Want to discover France’s third-largest city? For a weekend or a week, take a stress-free stroll through the streets of the old town, with all the information you need to park cheaply in Lyon.
If you’ve never been to Lyon before, you’re in for a real treat: with its sublime Notre-Dame de Fourvière Basilica, the narrow cobbled streets of Vieux Lyon, its vibrant cultural life, its renowned gastronomy and its gentle pace of life along the Rhône, the City of Lights has nothing to envy its cousins Paris and Marseille.
But, victim of its own success, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to find a parking space in Lyon. Luckily, we’ve got the solution: here’s our official guide to all the best parking deals, cheap parking in Lyon and everything you need to know about driving in the capital of gastronomy.
Parking in Lyon: parking in the city
In Lyon, there are three types of hourly rates that cover the different areas of the city: the Presto rate, the Tempo rate and the Nocturne rate.
The Presto rate corresponds to the most advantageous parking spaces in the city center, located close to shopping lanes and the most popular districts between 9am and 7pm. These are privileged spaces, but they require you to park for a short time, no more than 1h30. As for rates, the first fifteen minutes are free, but the bill quickly increases, averaging €1 every 30 minutes. The advantage of these spaces is that they are free on Sundays and public holidays.
The Nocturne rate applies from 7pm to 9am Sunday to Friday, and from 7pm to 4am on Saturday. For one night’s parking in these zones – located more in the city center – you’ll pay around €3 for 1 hour. Maximum parking time is 2pm.
Finally, the Tempo rate, which applies from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., is free for the first 15 minutes and then €1.30 per hour. But for all those who would like to discover the City of Lights in August, you can save money: Tempo parking spaces – around 30,000 spaces spread throughout the city – are free throughout August. It’s a great way to park in Lyon without breaking the bank!
Photo credit: Flickr – Damien Fauchot
Parking in Lyon: covered parking lots
When it comes to parking garages in Lyon, you’re bound to find what you’re looking for, depending on the location of your home.
Located just a 10-minute walk from the famous Place Bellecour in the heart of the city, the Parc Bonnefoi public parking lot offers a very attractive rate of €20 for 24 hours in a 100% covered and secure space. The advantage is that you can enjoy the city center on foot without worrying about finding a vacant space for hours on end. Also just a stone’s throw from Place Bellecour, the Parc Lafayette public parking lot offers a 3-hour express package at €7.80.
Not far from the Parc de la Tête d’Or in Lyon’s 6th arrondissement, the Lafayette Corneille parking lot also offers a rate of €7.80 for three hours, giving you plenty of time to wander around the park’s 117 hectares.
Another low-cost parking lot: if you park your car atSaint Exupéry airport, you’ll pay €17 for a day in the outdoor parking lot and €20 for the indoor parking lot at Car Park Travel.
Cheap parking in Lyon: shared parking lots
Another low-cost alternative for finding cheap parking in Lyon: shared parking. The principle is quite simple: enable private parking lot owners to rent out their unused spaces to private individuals at very competitive rates. And it couldn’t be simpler: log on to the Parclick application, which regularly offers parking spaces in downtown Lyon and its suburbs, at rates up to 30% cheaper than a street parking space and 70% cheaper than a public parking lot. A simple and economical way to find parking in Lyon.
Bonus: arty parking lots in Lyon
Photo credit: LPA
A little originality in Lyon: some parking lots can be visited like museums! Gone are the gloomy underground parking lots where we’ve all imagined a sordid crime, replaced by stylish, colorful parking lots designed by internationally renowned architects and artists. LPA – Lyon Parc Auto – came up with the idea for this original concept, combining functionality and aesthetics. Guided tours are offered on a regular basis. For further information, visit the LPA website. Although more expensive, it’s a safe bet that you’ll want to discover all these parking lots in Lyon!