Getting to and from Lyon Airport with public transport

Lyon makes for a fantastic city break. As well as boasting a historic old town, Roman ruins and one of France's best dining scenes, its hills and riversides make for fabulous views as you explore the city's diverse neighbourhoods. And for those of you with more time, it's definitely worth heading out of the city to see more of what the Rhône-Alpes region has to offer. We've got great deals on France car hire throughout the region including Lyon Part-Dieu Railway Station car hire, Lyon Perrache Railway Station car hire and Lyon Airport car hire. Still need to book yours? Get a quote here…

 

Already started to plan your visit to Lyon and want to know how to continue your journey from Lyon Airport using public transport? Welcome to our guide on your travel options... We'll also guide you through getting to the airport too!

If you're actually picking up a car rental here, see our on collecting a Lyon Airport car hire. We also have a post on returning a car hire to Lyon Airport too. For more on Lyon Airport itself, you'll find more of our airport guides here.

 

To and from Lyon's city centre by express tram 

Like the airport, the train station is named after famous Lyon native, Antoine Saint-Exupéry. So you'll see references to the airport in full as 'Lyon Saint-Exupéry Airport' and the train station as 'Gare Lyon Saint-Exupéry'. 

 

Architecturally (in my opinion at least!), one of the most notable features of the airport site is actually the attached train station. It's like a bird's head and two of the three airport terminals, the wings. However, despite being attached to a spectacular train station, trains on this line (it's the high-speed line for TGV trains from Paris to Marseille) do not actually go directly to Lyon's city centre.

You'll still need to make your way to the train station but rather than high-speed train to the city, it's the express tram you'll need. The Rhône Express tram to be specific.  

The express tram service will get you between the airport and Lyon centre in just under 30 minutes. 

 

The Rhône Express a dedicated service that goes between Gare Lyon Part-Dieu (Lyon's biggest train station) and the airport. The service runs every 15 minutes from 6.00am to 9.00pm with a half-hourly service during 5.00am to 6.00am and 9.00pm to midnight. You can find out more about times and download a timetable through a link here.

Tickets can be bought online in advance, at vending machines at the airport train station and relevant tram stops as well as on board the tram with the conductor. To get the cheapest tickets, buy online in advance! An online adult return ticket is €24.50, which saves you €1.50 buying at the machine and €2.50 buying with the conductor. See more on fares here.

Buying online is easy - you just need a valid credit or debit card. You don't even need to print your ticket out as you can choose to present the card you used to the conductor… The have a snazzy ticket machine that can see if your card was used to book a ticket! They'll then give you a ticket, which you should hold onto for the return journey if you've got a return ticket. Of course, if you'd rather have a ticket to hand before you board, you can also choose to print out your E-ticket.

Buying at the vending machine is also pretty easy. There is a language button just below the screen (and to the left) so you can change instructions to English. 

 

Travel to Lyon from Lyon Airport

The airport is connected to the train station via a walkway, which you can access from The Square on the first floor between Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. The train station and Rhône Express service is well sign-posted. Just look for the red Rhône Express signage. 

From Terminal 1, after leaving baggage reclaim, head up one level and follow signs to your left for the train station. 

From Terminal 2, as with the above, head up one level and follow signs to your right for the train station.

It's about a 10 minute walk from both T1 and T2 to the train station.

From Terminal 3, you'll first need to make your way towards Terminal 1/2. Once you've left Terminal 3, you'll find the entrance to Terminal 1 on your right. Head up one level and you'll find access to the train station on your left. You'll have a longer walk to the train station at around 20 minutes or so.  

There are transport information points throughout the airport, which tell you the next tram and train departures. 

Moving walkways help you get to the train station that little bit more quickly. When you arrive at the train station, head down the escalators and head towards the exit. There are escalators , stairs and a lift to take you down to the Rhône Express platform. Ticket vending machines for the Rhône Express are red and available inside the train station and also on the Rhône Express platform.

Here's a quick look at the path to the platform...

Access to the Rhône Express platform is actually outside the station. It will at least mean you get the chance to enjoy the station's 'bird-like' tip at the front of the station! After exiting, you'll find stairs, escalators and lifts on your right down to the Rhône Express platform...

Inside the tram, it's all a bit retro, I think... I quite like it too.

 

Travel to Lyon Airport from Lyon

The Rhône Express tram stop is close to Gare Lyon Part-Dieu on Rue de la Villette side of the station. Several trams make their way through here so just look out for the red Rhône Express branding to find the right platform. It's easy enough to spot - the other trams tend to be silver/white! There are ticket vending machines on the platform. 

Once you arrive at Gare Lyon Saint-Exupéry (it's the last stop), you'll need to make your way up to the train station proper. If you're catching a flight from Lyon Airport, head up the escalators for the connecting walkway to the airport. All three terminals are well sign-posted. Your terminal information should be on your flight ticket but you can also find out which terminal you need by putting your flight details here.

 

More destinations from Lyon Airport

Photo by Laurent Espitallier. Wherever you're headed to next, if you want to explore further with your own set of wheels, we may well have a France car hire location to suit you! In Grenoble, for instance, we've got great deals on car hire at both Grenoble Airport and Grenoble Railway Station.

 

By train

Having its own train station means the airport is well connected by train. Popular destinations from Gare Lyon Saint-Exupéry include Grenoble, Annecy, Avignon and Paris. If you're catching one of the super speedy TGV trains from here, you'll find departure boards in the train station with platform information. Visit www.uk.voyages-sncf.com for more information about train travel in France and beyond. Remember, you're more likely to get a cheaper train ticket if you book it online in advance.

 

By coach/bus

There are numerous bus services from the airport run by Rhône-Alpes. They travel between the airport and cities throughout the region including Aix-les-Bains, Annecy, Chambery, Voiron, Grenoble and Bourg-en-Bresse. They also have bus services to around 30 ski resorts in the area. 

The coach stops are on the first floor outside terminals 1 and 2 of the airport.

For more information on city destinations, timetables and ticket prices, visit the airport website - there are links on the right-hand-side of the page to timetables and fares.

For more information on these and on nearby ski resorts including timetables and ticket prices, visit: www.altibus.com. You can book your ticket online for any of these services also. 

 

Would you be better off with a France car hire?

Bear in mind you could actually save money by booking a France car hire instead - especially if there are a few of you travelling together. Check prices for a Lyon Airport car hire here to see for yourself. Do also have a look at our other France car hire locations in case there is one that better suits your plans.