Lyon
Lyon is 150 km from Geneva Airport, about 1 h 45 by motorway, crossing the border into France soon after you leave the airport. France's third city sits where the Rhône and the Saône meet, and is known for its Renaissance old town, its Roman hill of Fourvière and a food culture that has made it a byword for French cooking. AirportsTransfers.ch drives the route door to door, a useful option when you have flown into Geneva but are staying or working in Lyon.
- Distance from GVA: 150 km by road
- Drive time: about 1 h 45
- Border crossing: yes, into France
- Best for: gastronomy, history, trade fairs and business
- Getting there: A40 and A42 motorways via the Ain
Getting from Geneva Airport to Lyon
The usual route takes the A40 out of Geneva towards Bellegarde, then follows the motorway through the hills of the Bugey and the Ain before joining the A42 for the run into Lyon. It is a fast, well-maintained road. The last few kilometres can slow down at rush hour as the motorway meets the city ring roads, and arrival times vary depending on whether you are heading for the Presqu'île, the Part-Dieu district or the trade fair grounds east of the city.
For travellers with a late or early flight, a private car avoids the need to connect between the airport, the Geneva railway station and a train to Lyon with luggage, and it delivers you directly to your hotel or meeting.
Old Lyon, Fourvière and the Presqu'île
Vieux Lyon, on the west bank of the Saône, is one of the largest Renaissance districts in Europe and forms part of the city's UNESCO World Heritage listing. Its cobbled streets hide the traboules, covered passages that run through buildings and courtyards from one street to the next, once used by silk workers to move fabric sheltered from the rain. Above the old town rises the hill of Fourvière, crowned by the white basilica of Notre-Dame, which can be reached on foot or by funicular. Next to the basilica are the remains of the Roman theatres of Lugdunum, the city's ancient name, and a museum devoted to the Gallo-Roman period.
Across the river lies the Presqu'île, the peninsula between the two rivers, with grand squares such as Place Bellecour and Place des Terreaux, the Musée des Beaux-Arts in a former abbey, and the main shopping streets. Further south, the modern Confluence district is home to the Musée des Confluences, a striking museum of science and anthropology at the meeting of the rivers. On the north side, the Croix-Rousse hill was the quarter of the silk workers, the canuts, and keeps tall workshop buildings with high windows designed for looms.
Eating in Lyon
Food is a central reason to visit. The traditional Lyonnais restaurant is the bouchon, a convivial place serving regional dishes such as quenelles, saucisson brioché, andouillette and the cervelle de canut cheese spread, usually with local Beaujolais or Côtes du Rhône wine. The covered market at Les Halles de Lyon is a showcase for cheeses, charcuterie and seafood, and the city has a long line of celebrated chefs. Whether your budget is modest or generous, it is hard to eat badly here.
Business, trade fairs and where to stay
Lyon is a major business centre with a large trade fair and congress activity. Eurexpo, the main exhibition centre, lies to the east, while the Cité Internationale on the edge of the Parc de la Tête d'Or hosts conferences. The Part-Dieu district around the main railway station is the core of office life. Business visitors often stay near Part-Dieu or in the Presqu'île; leisure visitors usually prefer the Presqu'île or Vieux Lyon for atmosphere.
- Pérouges, a medieval hilltop village on the road from Geneva
- The Beaujolais vineyards and their golden-stone villages
- Vienne and its Roman temple, south along the Rhône
- The Dombes, a landscape of ponds and birdlife
Practical tips
Lyon has excellent public transport, with metro, trams and funiculars, so a car is not needed in the city. Bring a passport or ID card for the border crossing. If you are visiting the Beaujolais or Pérouges on your way in or out, a stop can be built into the transfer. Summers can be hot, and the city has a pleasant autumn when the wine harvest is in full swing nearby.
Booking your Geneva Airport to Lyon transfer
Reserve with AirportsTransfers.ch and you will know the fixed price for your car or van before paying online by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay. A chauffeur follows your flight, waits for you in arrivals holding a sign with your name and stays on if you are delayed, with that time included. Child seats are provided on request, and skis or bulky items should be declared at booking. Companies can book return trips and receive invoices, and groups travel together in a Sprinter minibus. For questions, use phone or WhatsApp on +41 78 346 56 77.
