Lille to Lyon bus

Once an important trade center in historic French Flanders, Lille is now the capital of the Hauts-de-France region close to the Belgian border. With strong Flemish influences and an ever-lively downtown, Lille makes an incredible Northern France destination.

It's hard to decide where to go first in this city full of architecturally-beautiful historical buildings. The Vieux-Lille is possibly one of the most striking areas, filled with many ornate buildings. This old-town area of Lille demonstrates the true Flemish soul of the city. Visit the Place du General-de-Gaulle or the Vieille Bourse (a stock exchange from the 1600s!) for a taste of the city's history, or simply wander through the cobblestone streets to discover many local cafes.

During your visit to Lille, you must sample the foods and drinks that the region is famous for. Northern France hosts an amazing beer scene, with many craft bars offering a truly French-Flemish experience. Plus, Lille's proximity to Belgium means you are never too far away from waffles. Belgian-style waffles have delighted the people of Lille for over 250 years, and you will be able to see why as soon as you taste one.

Travel to Lille is exceptionally convenient. Arrive via Eurostar from London or via TGV from Paris and other major cities. Lille also has a small airport, offering direct flights from nearby countries. The cheapest mode of transport is often traveling by bus. Carriers including FlixBus, BlaBlaCar Bus, and Sindbad run bus routes from Lille to destinations throughout Western Europe.

Located at the confluence of the Rhône and the Saône rivers in the central-west of France, Lyon is France's third-largest city, after Paris and Marseille. Lyon has been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its 2,000 years of history and its central role in the Renaissance. Vieux Lyon is the city's historic area, full of old buildings and a vibrant French atmosphere. Wander through the traboules, a unique architectural feature of the city; these secret passageways wind through Lyon's buildings and courtyards. Several guided tours will describe the many uses of these covered paths throughout Lyon's history: from shortcuts to the river for 4th-century residents to meeting places for 19th-century silk workers and the World War II French resistance.

Lyon is also famously hailed as the birthplace of cinema. To immerse yourself in film history, visit the Musée Cinéma et Miniature to explore old movie props, costumes, and even complete film sets from several iconic films. To experience a traditional French market, stop in Les Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse. This indoor gourmet market offers only the finest local produce, the perfect place to sample the local cuisine.

Getting to Lyon is simple, and the lion's share of options are via ground travel. Eurolines bus services offer transport from many European cities into the Perrache train station, and many train services, including the TGV, also operate from the same station. Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport is only 25 km east of the city, providing both European and intercontinental flights.