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Welcome to Lyon!
Practical Information | Travel Information
Resting in the valley of the Alps and between the Rhône and Saône rivers, Lyon captures the essence of the Rhône-Alpes region and the fancy of visitors and residents alike. A mesmerizing land, Lyon earned its original name Lugdunum meaning the "hill of lights," from a captivated Roman lieutenant in 43 BC. Aptly named, Lyon blazed paths as a strategic center during Roman rule, silk and spice trading hub during the Middle Ages, and political heart of the French Resistance during World War II. Today, Lyon continues to shine as an economic, cultural, and culinary center of France and the world.
As the second largest metropolitan area in France, Lyon boasts almost 1.7 million Lyonnais and attracts thousands of business and leisure visitors. As an UNESCO World Heritage Site, the city entices architecture and history enthusiasts to see the Fourvière area with its Roman ruins and spiritual Saint-Jean district and the Croix-Rousse silk district with their renaissance buildings and monuments. Visitors journey not only to see the city’s wonders, but to taste the culinary marvels of the French capital of gastronomy, to connect with the history of the French Resistance, and to explore the birthplace of cinema.
The city of lights sparkles with the land’s fiery passions for history, trade, food, and art. Whether visiting for business or pleasure, Lyon cannot fail to dazzle and capture the hearts of travelers.
Practical Information
Climate and Clothing
Located in the Rhône-Alpes region, Lyon enjoys a temperate climate with warm summers and cold snowy winters. During February, the average high is 9°C with a 2°C low. Warm winter gear and umbrella are advisable. You can visit www.weather.com in order to have details on the current weather.
Communication
In order to make international calls to France, dial the international code +33 and the correspondent number (the 04 is needed when calling nationally).
Currency / Credit Card / Bank
The currency in France is the EURO (€). A currency calculator can be found online at www.xe.com. It is often difficult to get change for larger bills (>€100.00). Credit cards are widely accepted in France and the exchange rate is usually better than for cash or travelers checks. Generally, banks are open Monday to Friday, 08:30 to 16:00. Please check the commission rate before exchanging money at currency exchange facilities not run by commercial banks.
Electricity
In France, the electric current is 220 Volts, alternating at 50 cycles per second, and the plugs are standard European with two contact points. Plan to bring an adaptor and transformer for your electrical or electronic equipment using different voltage.
Emergency
In case of an emergency - dial (Toll free number within France):
Medical Emergency: 15 (112 on mobile phones)
Police: 17
Gratuities
In France, a service charge is generally already included in the bill, thus tipping is not necessary. However, for good service, rounding up a few Euros or 5%-10% tip is appreciated.
Language
French is the official language in France.
Pharmacies
Prescription and non-prescription medicine is generally obtainable from pharmacies from Mondays to Saturdays between 09:00 until 19:30. A 24-hour pharmacy service is provided on a rota basis. A surcharge is payable on medicine purchased outside normal opening hours (on call pharmacies).
Religious Services
The Official Tourist Website from Lyon has information related to religions, place of worship and religious institutions.
Smoking Restrictions
In indoor public areas such as restaurants, bars, meeting venue and public transportation such as flights, buses, trains, subways and taxis, smoking is NOT permitted by law.
IOF thank all participants for not smoking in the Hôtel Lyon Métropole at all times.
Tax-Free Shopping
In France there are many opportunities to benefit from Tax Free Shopping. Wherever you shop, ask for a Global Refund Cheque. You have to pay 19.6% French VAT on the purchases you make, and the VAT is included in the price. All visitors residing outside of the European Union are entitled to claim back the tax, if the purchased goods are of a value greater than EUR 175.01. You have to ask for the tax free cheque in the store. Visit www.globalrefund.com for more information.
Taxis
In Lyon and in France in general, you must arrange for taxi by phone or get a taxi at taxi stand. You can also pre-book a day in advance. Please refer to the travel section for more information about companies and fares.
Time Zone
Florence follows Central European Time (CET). It is 1 hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT + 1).
Visa and Letter of Attestation
Participants are strongly advised to make sure they fulfill all legal requirements to enter France. Besides a valid passport, an entry visa may also be required. Please visit the official website of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs http://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/france_159/entering-france_2045/getting-visa_2046/index.html to find out whether, depending on your citizenship, country of long-term residence, and the duration and reasons for your stay, you need a visa to enter Italy.
It is highly recommended to start the process a minimum of 2 ½ months prior to your arrival in France or any Schengen country. Please contact the nearest French consulate or embassy of your country of residence for further information.
Attestation letters to assist in visa formalities are designed to help overcome administrative difficulties in certain countries. It must be understood that such letters do not imply any financial support or hosting arrangement from IOF, nor a guarantee of a visa being issued. The attestation letter to assist in visa formalities will only be sent on request and only to participants who have paid their registration fees in full.
Should you wish to receive a letter, please note that your request must be registered as early as possible by filling in the appropriate fields in the on-line registration form or by sending an email to ltc2010@iofbonehealth.org before December 22, 2009 in case it has not been requested at the time of registration.
Tourism
A historic and charming city, Lyon offers endless and varied opportunities for exploration. For more information about Lyon’s attractions, please visit the websites listed below:
- Lyon Office of Tourism Website - www.en.lyon-france.com
- The city of Lyon official website - www.lyon.fr
Travel Information
Traveling by Plane
Lyon Saint-Exupery International Airport is located approximately 22 km from Hôtel Lyon Métropole. The venue can be reached by taxi (~40 minutes) or by Satobus (~50 minutes), which runs between the airport and downtown Lyon every 20 minutes from 05:00 to 23:40 and costs 8,90 € (November 2009).
Traveling by Train
The TGV train system connects Lyon to the rest of Europe. The three main station in Lyon are Gare de Lyon Part Dieu (6.1 km), Perrache (5.2 km), and Lyon-Saint Exupery airport (21.5 km).
Traveling by Car
Connected by an efficient motorway network, Lyon is reachable from throughout the rest of France and Europe. The closest exit to Training Course Venue is Vaise. The venue boasts a private car park at 15 € and needs to be reserved in advance.
Public Transportation
Lyon boasts a very efficient public transportation system, known as TCL. It includes four metro lines, four tram lines, and over 100 bus lines. The venue is within easy walking distance of several public transport stops.
Taxis
In Lyon, you must arrange for a taxi by phone or at a taxi station. The most popular companies in Lyon are Lyon Taxi Prestige (+33 6 8797 4790), offering 24 hour service, Allo Taxi (+33 4 7828 2323), Taxi-Radio (+33 4 7210 8686, and Cabtaxi (+33 4 7875 0750).
FARES AND CHARGES within the city boundaries (October 2009)
| Preliminary fixed charge | € 2.00 |
| Charge per km (7:00 - 19:00) | € 1.34 |
| Charge per km (nights, Sundays, holidays) | € 2.02 |
| Preliminary fixed charge on Sundays and public holidays | € 4.48 |
| Baggage supplement/large animal | € 0.91 per item |
| Pickup at train station or airport | € 1.41 |
In addition to the above charges, there are other possible charges and customers are responsible for all tolls.
For more information, please visit
www.taxilyon.com
http://www.en.lyon-france.com/practical-guide/p-779/access-and-transport.php
