Lyon’s specialties, such as quenelles (a seasoned ball or dumpling, usually made of meat), in a bouchon or traditional restaurant. Four museums (the Natural History Museum, Saint Roimain en Gal, the Gallo Romain Museum at Fourvière, and the Doll Museum now offer free admission on Thursday.

Nightlife in Lyon

The best way to see the city’s architectural heritage is by night, when over 100 sites are illuminated. Like most international cities, Lyon has a good selection of bars, clubs, cafe-theaters, a casino and many other features. Old Lyon, the banks of the Saône, the Presqu’ile and Croix Rousse are the liveliest districts at night. There is a wide variety of bars or pubs scattered all over the city and it is not always easy to choose between irish, English, Latino, Cuban and the exotic among the range of watering holes available. There are also
traditional Lyonnais bars. Cyber cafes are becoming ever more popular in Lyon and these are generally open quite late. There are many nightclubs in Lyon, catering for all tastes, although smart dress is advised (no jeans or trainers).

Bars can serve alcohol until 0300 and the minimum age for drinking is 18 years. The average price for a draught beer is about Pound Sterling 3 and between Pound Sterling 3 and Pound Sterling 4 for a glass of wine in most bars in Lyon.

information on Lyon’s nightlife is availabale online (website: www.webcity.com). Having accessed the main pages, users then have to search under ‘Lyon’. information in print is found in Lyon Poche, Lyon Debrouille, Lyon Jour et Nuit and Le Petit Paume.

Shopping in Lyon

Lyon is a real shopper’s paradise. The area of the Presqu’ile boasts the most attractive streets for shopping, such as rue Victor Hugo and rue de la Republique, where the big department stores of Printemps and Galeries Lafayette are located.

The rue du President Herriot, with its elegant 19th-century buildings, makes an ideal setting for the luxury boutiques of Cartier, Hermès, Gucci or Louis Vuitton. Fine antiques and old books can be found on rue Auguste Comte or at La Cite des Antiquaires near the Parc de la Tete
d’Or. Rue Auguste Comte is a lively street with some 80 shops devoted to antiques. La Cite is open on Thursday, Saturday and Sunday 0930-1230 and 1430-1900.

For furniture and home decoration stores, it is best for shoppers to go to Cours de la Liberte. For casual shopping, Part-Dieu shopping center is ideal and is one of Europe’s largest, with over 200 stores.

Chocolate is the best specialty gift available in the city. Although the Swiss and Belgians might take issue, it could be argued that Lyon has the finest chocolate factory in the world. Bernachon, 42 cours Franklin Roosevelt, is open Tuesday-Saturday 0800-1900 and Sunday 0800-1700.
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