What are the closest beaches to Lyon? You have to be patient and hurtle down the A 7 (for those in a hurry) to taste the joys of the Mediterranean. For a weekend, it is therefore towards the lakes that you have to orient yourself, with our selection of spots less than two hours from the capital of the Gauls.
To discover
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From Savoie, to Auvergne via Haute-Savoie, Isère and Ain, focus on the most accessible beaches from the Lyon metropolis, by road, with alternative route by train or bus.
Read alsoWeekend in the mountains: our 10 ideas for spring and summer stays in the Alps
The Lac des Sapins (Rhône)
The lake is located in the green Beaujolais. Cor VPL
In Cublize, between Roanne and Lyon, in the green Beaujolais, Lac de Sapins has two distinct areas: the lake, free of charge and the so-called organic bathing, the largest of its kind in Europe (8,000 m2), filtered by more than 15,000 plants. Paid access (from 4 €) is limited to 2500 daily entries.
All around, the lake has hiking trails, minigolf, tree climbing, mountain bike rental, fishing, equestrian center ... Currently undergoing renovation, the Cabanes du Lac, perched in the trees, should reopen in June 2023. Still in Beaujolais, the lake of Colombier, in Anse, former gravel pit served by a small tourist train or the lake of Bordelan, in Villefranche-sur-Saône also have their faithful.
All aboard: Allow 1h10 (66 km) by the A89.
By train: About 1h10 by train between Lyon Part-Dieu and Amplepuis then 10 minutes by bus on line 239 of the Cars du Rhône (www.carsdurhone.fr).
Read alsoThe 10 best hotels in Lyon under 150 euros per night
Lake Annecy (Haute-Savoie)
The beauty of Lake Annecy, in the setting of the Alps, loves crowds. Luis f Pizarro
Its water is considered the purest in Europe, Lake Annecy, at the foot of the Tournette, is surrounded by green and a cycle path now complete (count 3 hours to go around the lake), offering bathers sometimes emerald water and a sumptuous mountain scenery.
Very chic (the shores of the lake are full of superb properties, luxurious hotels and starred restaurants) but also very busy the destination is to be preferred out of season for those who want to spread without fighting his towel on the sand of the beach of Saint-Jorioz, enjoy a swim overlooking the castle of Duingt or laze on the floating pontoons of the beach at the end of the lake, also called Doussard beach.
All aboard: Allow 1h45 (150 km) by the A43 then the A41. Be careful, traffic and parking can be complicated around the lake.
By train: 2 hours by TER from Lyon Part-Dieu station.
Read alsoThe most beautiful beaches of Lake Annecy
Lake Geneva (Haute-Savoie)
On the French side, you can access about twenty beaches in Lake Geneva, for example in the charming village of Yvoire. Xavier D.
72 km long and totalling 582 km2, Lake Geneva also called "Lake Geneva" on the Swiss side of its shore has everything of an inland sea. Nestled between the Alps and the Jura, the largest lake in Western Europe is also experienced as such, multiplying "maritime" pleasures. You can anchor, sail, ski, fish, dive, row and splash from a hundred beaches, including twenty on the French side, including Excevenex, near the charming medieval village of Yvoire, the Chataignerie and the Pinède in Thonon-les-Bains, Séchex in Anthy-sur-Léman, Saint-Gingolph ... The Swiss right bank crosses many charming villages according to the cantons of Geneva, Vaud and Valais, to the famous terraced vineyards of Lavaux, classified by Unesco.
By car: 2h10 (194 km) by the A42 then the A40 to reach Evian-les-Bains, 2h (184 km) for Thonon-les-Bains, 1h35 for Geneva but be careful you will have to buy a vignette to travel on the Swiss motorway. It is not mandatory on national roads but the journey time will be extended in this case.
Train: 3h by TER from Lyon Part-Dieu to Evian-les-Bains, 2h50 to Thonon-les-Bains, 2h to Geneva.
Read alsoOur seven most beautiful villages in Haute-Savoie
Lake Bourget - Aix-les-Bains (Savoie)
The largest natural lake in France (18 km long) rests in a mountain setting even denser than Annecy. Anna Dufour
Aix-les-Bains, the former spa resort of Queen Victoria and the European elite is the fastest gateway for those who want to move quickly from the station to the beaches of the center, Mémard, Aix and Rowing. Allow about twenty minutes walk. By car or bike, push further and enjoy the jewel of the "Riviera of the Alps" near Brison-Saint-Innocent, Conjux, Chindrieux, from the terrace of the Lido (Tresserve) or on the microbeach near the Lamartine cave, in Bourdeau.
A little further on stands the Abbey of Hautecombe, famous necropolis of the Dukes of Savoy. To the north, do not miss the Savières canal, which can be traced by boat, to Chanaz, charming and picturesque city of craftsmen (oil, coffee ...). Well known to music lovers, the lake hosts the Musilac festival every summer (July 5-8). In the line-up this year: Indochina, Phoenix, Arctic Monkeys, Shaka Ponk, Selah Sue...
All aboard: Allow 1h15 (110 km) by the A43 then the A41.
By train: 1h15 by direct TER from Lyon Part-Dieu station.
See alsoSavoie-mont Blanc: our ten most beautiful hikes at altitude
Lake Aiguebelette (Savoie)
The beach called Sougey, one of the 7 that counts this lake embedded in a mountain landscape. Aurelien Antoine
At the foot of the Montagne de l'Épine and at the gates of the Chartreuse Natural Park, the smallest of the large lakes of Savoie Mont Blanc is also one of the hottest in France since it is not uncommon to soak in water at 28 ° C. Renowned for its spectacular emerald green color, it borders five villages (Aiguebelette-le-Lac, Lépin-Le-Lac, Nances, Novalaise, Saint-Alban-de-Montbel) and has seven beaches fully supervised and equipped with pontoons, lawns, snacks, picnic area, beach volleyball or petanque court.
Pedal boats, kayaks or SUP can be rented everywhere to take a look at the reed beds or the new restaurant with panoramic views, La Villa du Lac, which also houses some furnished rooms. On land, we meet trail runners, mountain bikers or paragliders.
All aboard: Allow 1h05 (100 km) by the A43.
By train: 1h30 by TER from Lyon Part-Dieu to Lépin-le-Lac, 2h via Chambéry-Challes-les-Eaux to Aiguebelette-le-Lac.
See alsoFour hikes to discover the Chartreuse massif, between Isère and Savoie
Lake Paladru (Isère)
The beach of Charavines. Aurélien Antoine
Located halfway between Lyon and Grenoble, in the Terres Froides, the "blue lake" with chalk bottoms of the Pays Voironnais is a private lake, only 5 km long with many protected natural areas. There are four paying beaches (Pin, Paladru and Montferrat) and one free (Charavines), all supervised and developed.
Opened last summer, the MALP, archaeological museum of Lake Paladru, exhibits various remains from the waters and sweeps away the ancient legend of a city engulfed by divine wrath in favor of explanations on underwater archaeology. Regulated fishing and many hiking or mountain biking routes in the heights.
All aboard: Allow 1h10 (93 km) by the A43 then the A48.
By train: 1h07 by TER from Lyon Part-Dieu to then 30 minutes by bus, lines G or 43, "lake summer" link in July and August.
See alsoHiking: on the Vercors Highlands, three days immersed in a wild nature
Lake Nantua (Ain)
The lake, located in the Jura massif. Jasckal
Described by Alexandre Dumas in Impression de voyage, as a "pretty little sapphire blue lake encased like a jewel, which nature would fear to lose", Lake Nantua, at the foot of the city of the same name, is part of the Jura massif. Between Bourg-en-Bresse and Geneva, the destination is also the birthplace of the famous crayfish sauce that traditionally accompanies Lyon dumplings.
Before or after the tasting, enjoy one of the two beaches, Albert Griot to the north, La Colonne, to the south (supervised in summer), a catamaran, paddle or canoe trip. There is also fishing and hiking. At the same time of journey you can also opt for the wildest Lake Genin, in the Haut-Bugey, often compared to Canadian landscapes and embellished with an inn without fuss (www.lacgenin.fr) or the island Chambod-Merpuis, "bubble of water" in the country of Cerdon.
All aboard: Allow 1 hour (90 km) by the A42, A40 then A404
By train: From 2h20 to 3h40 from Lyon Part-Dieu station to Nantua via Ambérieu-en-Bugey, Bourg-en-Bresse or Bellegarde.
Grand Parc Miribel Jonage (Ain)
The site, huge, is a real lung for the Lyonnais. Ane Caroline
With 2200 hectares of park and no less than 16 municipalities crossed in the Rhône and Ain, including Lyon, Neyron, Décines-Charpieu or Villeurbanne, the site is the closest, largest and most popular natural water point in the agglomeration. Four beaches are set up around the Lac des Eaux Bleues, including the paying one, the Atol. You can also practice catamaran, fishing, rowing, kayaking, golf, themed walks ... The site hosts the Woodstower Festival every summer (August 23-27).
All aboard: Allow 20 minutes (14 km) between Place Bellecour and the lake via the ring road and the A42.
By bus: With TCL, line 83.
Lake Chambon (Puy-de-Dôme)
View of the Sancy massif. P. Soissons
Formed about 8,000 years ago, following the eruption of the Tartaret volcano from which to contemplate it in large, Lake Chambon, in the Sancy massif is today a shallow pleasure lake dotted with islets. Equipped for swimming (two beaches), you can practice canoeing, pedal boating, fishing and hot air ballooning.
All aboard: Allow 2h10 (204 km) by the A6, A89 then A711 and A75.
By train: No service, you should prefer carpooling or cycling.
