BY PLANE :

The easiest way to get to Lyon is to arrive by plane at the Lyons Saint-Exupery Airport.
The airport is modern and flights from all over Europe arrive daily.
The airport itself is connected to a train station.
The international  Lyons Saint-Exupéry Airport  is situated 25 km east of Lyon.

You can then reach the city center of Lyon :

By Tram Express in 30 minutes, the line starts at the train station. This brand new tram will take you to the  “La Part-Dieu” train station.
By Taxi, there are taxi ranks at Terminal 1 and 2 of the airport, it takes about 65 euros to get to the center of Lyon.
You can also rent a car, you have the choice between many car rental companies (Avis, Hertz, Europcar, National / Citer, Sixt)

http://www.lyonaeroports.com

LYON Saint Exupéry: 0826 800 826

AIR FRANCE: 36 54

YOU CAN REACH LYON BY  TRAIN …
TGVs trains arrive from all over France in either one of the two train stations  located in the heart of the city: Lyon Part-Dieu or Lyon Perrache.
The TGV (high speed train) can take you to the following cities : Marseille in 1 hour 40 mins, Montpellier 1heure45, Paris in 1 hour 55 minutes, 3 hours to get to Lille, Rennes 4 hours 15 minutes.

www.sncf.fr

3635 (local call rate)

YOU CAN OBVIOUSLY ARRIVE BY CAR….

.. either from Paris by the A6 Highway,

… South of France by the A7 Highway,

… or from Geneva or Chambéry by the A43 Highway.

These highways are directly connected to the motorway networks of Switzerland or Italy.
The low speed in France are:
30 km/h in town, 50 km/h in urban areas, 90 km/h on highways or county, 110 km/h on highways, 130 km/h on motorways.

The parking fees downtown Lyon are quite expensive if you are not a resident of the city.
There are very few free places and they are coveted !
Provision should be made in advance for your car location (eg hotel with parking, private parking etc. …).

The Lyon Metro system is probably the best option for getting from one point to the next as a visitor. Consisting of four lines that connect the city center and nearby suburbs, the Metro serves popular sites and areas including Vieux Lyon (Old Lyon), Place Bellecour square andthe Presqu'îledistrict, Hôtel de Ville (City Hall), and the Croix-Rousse neighborhood. It also links to the city's two rail and TGV (high-speed train) stations, Lyon-Part Dieu and Perrache. There are two funicular lines that depart from Vieux Lyon, too.

• Hours of Operation: The Metro operates daily between 5 a.m. and 12 a.m.
• Routes: Metro Lines C and D are the most useful for tourists, as they stop at the sights mentioned above in addition to numerous other points of interest. In addition, the two funicular lines (F1 and F2) offer a great (and charmingly old-fashioned) way to climb the steep hillside from Old Lyon to reach either the old Roman arenas and Gallo-Roman Museum, or Fourvière, with its basilica and panoramic viewpoints.
• Tickets and Fares: Tickets for the Metro can also be used on buses, tramways, and the two funicular lines. A single ticket purchased from a station or authorized vendor currently costs 1.90 euros. (The ticket costs 2.20 euros if purchased directly on the bus.) One ticket is valid for a free transfer (and round trip) within an hour, but the ticket must be validated with each transfer. Booklets of 10 tickets currently cost 17.60 euros, and an unlimited day pass (for 24 hours) costs 3.20 euros. Finally, individual funicular tickets (valid for a round trip on either funicular line) currently cost 3 euros.

Lyon's tramway network offers another convenient way to get around, but since it mostly serves the edges of the city and nearby suburbs, it's not especially useful for exploring the city's most popular tourist attractions. However, if you choose to save money by staying in a quieter, more residential area or need to quickly travel between the local airport and train stations, the tram can be a good option. The ticketing system is the same as for metro trains and buses, and trams are covered by the Lyon City Card.

There are a total of seven tram lines (T1, T2, T3, T4, T5, T6, and T7), plus the Rhône Express, which connects the Lyon Part-Dieu station to the Saint-Exupéry Airport. These operate daily from 5 a.m. (some from as early as 4:30 a.m.) to around 12:30 a.m. The most convenient line for visitors is probably T1, which runs north to south and stops at sites such as the Parc de la Tête d'Or park, the Musée des Confluences, the Lyon-Perrache train station (served by TGV trains) and the University of Lyon.

Note that tramway tracks can be dangerous areas for pedestrians. Be vigilant about any oncoming trams when on or near tracks: Look both ways and watch carefully for any warnings of an impending tram crossing.

While it may be unnecessary to ride buses during your trip to Lyon, they can be useful in certain cases. For some travelers, including visitors with limited mobility, they are a comfortable, accessible mode of transport, and the wide coverage means you can take them almost anywhere. There are more than 100 bus and trolleybus lines operating throughout the city, suburbs, and surrounding towns. Night bus services are also available.

If you think you may want or need to travel by bus in Lyon, check the TCL network's schedules and routes, or use the handy journey planner in English (probably the best option for visitors). If in doubt, use Google Maps or another navigation app to plot your trip.

You can purchase tickets for metro, bus, tram, and funicular lines in Lyon at most metro, tram, and train (rail) stations, including Lyon-Part Dieu and Perrache stations. Tickets are also sold at tourist information offices, TCL agencies around the city, and tabacs (tobacco dispensers/convenience stores). Bus tickets can be purchased onboard with cash or card, but be aware that they cost slightly more than when bought in advance from machines or authorized points of sale.

Make sure to validate your metro, tram, funicular, or bus tickets/passes before each ride by placing them on the digital readers. You can use them for up to one hour after validation, and you are allowed to transfer between buses, trams, funicular, and metro lines as many times as you need to during that period. Note that you can be fined if you fail to follow these rules, or attempt to use a ticket past its expiration point.

For more information on different types of tickets available for visitors and current fares, visit TCL's website.