Essentials
- City
- Lyon, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France
- Population
- 522,000 (Central), 2.3 million (Metro)
- Internet Speed
- Average Fiber: 400 Mbps; 5G widely available
- Currency & Banking
- 1 EUR ≈ 1.09 USD; Euro (€)
- Tap Water
- Excellent quality, safe to drink (Eau de Lyon)
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type C/E sockets
- SIM Card
- Orange, Free Mobile (Best value: €19.99/mo for 250GB), SFR, Bouygues
- Banking for Expats
- Revolut, Lydia, BNP Paribas, Société Générale
- Accommodation
- Airbnb, Studapart (for mid-term), Chez Nestor (coliving)
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, cards/contactless accepted almost everywhere including boulangeries
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb, Booking.com, Morning Croissant (approx. €1,200 - €1,800/mo for central studio)
- Budget Accommodation
- Slo Living Hostel (approx. €35/night), Away Hostel & Coffee Shop
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Vieux Lyon (Historic center) or Presqu'île (Bellecour/Hôtel de Ville)
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- 7th Arrondissement (Guillotière/Jean Macé) or Croix-Rousse (Village vibe)
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Now Coworking (Colossal space in Citroën building, €250/mo), WeWork (Part-Dieu)
- Best Cafe for Work
- Anticafé (Pay per hour: €6/hr), Puzzle Café, Slika
- Networking Events
- French Tech Lyon St-Étienne meetups, Lyon Digital Nomad Facebook group
- Social Events for Expats
- Lyon Expat & International Meetup, BlaBla Language Exchange at Kelly’s Pub
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Uber, Bolt, Freenow
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Vélo’v (City bikes: €1.80/day or €31/year), Tier, Dott
- Best Beach Nearby
- Grand Parc de Miribel-Jonage (Lakeside beach, 20 mins by bus)
- Top Regional Airline
- Air France (Hop!)
- Top International Airline
- EasyJet, Emirates, Lufthansa (via Lyon Saint-Exupéry Airport - LYS)
- Highway Access
- A6 (Paris), A7 (Marseille), A43 (Chambéry/Alps)
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Gare de Lyon-Part-Dieu (TGV hub), Gare de Perrache
- Public Transport Passes
- TCL Monthly Pass (€69.40/month), Single ticket (€2.00)
- Regional Travel
- TER Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes (Trains to Annecy, Grenoble, Vienne)
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Hôpital Édouard Herriot (Public), Infirmerie Protestante (Private)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Yoga Korner (1st Arr.), Oyoga (6th Arr.)
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Keep Cool, Wellness Sport Club (Presqu'île - approx. €49/mo)
- Laundry Services
- La Laverie (Multiple locations), Coworking Laundry (Wash + Work combos)
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- UberEats, Deliveroo
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Quenelle de brochet with Nantua sauce, Saucisson brioché
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Copper Branch, Like An Elephant (Croix-Rousse)
- Best Dessert Spots
- Praline tart from Boulangerie du Palais, Bernachon Chocolats
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Lidl, Marché de la Croix-Rousse, Aldi
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Amazon.fr, Cdiscount, Veepee
- Grocery Delivery
- Carrefour Livré chez vous, Monoprix Plus
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Rue Sainte-Catherine (Pentes de la Croix-Rousse), Saint-Jean (Vieux Lyon)
- Local Brewery
- Ninkasi (Multiple locations, try the Ninkasi Ambrée)
- Wine Bars
- La Cave des Voyageurs, L'Antidote (Excellent Beaujolais/Rhône selection)
- Street Food Stalls
- Les Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse (High-end), Food Traboule (Vieux Lyon)
- Popular International Cuisine
- Modjo (Fusion), Ramen Djibi, The Hill Club (Californian)
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière, Place Bellecour
- Museums & Art Venues
- Musée des Confluences (Modern science/anthropology), Musée des Beaux-Arts
- Historical Sites
- The Traboules (Hidden passages), Roman Theatres of Fourvière
- Religious Sites
- Lyon Cathedral (Cathédrale Saint-Jean-Baptiste)
- Annual Events
- Fête des Lumières (December 8th), Nuits Sonores (Electronic music)
- Cultural Districts
- Vieux Lyon (Renaissance district), Confluence (Eco-modernist)
- Theater Venues
- Opéra National de Lyon, Théâtre des Célestins
- Local Markets
- Marché Saint-Antoine (Riverside food market)
- Music Scene
- Le Sucre (Rooftop club), L'Auditorium de Lyon
- Street Art
- Fresque des Lyonnais, Mur des Canuts (Croix-Rousse)
- Cooking Classes
- L'Atelier des Chefs, Plum Lyon Teaching Kitchen
- Art Galleries
- Galerie Slika, Galerie Georges Verney-Carron
- Historic Buildings
- Hôtel de Ville (City Hall), Grand Hôtel-Dieu
- Local Heritage
- Guignol (Traditional puppet show heritage)
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Parc de la Tête d'Or (Urban park with zoo/lake), Monts d'Or (Hiking)
- National Parks Nearby
- Parc Naturel Régional du Pilat (1 hr drive)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Berges du Rhône (Paved riverside path for 5km+)
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Jardin des Curiosités (Best panoramic city view)
- Birdwatching Locations
- Parc de la Feyssine
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Generally prohibited in city limits; check designated zones at Lac d'Aiguebelette
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- La Poste, Relais Colis (Pickup points in shops)
- Tech Repair Services
- WeFix (in Part-Dieu mall), Apple Confluence
- Table Tennis Spots
- Parc Sergent Blandan (Outdoor tables)
- Language Classes
- Alliance Française Lyon, Inflexyon (€200-€300/week intensive)
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Bibliothèque Municipale de la Part-Dieu
- Community Centers
- MJC (Maison des Jeunes et de la Culture) - various arrondissements
- Gaming Lounges
- Meltdown Lyon (Esports bar), Arcanium
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Casino Le Lyon Vert (Located in nearby Charbonnières-les-Bains)
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €6,500 per m² (e.g., 30 m² = €195,000)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €4,200 per m² (e.g., 30 m² = €126,000 in Villeurbanne)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €6,000 per m² (e.g., 50 m² = €300,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €3,800 per m² (e.g., 50 m² = €190,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €5,800 per m² (e.g., 75 m² = €435,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €3,500 per m² (e.g., 75 m² = €262,500)
- Corporate Tax
- 25% (Standard rate in France)
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 30% (Flat tax includes social security)
- Tax System
- Worldwide income basis for residents
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 45% plus 3-4% exceptional tax on high earners
- VAT
- 20% (Standard), 10% or 5.5% (Reduced for food/books)
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, applicable to 50%+ participation in low tax zones
- Property Tax
- Taxe Foncière (Varies by arrondissement, usually 1-2 months rent equivalent)
- Property Transaction Tax
- Approx. 7-8% (Notaire fees)
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- No specific 0% nomad visa; Entrepreneurs use 'Auto-Entrepreneur' status for simplified tax (22% social contrib + income tax)