France · budget cars
Cheap car rental in Lyon
The lowest daily rates on car rentals in Lyon, France. Expedia Cars compares budget brands against the majors — economy cars and the majors side by side.
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What things cost in Lyon
Transport is modest by French standards at 2.10 euros a single, 6.90 for 24 hours and 20.50 for ten journeys. A bouchon lunch menu runs 20 to 26 euros and dinner 30 to 40 with wine served in a heavy-bottomed pot lyonnais. Museum entry sits in the low teens. Parc de la Tete d'Or, the Roman theatres and Fourviere are free.
What first-timers get wrong in Lyon
A TCL single is 2.10 euros in the central zones, a 24-hour pass 6.90, and the Fourviere funicular takes normal fares with a dedicated 3.60 return. Traboules pass through occupied buildings: press the button, stay quiet, do not photograph doorways. Confusing the Rhone with the Saone marks you instantly; the Saone is the western, curvier one.
What's actually worth your time in Lyon
Vieux Lyon is one of Europe's largest surviving Renaissance quarters, and the traboules, covered passages cutting through buildings from street to street, are its real signature; around forty stay open, including the six-storey Cour des Voraces up in Croix-Rousse. Fourviere basilica and the free Roman theatres sit above, reached by funicular. The Mur des Canuts trompe-l'oeil fresco rewards the uphill walk.
What to eat in Lyon
A bouchon is a specific institution, not a synonym for bistro: certified houses such as Le Garet, Daniel et Denise and the Cafe des Federations serve quenelle de brochet, tablier de sapeur, andouillette and cervelle de canut, which is herbed fresh cheese rather than brains. Les Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse on Cours Lafayette closes Mondays. Praline tart glows aggressively pink.
Lyon after dark
Drinking happens on the water. The peniches, converted barges moored along the Rhone quays between Guillotiere and Part-Dieu, are the summer default. Croix-Rousse keeps proper neighbourhood bars, the Guillotiere is cheaper and younger, and Vieux Lyon is mostly for visitors. In early December the Fete des Lumieres takes over four nights and every hotel room in the city.
When to go to Lyon
| Best months for cheap-cars | Avg daily high | Rain days |
|---|---|---|
| August | 28°C / 82°F | 7 days |
| July | 28°C / 82°F | 8 days |
| September | 24°C / 75°F | 9 days |
The month to avoid is December — around 8°C (46°F) with roughly 14 rain days. Prices and crowds track the weather here: August is the sweet spot, December the month most people skip.
Pack for peak season: Summer clothes, plus one light layer for air-con and evenings, High-SPF sunscreen, sunglasses, and a refillable water bottle, A packable rain shell or compact umbrella earns its space, Comfortable walking shoes — every guide on this site assumes you'll use them.
Where to base yourself in Lyon
- Vieux Lyon — Renaissance old town on the right bank — cobbled streets, traboules passageways.
- Presqu’île — Central peninsula between two rivers — restaurants, shopping, the Bellecour square.
- Confluence — Modern district at the river junction — contemporary architecture, the aquarium.