There are over one thousand licenced taxi drivers in Lyon together with an additional 350 in the neighbouring communes. They provide a convenient and safe method of travel. All must have possessed a full driving licence for at least three years and followed a six week training course before being granted a taxi permit.  

Each taxi is issued with a permit number that must be displayed on the interior of the rear left-hand door. This number permits the identification of the driver by passengers.

Hours

Lyon’s Taxis function 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Nonetheless, the number of taxis that are available can fluctuate greatly due to demand. This demand increases notably when the metro system is closed; the Lyon métro is open every day from 5:00am until 12:00am* except for the 1st of May. 

*In 2019 service on Friday and Saturday nights was extended until 2:00am. This service is suspended at time of writing due to the Covid19 pandemic.

A taxi can be obtained by one of the following methods:

  • At one of the taxi ranks located around the city, you can find them here.
  • Telephone a taxi company or reserve online by using this site.
  • It is possible to hail a taxi in the street (although this is not permitted if one is within 50 metres of a taxi station)

Pricing

Fares begin at €2.00 and rise with the price per kilometre, depending on the time of day.

The minimum price per journey is €700. Additional fees are applicable for those going to the airport or train train stations (€1.62) and with animals or large baggage (€1.05).

Payment

Some Lyonnais taxis do have facilities for payment via credit card but the majority do not. Cheques are not accepted. Payment, therefore, is usually in cash.

Going to the airport

When travelling with luggage, taxis are often the most convenient option. The quickest route by car from Place Bellecour to the airport is 28km and includes a toll road, therefore it can be relatively expensive via taxi. It of course depends on multiple factors (time of day, precise point of departure, traffic, advanced booking) but generally speaking a taxi between Lyon city centre and Saint-Exupery Airport costs in the region of €50.00 to €100.00. 

Rideshare apps

Uber, Lyft, Didi, Ola, among other similar rideshare services are all active in Lyon. Your app should work in exactly the same manner as it does at home. Availability and prices can vary.