Train to Lyon

[Isthisit2025]

Planning Lyon shortly. Thinking of going from Lille as easier transfer, or is it? Was wondering whether to stop at Part dieu or perrache? Are they close? Any info would be greatly appreciated.

Must go to Part Dieu, Perrache is nowhere.

We have gone from Lille several times v easy and quick.

If you book ahead you can often get first class for only a few euros more. Also can be worth getting an avantage railcard.

Lyon v lovely hope you have a great time, it's also worth getting the City card as some of the museums are a bit pricey without.

Transferring at Lille is pretty seamless. With Paris you have to change stations which is a pain.

I live 3 minutes from Perrache - definitely not in the middle of nowhere. 5 mins from Bellecour.
It’s in the 2ème and much more central than Part Dieu.

@TooTiredtoGoogle So worth getting the train to Perrache? I was a bit concerned that it might be a bit out of the way though it didn’t look it on the map. I will look at trains now thanks so much for clearing that up!

I'll be there in a couple of weeks!

Oh yes you are quite right, I was thinking of St Exupery which we once arrived at on ouigo! That is in the middle of null part.

Lyon is very small so I would say it doesn't matter where you get the train to. Depends on where you are staying. Part Dieu is a bigger station with large hotels around it - and it's next to a big Westfield. shopping centre. Perrache is a concrete carbuncle of a station, but it is on the Presqu île and if you stay around here, you could probably walk everywhere.
If you're interested in history, and don't mind the slightly macabre notion of staying in Klaus Barbie's HQ - you could stay at the former Hotel Teminus, which is a Mercure at Perrache: https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/H%C3%B4tel_Terminus_(Lyon)

It really doesn't make much of a difference IMO, Lyon is not a super small city but very well connected, plus it's I think one of the most walkable cities in Europe. Either Perrache or Part Dieu, whichever works with your time-table best

Part Dieu is fine - you can walk in to the city centre from there in about 20 min or there are buses and a tram.

Yes it is St Exupery which is in the middle of nowhere. Strong memories of realising on a very very hot day that our train from the South came in to Part Dieu but our tickets to Paris were from St Exupery (thanks Oui Go) a hot and frantic dash on the tram saved us.

Gorgeous station though!

Lucky you! Love Lyon and the food. And travelling by train is fab. I’ve done the Lille transfer and it worked well. A few years back. Depending on how much time you have in Lille, you can walk out of the station and find a decent bar or cafe.

Perrache can be easier because the train often terminates there so less rush to get off. It's marginally closer to the pretty bits, but transport is very good so it really doesn't matter