Overview
The Lyon Metro (Métro de Lyon) is a rapid transit system that serves Lyon and its metropolitan area. It is part of the larger TCL (Transports en Commun Lyonnais) public transport network, which also includes trams, buses, two funiculars, and a river shuttle. The metro is the fastest and most reliable way to move around the city centre and connect to major train stations and suburbs. Trains run from approximately 5 am to midnight daily, with extended hours until 2 am on Friday and Saturday nights.
To ride the metro as a visitor, you purchase a ticket or pass (either a single journey ticket valid for 1 hour with free transfers, or a multi-day pass), validate it at the turnstile or on board, and travel to your destination. The system uses contactless payment—you can tap any Visa, Mastercard, or CB bank card directly at gates without buying a physical ticket in advance. All four metro lines are integrated with the tram and bus network under a single fare system.
The network
The Lyon Metro consists of four lines, each identified by a letter and colour on maps: Line A (red), Line B (blue), Line C (green), and Line D (orange). Together they serve 42 stations across 34.4 kilometres of route.
- Line A runs from Perrache to Laurent Bonnevay–Astroballe. Trains use rubber tyres and run on the left (an unusual feature for a metro). An extension to Vaulx-en-Velin–La Soie opened in October 2007.
- Line B runs from Gare d'Oullins to Charpennes, passing through central stations including Part-Dieu. It was extended to Jean Macé in 1981, to Stade de Gerland in 2000, and saw two further stations (Oullins Centre and Saint-Genis-Laval–Hôpital Lyon Sud) open on 20 October 2023. Since 2022, Line B is fully automated with new trains.
- Line C is unique: it is a rack railway (funicular-style) running from Hôtel de Ville–Louis Pradel to Cuire, with an extension to Cuire opening in 1984. It uses overhead wires and steel wheels—the only steel-wheeled metro line in France outside Paris. Croix Paquet station claims to be the steepest metro station in Europe, with an incline of 17%.
- Line D is France's first fully automatic driverless metro line. It runs from Gare de Vaise to Gare de Vénissieux and is 12.5 kilometres long with 15 stations, making it the longest line. It passes under both the Rhône and Saône rivers. Trains use rubber tyres and infrared sensors to detect obstructions.
In addition to the metro, the TCL network includes:
- Trams: Seven tram lines (T1–T7) operate from 5 am to 12:30 am daily, serving areas not reached by the metro.
- Buses: Over 100 bus lines cover the city and suburbs, running 5 am to 12:30 am daily. Night buses operate Thursday to Saturday from 1:15 am to 4:50 am.
- Funiculars: Two funicular railways (Fourvière and Saint-Just) connect lower and upper parts of the city.
- River shuttle (Vaporetto): A water shuttle operates on the Saône river between Vieux-Lyon and Confluence, with four stops and departures every 1 hour 20 minutes, running 1:30 pm to 6:50 pm daily.
Tickets & fares
Lyon uses an integrated ticketing system across metro, trams, buses, and most funiculars. The network is divided into six fare zones; zones 1 and 2 cover the central areas including all metro lines.
Contactless payment
By far the easiest method is to tap any contactless bank card (Visa, Mastercard, or CB), including Google Pay or Apple Pay, directly at the ticket gates. As of 2026, you are charged €2.10 per 1-hour journey, up to a cap of €6.30 per day. Each journey includes unlimited transfers between all modes of transport within the 1-hour window.
Ticket and pass types
The following fares are approximate and subject to change:
- Single ticket (1 hour): €2.10 (€2 at some sources) – valid for any mode of transport; includes unlimited transfers within the hour.
- Booklet of 10 single tickets (carnet): €19.50 (€1.95 per ticket); can be shared among groups.
- 2-hour ticket: €3.60.
- Evening ticket (soirée): €3.60 – unlimited travel from 7 pm to end of service.
- Day pass (Liberté 1 jour): €6.70–€6.90 – unlimited travel from start to end of service (approximately 5 am to midnight, not a full 24 hours).
- 24-hour pass: €6.90.
- 48-hour pass: €13.
- 72-hour pass: €18.
- Monthly pass (ages 18–25): €25.
- Monthly pass (26–27-year-old students): €25.
- Funicular round-trip ticket: €3.50 (valid for both Fourvière and Saint-Just funiculars on the same day).
- River shuttle (Vaporetto) single ticket: €5; children 5–12: €3; under 5: free.
Tickets purchased from a bus driver cost €2.30, which is more expensive than buying from a machine.
Where and how to buy
- Ticket machines at metro and tram stations and major bus stops. Machines accept credit and debit cards and offer an English language option.
- TCL agencies (service points) including one at Part-Dieu train station and at Place Bellecour.
- On buses (credit card payment only).
- TCL mobile app (available for iPhone and Android) with journey planner and interactive map.
- Directly via contactless bank card at station gates.
Tourist passes
The Lyon City Card offers free travel on all public transport (metro, tram, bus, funiculars) and includes discounts at museums and attractions. Multi-day passes are available; the 48-hour and 72-hour passes listed above are the closest equivalents for visitors, though specific tourist package pricing is not detailed in the available sources.
From the airport
Lyon–Saint-Exupéry Airport (LYS) is located approximately 25 km east of the city centre. Several public transport options connect the airport to Lyon:
- RhônExpress (light rail): The fastest and most reliable option, taking under 30 minutes to reach the city. Trains run between 4:25 am and midnight, departing every 15 minutes from 6 am to 9 pm, then every 30 minutes. Adult single tickets cost €17.10 (€29.80 return); youth (12–25) €10.50 (€19.90 return). Small discounts are available for online advance booking; a €4 surcharge applies for on-board purchase. Tickets are free for children under 12 or if you are connecting to a TGV service. The RhônExpress connects to Line A of the metro at Vaulx-en-Velin La Soie (the second stop), which is convenient for central areas and Villeurbanne. The train offers power sockets and free WiFi. Note that the RhônExpress station requires a 10-minute walk through the TGV station if arriving at Terminal 3 (low-cost airlines).
- Bus: A budget option costing €2.10 per person. Bus 47 runs half-hourly from 6:30 am to 10 pm to Meyzieu Z.I., where you can connect to tram line T3 to the centre. Alternatively, bus C200 runs to the eastern end of Line A. The airport is in ticketing zone 2.
- Taxi: Taxis are available outside Terminal 1. Expect to pay €40–€50 depending on destination, which may be cost-effective for a group of four. Asking to be dropped at an eastern metro station (such as Vaulx-en-Velin La Soie or Mermoz-Pinel) can reduce the fare.
Etiquette & customs
Lyon's public transport system follows standard French conventions. While no specific local customs are documented in the sources, general French metro practice applies:
- Queue politely and stand aside to let passengers exit before boarding.
- On escalators, the convention in France is typically to stand on the right and allow faster passengers to walk on the left, though this is less strictly observed in Lyon than in Paris.
- Priority seating is designated for elderly passengers, people with disabilities, and pregnant women; offer your seat if needed.
- The system can be occasionally disrupted by strikes, which are a normal (though sometimes inconvenient) part of French labour culture.
Official links
Survival terms
- Métro (métro): Metro / underground railway
- Ticket (billet): Ticket
- Ligne (ligne): Line
- Entrée (entrée): Entrance
- Sortie (sortie): Exit
- Correspondance (correspondance): Transfer
- Tarif unique (tarif unique): Single fare
- Abonnement journalier (abonnement journalier): Day pass
Always validate your ticket at the turnstile or on boarding to avoid a fine, and keep it with you throughout your journey in case of inspection.