How to travel from Zurich to Lyon, France

The distance between Zurich and Lyon is around 361km (224 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to fly which takes around 1h 45m.

8 routes found

We've found 8 different ways to get from Zurich 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 LyonZurich if you're planning a return trip.

🚀 Fastest
1
plane
+

Fly

Fly from Zurich (ZRH) to Lyon (LYS).

  • Duration1h 45m
  • Flight time1hr
  • Typical cost
    €185($185)
Operated by

Twin Jet

2 similiar routes

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

2
train
+
train
+

Train

Take the train to Mulhouse and then to Lyon Part Dieu.

  • Duration4h 25m
  • Departsevery 4 hours
  • Typical cost
    €160($160)
Operated bySwiss Railways+ 1 others

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.

  • Duration6h 35m
  • Departs4 times a day
  • Typical cost
    €26($26)
Operated byFlixBus+ 1 others

1 similiar route

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

4
car
+

Drive

Drive to Lyon.

  • Duration4h 20m
  • Distance425km (264 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Zurich and Lyon

There are several options for getting from Zurich to Lyon by train, bus, car and plane. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around €26 ($26) and will take around 6h 35m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can fly and arrive in approximately 1h 45m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately €185 ($185).

The distance between Zurich and Lyon is around 361km (224 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 336km (209 miles)

It takes around 4h 25m to get from Zurich and Lyon by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 4h 20m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Zurich to Lyon is to fly which takes around 1h 45m and will set you back approx €185 ($185).

The cheapest way to travel between Zurich and Lyon, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around €26 ($26) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Zurich and Lyon. It typically takes around 4h 25m and departs every 4 hours.

There are no direct train services that runs from Zurich to Lyon. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in Mulhouse. These services run every 4 hours and will take a minimum of 4h 25m.

Swiss Railways, TGV inOui and Deutsche Bahn run train services between Zurich and Lyon. Trains depart every 4 hours and will take around 4h 25m, 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 Zurich and Lyon. It typically takes around 6h 35m and departs once daily.

Yes there is a direct bus service that runs between Zurich and Lyon with no changeovers required. The bus runs once daily and takes 6h 35m.

FlixBus and Blablabus run regular bus services between Zurich and Lyon. Buses run once daily and take around 6h 35m on average but will vary depending on you book with.

Flights and Airlines

Yes you can fly from Zurich and Lyon. Flights depart from Zurich (ZRH) and arrive at Lyon (LYS). The flight takes around 1hr.

Yes there is a direct flight between Zurich and Lyon with no stop-overs required. Flights typically take around 1hr.

Twin Jet fly between Zurich and Lyon. Flights depart from Zurich (ZRH) and and arrive into Lyon (LYS). These flights usually take around 1hr.

The flight from Zurich to Lyon typically takes around 1hr. Flights depart from Zurich (ZRH) 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 Zurich and Lyon. The distance is around 425km (264 miles) by road and it will take around 4h 20m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Zurich to Lyon is to take the train which takes, on average, 4h 25m and will usually cost around €160 ($160).

How do I get from Zurich to Lyon

Compare travel optionsbetween Zurich and Lyon

Transport options from Zurich to Lyon
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Fly + 2 similar
1h 45m
€185($185)
every 20 mins361km (224 miles)
Train and Plane3h 45m
€450($450)
every 3 hours629km (391 miles)
Train to Singen(Hohentwiel), plane4h 45m
€575($580)
hourly702km (436 miles)
Train + 1 similar
4h 25m
€160($160)
every 4 hours517km (322 miles)
Train via Genève4h 40m
€245($245)
every 3 hours435km (270 miles)
Bus + 1 similar
6h 35m
€26($26)
4 times a day443km (275 miles)
Bus via Annecy7h 20m
€32($32)
3 times a week488km (303 miles)
Drive
4h 20m
€86($86)
on demand425km (264 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Zurich 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