Local Tip
Need euros on a Saturday? Global Cash's Bellecour agency at 20 rue Gasparin trades until 18:30, while its rue de la République office shuts at weekends.
Where to change money in Lyon
Lyon's home-grown changer is Global Cash, which says it has traded since 1985, holds an ACPR money-changer authorisation and also runs the airport desks. Ask for the final euro sum at the counter before committing.
- Global Cash Opéra, 3 rue de la République, 1st arrondissement Weekdays only, 09:30 to 18:30 (04 78 27 35 45). Currency ordered on the Global Cash website can be collected at either city agency.
- Global Cash Bellecour, 20 rue Gasparin, 2nd arrondissement Near Place Bellecour on the Presqu'île; open Monday to Saturday, 09:30 to 18:30 (04 78 38 12 00).
Changing money at the airport
Both exchange desks at Lyon-Saint Exupéry belong to Global Cash and are in Terminal 1: one before security and one after it, at Place des Lumières. The airport's English page, read in October 2026, gives 09:00 to 18:15 for the landside desk (09:00 to 14:00 at weekends) and 05:15 to 19:00 airside, though a timetable lower down shows earlier closing, so ring 04 22 53 34 05 to be sure. They trade euros, sterling and US and Canadian dollars, and pay cash VAT refunds to non-EU residents.
For cash on arrival, four Global Cash machines in Terminal 1 run 24 hours: two on level 0 in the arrivals hall, two airside beside the desk.
ATMs and cards in Lyon
Those airport machines are run by Global Cash rather than a French bank, and MoneySavingExpert warns that some ATM owners abroad add their own charge whatever card you hold. In shops or at a machine, turn down any sterling conversion and pay in euros; MoneySavingExpert (updated 28 August 2026) says to choose the local currency every time.
Paying for transport in Lyon
Since 30 May 2022 TCL has let riders tap a contactless bank card on the red readers on buses, trams, metro gates and funiculars. Each tap costs €2.10, the price of a zones 1 and 2 ticket, and daily spending is capped at the day-pass price: €6.90 according to Economie Matin in August 2025, with LyonMag reporting a rise to €7.10 planned for 2026.
Rhônexpress trams connect Part-Dieu and the airport in 30 minutes, every 15 minutes from 04:25 to midnight. A single is €17.40 from the machine or €16.30 online, and a return €30.30 or €28.50; children under 12 ride free.
Good to know
- Rhônexpress says some of its ticket machines are out of order and that a single stays valid for a year after purchase, so buying online before the trip saves money and a possible queue.
- Lyon Aéroports suggests phoning Global Cash on 04 22 53 34 05 before travelling to reserve the currency you want, so it is in stock at the desk.
Key Areas in Lyon
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Exchange bureaux, banks and cash machines, as mapped by OpenStreetMap. The map loads only when you ask for it.
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Lyon travel money FAQ
Where is the best place to exchange money in Lyon?
No guide picks a winner, but Global Cash, the licensed local firm, has two central agencies: 3 rue de la République (weekdays, 09:30 to 18:30) and 20 rue Gasparin by Place Bellecour (Monday to Saturday). It also runs both airport desks. Ask each for the euro total.
Do Lyon's metro and trams take contactless bank cards?
Yes. TCL readers on the metro, trams, buses and funiculars have accepted contactless cards since May 2022. Each journey costs €2.10, and the day's total is capped at the price of a 24-hour pass (€6.90 in 2025, with €7.10 announced for 2026).
Are there ATMs at Lyon airport?
Yes. Lyon Aéroports lists four Global Cash cash machines in Terminal 1, open 24 hours: two in the level 0 arrivals hall and two airside next to the exchange desk at Place des Lumières. They are not bank-run, so watch for an operator fee on screen.
Checked October 2026. Fees, fares and opening times change, so check locally before relying on them. Sources: Lyon Aéroports · ACPR (REGAFI register) · Global Cash · Rhônexpress · LyonMag · Economie Matin
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