Lyon.
Flight from TLV
4h 20m
Best season
אפר–דצמ
Avg temp
17°
Currency
€ EUR · 1=₪3.52
Time zone
שעה אחת פחות מת״א
Language
צרפתית
Plug
C / E · 230V
Visa
אין צורך בוויזה לישראלים לשהייה קצרה של עד 90 יום במרחב שנגן, בכפוף לתנאי הכניסה
Safety
יעד בטוח יחסית; מומלץ להיזהר מכייסים בתחבורה הציבורית ובאזורים עמוסים, במיוחד סביב תחנת פרט-דייה
Overview
🇫🇷Lyon
🇫🇷France
Lyon is an elegant, food-focused city break filled with the Renaissance lanes of Vieux Lyon, hidden traboules and sweeping views from the Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière. Israeli travelers come for a long weekend of food markets, bouchons with fish and vegetarian choices, Presqu’île shopping and riverside walks, often adding a day in Beaujolais or Annecy.
What are you looking for?
Everything for Lyon, in one place
Pick a category and dive into its dedicated page.
Where to stay
Where to stay in Lyon
Each area and who it suits best.
Presqu’île, between Bellecour and Cordeliers
Lyon’s elegant, convenient heart, with Place Bellecour, Rue de la République shopping and restaurants within walking distance of both rivers.
Vieux Lyon and Saint-Jean
Renaissance lanes, hidden passageways and a funicular up to Fourvière create the city’s most picturesque setting, though weekends can be busy and noisy.
Croix-Rousse
A creative hilltop district with a food market, cafés, wine bars and silk-weavers’ traboules, removed from the polished feel of the center.
Part-Dieu
A modern, practical base beside the main railway station and Westfield La Part-Dieu, less romantic but excellent with children and luggage.
Tête d’Or and Brotteaux
Pleasant residential streets around Parc de la Tête d’Or offer room for children, good restaurants and quick links to the center.
Year-round weather
Year-round weather in Lyon
Temperature averages
Real climate dataינו
7°
1°
Cool
פבר
10°
2°
Cool
מרץ
14°
5°
Cool
אפר
16°
7°
Recommended
מאי
20°
11°
Recommended
יונ
27°
16°
Excellent
יול
28°
17°
Excellent
אוג
29°
17°
Excellent
ספט
23°
13°
Excellent
אוק
18°
10°
Recommended
נוב
11°
5°
Cool
דצמ
8°
2°
Cool
Most pleasant weather: יונ · יול · אוג · ספט
Peak season for Israelis (when everyone goes): אפר · מאי · יונ · ספט · אוק · דצמ
Based on a 3-year average · measured in Lyon · Open-Meteo
This week in Lyon
Measured in Lyon
19°
Partly cloudy
Next 7 days
Tap a day for hourly detail
Seasonal averages · loading live forecast…
Things to do
Things to do in Lyon
On the map
Lyon on one map
Every spot travelers love — tap a pin for photos, opening hours, navigation and booking.
Suggested plan
A perfect Lyon itinerary
Day by day, so you can picture the whole trip.
- 1
Day 1
Presqu’île and Vieux Lyon
Start at Place Bellecour, cross the Saône and enter the lanes of Saint-Jean. Visit Saint-Jean Cathedral, seek out the traboules around Rue Saint-Jean and Rue du Bœuf, then finish along the riverfront or with a drink near Cordeliers.
- 2
Day 2
Fourvière and Roman Lyon
Take the funicular to the Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière and its sweeping city view. Continue to the Roman theaters and Lugdunum Museum, then walk down through the Rosary Gardens into Vieux Lyon.
- 3
Day 3
Croix-Rousse and Tête d’Or
Begin at the Boulevard de la Croix-Rousse market and explore the silk-weaving heritage at Maison des Canuts and through the neighborhood’s traboules. Spend the afternoon at Parc de la Tête d’Or, whose lake, botanical garden and open lawns are particularly good for families.
- 4
Day 4
Confluence and Lyonnais food
Head to the meeting point of the rivers and the striking Musée des Confluences, whose nature, science and culture collections also make it ideal for a rainy day. Continue along the docks and contemporary Confluence architecture, then dine at a restaurant checked in advance for your kosher requirements or stock up near the Jewish community.
- 5
Day 5
Beaujolais escape
Rent a car for the day or join a guided tour north into Beaujolais and its golden-stone villages. Stop in Ozen, Oingt and at viewpoints among the vineyards; those staying in Lyon can instead visit the Cinema and Miniature Museum and shop around Presqu’île.
Quick game
Not sure yet? Find your travel type
30 fun seconds, then personal picks of the best spots for you here.
Quick game
What's your Lyon travel type?
Question 1 of 5
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Budget
How much does Lyon cost?
Real ILS price ranges, so you know what to expect.
Round-trip flight from TLV
₪900-2,100 (usually connecting)
Mid-range hotel nightly
₪450-750 (double room)
Restaurant meal
₪75-140 (per person)
Local beer
₪25-38
Coffee
₪10-18
Short taxi ride
₪45-75
Rental car daily
₪180-330 (before parking)
Daily budget per person
₪350-600 (excluding hotel)
Good to know
Good to know before Lyon
Getting around
From the airport
From Lyon–Saint Exupéry Airport, the Rhônexpress reaches Part-Dieu station in about 30 minutes and costs roughly ₪65-75 each way; advance online fares may be cheaper. A taxi to central Lyon generally takes 30-45 minutes and costs about ₪210-270, depending on traffic and time.
Need a car?
No, not within Lyon. The metro, trams, buses and funiculars cover the main sights well, while central parking is expensive and Vieux Lyon is awkward to drive through. A car becomes worthwhile only for trips into Beaujolais, Annecy or the Alpine regions.
Tips
A TCL day pass is good value if you make at least three journeys and also covers the funiculars to Fourvière and Saint-Just. Allow extra connection time at Part-Dieu: the station is large and busy, and walking between platforms, metro and tram stops can take a while.
Kosher & Jewish
Chabad / community
Lyon has a substantial Jewish community and active synagogues, with most Jewish services concentrated in the 6th arrondissement and Villeurbanne rather than Vieux Lyon. Chabad Lyon operates in the Brotteaux area of the central 6th arrondissement and generally offers prayers, Shabbat meals and traveler assistance by prior arrangement; confirm current times, address and security procedures directly before visiting.
Kosher food
Kosher restaurants, bakeries and grocery shops are found mainly in the 6th arrondissement and Villeurbanne, but the selection is far smaller than in Paris and opening hours vary. Observant travelers typically reserve meals and Shabbat arrangements in advance, shop near the community hubs and choose accommodation with a refrigerator and kitchenette. Elsewhere, sealed certified products and fresh produce are practical options, but an uncertified vegetarian or fish restaurant is not kosher.
Travel insurance
Travel insurance for Lyon 🇫🇷
A hospital day in Lyon can cost thousands. Full coverage with Hebrew support.
- Medical + hospital 24/7
- Trip cancellation
- Baggage
- Gadgets & pre-existing conditions
Currency & rates
Live rateCurrency & rates
Quick conversion at today's rate
Convert
You get
351.8
1 EUR
₪3.52
100 EUR
₪351.8
1,000 EUR
₪3,518
Source: exchangerate-api · updated Sep 14 · refreshes daily
Visa & documents
Visa & documents for Lyon 🇫🇷
What you need before you fly
- אין צורך בוויזה לישראלים לשהייה קצרה של עד 90 יום במרחב שנגן, בכפוף לתנאי הכניסה
- Passport valid 6 months
- Travel insurance, leave details for a quote
Local tips
Good to know about Lyon
- 🚇A TCL day pass pays off after just a few metro, tram and bus rides, and it must be validated whenever you board, including when changing lines.
- ✈️From Saint-Exupéry Airport, the Rhônexpress reaches Part-Dieu in about 30 minutes and costs roughly ₪65 each way, so couples and families should compare it with a taxi fare in advance.
- 🛏️For a first visit, choose a hotel on the Presqu'île between Cordeliers and Bellecour rather than beside Part-Dieu station, so the old town, rivers, restaurants and shopping are all walkable.
- 🕳️Most traboules pass through residential buildings, so enter only doors marked as open to the public, keep your voice down and never force coded entrances.
- ✡️Most kosher options are concentrated in Villeurbanne and the 6th arrondissement, so verify supervision and opening hours that day and arrange Shabbat meals in advance with the community or Chabad.
- 🛍️Do not leave shopping for Sunday, when many stores close, and around Part-Dieu and on the metro keep your phone and wallet in an inside pocket, especially during rush hour.
מאיה רוזן
Senior agent · Greece for 12 years
"To me, Lyon feels like Paris without the pressure: elegant, delicious and easy to explore, yet proudly local rather than touristy. Israelis tend to fall for it the moment they emerge from a dark Vieux Lyon traboule into a quiet, light-filled Renaissance courtyard."
Loves
My sunset secret is Jardin des Curiosités in Saint-Just, a small garden with sweeping views over the rooftops, rivers and, on clear days, the Alps. It is far calmer than the Fourvière viewpoint and perfect with a pastry and coffee picked up along the way.
Skip
I avoid the restaurants with picture menus along Rue Saint-Jean, where you mostly pay for the location and may accidentally order traditional Lyonnais dishes that are unsuitable for kosher-observant travelers.
Boutique pick
I start with the funicular up to Fourvière Basilica before the tour groups arrive, walk down through the gardens into the traboules of Vieux Lyon, then continue for a kosher lunch in Villeurbanne. In the afternoon, I plan a route through the Croix-Rousse murals and local market before descending to the Saône, with sunset at Jardin des Curiosités.
Client stories
What returning travelers say about Lyon
"We happily got lost in the traboules of Vieux Lyon, rode the funicular to Fourvière and ended with a sunset view we simply did not want to leave."
Noa and Yoav
Couples’ weekend in Lyon
"The children loved the animals and lake at Parc de la Tête d’Or, then became completely absorbed in the sets and models at the Miniature and Cinema Museum."
The Cohen Family
Family city break
"We started the morning among the stalls of Les Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse, explored Croix-Rousse and finished with drinks along the Rhône."
Itay, Roy and Daniel
Friends’ food-focused getaway
FAQ
Common questions about Lyon
Do Israelis need a visa for Lyon?
Israeli passport holders do not need a visa for a tourist visit to Lyon or France of up to 90 days in any 180-day period, subject to current European entry requirements.
When is the best time to fly to Lyon?
The best times to visit Lyon are May to June and September to October, when the weather is pleasant, terraces are lively and crowds are relatively manageable.
How many days do you need in Lyon, and is it better for couples or families?
Three full days are ideal for Lyon, which suits couples with its old town and dining scene and families with Parc de la Tête d’Or and the Miniature and Cinema Museum.
Are there direct flights from Tel Aviv to Lyon, and how long is the flight?
Direct flights from Tel Aviv to Lyon operate seasonally rather than daily and take about four and a half hours, while connecting itineraries usually take six to nine hours.
What is the easiest way to get around Lyon?
The easiest way around Lyon is by metro, tram and walking, with a funicular to Fourvière Basilica and the Rhônexpress train from the airport to Part-Dieu.
How much does a trip to Lyon cost?
A comfortable budget for Lyon is around ₪550 to ₪900 per person per day, including a shared double room in a central hotel, food, transport and several attractions, but excluding flights.
Is Lyon safe, and where should you go out at night?
Lyon is generally safe, though pickpockets are a concern around Part-Dieu and Perrache stations, while Presqu’île, the Rhône riverbanks and Croix-Rousse are the main nightlife areas.
What can you do in Lyon without a beach, and is kosher food available?
Lyon has no seaside beach, but offers Vieux Lyon, the traboules, Fourvière and Saône cruises, while kosher travelers can use a limited selection of certified restaurants and shops that should be checked and booked in advance.