Times to know
| Transport | Hours | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Rhônexpress Part-Dieu → airport | First departure 4:25 am, last at midnight | About 30 minutes. Every 15 minutes from 6 am to 9 pm, every 30 minutes before 6 am and after 9 pm. |
| Rhônexpress airport → Part-Dieu | First departure 5 am, last at midnight | After midnight: taxi, ride-hailing or an airport hotel. |
| TCL metro | Until about midnight on weekdays, until 2 am on Friday and Saturday | The last departure depends on the line and station. |
| Pleine Lune night buses | Thursday to Sunday nights, September to June | 4 lines; check your route on tcl.fr. |
| Lyon-Saint-Exupéry airport | Open 24/7 | You can wait in the public area, but there is no place to sleep. |
Late-night or early-morning train
Part-Dieu is the main station: most TGVs stop there. A hotel a few minutes’ walk away means you don’t depend on the last or first metro. If your train uses Perrache, choose the south of the Presqu’île instead.
Early flight
The first Rhônexpress leaves Part-Dieu at 4:25 am and arrives around 4:55 am: enough for most flights from 6:30 am. For an earlier flight, or to avoid rushing, stay at the airport: hotels are a few minutes’ walk from the terminals.
So you don’t find the door locked
- On the booking site, filter for “24-hour front desk”.
- Otherwise, check for self check-in (key box, door code) and save the instructions before you travel.
- Enter your arrival time in the booking and tell the hotel if you are delayed.
- Leaving before breakfast? Ask the evening before whether you can settle the bill in advance.
Where to stay
The most practical areas for odd hours:
Part-Dieu
Walking distance from the main station and the Rhônexpress: the best choice for a late or early train.
Airport Saint-Exupéry
For a flight before 6:30 am or an arrival after midnight, minutes from the terminals.
Presqu'île & Bellecour
For a last evening in town: the metro runs until 2 am on Friday and Saturday.
When to book
Quiet areas
Lyon without stairs
Part-Dieu or Perrache