Lyon is France's second biggest city in terms of student population, with 130,000 including 15,000 international students. The city as a whole has an ideal size and energy: big but not overwhelming, dynamic yet relaxed, cosmopolitan and affordable. It's also ideally located -- less than two hours by train from Paris, Marseille, Geneva and Europe's finest ski slopes.
Lyon is widely praised for its enviable quality of life, mind-blowing gastronomy and UNESCO world heritage architecture. The city boasts a rich history and buzzing cultural life. It's renowned for its spectacular Festival of Lights, atmospheric concerts during the Nuits de Fourvière, ravishes movie buffs during the Lumière film festival and hosts the world-known Contemporary Art Biennial and Dance Biennial.
Getting around Lyon
With its public transport network and the development of soft modes of transport, getting around Lyon couldn't be easier.
Public transport: Metro, Tram and Bus
The city of Lyon benefits from a major public transport network. Find out all about the TCL network, prices, special offers, and stations:
By bike
Vélo'v is the Lyon metropolitan district's bike rental service, with numerous stations throughout Lyon and Villeurbanne. This service is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Information on rental, availability and stations: Information on rental, availability, map of stations:
Vélo'v is also Freevelo'v: a free bike for a year for 18-25 year-olds scholarship students and young people in need of social or professional integration.
Find out more about Freevelo'v
Carpooling
As part of its commitment to reducing the car's share of urban travel, the Lyon metropolitan district has set up car-sharing services.
Optimize your journey
To get around Lyon, calculate your itinerary in real time and optimize your travel time according to your preferred mode of transport thanks to the services of the Lyon metropolitan district.
Travelling outside Lyon
Lyon is also well served by train and plane, making it easy to get to and from anywhere in France and abroad.
By train
The ENS de Lyon is located 15 minutes from the Perrache and Part-Dieu train stations, which allow you to travel anywhere in France and to neighboring countries.
Plan your trip with SNCF (Société nationale des chemins de fer français / National Company of the French Railways).
By Plane
Lyon Saint-Exupéry airport is one hour from ENS de Lyon.
The Tram Express Rhônexpress connects Part-Dieu station to Lyon-Saint Exupéry airport in twenty-five minutes.
- Petit Paumé: Your guide to Lyon's restaurants but also bars, nightclubs, markets.
- Maison de l'étudiant: Student's house : A students' living space (coworking associative space, sales point and diffusion of the whole culture in Lyon, events, meetings, workshops and highlights...)
- Lyon Campus: The student guide and student news in Lyon
PASS Culture
The Culture Pass includes 4 tickets to shows over a whole cultural season, in the cultural structures of the Lyon Metropole and also discounts for the Nuits Sonores festival. It is sold exclusively to students upon presentation of a student card (or tuition certificate) for the current year.
Discover:
- Gerland Pool
- Blandan Park and Gerland Park
- Halle Tony Garnier: Concerts and shows all year round
- Town Hall of Lyon 7
- Club ENvertS: The Nature club of ENS de Lyon proposes to order every week local vegetables and organic country bread
The "Jeunes Ambassadeurs" program aims to boost the global credentials of Lyon, Grenoble and Saint-Etienne by pairing up international students with a "business coach", who is a manager at a company or an institution in the student's field of studies or interest.
The coach introduces the student to the company or institution and to events and conferences to meet other business leaders. Upon return in his or her home country, the student will then become an ambassador for the region and will foster contacts with other young ambassadors, coaches and universities.