We are taking a Rhine cruise in September, ending in Basel and would like to do a 3-4 night "post-cruise" trip to Lyons on our own. Looking for suggestions on transportation and an itinerary. What should we do on a mini-trip to Lyons? We love wine & culture & the outdoors. Also, what is best way to get from Basel to Lyons...rent a car, take the train, or fly? What airport should we use for our return flight back to the U.S.?
Posted by
Washington DC
28083 posts
The trip from Basel to Lyon can take under 4 hours by train, so that's the way I'd do it.
The TGV will whisk you from Lyon to CDG in 2 hr. 2 min., so that's a reasonable alternative, and for many of us the flight from Paris would be a lot cheaper than trying to fly from Lyon. It's certainly worth checking on Lyon, though, because flying from Paris is going to mean spending your last night either in that city or at CDG. It would take a bit longer to get to the airport in Marseille, and I think there's zero chance a flight from Marseille would be cheaper than a flight from Paris.
Lyon is a mini-Paris with a large number of worthwhile sights. You need a guidebook so you won't miss something you'd especially enjoy. You might also try the search function, because I know there have been some earlier threads about sightseeing in Lyon. I especially enjoyed the Resistance Museum, but that period of history is a special interest of mine.
Posted by
Windsor, Ontario, Canada
4088 posts
My frequent advice here: Read the information already posted on this site:
https://search.ricksteves.com/?date_range=6m&filter=Travel+Forum&query=Lyon
Posted by
Portland, Maine
2916 posts
I suggest you take a look at flights home from Lyons. We've flown to and from Lyon from the US the last 4 years. The flights have been through Munich (Lufthansa) and Amsterdam (KLM). We've always stayed in the wonderful small town of Cremieu each time, which is about a 20 minute drive from the airport. In the more distant past we stayed in the center of Lyons the last night.
Posted by
🏝️ Hobe Sound, FL⛱️
3279 posts
I also recommend taking the train from Basel>Mulhouse>Lyon. You do not want to have a car in Lyon. As far as returning to the US, Paris might offer the fastest and least expensive flights home with direct flights to many US cities. The TGV would get to CDG in a few minutes more than 2 hours. Arrive in the evening and stay at one of the airport hotels overnight.
Lyon is the gastronomic heart of France so food and wine are excellent. The city is wonderfully walkable with a number of interesting museums, churches, neighborhoods. For a great Lyonnaise meal, visit Café des Fédérations on Rue Major Martin and have Bouchon. It is a quintessential meal in Lyon. But you will not get a table without a reservation. Here’s a link to the cafe.