France

How to get from Montpellier to Lyon

Compare all transport options: bus, ferry, train, flight. Prices, durations and practical tips.

⏱
FASTEST
3h
💶
From
7€
📍
Distance
250 km
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⚡ Quick answer

Checked offer from Montpellier to Lyon: Bus, about 3h – 3h 40min, from €7. Main companies selling this route on 12Go (checked on November 12, 2026): FlixBus, Daytrip private transfer with English speaking driver, Internorte Transportes Rodoviarios Do Norte; main departure point: Sabines Train Station.

Distance: 250 km. Data updated on .

One option to get from Montpellier to Lyon

Select an option below to see the route details and compare prices. Secure booking via our partner 12go.asia.

Bus
3h – 3h 40min
7 – 12 €
View
🚌 Departure from Montpellier
📍Departure is from a stop or bus station in Montpellier, depending on the company. The exact location is shown on your e-ticket: check it before leaving, find your bay and arrive early.
🚇From the city centre, reach the departure point by tram, city bus or on foot depending on the address on your ticket. A taxi is a practical solution if you have luggage or an very early departure.
⏰Several departures run throughout the day depending on the companies. Check the search results for the first and last times on your date, and book early for the busiest slots.
💸 Transport from 7€ per person
⚡ Fastest: 3h
🗓 Book now Secure payment · via 12go.asia

Companies selling this route on 12Go

Offers listed on 12Go on November 12, 2026 for a departure on December 3, 2026. Timetables and prices change with the date: check them before booking.

CompanyModeDeparts fromFromOffers
Blablacar Bus Bus Rue de la Madeleine €7 1
FlixBus Bus Sabines Train Station €11 8
Gipsyy Bus Sabines Train Station €30 1
Internorte Transportes Rodoviarios Do Norte Bus Montpellier €68 2
Daytrip private transfer with English speaking driver Van / transfer €584 4
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Practical tips

💡
Compare before you pay

Don't book the train out of habit. Check the table on this page: if the time gap is small, the bus can save you a lot of money. If your schedule is tight, the train may be worth the extra cost.

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Check the exact stop

Depending on the company, the bus may leave from a bus station, a car park or a stop in another part of the city. Reread the address on your e-ticket and locate it on a map before you leave.

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Book ahead

The lowest fares sell out first, especially on Fridays, Sunday evenings and during school holidays. Book as soon as your dates are fixed so you don't end up paying more than necessary.

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Plan around the last departure

If you are travelling late or connecting onward, note the last departure of the day and allow a comfortable buffer. Arrive at the stop early so you can find the right bay without stress.

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Keep your ticket handy

Save your e-ticket on your phone, with a screenshot in case the signal is weak. Also keep an ID document within reach, in case the driver or the company asks for it.

The journey experience

Montpellier to Lyon is a trip many people make without a car, whether for a weekend, a visit home or a getaway toward the Alps. Good news: the bus is a simple, budget-friendly option here, and you can decide quickly. The comparison table on this page puts durations, price ranges and frequencies side by side so you can choose at a glance.

Long-distance buses remain the best pick for a small budget: reclining seats, power sockets or wifi depending on the company, luggage in the hold and an e-ticket delivered instantly. The route follows the Rhône valley, and comfort varies by operator. If saving time matters more than saving money, also check rail offers, whose fares change a lot depending on the date and how early you book.

Before booking, check the exact name of your departure and arrival stops: a bus station, a car park or a roadside stop can differ depending on the company. Book early for the best fares, leave a buffer if you have a connection afterwards, and reread your ticket for the precise location. That way you will know exactly where to go, with no unpleasant surprises.

Frequently asked questions — Montpellier → Lyon

Why visit Lyon?

  • ✓ Wander through the lanes and traboules (hidden passageways) of Vieux Lyon, a UNESCO-listed Renaissance district
  • ✓ Enjoy authentic Lyonnaise cuisine in a traditional bouchon (quenelles, brioche sausage, tablier de sapeur)
  • ✓ Climb to the Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière for a 360° view of the city and the Alps
  • ✓ Discover the giant Mur des Canuts murals and the historic silk workshops of Croix-Rousse
  • ✓ Stock up on local delicacies at Les Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse, a temple of gastronomy
🌙
Recommended stay
2 to 3 nights — enough time to explore the key districts and fully enjoy the local cuisine

When to visit Lyon?

TEMPERATE SEMI-CONTINENTAL CLIMATE

April to June and September to October — mild temperatures, sunny days and little rain, ideal for walking

Jan 😞
Feb 😞
Mar 😐
Apr 😊
May 😊
Jun 😐
Jul 😐
Aug 😐
Sep 😊
Oct 😊
Nov 😞
Dec 😞
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In Lyon — Plan your stay
Accommodation, activities and tips selected for you
🏨 Accommodation
Hotels in Lyon
Compare the best rates available
via trip.com

What to do in Lyon?

Local experiences, must-see sights and activities selected for you

MUST-SEE
⛪
Fourvière Basilica and Panorama
Perched on its hill, the basilica offers Lyon's finest panorama. Entry is free; the crypt and rooftop tour are extra (rooftops from about 8€). Walk up from Old Lyon via the montée du Gourguillon, or take the funicular (TCL ticket around 2€). Go in the morning for the best light and fewer crowds.
🏘️
Old Lyon and Its Traboules
A UNESCO-listed Renaissance district with hidden covered passages called traboules, between rue Saint-Jean and rue du Bœuf. Free and open to walk through by day. Start before 10am to beat the crowds, respect residents, and look for doors marked with a traboule sign to enter without intrusion.
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Lunch in a Lyonnais Bouchon
Bouchons serve traditional Lyonnais cooking: quenelles, salade lyonnaise, tablier de sapeur. Expect 20 to 30€ for a lunch set menu. Book ahead, especially at weekends, and look for the « Les Bouchons Lyonnais » label to find an authentic address rather than a tourist trap.
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Les Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse
The temple of Lyon gastronomy, packed with cheesemongers, charcutiers and oyster sellers. Open Tuesday to Sunday, closed Monday. Come on Saturday morning for the atmosphere, or at lunchtime to enjoy oysters and white wine at a counter for roughly 15 to 25€ per person.
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Croix-Rousse Murals Walk
Lyon has over 150 painted walls, including the famous trompe-l'œil Mur des Canuts on boulevard des Canuts. Free and accessible year-round. Take metro line C to Croix-Rousse, then wander through the slopes and traboules of the former silk-weavers' district.
🖼️
Lyon Museum of Fine Arts
Housed in a 17th-century abbey on place des Terreaux, one of France's richest museums after the Louvre. Entry about 8€, closed Tuesdays. Go late afternoon, then take a break in the inner garden, a quiet haven in the city centre.
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Confluence and Rhône Riverbanks
The landscaped Rhône banks can be explored on foot or by bike, all the way to the modern Confluence district. Free, with Vélo'v bike hire from about 2€. Ideal at the end of the day to watch the sunset over the river.
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Rosa Mir Garden, a Hidden Gem
A naive-art garden covered in shell and glass mosaics, created by a Spanish mason, Jules Senis. Very limited opening, mostly by booking and on selected days. Free or by donation. Check the association's website for dates before going, as access is not guaranteed.

How long to visit Lyon?

2 to 3 days

Plan 2 to 3 days in Lyon: Old Lyon, Fourvière hill, the Presqu'île and the traboules can be covered in 2 days. With one extra day, add the Croix-Rousse, the Confluence district, Halles Paul Bocuse and lunch in a traditional bouchon. Book restaurant tables in advance and use the metro and the funicular to get up to Fourvière.

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