Is Lyon safe?
Safe with normal city care. Petty theft is the main problem; a few areas have late-night trouble.
Key facts
- SoloSquare safety rating: 4/5, safe with normal care.
- US travel advisory: Level 2: Exercise increased caution, updated 2025-05-27.
- Homicide rate in France: 1.3 per 100,000 people (2023, UNODC via World Bank).
- Road deaths in France: 5.1 per 100,000 people a year (2019, WHO).
- Emergency numbers: Police 17 · Ambulance 15 · Fire 18 · All emergencies 112.
Safety in Lyon at a glance
| What to expect | |
|---|---|
| Overall | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Crime | Pickpocketing in busy squares and trams, bike theft, and occasional bag snatching near Part-Dieu and Bellecour. |
| At night | Presqu'île and Vieux-Lyon stay lively. Metro runs till about midnight (1 am on weekends); take Uber after, and avoid Guillotière alone. |
| Solo women | Generally comfortable alone. Catcalling occurs in nightlife areas; use rides after the last metro. |
| Other risks | Summer heatwaves; Slippery cobbles in Vieux-Lyon; Cyclists and e-scooters on shared paths |
Scams, areas and local laws
Common scams
- Petition clipboards around Place Bellecour
- Fake charity collectors near stations
- Unlicensed drivers offering rides at Part-Dieu
Take care
- Guillotière at night: drug dealing and hassle
- Quais of Rhône and Saône after midnight: drunk groups
- Part-Dieu station crowds: bag theft
Calmer areas to stay
Laws visitors break by accident
- Police can demand ID; without it you can be held up to four hours, so carry your passport.
- Smoking is banned on beaches, in parks, at bus shelters and near schools; fines apply.
- Covering your face in public (balaclava, niqab, mask) is illegal, with fines up to €150.
How Lyon compares in France
| Place | Safety |
|---|---|
| Annecy | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Colmar | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Carcassonne | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Brittany | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Dordogne | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Paris | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Nice | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Provence | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| French Riviera | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Lyon | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Bordeaux | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Cannes | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Strasbourg | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Chamonix | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Corsica | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Aix-en-Provence | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Toulouse | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Loire Valley | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Normandy | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Montpellier | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Avignon | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Biarritz | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Saint-Tropez | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Antibes | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Nantes | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Lille | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Marseille | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
Quick answers
Is Lyon safe for solo female travelers?
Generally comfortable alone. Catcalling occurs in nightlife areas; use rides after the last metro.
Is Lyon safe at night?
Presqu'île and Vieux-Lyon stay lively. Metro runs till about midnight (1 am on weekends); take Uber after, and avoid Guillotière alone.
What is the crime rate in Lyon?
Pickpocketing in busy squares and trams, bike theft, and occasional bag snatching near Part-Dieu and Bellecour. Nationally, France records 1.3 homicides per 100,000 people a year (2023).
What number do I call in an emergency in Lyon?
Police 17 · Ambulance 15 · Fire 18 · All emergencies 112.
More about Lyon
Going to Lyon solo?
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Sources
- US State Department travel advisory
- TCL (Lyon public transport)
- Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport
- Lyon tourist office
- World Bank: intentional homicides (UNODC)
- World Bank: road traffic deaths (WHO)
Safety ratings are SoloSquare's editorial judgment from official advisories, crime data and local reporting. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.