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Lyon

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Population
52,222
Small town - 1,500 - 7,500 pop.
Region
Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Rhône
Cost of living
Most expensive
Cost index: 53
Health resources
72
Friendly factor
Some expats, or other international populations, occasionally you might hear English spoken

Climate

Each scale compares this town with the rest of France: least, mid-range, most.

Sun
Mid-range sunny
Heat
Coolest
Rain
In the mid-range of rainy regions in France
Snow
In the mid-range among regions in France
Wind
In the mid-range of windy regions in France
Cold
Coldest

Welcoming atmosphere

AVF welcome organization for newcomers: Yes
Historical ties to international entities: No
Large university nearby: Yes
Larger than typical share of retirees: Yes
Local Anglophone group: No

Getting around

Ease of travelling to this town
Rated: Excellent
Ease of travelling within this town
Rated: Excellent
Train station: Yes
Bike friendly: Yes
Having a car: Difficult, as most French cities. A bad idea unless absolutely necessary, make sure you have a plan for parking
General comments on transportation

Excellent public transportation inside and to other cities

Nearest international airport

Lyon has an airport with many Easyjet flights, and is also an easy TGV ride to CDG

Journey to Charles de Gaulle

Air travel within Europe may be better using Easyjet from Lyon. Also excellent choicces of TGV trains direct to CDG

To the major train station

Lyon has an excellent main station

Biking notes
  • Over 870 km of cycle paths: Lyon boasts a massive network of dedicated cycle paths, making it safe and convenient to navigate the city on two wheels. These paths cover everything from bustling streets to picturesque parks and riversides.
  • Greenways and Vélo'v bikeshare: Explore greenways like the Voie Verte de la Saône, connecting Lyon to Burgundy, or rent a Vélo'v bike, the city's convenient bikeshare system, for easy access to different areas.

Pluses & minuses

Special pluses
  • Sophisticated city with all of the advantages that come with it
  • Excellent transportation and healthcare
  • Stunning architecture
  • Easy TGV access to Paris
Possible minuses
  • It's a city  (both a minus and a plus)
  • Can't boast the sunny South of France climate  (but also not as hot!)

Longer-stay properties here

More than 30 days, less than 90. Off-peak season, prices and features vetted for this kind of stay.

See longer-stay properties

Geography

-A river/canal runs through it
-A cityscape
-Urban amenities & cosmopolitan atmosphere: range of shopping
museum and other cultural features
-A good market town (weekly or more)
-Access to health care: good hospital within 10 mile

Who recommends it

  • Caroline from LyonWineTastings: "Mostly, I loved Lyon because it was smack dab in the middle of three of my favorite wine regions: Beaujolais, Burgundy, and the Rhône!...Lyon is the best city in the world and I will die on this hill. Literally, I live on top of one of its giant hills! It's stunningly beautiful, filled with ancient history and secrets, and a food and wine lovers paradise. It's off the beaten path and not yet completely overrun with tourists."
  • Great blog piece on the food scene in Lyon from Travelling with Sweeney
  • Jane on the Rick Steves Community Forum: "We highly recommend that you be there for the weekend farmers market @quai St. Antoine. For us, it ranks right up there with the very best across Europe, with the added value of being riverside AND with a pair of additional satellite markets nearby (pottery and stamps). I forget whether it is held on Saturday or Sunday, but its worth every effort to visit."
  • Dabbling in Jet Lag on Old Lyon:  "...I recommend spending the early morning hours wandering through the narrow cobblestoned streets and gazing at the pink-hued Renaissance-style buildings. It’s interesting to see what Lyon looked like before the more modern buildings started appearing. Some of the most charming alleys include Rue de la Loge, Rue Saint-Jean, and Rue du Bœuf."
  •  gregglamarsh; "We highly recommend that you be there for the weekend farmers market @quai St. Antoine. For us, it ranks right up there with the very best across Europe, with the added value of being riverside AND with a pair of additional satellite markets nearby (pottery and stamps). I forget whether it is held on Saturday or Sunday, but its worth every effort to visit."
  •  John A: "It's a beautiful, pedestrian friendly city that is very easy to get around (although there are some very hilly points leading up to the Roman ruins and Notre Dame d'Fauviere. There's a funicular, but I enjoy the hilly hike through the garden directly below). The City is especially pretty night as you walk through the old town and especially along the rivers. I think making. a picnic lunch (for me usually a bottle of wine with cheese, baguette and salami) in the Parc Tete d'Or is very relaxing. It's a very pretty park. I really enjoyed the Musee d' Confluences, the Musee de Beaux Arts, and Les Halles de Paul Bocuse, a wonderful, enormous French market with many restaurants that is similar to Mario Batalia's "Eataly."