How to Get to Lyon

Lyon is well connected by air and high-speed rail. If you arrive at Lyon–Saint Exupéry Airport, compare the direct Rhônexpress tram with the lower-cost TCL bus connections below.

By plane

Lyon–Saint Exupéry Airport (LYS) is approximately 25 km east of central Lyon. There are two principal public-transport options between the airport and the city.

Fastest and direct

Rhônexpress

About 30 min to Lyon Part-Dieu

The express tram runs directly between the airport and Lyon Part-Dieu, with intermediate stops at Meyzieu Z.I. and Vaulx-en-Velin La Soie.

Adult fares

Online, one way€16.00
Online, return€28.00
Ticket machine, one way€17.10
Ticket machine, return€29.80

Buying the outward and return journeys together is less expensive.

Rhônexpress is operated separately from TCL, so ordinary TCL tickets and passes are not valid. Buy before boarding whenever possible: onboard purchase costs €4 extra, and travel without a valid ticket may result in a €50 fine plus the fare.

Rhônexpress information

Lower cost

TCL bus connection

€2.10 standard single ticket

Two TCL routes connect the airport with the Lyon network:

From Lyon Part-Dieu, take tram T3 to Meyzieu Z.I., then bus 47 to the airport.
From Vaulx-en-Velin La Soie, take bus C200. Only selected C200 services continue to the airport.

A contactless bank card or TCL e-ticket costs €2.10. A single ticket bought in cash from a bus driver costs €2.50. Always validate when boarding and at every connection.

Going to the airport by bus? Leave an additional 1–2 hours beyond your airline's check-in recommendation. Airport-bound buses are limited: on weekdays, roughly one C200 per hour continues to the airport, and delays or missed connections are possible.

Plan with TCL

Late-night and early-morning travel

Public transport does not run throughout the night. Rhônexpress normally operates from approximately 04:25/05:00 until midnight; C200 from approximately 05:35 until midnight; and bus 47 until approximately 20:45. Check the timetable for your travel date.

Outside operating hours, use an official taxi or a ride-hailing service such as Uber or Bolt.

Car sharing with Leo&Go

Leo&Go cars can be collected and returned in authorised parking areas throughout Lyon, including the airport's P4 car park.

You must be at least 21 and hold an EU/EEA driving licence for at least two years.
Register in advance and wait for account and licence approval before relying on the service.
The airport fee is €12.99, in addition to time and distance charges.
Optional advance delivery to the airport costs €10 and must be booked at least 24 hours ahead.

Check eligibility and current charges on Leo&Go

By train

Lyon has three main high-speed rail stations:

Lyon Part-Dieu — the main city-centre station and the most convenient for onward travel to the conference.
Lyon Perrache — in the city centre, with metro, tram and bus connections.
Lyon–Saint Exupéry TGV — directly connected to the airport terminals.

Visa information

Entry requirements depend on your nationality and length of stay. Check the official French government guidance before booking, and allow sufficient time for any application.

Check France-Visas