Lyon Public Transportation Saving Tips: Discount Tickets and Package Tickets Guide
Lyon is the second largest city in France, famous for its long history, food culture and diverse public transportation system. For travelers, how to travel around the city in the most economical and affordable way is a very worthy concern.
Lyon’s public transportation is operated by TCL (Transports en Commun Lyonnais), with a well-developed network and comprehensive coverage. By choosing discount tickets and package tickets reasonably, you can not only save a lot of money, but also get greater convenience and comfort during the tour.
1. Overview of Lyon Public Transportation: Network and Ticketing System
TCL Public Transportation Network
Lyon’s public transportation network includes:
Metro (Métro): There are 4 lines (A, B, C, D) covering the city center and major attractions.
Tramway (Tramway): 6 lines connecting the city and the surrounding areas.
Bus (Bus): Covers the entire Greater Lyon area, including night routes.
Funiculaire (Funiculaire): Connecting the old town and Fourvière Hill, a great way to visit Lyon.
The entire network operates efficiently and can be almost seamlessly connected, making it very convenient for tourists to switch between different modes of transportation.
Basic ticket information
Lyon’s public transportation ticketing system is managed uniformly, and all ticket types can be used for the above four modes of transportation. The fare system is based on time, and you can transfer to the subway, tram, bus and cable car as many times as you want during the use period. The standard single ticket (Ticket à l’unité) is valid for 1 hour and is suitable for short trips or occasional rides.
For travelers who want to explore Lyon in depth or stay for a long time, flexible and preferential discount tickets and package tickets are more cost-effective.
2. One-time trip? First understand the standard ticket and 10-trip ticket
Single ticket (Ticket à l’unité)
The single ticket is the most basic ticket type, valid for 1 hour, and you can transfer to the subway, tram, bus and cable car as many times as you want during this period. Suitable for short-distance or temporary travel, the ticket price is about 2 euros.
10-trip ticket (Carnet de 10 tickets)
Compared with the one-way ticket, the 10-trip ticket is an economical choice. Buying 10 one-way tickets at a time usually costs between 16-18 euros, which is equivalent to about 1.6 euros per trip, saving about 20% of the cost. The 10-trip ticket has no time limit and is suitable for travelers who need to travel multiple times within a few days or for family sharing.
Applicable people
The 10-trip ticket is suitable for tourists with short stays and relatively scattered itineraries. For travelers who travel less than 3-4 times a day and have a relatively flexible itinerary, this is a good discount option.
3. All-day travel? One-day ticket (Ticket 1 Jour) and multi-day ticket (Ticket 2/3 Jours)
One-day ticket (Ticket 1 Jour)
The one-day ticket allows unlimited travel on all TCL transportation within 24 hours, and the fare is about 6 euros. It is very suitable for intensive tours, short-term business visits or situations where frequent transfers are required.
2-day and 3-day tickets (Ticket 2/3 Jours)
2-day ticket (Ticket 2 Jours): valid for 48 hours, fare is about 12 euros.
3-day ticket (Ticket 3 Jours): valid for 72 hours, fare is about 16 euros.
Advantages and applicable groups
One-day and multi-day tickets are more suitable for the following situations:
Tourists plan to visit multiple attractions in one day and need to frequently change subways and trams.
Tight itineraries and high travel needs.
Travelers who like to arrange their itineraries flexibly and travel at will.
4. The first choice for long-term stays: Weekly Ticket (Abonnement Hebdomadaire)
Weekly Ticket Overview
For tourists staying in Lyon for a week or more, the weekly ticket is a cost-effective option. The weekly ticket allows unlimited use of all public transportation within a week, and the fare is about 20 euros.
Purchase time and precautions
The weekly ticket is valid from Monday to Monday and can be purchased at any time during the week, but the ticket validity period always starts on Monday and ends on Sunday.
Suitable for mid- to long-term travelers who are traveling for work, exchange studies, or in-depth tours.
5. Exclusive offers: youth tickets, senior tickets, and discounts for special groups
Youth tickets (Tarif Réduit Jeune)
TCL offers discounted fares for young travelers under 26 years old, suitable for students and young tourists. You need to show your ID or student ID to buy youth tickets, and the discount is about 20-30%.
Senior tickets (Tarif Réduit Sénior)
Senior travelers aged 65 and above can enjoy senior ticket discounts. You need to bring your valid ID to the designated window to apply.
Special group discounts
People with disabilities, low-income groups, etc. can enjoy TCL’s more powerful fare reduction policy with relevant certificates.
Suitable for special groups living or visiting Lyon for a long time.
6. TCL City Card: One card in hand, more worry-free tours
City Card Overview
The City Card launched by the Lyon Tourism Bureau is a pass that integrates transportation, attraction tickets, guided tours and other functions. Includes the following major benefits:
Unlimited rides on TCL public transportation.
Free or discounted admission to many popular attractions (such as art galleries, Musee Confluence, etc.).
Discounts on city tours or cruise experiences.
City Card prices and usage
City Card is divided into 1-day, 2-day, 3-day and 4-day tickets according to the length of use, and the ticket price starts from 29 euros. For tourists who want to visit more places and experience in depth, City Card not only saves transportation costs, but also allows them to enjoy a wealth of cultural activities.
7. Purchase channels and usage guide
Purchase channels
TCL ticket vending machines: Subway and tram stations are equipped with ticket machines, which can purchase single-trip tickets, 10-trip tickets and one-day tickets.
TCL Service Center: Provides purchase and consultation services for all ticket types, suitable for weekly tickets or special discount tickets.
Lyon Tourism Center: You can purchase tourist package tickets such as City Card.
Third-party platforms: International booking platforms such as Klook and GetYourGuide also provide City Card and some ticket booking services, supporting Chinese interface and electronic ticket collection.
How to use
Single-trip tickets and multi-day tickets: After purchasing the ticket, you need to punch it at the gate or on the bus to take effect.
City Card: Generally a physical card or a QR code electronic ticket, which must be presented or swiped at the entrance of the attraction or the transportation gate before use.
8. Be thrifty: How to choose the best ticket type according to your itinerary?
Stay for 1-2 days: City Card or one-day ticket
If you plan to visit intensive sightseeing, City Card can enjoy transportation and attraction discounts at the same time.
If you travel frequently and for a short time, a one-day ticket is flexible and cost-effective.
Stay for 3-4 days: multi-day ticket or City Card
Multi-day tickets are very practical when staying for more than three days, saving the trouble of daily ticket purchases.
City Card can bring additional benefits if you plan to visit a large number of attractions.
Staying for more than a week: Weekly tickets
Weekly tickets are the first choice for long-term travelers, especially those who need to commute, study or work every day.
Limited trips: 10-trip tickets
The itinerary is relatively loose, and there is no need to take public transportation frequently. The 10-trip ticket is very flexible and economical.
9. Extra money-saving tips
Avoid peak times
Try to travel outside the morning peak (7:00-9:00) and evening peak (17:00-19:00) to avoid crowded carriages and experience a more comfortable journey.
Shared ticket use
The 10-trip ticket can be used by family or friends, and is an ideal choice for small groups.
Pay attention to promotions and festivals
The Lyon City Government and TCL occasionally offer free or discounted transportation days during specific festivals (such as European Cultural Night and Lyon Light Festival), which can flexibly arrange the tour itinerary.
Make good use of tourist information centers
Lyon’s tourist information centers (Office de Tourisme) are located in the city center and near major attractions. They not only provide rich city information, but also provide limited-time discount ticket information during holidays or special events. When arriving in the city, travelers can visit the information center to get the latest discounts or additional attraction recommendations.
Plan your travel route in advance
Before departure, use the TCL official app or city map to plan the best route to avoid repeated detours. Reasonable itinerary planning can not only save physical energy, but also make efficient use of tickets in a short time and reduce additional expenses.
Lyon, a city that combines historical heritage and modern vitality, welcomes travelers from all over the world with a diverse public transportation system. Reasonable use of various discount tickets and package tickets can not only save money during the journey, but also add countless conveniences and fun to visiting this beautiful city.
I hope that every traveler to Lyon can enjoy the calmness and surprises brought by public transportation in the colorful streets and alleys, and experience a journey that is worth the money. Have a good trip!
