Groupama Stadium away guide

Lyon has direct UK flights, so fly into Lyon-Saint Exupéry, then take the Rhônexpress tram to Part-Dieu, about 30 minutes (Rhônexpress), and a T3 or T7 tram east to the ground. Away fans sit in the parcage visiteurs, an upper corner under the roof, kept apart from OL's two ultras ends (Stadium Traveller). Allocation runs to roughly 2,800 for a big European tie (Man Utd).

Fast facts

Getting there from the UK

Lyon is one of the rare French away days with direct UK flights, so the straight hop into Lyon-Saint Exupéry is usually best: easyJet flies direct from Manchester, London Gatwick and Luton, Bristol, Birmingham, Liverpool and Belfast (Lyon Aéroport). If that fare spikes or sells out for a big tie, two backdoors are worth pricing up: Geneva is only about two hours away by coach or train and has far more UK flights, and Paris plus a TGV to Part-Dieu gets you in from almost anywhere. Here are the ways in and roughly what each costs and takes.

Costs are rough estimates and swing hard with how early you book and whether the tie falls in a school holiday. On the direct route add roughly €17 each way for the Rhônexpress and €2 to €4 for local trams (Rhônexpress, TCL). The Geneva coach starts around £12 and the train around £25 (FlixBus, Trainline), and the Paris to Part-Dieu TGV runs from about £20 in advance (Trainline).

Getting there from the airport

From Lyon-Saint Exupéry take the Rhônexpress tram, which runs every 15 minutes and reaches Part-Dieu in about 30 minutes for roughly €17 one way (Rhônexpress). On matchdays you can alight at Vaulx-en-Velin La Soie and pick up a shuttle to the stadium, or run through to Part-Dieu for your onward tram or shuttle (This Is Lyon). Public transport is the sensible choice over driving. Stadium car parking is €15 and must be booked in advance (This Is Lyon).

Getting there from Lyon city centre

The ground is in Décines-Charpieu, roughly 10 km east of the centre, so plan on about 40 minutes door to door (Stadium Traveller). The simplest route is tram T3 from Part-Dieu heading east to Décines Grand Large, about 700 to 800 m and a 10 to 12 minute walk from the turnstiles (Football Ground Guide). Alternatively take Metro Line A to its terminus at Vaulx-en-Velin La Soie and board a match-day shuttle, which run from about two hours before kickoff with the last departure around 23:50 (This Is Lyon). Tram T7 runs to Décines – OL Vallée right beside the ground, and both T7 and T3 are reinforced from 17:00 to 18:30 on matchdays (OL Vallée).

A standard T3 or T7 tram uses a normal TCL ticket, which must be validated and is not included with your match ticket. The free direct match-day shuttles from Part-Dieu Villette, Vaulx-en-Velin La Soie and Meyzieu-les-Panettes need advance online reservation and are not sold on site (OL Vallée).

Where the away section is

Away supporters are placed in the parcage visiteurs, an upper corner under the roof, kept separate from OL's active home ends in the north and south virages, where the ultras and organised groups sit (Stadium Traveller). The exact corner is assigned per fixture, so check your ticket: for a recent European tie Manchester United's 2,846 away fans were in the north-east corner second tier, blocks 428 to 431, with netting obscuring some sightlines (Man Utd). One away-day report describes the visiting section as the highest and most remote part of the stadium, reached by a long climb of stairs, with small toilets and a kiosk that ran out of water by half-time (Football Ground Guide).

After matches the stadium releases blocks of fans to the trams in timed waves to manage crowd flow, so expect a staggered exit (En Tribunes).

Where to stay

Base yourself in central Lyon rather than out by the ground, which is a leisure park with little around it. The Presqu'île between the Rhône and Saône, around Place Bellecour and Part-Dieu, keeps you close to bars, food and the T3 tram east to the stadium. Vieux Lyon across the Saône is more atmospheric but hillier. Part-Dieu is the practical pick if you want the station and the Rhônexpress on your doorstep (This Is Lyon).

Where to drink

Most away fans spend the early part of the day in the centre and tram out later. A pint runs roughly €6 to €10, with the English and Irish pubs at the top of that range.

• The Elephant & Castle (16 Quai de Bondy, Vieux Lyon): English pub that fills with visiting fans, big screens, John Bull on tap, pints around €10 (Elephant & Castle).
• The King Arthur (10 Rue de la Monnaie): English pub near the river, screens and a pre-match crowd, popular with travelling support (King Arthur).
• Le BERThoM Vieux Lyon (2 Place Ennemond Fousseret): big craft beer list and terrace, easy-going and central (Football Ground Guide).
• O'Malley's (near Place Bellecour): Irish bar in the heart of the Presqu'île, reliable for a screened match and a quick pint.
• The Smoking Dog (Vieux Lyon): long-running English pub, busy when England or the big ties are on.

The OL Vallée leisure complex next to the ground has bars and restaurants open on matchdays if you would rather arrive early and drink out there (This Is Lyon). Keep colours sensible around the home virages and the trams out to Décines, where the atmosphere is more partisan.

Where to eat

Lyon calls itself the gastronomic capital of France, and the thing to do is eat in a bouchon, a small traditional restaurant serving hearty Lyonnais cooking. The dishes to try are quenelles (pike dumplings in a creamy crayfish sauce), the pink praline tart, andouillette sausage, cervelle des canuts (a herbed cheese spread) and tablier de sapeur (breaded tripe).

• Les Ventres Jaunes (Vieux Lyon): central, terrace for people-watching, affordable classic bouchon plates.
• L'Auberge des Canuts (Vieux Lyon): certified bouchon doing andouillette, cervelle des canuts and quenelle.
• Bouchon Les Lyonnais (Vieux Lyon): well-regarded traditional bouchon, book ahead.
• La Mère Jean (Presqu'île): long-standing institution for quenelles de brochet and tarte à la praline.
• Les Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse (Part-Dieu): covered food market for a quick sit-down, oysters, charcuterie and pralines under one roof.
• Quick option: grab a praline brioche from any Lyon bakery on the way to the tram.

What to do

• Basilique Notre-Dame de Fourvière: Lyon's landmark hilltop basilica, austere outside and richly decorated within, with the best panorama over the city and the Alps behind (Voyage Tips).
• Vieux Lyon: one of Europe's largest Renaissance old towns, with Saint-Jean cathedral and its astronomical clock.
• Traboules: the covered passageways threading through Vieux Lyon and Croix-Rousse, around 200 of them, built for the silk trade.
• Musée des Confluences: striking glass-and-steel science and anthropology museum where the Rhône and Saône meet.
• Parc de la Tête d'Or: 117-hectare park with a lake, free zoo, botanical garden and rose gardens (Lyon Tourist Office).
• Roman theatres of Fourvière: ancient amphitheatres beside the basilica, free to wander.
• Fourvière funicular: the short cable railway from Vieux-Lyon metro up the hill, worth it for the ride and the view.

Common questions

How do I get from Lyon airport to the stadium?

Take the Rhônexpress tram from Lyon-Saint Exupéry, which runs every 15 minutes for about €17 one way (Rhônexpress). Alight at Vaulx-en-Velin La Soie for a match-day shuttle to the ground, or continue to Part-Dieu and take the T3 tram east to Décines Grand Large, then walk about 10 minutes (This Is Lyon).

Which airport do I fly to for Lyon, and is there a direct flight?

Fly to Lyon-Saint Exupéry (LYS). You do not need a hub-and-train detour: easyJet flies direct from Manchester, London Gatwick and Luton, Bristol, Birmingham, Liverpool and Belfast (Lyon Aéroport). Flights run about 1h40 to 1h50. It is one of the more straightforward French away days for that reason.

Where do away fans sit at the Groupama Stadium?

In the parcage visiteurs, an upper corner under the roof, kept apart from OL's ultras in the north and south virages (Stadium Traveller). The exact corner is set per fixture. For a recent European tie the away end was the north-east corner second tier, blocks 428 to 431 (Man Utd). Check your ticket for the block.

How big is the away allocation?

It varies by competition and fixture. For a recent European night Lyon gave the visiting club about 2,846 tickets, with over 3,000 fans expected to travel (Man Utd). Domestic Ligue 1 allocations are typically smaller. Always buy through your own club's official away scheme rather than resale.

What time should I get to the ground?

Give yourself plenty of time. The stadium is 10 km out and the trams get very busy, so leave the centre at least 90 minutes before kickoff (Stadium Traveller). Every spectator goes through a double security check, a bag inspection and a pat-down, which slows entry (OL Vallée). Aim to be at the turnstiles a good 45 minutes early.

Can you drink alcohol inside the stadium?

Beer is generally sold in the concourses, though the away kiosk facilities are basic and one report noted the water ran out by half-time (Football Ground Guide). Alcohol sales can be restricted for higher-risk fixtures at the authorities' discretion, as is common in France. Do most of your drinking in town beforehand.

How much is a beer in Lyon?

Roughly €6 to €10 for a pint. Standard French bars sit at the lower end, while the English and Irish pubs favoured by travelling fans, such as the Elephant & Castle, charge around €10, sometimes with cheaper pre-match offers (Elephant & Castle).

Is Lyon safe for away fans?

Lyon is a large, welcoming city and the centre is fine for the usual city-break sense. The specific flashpoints are around the home virages inside the ground and on the packed trams out to Décines, where OL's ultras are organised. One away-day report noted trouble after the final whistle at a high-profile tie (Football Ground Guide). Keep colours low-key on public transport and follow police direction on exit.

Which areas are good for away fans?

Vieux Lyon along the Saône has the English and Irish pubs the travelling crowd tends to gravitate to, and the Presqu'île around Place Bellecour is full of bars and restaurants (Football Ground Guide). Both are central and connect easily to the T3 tram east. The OL Vallée complex by the ground also has bars open on matchdays.

Does my match ticket include free local transport?

No. Unlike some European grounds, a Groupama Stadium ticket does not cover TCL travel. A standard single tram or metro ticket is about €2.10 in the central zones (TCL). The exception is the free direct match-day shuttles from Part-Dieu Villette, Vaulx-en-Velin La Soie and Meyzieu, which need advance online reservation (OL Vallée).

How far is the stadium from the city centre?

About 10 km east, in Décines-Charpieu, which is roughly 40 minutes door to door by tram (Stadium Traveller). The ground is not in central Lyon, so you will not stumble on it, plan the tram out and back deliberately. The nearest stop for away fans is usually Décines Grand Large on the T3, a short walk from the turnstiles (Football Ground Guide).

What can I bring into the stadium?

Bags are discouraged and any bag must not exceed 30 x 20 x 10 cm, with nothing larger than A4 accepted (OL Vallée). Only transparent flexible plastic bottles under 50 cl are allowed. Pyrotechnics, flares, cans, glass, cameras and external batteries are all banned. A cloakroom for prohibited items costs €3 and sits at the bottom of the north and south access ramps (OL Vallée).

Where should I stay?

Central Lyon, not out by the ground. The Presqu'île around Place Bellecour puts you among the bars and food with the T3 tram east on hand, Vieux Lyon is more characterful but hilly, and Part-Dieu is handiest for the station and the Rhônexpress from the airport (This Is Lyon). Book early for a big European night, when rooms go fast and prices climb.