France

How to get from Paris to Lyon

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

⏱
FASTEST
1h 10min
💶
From
14€
📍
Distance
393 km
Powered by 12Go system
⚡ Quick answer

Fastest way from Paris to Lyon: Flight, about 1h 10min – 1h 31min (from €98). Cheapest: Bus, from €14 (about 5h 30min). Main companies selling this route on 12Go (checked on November 12, 2026): FlixBus, Blablacar Bus, Daytrip private transfer with English speaking driver; main departure point: Paris Pershing.

Distance: 393 km. Data updated on .

There are 2 ways to get from Paris to Lyon

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

Bus
5h 30min – 5h 55min
CHEAPEST
14 – 16 €
View
Flight
1h 10min – 1h 31min
FASTEST
98 – 256 €
View
🚌 Departure from Paris
📍The main departure point for long-distance buses in Paris is the Paris-Bercy Seine bus station, in the 12th arrondissement. Depending on the operator, another stop may be used: always check the address shown on your e-ticket.
🚇From central Paris, reach the Bercy area by metro, with Bercy or Cour Saint-Émilion stations nearby. A taxi or ride-hailing car is handy if you have luggage or a very early or very late departure.
⏰Departures run throughout the day, with early-morning and evening services depending on the operator. Check the up-to-date timetable on this page for your date.
💸 Transport from 14€ per person
⚡ Fastest: 1h 10min
🗓 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
FlixBus Bus Paris Pershing €14 12
Blablacar Bus Bus Paris Bercy Seine €15 5
Itabus Bus Paris Bercy Seine Bus Station €16 3
Gipsyy Bus Paris Quai de Bercy Stop €32 1
Internorte Transportes Rodoviarios Do Norte Bus Paris €112 3
Daytrip private transfer with English speaking driver Van / transfer €679 4
Kamitrans Van / transfer €991 1
📶 Stay connected the moment you land

Activate an eSIM before you go: internet the moment you land, no SIM to swap, zero roaming fees.

Yesim · eSIM partner

Practical tips

💡
Compare before you book

Don't book the first fare you see. Check the comparison table on this page: the bus is often much cheaper, and the plane is only worth it if the time saved outweighs the extra costs of getting to the airport.

💡
Check the exact bus station

In both Paris and Lyon, several stops may exist. Reread the address on your e-ticket before leaving, and locate it on a map so you don't end up at the wrong stop.

💡
Book in advance

The lowest fares go first, especially on Fridays, Sundays and before school holidays. Booking early keeps you from paying top price for a trip you already know you'll make.

💡
Factor in the trip to the airport

If you're tempted by the plane, mentally add the journey to the airport, check-in, security and the trip back into central Lyon. The gap with the bus can shrink a lot.

💡
Keep a safety margin

If you have a connection or a last departure you can't miss, don't cut it fine. Choose an earlier departure, arrive early at the meeting point and keep your ticket on your phone.

The journey experience

Paris to Lyon is one of those routes where your choice of transport really changes your budget and your day. The bus saves you money, the plane saves time on paper, and the right answer depends on what matters most to you that day. This page lets you compare durations and price ranges side by side, without opening ten tabs.

The long-distance bus is the budget option: reclining seats, power sockets and wifi depending on the operator, and a departure from a bus station rather than a train station. The plane makes sense if you start from a Paris airport and time is tight, but remember that getting to the airport, checking in and handling luggage also take up part of your day.

Before booking, check the exact name of the bus station or airport at both ends, and whether the trip is direct or involves a change. Book early for the best fares, keep your e-ticket on your phone, and leave a safety margin if you have a connection. That way you choose with confidence and avoid unpleasant surprises.

Frequently asked questions — Paris → 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 😞
📍
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.
🍽️
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.
🥖
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.
🎨
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.
🛥️
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.
🌳
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.

Related searches

bus Paris Lyon flight Paris Lyon how to get from Paris to Lyon ticket price Paris to Lyon travel time Paris to Lyon travel to France

Other trips from Paris

Book now