Getting to Lyon for the football

Lyon has direct flights from Manchester and several London airports, so no hub detour is needed. Fly into Lyon Saint-Exupéry, take the Rhônexpress tram into town, then tram T7 out to "Décines OL Vallée" at Groupama Stadium (OL Vallée). Away fans go in a Virage end stand, upper tier, with separate access (FCN Histo).

Fast facts

Getting there from the UK

Lyon is one of the easier away days: it has direct flights from Manchester and London straight into Saint-Exupéry, so most fans just fly in (easyJet). The alternatives worth knowing are a Geneva hub, which has far more flights and can undercut Lyon fares on a busy matchday, with a quick train across, and a no-fly route by Eurostar and TGV via Paris. Whichever you pick, the last legs are the Rhônexpress into town and tram T7 out to the ground.

Costs are estimates and swing hard on how far ahead you book and whether it is a matchday weekend.

Getting into Lyon: airport and stations

Fly into Lyon Saint-Exupéry (LYS), east of the city, and take the Rhônexpress tram-shuttle. It runs roughly every 15 minutes and reaches Lyon Part-Dieu in about 30 minutes, and it is the official link into town (This is Lyon).

Fares are cheapest online: an adult single is €16.00 online against €17.10 at the machine, a return is €28.00, 12-25s pay €10.50 single or €19.90 return, and under-12s go free. Buying on board adds a €4 surcharge, so buy online before you travel (Rhônexpress).

The Rhônexpress terminates at Gare de Lyon Part-Dieu; follow signs marked "Porte Alpes" for the correct exit. Part-Dieu is Lyon's main TGV hub, with Perrache the secondary central station (This is Lyon). From Part-Dieu, the metro and tram network reaches Bellecour and the Presqu'île in a few minutes, and tram T1 links to Confluence (This is Lyon).

Getting out to Groupama Stadium

The stadium is in Décines-Charpieu, about 12km east of the centre by road, with little around it, so base yourself in town and travel out for the match (This is Lyon).

The regular route is tram T7 to "Décines OL Vallée", the stop directly in front of the stadium. Alternatively, take tram T3 to "Décines Grand Large", then bus 85 or a walk of about 800m, roughly 10 minutes (OL Vallée).

On match days, direct shuttle trams run from Part-Dieu (Villette Sud) in under 20 minutes, and from Vaulx-en-Velin La Soie at the end of metro line A in under 15 minutes. A valid TCL ticket is required to ride (OL Vallée).

Driving is discouraged: on-site parking must be booked in advance through the ticket platform, and organisers push public transport. Taxis run €60 or more for the round trip (This is Lyon).

Getting around the city

Lyon's TCL network covers everywhere a visitor needs, with metro lines A to D, trams, buses and funiculars. A single ticket is valid for 1 hour with unlimited transfers (Lyon Mobilité).

A single ticket costs about €2.10 for zones 1-2, rising to €2.40 if bought on board; day and 10-trip tickets are available on the TCL e-Ticket app or from station machines (Lyon Mobilité). Metro line D serves both Bellecour, in the centre, and Vieux Lyon, and funiculars run up Fourvière hill from Vieux Lyon (This is Lyon).

Inside the stadium and away allocation

Groupama Stadium opened on 9 January 2016, holds 59,186 and cost around €480 million, replacing the old Stade de Gerland (Wikipedia). The loudest home support sits in the North Stand, so visiting fans are put at the other end. The away section is a Virage end stand on the upper level (the 3e anneau), with its own access near the away parking so home and visiting fans do not cross (FCN Histo). Allocation for European ties is typically around 3,000, roughly the UEFA 5% share, though it varies by fixture (Football Ground Guide).

Where visiting fans stay

Most fans base themselves in the Presqu'île, the peninsula between the Rhône and Saône around Bellecour and Terreaux, or in Vieux Lyon, the Old Town. Both are central, walkable and full of bars and restaurants, and both put you a short metro or tram ride from Part-Dieu for the matchday shuttle (Visiter Lyon).

Where to drink

The stadium is out in Décines with nothing around it, so do your drinking in town before heading out on the tram. A pint runs about €6 to €8 (50cl), with happy-hour deals down to €3 to €4 in places (Expatistan).

• The Wallace Bar, 2 rue Octavio Mey, Vieux Lyon 5e: large British-style pub with big screens for sport, the default away-fan meeting point (Visiter Lyon).
• The Smoking Dog, Vieux Lyon: small, long-standing English pub with a welcoming crowd and decent food (Football Ground Guide).
• Elephant & Castle, Vieux Lyon: established English pub that shows live sport (Visiter Lyon).
• The Antidote, central Lyon: Irish-themed bar with a lively matchday atmosphere (Football Ground Guide).
• Around Place des Terreaux, Presqu'île: cluster of bars and terraces if you want French rather than expat pubs.

Avoid drifting to Part-Dieu and Guillotière late at night; they are the areas locals flag for pickpockets and hassle after dark (Eurovista Trips).

Where to eat

Lyon is France's food capital, and the thing to try is a bouchon: a small traditional bistro serving Lyonnais classics. The local dish is the quenelle, a light pike dumpling in a rich Nantua (crayfish) sauce; also look for andouillette sausage and cervelle de canut, a herby fresh cheese spread. A multi-course set menu at a bouchon runs about €25 to €40 (The Tour Guy).

• Le Bouchon des Filles, Presqu'île: women-run bouchon, modern take on the classics, set dinner around €28 (Frenchly).
• Le Poêlon d'Or: award-winning bouchon known for its pike quenelle au gratin (The Tour Guy).
• Le Bouchon des Cordeliers, Presqu'île: traditional, good value, the full Lyonnais range from quenelle to tête de veau (The Tour Guy).
• Les Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse: covered food market, good for a quick sit-down plate or takeaway before the tram (Offbeat France).
• Bouchons around Rue des Marronniers, Presqu'île: a short street packed with tourist-friendly bouchons if you just want to walk up and pick one.

What to do

• Basilique Notre-Dame de Fourvière: hilltop basilica, free to enter, with the best panoramic view over the city from the terrace behind (Offbeat France).
• Vieux Lyon: the Renaissance old town, free to wander, all cobbled streets, courtyards and bouchons.
• The traboules: hidden covered passageways between streets, built for the silk trade and now a way to cut through the old town (Offbeat France).
• Musée des Confluences: striking contemporary science and anthropology museum at the southern tip of the Presqu'île where the two rivers meet.
• Parc de la Tête d'Or: one of France's largest city parks, free, with a lake, botanical garden and a small zoo.
• Place Bellecour: vast central square and the natural meeting point, with the metro and city walk from there.
• The Fourvière funicular: short ride up the hill from Vieux Lyon on a TCL ticket, worth it for the climb and the Roman theatres near the top.

Common questions

How do I get from the airport to Groupama Stadium?

Take the Rhônexpress tram from Lyon Saint-Exupéry to Part-Dieu, about 30 minutes and every 15 minutes (Rhônexpress). From Part-Dieu, on match days there is a direct shuttle tram to the stadium (Villette Sud) in under 20 minutes, or tram T7 to "Décines OL Vallée" (OL Vallée). You need a valid TCL ticket to ride.

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

Fly to Lyon Saint-Exupéry (LYS). There are direct flights from Manchester (easyJet and Jet2) and from several London airports including Gatwick and Luton (easyJet), so you do not need a hub or a train across (easyJet). Flight time is roughly two hours from Manchester and about 1h50 from London (FlightsFrom).

Where do away fans sit?

In a Virage end stand on the upper level, the 3e anneau, at the opposite end to Lyon's loudest home support in the North Stand. The away section has its own access near the away parking so the two sets of fans do not cross (FCN Histo).

What is the away allocation?

For European ties it is typically around 3,000, roughly the UEFA 5% share of the 59,186 capacity, though the exact figure varies by fixture and competition (Football Ground Guide). Buy through your own club's official away allocation rather than the general sale.

What time should I get to the ground?

The stadium is 12km out with limited amenities around it, and the trams get busy, so allow a good hour to get from the centre and through the turnstiles. Aim to leave town at least 90 minutes before kick-off, more for a big European night when the shuttles queue (This is Lyon).

Can I drink in the ground?

France restricts alcohol sales inside football stadiums, so do not count on a pint at your seat. Concourse offerings are limited and often alcohol-free, which is another reason to drink in town beforehand (This is Lyon).

How much is a beer?

Roughly €6 to €8 for a pint (50cl) in a city-centre bar, with happy-hour deals bringing it down to about €3 to €4 in some places (Expatistan). Prices are highest in the tourist bars of Vieux Lyon.

Is Lyon safe for visiting fans?

Yes, broadly. It is France's third city with low violent crime, but petty theft and pickpocketing are the real risk, especially in crowds (Eurovista Trips). Keep bags zipped and worn across the body around Bellecour, Part-Dieu and Vieux Lyon and on metro lines A and B, and take extra care around Part-Dieu and Guillotière after dark.

Which areas are away-fan-friendly for a drink?

Vieux Lyon and the Presqu'île around Bellecour and Terreaux are the safe bets, with British and Irish pubs like the Wallace, the Smoking Dog and the Antidote used to matchday crowds (Visiter Lyon). Both districts are central and well-policed. There is nothing worth walking to near the stadium itself.

Does the match ticket include free local transport?

No. Unlike some grounds, your Lyon match ticket does not cover travel; you need a valid TCL ticket to ride the trams and matchday shuttles, about €2.10 for a single (Lyon Mobilité). Buy a couple of singles or a day ticket on the TCL app before you set off.

How far is the stadium from the city centre?

About 12km east of the centre by road, in Décines-Charpieu (This is Lyon). By tram T7 or the matchday shuttle it is roughly 20 to 30 minutes from Part-Dieu, so plan to base yourself in town and travel out rather than staying near the ground.

Where should I stay?

The Presqu'île, the peninsula around Bellecour and Terreaux, or Vieux Lyon, the old town, are the two picks. Both are central, walkable, full of bars and restaurants, and a short hop from Part-Dieu for the matchday shuttle (Visiter Lyon). Staying out near the stadium is not worth it.