How to get to Lyon: Best ways for Crystal Palace fans to travel

Crystal Palace fans are preparing for their first-ever Europa League away trip, with thousands of supporters planning to get to Lyon for the special occasion.

The Eagles will be hoping to continue their strong start to their continental campaign on Thursday, October 15, when they face Ligue 1 side Lyon at Parc Olympique Lyonnais, known as the Groupama Stadium.

Pierre Sage has enormous boots to fill at Selhurst Park considering the success that his predecessor Oliver Glasner enjoyed in the dugout, but the Eagles will be optimistic after kicking off their league-phase fixtures by hammering Lech Poznan 4-0 on September 17.

Those with tickets to watch this match will be getting ready for a great away day in Lyon, checking out some of the best places to eat in the city, and might even be booking somewhere to stay.

Heading over yourself? Read on as Football Ground Guide covers all you need to know about how to get to Lyon, and the best ways for Crystal Palace fans to travel.

How to get to Lyon and the Parc Olympique Lyonnais (Groupama Stadium)

By Air

Many Palace fans will get to Lyon by air, with direct flights to Lyon-Saint Exupery (LYS) from London airports taking an average of one hour and 43 minutes.

The cost of a return flight between London and LYS (arriving on October 15 and returning the next day) will set you back around £140.

Alternatively, the Eagles offer their ‘Dedicated Fan Plane Trips' service in association with travel partner Sportsworld. The standard package costs £475 for this game, and includes private transport for every step of the away day:

• Chartered flight departs from Gatwick at 9:00am BST, landing in Lyon at 10:30am local time.
• Coach transfer takes fans to the city centre
• Local coach will bring supporters to the stadium to watch the game
• Another coach transfers fans back to the airport after the match
• Return flight leaves at 11:50pm local time, arriving at Gatwick for 12:20am BST

By Train

Another viable travel option for Crystal Palace fans is to get to Lyon by train, first hopping on the Eurostar from London St Pancras to either Paris Gare du Nord or Lille Europe.

If heading to Paris, supporters will need to cross the city to Gare de Lyon, before getting a ‘Train a Grande Vitesse' (TGV) to Lyon Part-Dieu.

If routing via Lille, then get a TGV directly from the Eurostar stop to Lyon Part-Dieu, or make the short walk (less than 10 minutes) to the Lille Flandres station, where you can catch the cheaper Ouigo service to Lyon Perrache.

Please be aware that while the Ouigo train is significantly cheaper, it takes slightly longer, requires a more complex changeover, and stops further away from the Groupama Stadium than ideal.

All-in-all, this trip will take around five and a half hours by train, and cost more than £300 return.

By Car

Some fans might wish to drive to Lyon, taking the Eurotunnel Folkestone-Calais route, before another seven to seven and a half hours on the France side of the journey on the A26, A5, A31 and A6 (part of the Autoroute du Soleil) via Reims and Dijon.

While the drive might take in the region of nine hours overall, it could make for a great road trip if you are heading for more than just the game itself, considering the route heads through Champagne and Burgundy.

Keep in mind that road tolls could set you back around £60-65 each way, while the Eurotunnel runs around £100 for a day-trip return.

By Coach

A coach trip from London to Lyon will take around 17 hours each way, far too long for a day trip. It is up to fans to decide whether they feel that enduring 34 hours of travelling between London Victoria Coach Station and Lyon (Gerland Bus Station) is worth it for the £137 return fare.