Living in Lyon

Moving to Lyon for history and culture

Lyon is one of the most wonderful cities for international families considering a move to France. Regularly cited as France’s capital of gastronomy, living in Lyon is hugely appealing for a number of reasons. The capital city in France’s Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region sits at the junction of the Rhône and Saône rivers. Its centre reflects 2,000 years of history from the Roman Amphithéâtre des Trois Gaules, medieval and Renaissance architecture in Vieux (Old) Lyon, to the modern Confluence district on the Presqu’île peninsula. Living in Lyon means spectacular strolling or cycling along the leafy riverbanks and through the Presqu’île peninsula and Vieux Lyon. Expat families in Lyon have access to impressive historical sites and cultural experiences.

A growing number of expats are moving to Lyon

Lyon has around 490,000 people in the city, making it France’s third most populous city (after Paris and Marseille). Expats in Lyon are in good company, with a growing international community moving to Lyon for the city’s many attractive lifestyle benefits. While there are still fewer expats in Lyon than in cosmopolitan Paris or the international Cote d’Azur, there are an increasing number of local groups and services for an English speaking family in Lyon.

The practicalities of living in Lyon

Located two hours south of Paris by train, living in Lyon means having easy access to the capital’s beautiful attractions. It has an international airport and located within reach of everything you might want when living in France. The Alps are just down the road and the riviera coast is about 300 kilometres south and cost of living is around half of that in Paris.