Travel Budget for Lyon Visit Lyon on a Budget or Travel in Style

The most affordable highest rated hotels in Lyon include:

• Hotel Carlton Lyon - MGallery starting at $122
• La Tour Rose starting at $129
• Okko Hotels Lyon Pont Lafayette starting at $98
• Mercure Lyon Centre - Gare Part Dieu starting at $88
• Aparthotel Adagio Lyon Patio Confluence starting at $65

Tips to Save Money on Accommodation in Lyon

In Lyon, a large city, you'll discover a wealth of accommodation choices. From hostels like Slo Lyon les Pentes to inviting vacation rentals and luxurious hotels, there's something to suit all preferences. Keep in mind that accommodations in the city center are usually more costly, but they offer convenient access to public transit and many tourist attractions.

Lyon offers an excellent public transit system, so staying farther from the city might save you on accommodation, though the additional cost and time of commuting can add up.

If you're headed to Lyon with your family, you'll likely want to look for accommodations with more room to spread out. In such a big city, it's not uncommon for rooms to be small and a bit tight on space.

Spending up to a week in Lyon is common. If you're staying for a longer time, consider a vacation rental with a kitchen to prepare your own food.

By skipping summer and traveling during the low or shoulder season, you'll enjoy lower accommodation rates and fewer crowds.

Many people like to explore Lyon on foot, so you'll want to stay in an area that is at the center of everything. This can come at a higher price though.

The city's alluring old town pulls in numerous visitors. Although hotels in this area can be more expensive, they typically offer plenty of charm and convenient access to nearby attractions.

Most of the city's attractions are concentrated in the city center, which can be explored on foot. You can walk between Place des Terreaux and Place Bellecour in about 20 minutes. The city's public transit system is very good and most parts of the city can be accessed by metro, at least in the city center, eastern suburbs and university campuses. Stations are usually about a ten minute walk apart. There are four metro lines and trains run every 2 to 10 minutes depending on the line and the time of the day.

Taxis are available but tend to be expensive. They have a good number of extra charges including fees for luggage, more than three passengers, animals, and transport to or from the train station or airport.

Lyon is served by the Antoine de Saint-Exupery Airport, just a 30-minute tram-ride (using the Rhônexpress service) from the city center. The city's main railway station is Lyon-Part-Dieu, a station on the Eurostar line and benefitting excellent links to Paris. On an average weekday, for instance, there are 33 direct trains between Lyon and Paris, a journey that takes between 2 and 3 hours dependent on the line and number of stops en route. A cheaper option for travel to and from Lyon would be the shuttle buses, operated by companies such as Ouibus and Flixbus, that are available between Lyon and the closer major cities such as Paris and Geneva.

Lyon's public transport network is very quick and efficient, with the tickets available from machines across the city ranging from single-journey (at 1,80€) to 72-hour (15€), valid on all TCL (Transport en Commun de Lyon) services. Evening tickets, costing just 3€, are valid for two hours of unlimited travel after 7pm. There are just four interconnected metro lines, A, B, C and D, making travelling around the city quick and easy, as well as the funicular, which takes you from Vieux Lyon up to right outside the Amphitheater and the Basilica. TCL buses are also readily available throughout Lyon, and run until after 9pm. There is also a very efficient tramway, also operated by TCL, which travels to many areas not served by the metro.

If travelling to Lyon by car, there are plenty of paid public car parks throughout the city, close to all the city's major attractions. At some, such as the one located underneath Place Bellecour, you may have to wait a few minutes to get a space, but parking is rarely a problem if you are prepared to pay. As major cities go, the prices are not bad, but still high. To avoid these charges, free park and ride services are available in 21 locations on the city's outskirts, from which you can easily access the city center via the TCL network. To leave these car parks, a valid TCL ticket must be scanned.

The majority of the city is easily walkable, though Vieux Lyon and other westerly parts of the city are better explored using public transport for those less able to walk.

Transportation Tips

Planning to take public transit often? Multi-day passes could help you save a lot of money.

Watch out for pickpockets while traveling on buses and trains and in the stations. Remember, Lyon is a bustling city.

A few of the typical transportation options and hotel transfers include:

• Transfer: Lyon City Center to Saint Exupéry Airport(LYS) for $55 details
• Private Transfer: Lyon Airport LYS to Lyon City by Business Car for $100 details
• Arrival Transfer: Lyon Airport LYS to Lyon City in Luxury Van for $111 details

When dining out, the average daily cost for food in Lyon is around $83 (€71) per person, with previous travelers spending from $34 to $189. Generally, breakfast and lunch cost less than dinner, but this will depend on the type of restaurant and what you order.

Typical meal prices in Lyon are as follows:

• Breakfast: $8 to $25
• Lunch: $13 to $33
• Dinner: $25 to $58
• Coffee: $7
• Fast Food or Street Food: $13

Known as Europe's gastronomic capital, Lyon is home to many a unique and special dish.

Typical Lyonnais dishes include pike quenelles in a crayfish sauce, salade Lyonnais (a dressed salad served with lardons and egg), and a number of pork and veal-based delicacies, including andouillette (a sausage made with pork and chitterlings), as well as veal's head and its kidneys, which are available from most major supermarkets as well as in a number of restaurants. Black pudding (known here as boudin noir), warm liver cakes (gateau de volailles), served with a tomato sauce, and the French classics of frogs' legs and foie gras are also available throughout the city. Rue Merciere is the city's main foody street, with a number of popular restaurants and bars in which all of these delicacies are commonplace. If not wanting something so fancy, chain restaurants recognizable throughout the world are available here too, including McDonalds, Subway and Steak and Shake. Burgers (available rare at most places in the city) are also available at a number of independent locations, such as Les Frangins (just off Place Bellecour) and Rems (by Perrache).

Lyon is the home of Paul Bocuse, voted 'chef of the century' in 2011, whose image and name adorns many a street and restaurant throughout the city. Indeed, he remains the His primary restaurant, l'Auberge du Pont de Collonges, has held three Michelin stars since 1965, which means no restaurant in the world has retained three stars for as long as Bocuse's. He also gave his name to the Halles de Bocuse, a wonderful plethora of market stalls, boutique food retailers and restaurants close to Part-Dieu, where you can buy anything from a sit-down three course meal to individual macarons to the finest cheeses on offer. France is famous for its cheese, wine and meats, and all of these are offered in abundance at Les Halles.

There are plenty of excellent restaurants in Lyon. Most display their menus outside and the prices include service and tap water. You aren't expected to tip unless the service is particularly phenomenal. This is particularly true in the budget restaurants. Like elsewhere in France, you'll typically find the best deal at lunchtime in most restaurants, when there are often "specials" available. Dinner is generally more expensive.

Traditional restaurants in Lyon are called bouchons and arose during the late 19th century and grew during the economic crisis. These restaurants were opened by cooks who had previously worked for wealthy families who could no longer afford to employ them. They serve traditional local dishes such as salade lyonnaise, saucisson chaud, quenelle de brochet, and andouillette.

Because Lyon is considered a food destination, restaurants can get quite crowded and they are usually very small, so reservations are recommended. Ask around for restaurant recommendations, as the locals know the best options.

Nightlife

Lyon has an exceptional nightlife regardless of your age. Most nights here start in Place Antonin Poncet, at either Tony's or Ed's, bars (that double as restaurants during the daytime) with good deals on cocktails, beers and wine. Throughout the city, wine is fairly cheap - you can get a reasonable bottle for 4€ in any major supermarket, and glasses in restaurants or bars should cost you between 3 and 4€. There are a number of popular nightclubs, including Le Sucre (located in the up-and-coming Confluence district), Loft Club (popular for ERASMUS and other student nights out) and Le Petit Salon (not far from Guillotiere). These are predominantly techno clubs, but hold various other events (the latter with an 80s disco evening every month, which is more than worth a visit). Events and tickets are available on the Facebook pages of the nightclubs themselves. Along the banks of the Rhone, there are a number of open-top boats which double up as clubs in the evenings, with Ayers Rock the pick of the bunch.

Shopping

Lyon houses two major shopping centers: Part-Dieu and Confluence. Both are home to many major high-street fashion retailers, including Zara, Pull & Bear, Bershka and H&M (all of which are present in both), as well as other stores such as Apple, Sephora and others, and have plenty of eatery chains. Part-Dieu is often busier, with large, often interactive displays in the center, whilst the Confluence is quieter, with a beautiful modern, semi-open-air layout. Confluence can be easily reached by tram or by car (with a significant multi-story car-park, free for 3 hours if you spend 20 euros in the center), whilst Part-Dieu is served by its own metro station.

For those desiring more high-end fashion, parts of the Presqu'ile are home to a number of important shopping streets. The multi-story Printemps department store (containing designer labels such as Armani, Kenzo and Michael Kors) takes pride of place in Rue de la Republique, whilst Rue du President Edouard Herriot is a street with many designer shops, especially towards its southern end, towards Place Bellecour, with clothing and jewelry shops such as Louis Vuitton, Hermes and Cartier adorning the pavements.

Food & Dining Tips

One way to save money is to eat at nicer restaurants for lunch rather than dinner. Numerous restaurants in tourist spots or business zones offer lunch specials or a 'menu of the day.' These options are typically smaller and less expensive versions of their dinner menus. If you explore the right places, you might score a full multi-course gourmet meal at a budget-friendly price. Afterward, simply have a light dinner.

When you're on the road with kids, look for eateries that have a kids' menu. This can lead to considerable savings, as those meals are generally less expensive. Some restaurants might not highlight their kids' options, so don't hesitate to ask the waiter before you order.

Many accommodations throw in breakfast at no extra cost, though others might charge you for it. The price and quality can greatly vary by hotel. Knowing this in advance can help you figure out if you need to spend more money. You might find the hotel's buffet is worth it, or you may prefer to grab a cheaper bite at a local bakery or cafe.

Why not save some bucks and enjoy the sights by having a picnic? Stop by a local grocery store or market, grab some fresh food, and head to a nice park or beautiful spot to enjoy your meal.

Having a water bottle can help you save on drinks and do your part for the environment.

Before you head out on a tour, be sure to find out which meals are included. You could end up paying for some meals out of pocket, which can impact your budget.

If you want to experience the culture in Lyon, a food tour or cooking class is a great way to do it. After all, cuisine is one of the reasons why so many people visit. A few of the best culinary activities here include:

• Croix Rousse Market & Rooftop Cooking Class in Lyon for $218 details
• Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse Tasting and Lunch Food Tour for $89 details
• Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse Food Tour for $276 details

A few of the most popular sights are:

• Vieux Lyon (Old Lyon) (Free)
• The Musée des Arts de la Marionnette for €8
• The Confluences Museum for €12
• The Basilique Notre-Dame de Fourvière (Free)
• The Cinema and Miniature Museum for €17
• The Lyon Aquarium for €18
• The Lyon Cathedral (Free)
• The Parc de la Tête d'Or (Free)
• The Halles Paul Bocuse Food Market (Free)
• Théâtre Gallo Romain de Lyon-Fourvière (Free)
• The Musée des Beaux-Arts de Lyon for €8

Lyon is home to a number of stunning attractions from the Roman period, including two incredible amphitheaters, the Amphitheatre des Trois Gaules and the Theatre Gallo-Romain, the latter of which has been used as a modern concert venue, with celebrated artists such as Björk and Florence & The Machine amongst those to have performed there.

Just a short walk from the Theatre Gallo-Romain is the Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourviere, from which you get perhaps the best views over the city. This spectacular cathedral, completed in 1884, is home to a shrine to the Virgin Mary, to whom Lyon's survival of the Black Plague in the mid 17th century is attributed.

Lyon has a number of beautiful historic squares, including Place des Terreaux, with its beautiful town hall, Place Bellecour, Place Carnot, Place des Jacobins and Place de la Republique. Place Bellecour is Europe's largest fully pedestrianized square, boasting grand statues of King Louis XIV and noted Lyonnais author Antoine de Saint-Exupery, sitting beneath his own creation, the Petit Prince, one of the nation's most beloved fictional characters.

On the site where the Rhone and Saone rivers meet, the Confluence, there is a large, futuristically designed anthropology museum and science center, completed in December 2014, whose four main exhibitions are dedicated to the study of: the origins of life, human interaction with other species, societies, and the meanings of life and death. It is a must see for any visitors to Lyon, even just to see the outside. Entrance costs 9€ per adult, but is free for under-18s. Signage and displays are predominantly in French, but with some English translation.

Parc de la Tete d'Or (or Park of the Golden Head) is a 290-acre park in the 6th arrondissement of Lyon, in the Northeastern part of the city. You could spend a good part of a day here in good weather, sunbathing on the grass, taking in the beauty of the rosary and botanical gardens, and even taking a stroll round the free zoo incorporated into the park, complete with such animals as lions, red pandas and elephants.

The city also plays host to several great festivals including, most famously, the Festival of Lights in December. (More on that below.) There is also the Nuits de Fourviere festival between June and August and Nuits sonores is centered around electronic music and takes place in May.

Other interesting activities in the city include going to the opera, taking in a show, taking in a movie, or enjoying a sporting event such as rugby or football (soccer). Eating French food at local restaurants is also a popular activity (see Food & Dining below.)

Day Trips & Nearby Destinations

Lyon is perfectly located when it comes to taking day trips, especially if you have use of a car. Just 40 kilometers outside of the city (drivable in just over half an hour, but trains are also available) is the fabulous medieval walled village of Perouges, one of the most authentic in France, a great day out for history lovers, as it remains largely untouched since the 15th Century. Guided tours are available in English as well as French, and a host of other languages.

45 minutes away by car is the Parc des Oiseaux (Bird Park), an incredible collection of 3,000 birds, made up of over 300 species from across the globe. The birds (as well as a small collection of animals) are kept in a conservationist way, organized into zones appropriate to the climates in which they would traditionally live, rather than cramped in small enclosures. Guided tours are available of this stunning park, and will often end with a trip to the tower in the middle of the park, which offers panoramic views of the park and its surroundings.

In Lyon, you are within 2 hours' drive or train ride from a number of other stunningly beautiful places, with Lake Annecy a particular highlight, just an hour and a half away. The beautiful lake (especially stunning on clear days) is perfect for taking a boat out, trying out watersports (in summer months only) or even taking a leisurely stroll around the lake, then in the evening, make your way back to the town itself, where you can wander round, soaking up the atmosphere, then have a meal at any one of the town center's excellent restaurants.

Annual Festivals

Fete des Lumieres, or 'festival of lights' is Lyon's most important festival, over a 4-day period during the second week of December. Originally dedicated to the worship of the Virgin Mary, the festival retains some religious feel, but is now predominantly based around the exceptional quality of the city's computer designers. The festival attracts more than 2 million visitors annually to see the incredible projections displayed across Lyon. Place des Terreaux and the Lyon Cathedral are two of the most spectacular, with stunning displays visible throughout the 4 days.

Following Fete des Lumieres, as Christmas time draws nearer, the area between Place Bellecour and Perrache station is of particular note. Lyon's Christmas market pops up in Place Carnot, a terrific huddle of stalls selling their wares including mulled wine, stunning ornaments and ornate chocolate displays. At this time, in Place Bellecour itself, a 60-meter Ferris wheel is installed, and can be enjoyed for just 9€ per person, for a generous length of time aboard. The wheel is dismantled every year in March.

Sightseeing Tips

Museums and Attractions:
When people think of Lyon, they often think of its famous museums and landmarks. There are many world class museums and historic landmarks in the city including Musée des Beaux Arts, Musée de la Civilisation Gallo-Romaine, and Basilique Notre-Dame de Fourvière.

Historical Sights:
A significant number of visitors flock to the historic old town. This impressive old town climbs from the river into Fourvière Hill. It's a Renaissance era district with beautiful buildings and plenty of character. You can spend days wandering the quaint streets and popping in the world class restaurants.

Shopping:
You won't want to miss out on the shopping here. The city has many trendy markets, pedestrian shopping areas, and character-filled boutiques. From the charming shops in old town to the chic shopping streets, there are plenty of places to splurge around town.

Local tours that last a few hours can be a great way to explore Lyon. Prices vary by the type of activity or tour, the dates, and the size of the group. Here are a few of the highest rated tours by previous visitors:

• Gourmet Vegan Private Tour of Lyon 3 hours for $76 details
• Private dining experience through 3 restaurants for $231 details
• Discover the Beaujolais wines | Guided tour for $141 details

Nightlife Tips

Sure, nightlife is part of the adventure, but cutting down on cocktails can make a surprising difference in your travel budget.

When enjoying the nightlife, stay alert and cautious, as you may attract the attention of pickpockets or other criminals. It's best to stay with a group of people you trust.

Tasting tours and nightlife activities are very popular in Lyon. A few of the favorites from previous visitors include:

• Guided Day Tour and Wine Tasting Northern Rhône Valley for $199 details
• Full-Day Beaujolais Wine Tour - Picnic Lunch Included for $270 details
• Private Burgundy Half Day Wine Tour by Vintage Land Rover for $270 details