Book Cheap Flights to Lyon

About Lyon

Lyon is a beautiful destination offering modern and historical attractions in France. With over 500 000 residents, it is the third largest city in the country. Lyon gives you the opportunity to discover its combination of the past and the present. The top attractions of this metropolis include Vieux Lyon, Lyon Cathedral, and Parc de la Tête d’Or.

Get ready to explore all that this alluring city has to offer, because cheap flights to Lyon are now available for a limited time! The destination is served by the Lyon–Saint-Exupéry Airport (LYS), which is a 30-minute drive or a scenic bus ride from the city centre. This international airport serves a selection of airlines, including Air France, Swissair, and Lufthansa. Popular flights are available from Johannesburg to Lyon. The duration of the flight is approximately 13 hours and 10 minutes.

Popular flights to Lyon

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* Please note that the prices are subject to availability and block out dates do apply over peak season.

Why visit Lyon

Place des Celestins Lyon

Historical Wealth

Lyon is an official UNESCO Heritage City, with a variety of relics, ruins and monuments, including the Ancient Theatre of Fouvière and Place des Celestins.

Fresh Croissants Lyon

French Cuisine

With its reputation in the gastronomical world, Lyon offers you many top-class restaurants to discover, including La Mère Brazier, Le Tire Bouchon, and Notre Maison.

Festival of Lights Lyon

Colourful Festivals

Visit Lyon to enjoy the many festivals and international events that take place throughout the year, including the Festival of Lights and Nuits Sonores – Panorama of Electronic Music.

General information

Essential details you need to know before your trip

Country France
Currency Euro
Exchange Rate 1 ZAR = 0.07 EUR
Language French
Hub Airport Lyon–Saint-Exupéry Airport (LYS)
Airline Air France / Swissair / Lufthansa
Time Zone GMT + 1
Travel Adaptor Type E

Best time to visit Lyon

While the summer season (June to August) brings the best weather, it also brings the most tourists. This is the time you should avoid Lyon, unless you’re willing to book accommodation months in advance and access attractions with the crowds. To get decent weather, less tourists and more availability as well as lower hotel rates, visit Lyon during spring (March – May) and autumn (September – November). From mid-spring, the temperatures start reaching the low twenties while early autumn offers temperatures over 20°C. Let Travelstart help you get a dream holiday experience in Lyon.

Weather & Climate in Lyon

Average temperature (°C) & rainfall levels (mm) per month

Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Low °C 0°C 1°C 4°C 6°C 10°C 13°C 16°C 15°C 12°C 9°C 4°C 2°C
High °C 5°C 7°C 12°C 16°C 22°C 23°C 27°C 26°C 23°C 17°C 10°C 7°C
Rainfall (mm) 20 20 40 60 40 30 30 30 30 40 50 60

Lyon, originally the capital of Gaul, is an official UNESCO Heritage City in France, with a modern and lively culture. It is a major tourist hub with international events and festivals, such as Salon Des Entrepreneurs, and Nuits Sonores – Panorama of Electronic Music, and plenty of chic boutiques, and contemporary galleries. This city even has a legendary reputation in the world of fine dining, meaning that you should not miss out on the chance to treat your taste buds!

Explore gorgeous, historic streets and traboules, like Vieux Lyon and Croix-Rousse. Nearly all the attractions in this French destination are open to the public free of charge, including Parc de la Tête d’Or and Fourviere Hill. The only sites you pay to enter are the museums, such as Maison des Canuts and La Sucriere.

Compare several airlines, and book your cheap flights to Lyon online at Travelstart.

South Africans require a Shengen Visa to enter France. You can apply for one at the Capago centres in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban.

Passports may not be older than 10 years, must have 2 blank pages and be valid for at least 3 months beyond your date of departure from the Schengen state.

South African Embassy in France

Address: 59 Quai d’Orsay, 75343 Paris Cedex 07

Phone: +33 1 5359 2323

The Centres for Disease Control recommend that South Africans get all the routine vaccinations four to six weeks before departing for France. Additional diseases you may need vaccinations for, depending on what you’re doing and where you’ll be going in Lyon, include hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and rabies.

There is little to worry about while in Lyon. In populated areas, you may encounter people advertising for charities, who will usually give you information to encourage you to donate. Beware of con artists who pretend to be from these organisations who then ask for money. At the train station, the only way to buy tickets is through the ticket machines. Ignore anyone who tries to sell you metro tickets. Be careful when having a drink at the bars, as drunk locals are known to get into fights.

Item Cape Town Johannesburg Lyon
Meal inexpensive restaurant R 100.00 R 100.00 R 166.27
Domestic Beer (0.5 litre draught) R 25.00 R 25.00 R 76.21
Cappuccino (regular) R 22.33 R 22.34 R 38.10
Taxi 1km (Normal Tariff) R 10.00 R 10.00 R 26.19
Pack of cigarettes (Marlboro) R 37.50 R 37.50 R 96.99
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