How to travel from Nantes to Lyon, France

The distance between Nantes and Lyon is around 568km (353 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to fly which takes around 2hrs.

6 routes found

We've found 6 different ways to get from Nantes to Lyon by train, bus, car and plane. The recommended routes, which include information on duration, ticket price, and level of difficulty, can be found below.

👋 Also check out LyonNantes if you're planning a return trip.

🚀 Fastest
1
plane
+

Fly

Fly from Nantes (NTE) to Lyon (LYS).

  • Duration2hrs
  • Flight time1h 15m
  • Typical cost
    €115($115)
Operated byeasyJet+ 2 others

1 similiar route

We’ve grouped similar routes together, click the arrows to see the other options.

2
train
+
train
+

Train via Le Mans

Take the train to Le Mans and then to Lyon Part Dieu.

  • Duration4h 20m
  • Departsevery 20 mins
  • Typical cost
    €160($160)

1 similiar route

We’ve grouped similar routes together, click the arrows to see the other options.

💰 Cheapest
3
bus
+

Bus

Take the bus to Lyon Perrache.

  • Duration9h 60m
  • Departstwice daily
  • Typical cost
    €42($42)
4
car
+

Drive

Drive to Lyon.

  • Duration6h 25m
  • Distance682km (424 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Nantes and Lyon

There are several options for getting from Nantes to Lyon by train, bus, car and plane. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around €42 ($42) and will take around 9h 60m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can fly and arrive in approximately 2hrs, though it is a bit more costly at approximately €115 ($115).

The distance between Nantes and Lyon is around 568km (353 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 515km (320 miles)

It takes around 4h 50m to get from Nantes and Lyon by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 6h 25m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Nantes to Lyon is to fly which takes around 2hrs and will set you back approx €115 ($115).

The cheapest way to travel between Nantes and Lyon, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around €42 ($42) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Nantes and Lyon. It typically takes around 4h 50m and departs every 20 mins.

Yes there is a direct train service that runs between Nantes and Lyon with no changeovers required. The train runs every 20 mins and takes 4h 50m.

TGV inOui, Swiss Railways and SNCF run train services between Nantes and Lyon. Trains depart every 20 mins and will take around 4h 50m, however, this may vary depending on the particular service and whether it runs express or stops all stations.

Bus travel

Yes there is a bus that runs regularly from Nantes and Lyon. It typically takes around 9h 60m and departs twice daily.

There are no direct bus services that runs from Nantes to Lyon. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in Haluchère - Batignolles. These services run twice daily and will take a minimum of 9h 60m.

FlixBus run regular bus services between Nantes and Lyon. Buses run twice daily and take around 9h 60m on average but will vary depending on you book with.

Flights and Airlines

Yes you can fly from Nantes and Lyon. Flights depart from Nantes (NTE) and arrive at Lyon (LYS). The flight takes around 1h 15m.

Yes there is a direct flight between Nantes and Lyon with no stop-overs required. Flights typically take around 1h 15m.

easyJet, Volotea and Air France fly between Nantes and Lyon. Flights depart from Nantes (NTE) and and arrive into Lyon (LYS). These flights usually take around 1h 15m.

The flight from Nantes to Lyon typically takes around 1h 15m. Flights depart from Nantes (NTE) and and arrive into Lyon (LYS).

The closest major airport to Lyon is Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport (LYS) (LYS) which is approximately 20km (12 miles) from Lyon. Dole-Jura Airport (DLE) (DLE) and Aurillac Airport (AUR) (AUR) are also nearby and might be a better alternative airport depending on where you are flying from.

Drive yourself

Yes it is possible to drive from Nantes and Lyon. The distance is around 682km (424 miles) by road and it will take around 6h 25m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Nantes to Lyon is to take the train which takes, on average, 4h 50m and will usually cost around €140 ($140).

How do I get from Nantes to Lyon

Compare travel optionsbetween Nantes and Lyon

Transport options from Nantes to Lyon
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Fly + 1 similar
2hrs
€115($115)
every 30 mins568km (353 miles)
Train and Plane3h 30m
€165($165)
every 3 hours759km (472 miles)
Train via Le Mans + 1 similar
4h 20m
€160($160)
every 20 mins802km (498 miles)
Train4h 50m
€140($140)
5 times a day833km (518 miles)
Bus
9h 60m
€42($42)
twice daily715km (444 miles)
Drive
6h 25m
€90($90)
on demand682km (424 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Nantes and Lyon

Airports near Lyon

The following major airports near Lyon offer regular flights to various popular destinations within France and internationally.

LYS
Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport (LYS)
International Airport
Distance
20km (12 miles) from Lyon
DLE
Dole-Jura Airport (DLE)
Domestic Airport
Distance
150km (93 miles) from Lyon
AUR
Aurillac Airport (AUR)
Domestic Airport
Distance
212km (131 miles) from Lyon