Is Lyon Safe for Solo Female Travelers?

Lyon, as one of France's largest cities, is generally considered safe for solo female travelers. Stricter safety measures are in place and the city is well-policed. There are some areas you should avoid late at night, but the majority of the city, particularly the tourist areas, are safe and welcoming. Local people are friendly and willing to help if needed. Hospitals and police are responsive and trustworthy.

Safety rating

3.6 /5

Based on 16 experiences from female travelers

4.4 /5

Based on our research and crime data

3.6 /5

Based on 76 experiences from local women

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How safe is Lyon?

Safety at night:Moderate

Overall, Lyon is reasonably safe during the night. Like any other city, Lyon has areas that are very safe and others that are less so. It's always important to stay in well-lit areas and avoid deserted streets. Of course, it pays to keep a vigilant eye on your surroundings and maintain typical urban precautions. Public transportation runs late into the night and it's always a good idea to use it when possible, especially on weeknights when the streets aren't as populated.

Public transportation:Very safe

Public transportation in Lyon comprises of Metro, Tramways, Buses and Bikes which are all well-maintained, timely, and efficient, hence making it an extremely safe city for solo female travelers to navigate. The city has extensive and convenient public transport networks that offer a sense of security and confidence to commuters. Also, Lyon's transportation system is well monitored and citizens are generally respectful and law-abiding. However, like any city, it's always important to be vigilant and aware of your surroundings.

Street harassment:Low

In general, Lyon is a city that is friendly towards solo female travelers. Instances of street harassment are relatively low compared to other major cities, with the majority of locals being respectful and courteous. That said, like in any city worldwide, there may be isolated incidents, mostly in less crowded or poorly lit areas; hence necessary precautions are advised. As always, avoid walking alone at night in unfamiliar areas and stay vigilant of your surroundings.

Petty crimes:Low

While Lyon is generally considered a safe city to travel solo, it's not entirely free from petty crime. Visitors may occasionally encounter theft, especially in crowded tourist areas, and pickpocketing on public transportation. Always keep an eye on your belongings and be cautious in crowded and tourist-heavy areas.

Is Lyon worth visiting?

Overall rating

3.9 /5

based on 16 experiences from female travelers

Things to do

3.7/5

Safety

3.6/5

Food

4.1/5

Budget-friendly

3/5

Couple travel

My overall experience in Lyon was very good. I stayed at an Airbnb with my boyfriend and we stayed there for 12 days. I would say 12 days is more than enough to experience the city but we wanted a very laid back and chill vacation as to why we stayed so long. I felt very safe but that could also be because I was with my boyfriend all of the time as I know there are plenty of areas in Lyon that my female friends have not felt so safe in.

Posted: September 15, 2025

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Priyanka

India

Solo travel

I love Lyon! Probably one of my favourite places to travel in. I always felt safe, there’s so much to do, getting around is a breeze and the city is just STUNNING. Can’t recommend it enough and think it’s a great place to explore what French culture is all about

Posted: July 8, 2025

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Caylee

Singapore

Couple travel

Felt recently safe, people were actually pretty nice. Food was great, we ate a bunch of food from the local weekend markets because we're broke. We did also eat at a fancier local place and the food was amazing. Lots of free historical places, museum was free for university students (we're grad students)

Posted: May 29, 2025Experienced: April, 2025

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Group travel

I felt pretty safe, you just have to trust the locals about which places to avoid like Guillotière. The places I would recommend to check out are Le Parc de la Tête d'Or, the streets of Vieux-Lyon, the Fourvière cathedral, and the presqu'île. If you want to shop, the Part-Dieu mall or the avenue de la république are for you.

Posted: May 27, 2025

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Bella

Hungary

Family travel

The transportation isnt cheap compared to Budapest but i guess it is compared to like London. Its very safe and in tact but the crowd is something i had to get used to. People dont respect your space in public and dont speak english. The city is mostly very clean and i felt safe. I recommend the Musée des Confluences if you like science or biology (but i suppose the expos are changing and are not permanent) and also musée des Beaux-Arts, that has some really famous pieces. I think going up the the temple on the mountain with the fourvière is a must.

Posted: April 26, 2025

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Is Lyon safe for women?

Safety index

3.6 /5

Based on 76 local experiences

Crime index

2.4 /5

Based on 76 local experiences

Camille

The most busiest places in Lyon are pretty safe during daylight but I hardly advice you to avoid the place like Tonkin or Villeurbanne. And during night, please be careful while going back home. Don't haeding back by you own or grab an uber/taxi if you can. Take care of you ❣️

Posted: September 2, 2025

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