Besançon to Lyon by train
Lyon lies 189 km (118 mi) south-west of Besançon, in the same time zone. What the numbers say about getting there.
By rail the journey is about 1 h 9 min at the speeds typical of France rail, over roughly 231 km (143 mi) of track; the operator’s timetable is the number that counts.
| Besançon | Lyon | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | France | France |
| Population | 128,426 | 520,774 |
| Elevation | 300 m (984 ft) | 173 m (568 ft) |
| Time now | UTC+2 (Europe/Paris) | UTC+2 (Europe/Paris) |
| Stations on record | Besançon-la Mouillère station, Gare de Besançon Rivotte | Gare de Lyon-Part-Dieu, Gare de Lyon-Perrache, Gare de Lyon-Jean Macé |
| Postal codes | 25000–25933 CEDEX 9 | 69000–69998 CEDEX 07 |
Where to book trains from Besançon to Lyon
We take no bookings for these providers and hold no reservation with them. The provider you choose handles payment, confirmation, changes and refunds. How that works.
Staying in Lyon
Our booking partner lists 454 places to stay in Lyon. Of the 173 with a star rating, the largest group is 3-star (73), and 9 are five-star. Across 236 properties with at least 50 reviews, the average guest score is 8.3 out of 10. Guests have left 324,399 reviews in total.
Book a hotel in Lyon
Live rooms and prices from our booking partner, booked and paid for here. Free cancellation is marked where it applies.
Common questions
How far is Lyon from Besançon?
189 km (118 mi) in a straight line, south-west of Besançon; by road roughly 231 km (143 mi).
How long does it take to get from Besançon to Lyon by train?
About 1 h 9 min, estimated from distance and typical speeds. Timetables and traffic decide the real figure.
Is there a time difference between Besançon and Lyon?
No, both are on Europe/Paris at the moment.
Where can I stay in Lyon?
Our booking partner lists 454 places to stay in Lyon, bookable on this site.
Where these facts come from
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, elevation, time zone, postal codes
- Wikidata (CC0): area, sister cities, visitor numbers, heritage listings, stations and ports
- OurAirports (public domain): airports, runways
- Natural Earth (public domain): map outlines
Data compiled 14 September 2026. Hotel and hostel figures are from our booking partner’s catalogue on that date. Journey times on this page are estimates from distance, not timetables; check the operator before you rely on one.