Lyon is the main start or end of Rhône and Saône cruises. Ships dock on the Rhône at Quai Claude Bernard, near the city center. The Rhônexpress tram runs from the airport to Part-Dieu station in about 30 minutes.
Every way from the airport to the ship
Tap any way for step-by-step directions.
| The way | From | Time | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rhônexpress to Lyon Part-Dieu, then taxi or tram | LYS | About 30 minutes, every 15 minutes, 04:25 to midnight | Approximate: from EUR 9.90 (Lyon Airport); children under 12 free |
| Taxi | LYS | Not verified | Not verified, see lyonaeroports.com taxi page |
| Cruise line transfer | LYS | Varies | Set by your line |
Where Lyon lies
LyonAmsterdamAvignonBarcelonaBaselBudapestRomeDoverGenoaIJmuidenMarseilleNurembergParisPassauPortoRavennaRegensburgRotterdamSavonaSouthamptonTriesteVeniceViennaA CoruñaAjaccioAmalfi and PositanoBariBastiaBilbaoCannesCherbourgCobhDublinDubrovnikFalmouthGuernseyHolyheadHonfleurHvarKoperKorčulaKotorLa SpeziaLe HavreLivornoMonacoNaplesOlbiaPortlandPortoferraioPortofino / Santa Margherita LigurePulaRovinjSaint-MaloSaint-TropezSalernoSèteŠibenikSorrentoSplitTarragonaToulonVigoVillefranche-sur-Mer and NiceWaterfordZadarZeebruggeFrom Lyon-Saint Exupéry (LYS)
About 25 km from the city center (Lyon Airport)
Rhônexpress to Lyon Part-Dieu, then taxi or tram
- Follow signs to Rhônexpress.
- Ride to Lyon Part-Dieu.
- Take a taxi to Quai Claude Bernard.
Rhônexpress announced night works on Nov 9-11, 2026; check before you travel.
Taxi
- Use the official rank.
Direct.
Cruise line transfer
- Book with your line.
Easiest.
From the city or your hotel
Taxi, tram or walk from the Presqu'île
Quai Claude Bernard is on the Rhône's east bank (7th arrondissement).
Where to stay
Arrive a day or two early. A delayed flight on sailing day is the most common way travelers miss the ship.
Presqu'île or Vieux Lyon
Central, with a short ride to the quay.
Sailing day
Terminals & docks
Quai Claude Bernard, 69007 Lyon (Viking lists number 20; Uniworld lists the same quay). Your line sends the exact dock.
Check-in
- River ships usually start boarding in the afternoon. AmaWaterways says boarding usually begins around 3:00 p.m., and you can drop bags earlier.
- Uniworld says to confirm your boarding address and boarding time 24 hours before you arrive.
- River docks can change at short notice. Confirm the dock address with your line the day before.
What trips people up
- Docks can change; confirm the day before.
Do this
- Lyon is France's food capital. Add a day for the food halls (Les Halles Paul Bocuse).
Leaving the ship: back to the airport
The same routes run in reverse. On the last morning everyone leaves at once, so lines for taxis and buses are at their longest. Book flights home for the afternoon or later, and arrange your ride in advance if you can.
| The way | To | Time | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rhônexpress to Lyon Part-Dieu, then taxi or tram | LYS | About 30 minutes, every 15 minutes, 04:25 to midnight | Approximate: from EUR 9.90 (Lyon Airport); children under 12 free |
| Taxi | LYS | Not verified | Not verified, see lyonaeroports.com taxi page |
| Cruise line transfer | LYS | Varies | Set by your line |
Before or after your cruise
- Vieux Lyon and the traboules
- Fourvière Basilica
- Les Halles Paul Bocuse
- Beaujolais wine country
Sources & what we could not confirm · 5 sources · checked 2026-11
- Lyon Airport: Airport to city centre
- Lyon Airport: Home (Rhônexpress fare)
- Rhônexpress
- Viking River Cruises: Docking locations
- Uniworld: Port locations and boarding times
- Taxi fare from the airport
- Rhônexpress standard fare beyond 'from EUR 9.90'
- US nonstop flights: not verified for this page; check airline sites