Are you planning a trip to Lyon? One of the easiest ways to get here is to fly into the Lyon airport.
I just visited Lyon last summer and flew out of the Aéroport de Lyon-Saint Exupéry. I’ve got all the information you need about this airport.
Plus, I’ll let you know how to get from the Lyon airport to city center. Easy peasy!
Whether you’re arriving or departing, these tips will provide you with everything you need to know to make sure that your Lyon travel experience is stress-free!
Lace up your shoes and let’s go!
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The easiest way to get to Lyon from the airport is by taking this private transfer. The friendly drivers speak English, so you don’t have to worry about communicating when you’re jet-lagged!
Lyon Airport Saint Exupery Information
The Saint Exupery Aeroport Lyon is one of the 5 busiest airports in France, with over 8 million passengers annually. With over 130 direct flights, this airport provides easy access to the see the top attractions of Lyon or to explore famous sights across France.
It’s quite a unique airport, with dramatic modern architecture.
Lyon Airport Terminals
The Lyon St Exupery Airport is relatively small compared to other international airports in Europe. The airport has two terminals: Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. Note that Terminal 2 is currently being renovated, so all flights to and from Lyon currently use Terminal 1.
Checking-in at the Aeroport Lyon
The Lyon Saint-Exupéry airport advises travelers to arrive 2-2.5 hours prior to departure for flights within France and Europe, or 3 hours prior to departure for flights outside of Europe.
The airport has automated check-in kiosks. Simply follow the instructions on screen and you’ll be ready to go in no time.
If you need assistance, there are also plenty of staff members available to help with anything from checking-in your luggage to finding your gate.
If you’ve checked in for your flight in advance and don’t need to check any bags, you can go directly through security and find a spot to relax in one of the lounges or seating areas.
Security checkpoint
You know the drill — everyone has to go through a security screening before boarding a flight. And this one is no exception!
The airport offers a Fast-Track pass which gives you priority through security checkpoints. These are available as a single pass, a pack of 5 passes, or even a year’s access if you are frequently flying through the Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport.
Waiting for your flight
Once you’ve made it through the security screening, find yourself a comfortable spot to wait for your flight. There are many seating areas throughout the terminal to choose from.
I was able to find one that was relatively empty, so I was able to find a quiet spot to relax and read my Kindle. Keep an eye on the departures boards to find out when your flight’s gate is assigned.
Note that your gate may only be designated about 30 minutes before your flight’s departure time. At that point, you’ll have to quickly make your way to your gate. Mine was (of course) the furthest possible one away from the waiting area.
Food and drink at the Lyon aeroport
There are several restaurants and cafés located inside the Lyon Airport, offering a mix of culinary options. From quick snacks to sit-down meals, there’s something to satisfy all tastes.
Get your caffeine fix at the Starbucks, enjoy one last French pastry at the Brioche Doree or savor a meal at the Confluences Cafe .
Lyon airport shopping
For those who like to shop, there is a wide selection of duty-free stores and boutiques where you can find the perfect souvenir before you fly out of Lyon!
In addition to the standard duty-free shops, you can pick up Provence beauty products at L’Occitane, luscious Lyon chocolates at Maison DUFOUX, or indulge your inner kid at the LEGO store!
Border Control
If you’re leaving Schengen Zone, you’ll have to go through Border Control. At the Saint Exupery Lyon airport, this occurs right before your get to your gate, rather than as part of the security screening process.
Once you have your gate information, you’ll have to pass through the border control screening. After that, then you’ll proceed to your gate.
I was surprised to find very few seats at the gate — only a handful of chairs. There was a padded cylindrical support at rear-end height that you can lean against.
So I guess it’s a good thing that most of your waiting time at the airport in Lyon is in the main waiting area (which had loads of seating).
Lyon Saint Exupéry train station
Just outside the airport is the Lyon Saint Exupéry TGV station. The TGV is France’s high-speed rail network.
The Lyon St. Exupéry train station has service to 30 cities in France and Italy including Paris, Nice, Avignon, Marseille, and Milan.
The train station also boasts sleek modern architecture, very different than the classical baroque designs of other train stations in France.
It’s definitely one of the best Lyon Instagram places! (Surprising, but true!)
Lyon Airport Hotels
If you’re just needing a place to sleep before an early morning flight, you might want to consider booking one of the hotels at the airport.
Top rated airport hotels:
- Hotel NH Lyon Airport: Top pick! highly rated 4-star hotel with free shuttle and a spa (book with Booking.com or book with Hotels.com)
- Moxy Lyon Airport: highly rated 3-star hotel (book with Booking.com or book with Hotels.com)
- Ibis Budget Airport: 2-star budget hotel (book with Booking.com or book with Hotels.com)
How to Get from Lyon Airport to City Center
Lyon’s airport is located a bit outside of the city. It’s about a 26-kilometer drive from the Lyon city center, so you’ll certainly need to find some transportation to get into the city.
There are several different ways to get into Lyon city center from the airport. The most popular options include the Rhônexpress, public buses, taxis and private airport transfer services.
Private airport transfer
For a hassle-free experience, choose a pre-booked airport transfer.
Welcome Pickups has English-speaking drivers who will track your flight status and be ready to pick you up and whisk you to your hotel. Easy peasy!
You’ll even get travel tips to help you maximize your stay in Lyon. You can also book their private drivers for a custom city tour!
The Rhônexpress
The Rhônexpress is a convenient high-speed tram/train service that gets you from the airport to the city center in just 30 minutes.
This express shuttle runs every 15 minutes during peak times, making it an ideal way to quickly get into town.
Be sure to purchase your tickets from the machine at the Rhônexpress station. If you forget to buy it before your board, you’ll have to pay a few euros extra to buy your ticket onboard from the conductor. (Children under 12 are free!)
You can also purchase the Lyon City Card with a Rhônexpress option, which provides round trip service from Lyon to the airport in addition to all the other benefits of the card.
The Lyon City Card is a great choice if you plan to visit a lot of Lyon museums and attractions during your stay. Plus you get unlimited use of public transit within the city!
The Rhônexpress stations are located at Lyon Part-Dieu (Lyon’s main railway station), Vaulx-En-Volin La Soie (this one is closest to the city center), and Meyzieu.
I used the Rhônexpress to travel from the Lyon city center to the airport, and it was really easy.
There are luggage storage areas if you’re traveling with larger pieces of luggage. I was traveling light, with just a really full backpack, so I kept my luggage with me.
Public transportation
Public transportation is also available with multiple transit lines running between the airport and downtown Lyon.
This is the cheapest option, so it may be your best bet if you’re watching your budget during your trip to Lyon. But also the slowest as you’ll have to make transfers to get to your destination.
Depending on the route, you may end up using a combination of BlaBlaBus, tram, Lyon metro, and city bus to reach your destination. So this may be a bit of a hassle if you’re traveling with luggage.
If you are using public transport, be sure to buy your tickets before boarding. Current Lyon public transport costs are €1.90 if you purchase a single ticket in advance. If you purchase your ticket on the bus, it will cost €2.30.
I don’t know if this is the case across all buses, but my bus driver wouldn’t accept cash even though I had my euro coins ready.
Public transport in Lyon is operated by TCL, or Transports en commun Lyonnais.
Taxi
If you are traveling with a lot of luggage, you may prefer to get from the airport to the city center by taxi. You’ll find plenty of taxis available outside of the airport.
It takes around 25-40 minutes by car to get to city center and usually costs between 50-70 euros depending on your location.
Lyon airport car rental
You can certainly rent a car at the Lyon airport. However, traffic and parking in Lyon can be quite a headache.
Unless you plan to journey onward to small towns with no public transportation access, I recommend skipping the rental car.
Lyon is a very walkable city, with an excellent public transportation system. You really have no need of a car to see the vast majority of Lyon’s attractions.
(Driving to the Lyon LYS airport? Don’t worry, there are plenty of car parks at the airport for your vehicle.)
Lyon Airport FAQ
The Lyon Airport code is LYS.
There are several transportation options available for getting from the Lyon airport to downtown. They include the express tram, taxi, bus, shuttle services, and rental cars.
Taxis are usually the most convenient option, as they can take you directly where you need to go. However, public transport options are more economical if you’re traveling light.
Yes! There are plenty of amenities available including gift shops, restaurants, bars/cafes, Wi-Fi services, and more.
The Lyon Airport is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The terminal services and facilities, however, have different opening and closing times depending on the day. Please check with your airline for specific details about their operating hours.
The airport has flights from major carriers including Air France, British Airways, and lower cost carriers such as easyJet, Transavia, and Aer Lingus.
The Lyon Airport offers direct flights to cities such as London in the United Kingdom.
The main airport serving Lyon is the Lyon-Saint Exupery Airport (LYS). It is also known as the Lyon-Rhone Airport.
The Lyon Airport is about a 26 km drive east of the city center. It takes around 25 minutes to get from the airport to downtown Lyon via the Rhônexpress light rail service.
LYS is the airport code for the Lyon-Saint Exupery Airport. It is also known as the Lyon-Rhone Airport.
The airport is named after the famous French aviator Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, who was born in Lyon. He’s also known for writing the classic children’s book “The Little Prince”.
Final Thoughts..
If you’re planning a trip to Lyon, the Aéroport de Lyon Saint Exupéry is one of the best ways to get to Lyon. And now you know exactly what to expect when flying to this amazing city, as well as the many options for how to get to the Lyon city center from the airport.
Whether you’re arriving or departing, Lyon Airport Saint Exupery is a great place to start your French adventure. Bon voyage!
Check out these great posts to help you explore Lyon:
- Best Things to See and Do in Lyon
- Best Food Tours in Lyon
- Romantic Things to Do in Lyon France
- Is Lyon Worth Visiting?
- Le Mur des Canuts mural in Lyon
- Is the Lyon City Pass Worth It?
- Best Lyon Museums to visit
Are you ready to book your trip to Lyon?
Looking for the top picks for your trip to Lyon? Here are some of the best tours, hotels, and more to help you plan the perfect vacation!
Top Tours and Experiences in Lyon
- Old Town Walking Food Tour (Vieux Lyon sightseeing + tasty local favorites)
- E-Bike Tour of Lyon (A fun & easy way to see Lyon’s top sights!)
- French Pastry-Making Class (Perfect for those who love to cook!)
- Beaujolais Golden Stones Wine Tour (The best day trip for wine lovers)
- Lyon City Card (Amazing value! I buy this every time I visit Lyon)
Top Hotels in Lyon
- Villa Florentine (Fabulous 5-star hotel in Vieux Lyon)
- Cour des Loges (Amazing 5-star hotel in the heart of Vieux Lyon)
- Hôtel Bayard Bellecour (Highly rated budget-friendly hotel)
Flying to Lyon? You’ll want to pin this for later!
Lisa Garrett
Lisa Garrett is the founder of Travel to Lyon.
She has explored Lyon with her husband (Chris) as well as on solo trips to France. She has visited Lyon many times, including a 2-week stay last spring (unseasonally cold for a Phoenix girl!). Whether you’re interested in food, history, or culture, Lisa’s tips will help you plan the perfect trip to Lyon!
Learn more about Lisa!
