Lyon

[southernguy]

Hi Peter,
I'm from the US and plan to take a flat in Lyon. Is it a good choice for cities in France? Do you have any recommendations or contacts on how to get a studio or 1 or 2 bedroom that is small, inexpensive and clean close to public transportation? I travel a bit so i won't need an elaborate place.
Thanks...Stephen

Originally Posted by Peter

Hello Natalia,

I have lived in Lyon for 2 years. It's a nice city, less stressful than Paris but still with a lot to do.
Don't hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.
Peter

[Rony Weissman]

Hi Natalia, my wife and I (and our two young children) have been living in Lyon area for five years now. We were in Paris for three years before that. Happy to help with any questions you may have, though there seems to be a lot of expat help in Lyon already!

Regards,
Rony

[southernguy]

Originally Posted by Rony Weissman

Hi Natalia, my wife and I (and our two young children) have been living in Lyon area for five years now. We were in Paris for three years before that. Happy to help with any questions you may have, though there seems to be a lot of expat help in Lyon already!

Regards,
Rony

HI Rony,
do you have instant messenger, skype or an email address? maybe better to talk there? anyway, are you from the US? I have lived in europe but don't know Lyon and even if its a good choice...and whether it has reasonable rental flats...thanks

[xiaohouzi]

Moving to Lyon at the end of the month and looking for an apartment near Lyon 1. Also, I'm hoping to attend Lyon 2 at some point but i know that first i will need to go to a language school for French. Any recommendations? The plan is to study French enough to get into the language program at Lyon 2 if i'm not too old! I would like to get a degree in German and improve my French enough to open some EU doors. I'm checking all my options to get EU residency and/or citizenship. Merci!

[southernguy]

Where are your from? I'm looking for a language school in Lyon too. Any recommendations? And looking for a small reasonably price flat to start off. Any information on that and also do you know the area. Is Lyon 1 the most desired spot for a flat and public transportation, etc.?

Originally Posted by xiaohouzi

Moving to Lyon at the end of the month and looking for an apartment near Lyon 1. Also, I'm hoping to attend Lyon 2 at some point but i know that first i will need to go to a language school for French. Any recommendations? The plan is to study French enough to get into the language program at Lyon 2 if i'm not too old! I would like to get a degree in German and improve my French enough to open some EU doors. I'm checking all my options to get EU residency and/or citizenship. Merci!

[mi-quebecoise]

Hi Southernguy - Lyon1 is the science university, with its main campus located in Villeurbanne.

The best place for a flat really depends on what you are looking for: 1st or 2nd Arrond to be right downtown, Croix-Rousse for an eclectic, cohesive neighbourhood or Villeurbanne for something a bit more ethnically mixed. Or the 5th (Vieux lyon) for the feel. Do you want to be close to the train station, a good school? Most language schools seem to be in the 1st or 2nd.

Public transit is great - you have lots of options of good apts with good connections.

Rental apts are managed/rented by agencies (with fees of about 1 mo rent, so you want to be sure of a place before you sign the lease). You can find some options at Immobilier et annonces immobilières | 1er site immobilier français but you will get more by actually contacting the agencies.

Cheers, S

[Ngan]

I have been visiting a dozen of "social centers" in Lyon to inquire about French language course. Not a lot of luck so far, unfortunately. I am seriously considering investing in one of the language institutes. I've only visited Lyon Bleu. People seemed very nice and their classes break down to about 7 euros/per hour of instruction. I am going to visit the other ones as well and will post my 2 cents!

In case you need places with free wifi or Internet access, the library at Part-Dieu has computers with Internet (for free) and the center of the Part Dieu shopping mall and the youth center (CRIJ) both have free wifi. Not sure if this is relevant for anyone moving to Lyon, but discovering these places really helped my husband and I a lot in the beginning.

Ngan

[southernguy]

What are the more desirable locations to live in Lyon (considering convenience to public transportation) and what is the price range for a studio, one-bedroom or two-bedroom?

Originally Posted by Peter

Hello Natalia,

I have lived in Lyon for 2 years. It's a nice city, less stressful than Paris but still with a lot to do.
Don't hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.
Peter