{"id":238735,"date":"2023-03-17T08:11:25","date_gmt":"2023-03-17T08:11:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.agsmovers.com\/6-things-you-need-to-know-when-moving-to-lyon\/"},"modified":"2025-03-25T11:09:15","modified_gmt":"2025-03-25T11:09:15","slug":"6-things-you-need-to-know-when-moving-to-lyon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.agsmovers.com\/news\/6-things-you-need-to-know-when-moving-to-lyon\/","title":{"rendered":"6 Things You Need to Know When Moving to Lyon"},"content":{"rendered":"

Located in southeast France at the confluence of the Sa\u00f4ne and Rh\u00f4ne rivers, Lyon is France’s third-largest city after Paris and Marseille and is the capital of the Auvergne-Rh\u00f4ne-Alpes region. It was once renowned for its silk trade, but today is more widely known for its top-notch restaurants run by master chefs from all around the world. In 2021, Lyon boasted 21 Michelin star establishments. No wonder it is viewed by many as the world\u2019s culinary capital.<\/p>\n

 
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Resident and Work Permits for Moving to Lyon<\/h2>\n

To live and work in France, and therefore Lyon, you must have a work permit and a residence permit. These two permits are linked and can be acquired from the police department and labour department, respectively. Citizens of the European Union, the European Economic Area, Monaco, and Switzerland can move freely within the European territory and don\u2019t need a residence permit to reside in Lyon. Residence permits are valid for 5-10 years and are renewable, while work permits can be valid for up to 12 months.<\/p>\n

Depending on what kind of work permit you have and the level of financial support you can offer, your non-working spouse will also need a residence permit. Minors don\u2019t need a residence permit.<\/p>\n

Click here for AGS Movers to assist you with your move to Lyon or any major surrounding cities.<\/a><\/p>\n

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The Cost of Living in Lyon<\/h2>\n

While the cost of living in Lyon is 21% lower than in Paris<\/a> (in 2023), it is still a costly place to live. Monthly living expenses for a single person are approximately \u20ac1,938, while a family of four can expect to spend around \u20ac3,804 (in 2023). However, you may be able to save money by shopping at flea markets and dining at inexpensive restaurants.<\/p>\n

One way to make life in Lyon more affordable is to live in the suburbs where rents are cheaper. The excellent transport system means that you don\u2019t need a car to get to the city centre for work. And when you consider how heavy the traffic can be in large cities, public transport is definitely a more efficient way to travel, but more on that later in this article.<\/p>\n

To compare the estimated cost of living of different countries, click here.<\/a><\/p>\n

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Arrondissements – Where to Live in Lyon<\/h2>\n

Lyon, like many large French cities, is divided into nine arrondissements<\/em> or administrative districts. The arrondissements<\/em> are numbered 1 through 9 and are listed below:<\/p>\n

1st<\/sup><\/strong> Arrondissement<\/em>: <\/strong><\/p>\n

Home to Place des Terreaux, H\u00f4tel de Ville<\/em> (City Hall), the Opera House, and St. Nizier Church. Its pubs and bars make it one of the liveliest parts of the city.<\/p>\n

2nd<\/sup><\/strong> Arrondissement<\/em>: <\/strong><\/p>\n

This is a varied and commercial district situated at the southern tip of the peninsula, which is formed by two rivers – the Sa\u00f4ne<\/em> and the Rh\u00f4ne<\/em>. The largest square in Europe, the Place Bellecour<\/em> can be found here.<\/p>\n

3rd<\/sup><\/strong> Arrondissement<\/em>: <\/strong><\/p>\n

The most populated district in the city and the location of the Part-Dieu<\/em> train station, which connects Lyon to the rest of the country and Europe. In 1971, this district welcomed the central food market of Halles Paul Bocuse, <\/em>which quickly became (and still is) a popular destination for food enthusiasts.<\/p>\n

4th<\/sup><\/strong> Arrondissement<\/em>: <\/strong><\/p>\n

This is a residential area at the top of the Croix-Rousse<\/em> hill between the Sa\u00f4ne<\/em> and Rh\u00f4ne<\/em> rivers. It has many traditional apartments and a history of silk production.<\/p>\n

5th<\/sup><\/strong> Arrondissement<\/em>: <\/strong><\/p>\n

Located on the left bank of the Rh\u00f4ne, the fifth arrondissement<\/em> is the historical part of the city. It is home to some of Lyon\u2019s most iconic landmarks, including the Basilique Notre Dame de Fourvi\u00e8re.<\/p>\n

6th<\/sup><\/strong> Arrondissement<\/em>: <\/strong><\/p>\n

Home of the Parc de la T\u00eate d\u2019Or<\/em>, the largest urban park in France. Commonly described as Lyon\u2019s most exclusive district, the 6th<\/sup> arrondissement has wide avenues lined with striking buildings and mansions.<\/p>\n

7th<\/sup><\/strong> Arrondissement<\/em>: <\/strong><\/p>\n

This district began as a subset of the third arrondissement<\/em> and has expanded into the largest district in Lyon. It is a vibrant centre for students and young adults and offers a diverse choice of restaurants, caf\u00e9s, schools, and parks.<\/p>\n

8th<\/sup><\/strong> Arrondissement<\/em>: <\/strong><\/p>\n

The eighth arrondissement<\/em> is considered the city\u2019s working-class residential area. It is also home to the Institut Lumi\u00e8re, <\/em>where the Lumi\u00e8re<\/em> brothers invented cinematography in 1895.<\/p>\n

9th<\/sup><\/strong> Arrondissement<\/em>: <\/strong><\/p>\n

Last, but not least, the ninth arrondissement<\/em> is a residential area offering lower rents and beautiful views over the Sa\u00f4ne river and the back of Fourvi\u00e8re Hill.<\/p>\n

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International Schools in Lyon<\/h2>\n

The Ombrosa International School<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Ombrosa International School<\/a> is a private multilingual school established in 1971. The school provides education for pupils aged 3-18 and is home to 1429 learners from 49 different nationalities (in 2023) who follow an International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum. Ombrosa offers a wide variety of extracurricular activities, including gymnastics, judo, science and nature, football, musical theatre club, chess, band, and journalism.<\/p>\n

The Cit\u00e9 Scolaire Internationale de Lyon<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Cit\u00e9 Scolaire Internationale de Lyon<\/a> welcomes students wanting to follow an international school curriculum within the French education system which results in the International Option of the Baccalaureate (IOB). Currently (in 2023) a total of 1900 learners between the ages of 6-18 attend the school. It offers nine international sections based on different languages, namely: Arabic, Chinese, English, German, Italian, Japanese, Polish, Portuguese, and Spanish.<\/p>\n

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What To Do in Lyon<\/h2>\n

\"Activities<\/p>\n

There is an abundance of activities to choose from in Lyon, some of which are listed below:<\/p>\n