Are you looking for ways to travel from Paris to Lyon?
Lyon, the capital city of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of France, is located at the confluence of the Rhône and Saône rivers.
From the Roman Amphithéâtre des Trois Gaules to medieval and Renaissance architecture in Vieux (Old) Lyon, to the trendy Confluence district on the Presqu’île peninsula, Lyon’s center reflects 2,000 years of history.
Traboules, or enclosed passageways between buildings, connect Vieux Lyon and the hill of La Croix-Rousse. Lyon is France’s third-most populous city (after Paris and Marseille) and has a population of around 490,000 people.
The city has also received recognition and high praises from travelers and ex-pats alike for its student life, affordability, and great location.
Lyon is a UNESCO World Heritage Site recognized for its historical and architectural landmarks. Historically known for its silk production and weaving, Lyon has since gained prestige as France’s gastronomic capital.
However, if you are going to sample local cuisine, you do not necessarily have to reserve a seat in one of those Michelin-starred restaurants. Instead, the city is known for its bouchons, or small restaurants, where you can sample tasty local cuisines such as quenelles and various offal.
Be warned though: Lyon cuisine is hearty fare, not the aesthetically plated and subtle kind you’d find in a fine dining establishment.
Apart from the food, this southern city is also close to everything you want to see and do in France. If you want to enjoy some winter sports, the Alps are only a few kilometers away. If you’d rather keep warm, the Riviera coast is about 300 kilometers away.
There are also fantastic local attractions within the Rhône-Alpes region if you’d rather explore destinations that are closer to Lyon. There is the charming Pérouges, a medieval village, and the pretty Lake Annecy, as well as the Chartreuse national park near Grenoble.
However, even if Lyon is known as France’s third-largest city, the country’s gastronomical capital, and the location of several UNESCO World Heritage Sites, it is still often overlooked by tourists.
Read More: 13 Best Things To Do In Lyon
While Paris remains the country’s tourist hub, Lyon reveals a different side of France that culture, history, and food enthusiasts must-see. Lyon is easily accessible from Paris, so a weekend or even a day trip to the city of gastronomy is doable.
Make Lyon a part of your French holiday itinerary. Learn about the various ways you can travel with our guide on Paris to Lyon transport options.
Things you'll find in this article
Ways To Travel From Paris To Lyon
1. Paris To Lyon By Bus
The bus is not usually recommended as a mode of transportation between Paris and Lyon because it takes the longest, approximately six hours.
If you can find a ticket for $16, however, it may be the most cost-effective way to travel between the two cities. Even though tickets can cost up to $40 at times, they are still less expensive than taking the train.
If you are a budget traveler with more time to explore France, you may prefer to save money by taking the FlixBus or BlaBlaBus.
These buses run throughout the day and night from Bercy Station in the city center. Taking the overnight bus, which departs from 11:30 p.m. until 5:30 a.m. can help you save even more money. You can rest on the bus instead of paying for a hostel or hotel room.
Bus Transport Details
Route: Paris Bercy Station to Lyon City Center
Cost: starting at $16 one way,
Schedule: departs every hour during the day. There are also overnight buses that run from 11:30 p.m. to 5:30 a.m.
Where to book/buy a ticket: You may buy tickets online on FlixBus, or Omio or You can book your ticket online here.
2. Paris To Lyon By Train
In terms of public transportation in France, the train is the quickest and most popular way to travel between cities such as Paris and Lyon. The TGV, France’s intercity high-speed rail service, travels from Paris Gare de Lyon to Lyon Part Dieu in just two hours.
The TGV train travels at 186 miles (300 kilometers) per hour, which is nearly three times the speed of a car. Almost every hour of the day, trains depart from this conveniently located station in Place Louis Armand, located in Paris’ 12th arrondissement.
If you have extra money and want to make the most of your time, taking the train to Lyon from Paris is your best option. You can take the train early in the morning, stay in Lyon for eight to ten hours, and then return to Paris in the evening.
Train Transport Details
Route: TGV Paris Gare de Lyon to Lyon-Part-Dieu station
Cost: starting at 60 € one way
Schedule: trains going to Lyon depart every hour. The first trip is around 5:40 a.m. Last trip at 8:40 p.m.
Where to book/buy a ticket: you. may book in advance online or buy at the station in Paris.
3. Paris To Lyon By Car
If you are traveling with family, friends or colleagues and you love to drive, then renting a car is the best Paris to Lyon transport option for you. When you’re in control of the wheel, you have the freedom to stop at various points en route to Lyon, and experience more of France.
You can stop and explore places like Burgundy, Dijon, and even Geneva in your car. However, to avoid any inconvenience, you should try to become acquainted with the area and French roads. You can get advice from those who have driven from Paris to Lyon, consult a map, or read driving guides.
From Paris to Lyon, the driving distance is 288 miles (463 kilometers). There are several routes that you can follow to get you from Paris city center to Lyon center, and these depend if you want to stop in certain small towns or do side trips to the Ardeche or the Alps.
If you prefer to drive direct to Lyon from Paris without stops, the journey takes approximately four and a half hours.
To drive using a direct route from Paris to Lyon – take the A6 from the center of Paris to Exit A6B toward Lyon. Continue on the A6 almost the entire way until you reach Exit 39B, which will take you directly into the heart of Lyon.
Car Rental Transport Details
Route: Paris City Center to Lyon
Cost: car rental starts at 25 € per day plus fuel
Schedule: depends on what time you. prefer but it is best to start driving in the early morning to enjoy the stops you may want to make along the way.
Where to book/buy a ticket: Book your car at sites like Rentalcars.
4. Paris To Lyon By Plane
Even with efficiency. land travel, taking the plane to get to Lyon from Paris remains to be an option. However, this isn’t the fastest or the most convenient. It takes about an hour to fly from Paris to Lyon; the longest part is getting to and from airports.
The main and most available airport in Paris is Charles de Gaulle. The city center is about 22 miles (35 kilometers) away. Just getting there can take anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour. You’ll be met with a 30-minute express train ride from Lyon Airport to the other end after your hour-long flight.
You can take the train and still have time to settle into your hotel room in the time it takes to fly. As a result, this Paris to Lyon transportation option is best if you are flying from outside of France and want to go straight to Lyon rather than exploring Paris first.
If flying is still your preferred mode of transportation, there are over 500 direct flights from Paris to Lyon each week. You shouldn’t have any trouble finding a flight schedule because several airlines fly direct, with Air France being the most popular.
Plane Transport Details
Route: Paris CDG to Lyon
Cost: starting states 90 €
Schedule: a plane departs for Lyon every 30 minutes daily
Where to book/buy a ticket: You may book online in advance or buy your ticket directly at the airport.
Hi, I’m Christine – a full-time traveler and career woman. Although I’m from the Philippines, my location independent career took me to over 40 countries and lived in 4 continents in the last 10 years, including France. A self-proclaimed Francophile, I love everything France.