Lyon Essentials

City Guides > France > Lyon

Lyon Essentials & Tourist Information

Currency
Euro
Flight Time
 UK 1 Hour approx
Time Zone 
 GMT = +1 hour
Language  French
Voltage 240 V (European two-pin plugs)


Lyon  Tourist Attractions
Anyone with a passing interest in art and design should head to the marvellous Musee des Tissus. This is Lyon's renowned fabric museum which displays hundreds of priceless exhibits some dated over 2000 years old. Its highlights include priceless Persian rugs and garments from Marie Antoinette and Queen Victoria. It is open every day except Monday until 6pm and costs €7.30 which includes entrance into the Museum of Decorative Arts next door. Film fans will be equally in awe at the Musee Lumiere, dedicated to the history of the silver screen with its own multi screen cinema showing rare film footage and classic movies. It costs €6.30 per person.  

French Phrases For Tourists

Hello
Bonjour
   Do you speak English?
Parlez vous Anglais?
Goodbye
 Au revoir   Excuse me Excusez moi
Good Evening
Bonsoir 
  
How much is it? 
Ça coûte combien? 
 Yes
Oui
   Where is...?
Ou est …?
No Non  
Hotel
L'hotel
Please S'il vous plait   The bill pease L’addition s’il vous plait
Thank you very much Merci beaucoup   Beer Une Biere
How are you? Comment allez vous?   Coffee Un café

Lyon Opening Hours
Lyon has shopping hours which are similar to other cities in France and are generally open from 9am until 8pm Monday to Saturdays with a traditional lunch break between 1pm and 3.30pm. Shopping centres and department stores stay open until 8 or 9pm and 6pm on Saturdays. Most are closed all day on Sundays. Banking hours are Monday to Fridays from 10am until 4pm with a handful of branches open on Saturday mornings.


Tipping & Etiquette in Lyon
Restaurants include tax and service charges on bills which are usually 10% and any further tipping is welcome although not expected. Taxi drivers and parking attendants will expect a small gratuity and hotel porters, room service and tour guides should be rewarded with a few euros.


Lyon Food & Drink
Authentic Lyonnais cuisine is best enjoyed in the famous 'buchon' eateries which extol the virtues of traditional home cooking using the freshest ingredients. Honey glazed ham with lentils and pheasant are two typically hearty winter meals found on many local menus. Try seasoned fish cakes, duck confit, salmon and even tripe and round off a satisfying meal with local Bresse soft goat’s cheese and freshly baked rye bread along with a glass of famed Cotes du Rhone wine.     

Lyon Useful Numbers
• Calling the UK from Lyon 0044 + area code minus zero + number
• Police – 112
• Ambulance – 112
• Fire – 112

Disabled Access in Lyon
Although sections of the old town are a little hilly, Lyon is generally flat and presents few problems to the wheelchair user. Most bus routes operate vehicles with low floors and wheelchair spaces and the airport and rail stations are fully accessible. Lyon has a wide pedestrianised shopping area that provides safe and rewarding browsing and easy access for the disabled. There is now a fabulous choice of accessible hotels in all price ranges in central Lyon with some even offering dedicated minibus shuttles that can accommodate wheelchairs.

French Embassies
• British Consulate 24 Avenue du Prado, 13006 Marseille Telephone: 04 91 15 72 10
• France Embassy - 58 Knightsbridge London SW1X 7JT Tel. (44) 207 073 1000

Search For Lyon City Breaks


My Account | Customer Service