City in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France
Lyon for solo travelers
Is Lyon good for solo travel?
France's food capital works well for slow solo trips: Roman and Renaissance quarters, bouchons and fast trains to the Alps. Quieter than Paris with lower rent; August is dead.
Solo travel at a glance
| Solo travel | 4/5 · Very good for solo travel |
|---|---|
| Locals | Polite but reserved |
| English | Common in tourist areas |
| Safety | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Solo women | Generally comfortable alone. Catcalling occurs in nightlife areas; use rides after the last metro. |
How to meet people in Lyon
Hostels near Part-Dieu and the old town, food tours, cooking classes, language-exchange nights, run clubs by the Rhône and Saône quays, and Meetup groups.
Good things to do alone
- Eat lunch at a bouchon like Daniel et Denise
- Wander the traboules passageways of Vieux-Lyon and Croix-Rousse
- Browse Les Halles Paul Bocuse for lunch
- Run or cycle the Rhône quays
- Climb to Fourvière for sunset
Where to stay in Lyon
| Area | Good for |
|---|---|
| Presqu'île | Central: shops, restaurants, tram links, most hotels |
| Vieux-Lyon | Old town, bouchons, steep streets; touristy and loud |
| Croix-Rousse | Hilltop village feel, markets, cheaper rent, artists |
| Part-Dieu / Brotteaux | Station and business district; practical for transit |
| Confluence | Modern riverside, museum, cafés, newer apartments |
Solo travel across France
| Place | Solo | English |
|---|---|---|
| Paris | 4/5 | Widely spoken |
| Nice | 4/5 | Widely spoken |
| Provence | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| French Riviera | 4/5 | Widely spoken |
| Lyon | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Marseille | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Bordeaux | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Strasbourg | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Chamonix | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Annecy | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Corsica | 4/5 | Limited |
| Aix-en-Provence | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Toulouse | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Loire Valley | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Normandy | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Montpellier | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Avignon | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Biarritz | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Colmar | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Antibes | 4/5 | Widely spoken |
| Nantes | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Lille | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Brittany | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Cannes | 3/5 | Widely spoken |
| Saint-Tropez | 3/5 | Widely spoken |
| Carcassonne | 3/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Dordogne | 3/5 | Common in tourist areas |
Quick answers
Is Lyon good for solo travelers?
Very good for solo travel (4/5). France's food capital works well for slow solo trips: Roman and Renaissance quarters, bouchons and fast trains to the Alps.
How do you meet people in Lyon?
Hostels near Part-Dieu and the old town, food tours, cooking classes, language-exchange nights, run clubs by the Rhône and Saône quays, and Meetup groups. On SoloSquare you can also join small plans with other travelers who are there now.
Do people speak English in Lyon?
Common in tourist areas.
Is Lyon safe for solo female travelers?
Generally comfortable alone. Catcalling occurs in nightlife areas; use rides after the last metro.
More about Lyon
Going to Lyon solo?
SoloSquare is where travelers, nomads and locals in Lyon meet up for small plans: coffee, dinners, walks and day trips. Join one, or start your own in a minute.
Sources
Ratings are SoloSquare's editorial judgment. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.