FESTIVALS, HOLIDAYS AND OTHER ANNUAL EVENTS IN Lyon

There are a number of festivals, holidays and other events celebrated in Lyon each year. The main ones are listed below.

On the first of May, it is customary to offer a sprig of lily-of-the-valley to close ones. Many vendors occupy the pavement on that occasion!

Commemorates the Allied victory in Europe that ended World War II on this day in 1945. Various ceremonies are held around town.

Also celebrated internationally as World Music Day, for this festival many free concerts featuring all types of music are held in the streets and parks across Lyon. Festive and friendly atmosphere guaranteed!

This holiday celebrates both the storming of the Bastille prison in 1789, the key event marking the beginning of the French Revolution. It plays as a symbol of the end of the privileges enjoyed by the clergy and the aristocracy. In Lyon, a dance party open to everyone is held on the left bank of the Saône (between the Maréchal Juin and Bonaparte bridges) and a traditional fireworks display is set off from Fourvière hill at nightfall.

This celebration, still very popular in Lyon, is marked by the faithful with religious processions and ceremonies through the streets. On this occasion, a fireworks display is set off from the Fourvière hill.

The aim of the European Heritage Days is to open up numerous sites and monuments, many of which are normally closed to the public, such as castles and private collections. A great opportunity for a lovely stroll through the city to admire architectural treasures!

On this day, citizens gather at the war memorial in Lyon to commemorate the signing of the 1918 Armistice officially bringing an end to the First World War.

Known for centuries as a city of light, Lyon has celebrated this unique festival for more than 150 years. First held on December 8, 1852 at the inauguration of a statute to the Virgin Mary, who is believed to have saved the city from the bubonic plague in 1643, the festival was initially celebrated by people throughout the city by lighting candles in their windows. Now held over four days at this same time of year, it has evolved into a high-tech extravaganza of light, accompanied by music and sound effects and visited by millions every year, in which leading artists and designers illuminate buildings, streets, squares and parks all over Lyon.

On the night of December 31^st, the atmosphere is particularly festive on the streets of Lyon, with families and friends celebrating the new year.

CLIMATE AND WEATHER IN Lyon

Month	Min. Average Temperature (°C/F°)	Max. Average Temperature (°C/F°)	Average Rains (MM)	Best Time to Travel
January	0/32	6/43	47/1.9	Not the best period to go
February	1/34	8/46	44/1.7	Not the best period to go
March	4/39	13/55	50/2.0	Not the best period to go
April	6/43	16/61	75/3.0	Not the best period to go
May	11/52	21/70	91/3.6	Good period to go
June	14/57	25/77	76/3.0	Good period to go
July	17/63	28/82	64/2.5	Good period to go
August	16/61	27/81	62/2.4	Good period to go
September	12/54	23/73	87/3.4	Good period to go
October	9/48	17/63	99/3.9	Not the best period to go
November	4/39	11/52	82/3.2	Not the best period to go
December	2/36	7/45	55/2.2	Not the best period to go

Lyon Saint-Exupéry Airport

The Lyon Saint-Exupéry Airport is located 25 kilometres (16 miles) east of the city centre.

• Two terminals:
  • Terminal 1
  • Terminal 2 (Air France)

• By car
  • Accessible via the A432 motorway, about 30 minutes to the city centre.
  • Several parking facilities are available near the terminals. Waiting areas located at the airport entrance, free with a maximum parking time of 1 hour and obligation for the driver to stay in the vehicle. Drop off area, first 10 minutes are free, then EUR 2 for the 11^th minute and EUR 0.50 per additional minute. Short-term parking (P0, P1, P2 and P4) from EUR 8 for 1 hour. Long-term parking (P5), EUR 20 for 1 day.
  • Several car rental companies have counters at the airport.
• By taxi
  • There are taxi ranks outside Terminals 1 and 2 as well as the TGV train station.
  • Daytime fares for the journey to Lyon are about EUR 50.
• By rail
  • The Lyon-Saint Exupéry TGV train station is just 5 minutes from the terminals.
• By tram
  • Rhônexpress: Connecting the Lyon Part-Dieu TGV station with the Lyon Saint-Exupéry airport, every day from 4:25 a.m. to midnight with a travel time of 30 minutes (EUR 15.20 one way, EUR 26.70 round trip).

• Services: shops, bars and restaurants, pharmacy, post office, currency exchange, etc.
• Telephone: 0 826 800 826 (cost of a local call)
  +33 426 007 007 (from abroad)
• Website: https://www.lyonaeroports.com/en/

• Customers with a Paris connexion and an Air France flight number (either from Roissy or Orly) must visit the TGV AIR desk at the Lyon Part-Dieu station 24 hours to 20 minutes before departure: train tickets will be issued to them upon presentation of a valid airplane ticket.
• For all necessary information about the TGV AIR desk, please visit https://www.garesetconnexions.sncf/fr/gare/frlpd/lyon-part-dieu/services/guichet-tgv-air
• The Lyon Part-Dieu TGV station is located at 5 place Charles Béraudier, 69003 Lyon. It is open every day from 4.50 a.m. to 12.45 a.m.:
  • Access via public transportation: tramway (Rhoneexpress lines T1, T3 and T4), intercity buses (lines 165, 1980, 2960 and 1920), subway (line B), city buses (lines C1, C2, C3, C6, C7, C9, C13, C25, 25, 37, 38, 70).
  • Access via private transportation: drop off area, self-service car sharing, rental car companies, taxis, parking lots, bike rentals.

GETTING AROUND Lyon

In Lyon, as in many of France's large metropolitan areas, public transport is the best way to get around.

By bus, tram and metro

Lyon's public transport system was awarded the Ticket d'Or (or Golden Ticket) and is considered as the most efficient among those operated by France's largest cities. It offers dense and extensive coverage of the metropolitan area (more information is available on the https://www.tcl.fr/en website).

• 129 bus and trolleybus lines, with 3,000 stops.
• Four metro lines (38 stations) criss-crossing the city in all directions from 5 a.m. until midnight.
• Two funicular lines (connecting the Vieux Lyon metro station with Fourvière hill and the Saint-Just district).
• Six tram lines

• Single ticket: EUR 1.90 (EUR 2.20 in the bus)
• Book of 10 tickets: EUR 17.60
• "Liberté 2 heures" ticket (valid on all modes of transport for 2 hours): EUR 3.20
• "Liberté 1 jour" ticket (valid on all modes of transport for 24 hours): EUR 6.20
• "TCL en Fête" ticket (special ticket for major evening festivities, such as the Fête des Lumières and the Fête de la Musique; unlimited travel from 4 p.m. until closing): EUR 3.20

By car

Due to heavy traffic and limited parking options, visiting Lyon by car is not recommended. Should you still need to drive, various car rental agencies are located throughout town.

Useful tip: "Citiz" (https://lpa.citiz.coop/english), a self-service car rental network is operated in Lyon. About a hundred cars are available 24/7, spread out through the 40 drop-off areas. From EUR 2 per hour.

By bicycle

Lyon offers several hundred kilometres of cycling paths. Bicycles can be rented from local bike shops or you can use Vélo'v (https://velov.grandlyon.com/en/home), the city's public bike-sharing system, with 348 stations around the city. A day-pass costs EUR 4 to access the network. For each trip, the first 30 minutes are free of charge, then EUR 1.50 for the next 30 minutes and EUR 3 for 30 more minutes. EUR 4.50 for every additional 30 minutes.

Visitor information

Upon your arrival in Lyon, you can get in touch with local tourism professionals for further information and to help organise your stay.

Offers practical information (sightseeing, tours, heritage sites and cultural institutions, nights out on the town, etc.), maps and brochures for tourists on the city of Lyon and its region.

• Address: Place Bellecour, BP 2254, 69214 Lyon
• Opening hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., 7 days a week
• Telephone: +33 (0)4 72 77 69 69
• Website: https://en.lyon-france.com/

Medical information

In order to travel in the best conditions and for your health and safety, we invite you to check all information regarding preventive measures and best practices to be respected, available on the official website of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs: https://www.gouvernement.fr/info-coronavirus

Your comfort, well-being and health are at the heart of Air France's concerns, and we want to help you prepare for your trip in the best way possible. Find out more about the measures taken to ensure safe travelling on our website: https://www.airfrance.fr/FR/en/common/page_flottante/information/coronavirus.htm#notre-engagement-sanitaire

See your doctor before you travel. It is also recommended to take out insurance covering medical expenses and repatriation before your trip. Lyon counts several hospitals and medical institutions, as well as quality medical practitioners and health specialists.

There are no vaccination requirements for visitors to France. For more information, contact Air France's international vaccination centre:

• Address: 38 quai de Jemmapes, 75010 Paris
• Website: https://www.vaccinations-airfrance.fr
• Telephone: +33 (0)1 43 17 22 00
• To make a vaccination appointment:
  • online (click here)
  • call the centre at +33 (0)1 43 17 22 00

Tap water is safe to drink in Lyon.

Administrative formalities

Entry requirements for France

As a general rule, a visa is required to enter France. Foreign nationals in the two categories listed below are not required to carry a visa for stays of 90 days or less:

• Citizens of the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) or the Swiss Confederation
• Citizens or nationals of some foreign countries.

For stays of more than 90 days, a long-stay visa is required.

Travellers from all other countries must be in possession of a visa, regardless of the length of their stay. Visa applications must be submitted to the nearest French Embassy or French Consulate in the country of permanent residence well in advance of departure.

For further information, visit the website of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs: https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/coming-to-france/requesting-a-visa/

Useful addresses

Directory of foreign embassies and consulates in France

Contact information for the embassies and consulates of your country is accessible in the directory of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs: https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/country-files/

To enjoy peace of mind during your stay in Lyon, visit the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of your country.

Essential phrases

Good to know

+33

+ phone number (without 0)

-1 : 00
of time difference with
Athens

Start of daylight saving time: last Sunday in March

End of daylight saving time: last Sunday in October

BANKS

Usually open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

GOVERNMENT OFFICES

Usually open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.

230 V / 50 Hz

Tipping
In Lyon like elsewhere in France, a service charge is always included in the bill. If you are particularly pleased with the service, you may certainly leave a few extra euros on the table. But this additional tip is neither expected nor necessary.