Hi !
Lyon will be our last stop in our 32 days trip around France. We (2 adults and 2 kids) will arrive with our rental car. We have a flight to catch at 13:00 to go back home so no rush there.
What would be the best location ? I guess it would be better to drop the car while arriving in lyon.
Thanks !
Return the car to the airport,otherwise you will need some sort of transportation to get you there.
Mike
Not sure what you are asking. Do you just want to return the car and fly out or do you want to spend a day or more visiting Lyon?
If you want to visit the city then drop the car where ever you can and visit the city for a day or two and then take the train to the airport. It goes from the main train station in the center of the city to the airport in half an hour and runs frequently.
Maybe I was not clear.
We arrive in Lyon on august 9. We will have our rental car. We leave from Lyon august 11. Questions:
1) Should we park the car and keep it for going back to airport (30 days rental il more or less the same price than 32 days)
2) What would be a good location for a short stay in Lyon ?
So, what would be the best neighborhood to stay for a short visit to Lyon ? Somewhere where we can easily drop the car, enjoy our 2 nights and take the train to the airport to go back home ?
Lyon isn't a bad place to have a car if you want one, or will need it afterwards. There are at least a few good day trip options from Lyon.
In terms of best area to stay my favorites:
The old city center between the funicular and the river is the best area. Most of the sights are close and there are lots of restaurant choices within walking distance. The funicular marks the start of a steep hill. The hill is roughly parallel to the river, so look in the band along the river and avoid staying on the steep part (from personal experience).
If you can't find something there, directly across the river from that area (between the rivers) would be my second choice.
Thanks Brad !
We have only 2 nights in Lyon so we sont be making daytrip, And we will be at the end of our trip so no need for a car after our 2 nights stay.
The Rhone Express train to St Exupery Airport departs from Part-Dieu station on the east side of town. If memory serves, there are several rental agencies located there. Check with the agency you will be using. There is a Metro station there for quick access to the city center and the rest of Lyon. You can get a multi-day transit pass for your stay. Its a built up area with a shopping mall, large hotels likes Ibis and Radisson Blu. Not very "French", if you get my meaning. For that you should be in the city center.
A very short visit suggests a location closest to the sights of interest. Do you know what those are, for your family?
For me they would probably be the old town and the Roman antiquities and museums. For that I would probably look for a base in the Presque Isle near Place Bellecour, or in the Old Town itself.
But there are many other points if interest in Lyon that might be more compelling for you. In which case, stay near them.
Incidentally the city card available from the TI in Bellecour is a great deal.
Under no circumstances should you keep your car in Lyon. The easiest place to return if you're driving in from outside Lyon is Perrache. Then you can stay someplace in the center and either take the Rhone Express or a taxi to the airport.
