All regions
Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
The Alps, Annecy lake, volcanic massifs & Lyon's world-famous food scene
🌿 nature🍷 food🏔️ mountains⛰️ adventure😌 relaxation
Main city
Lyon
Budget level
Moderate budget
Best months
May, June, July
🎓 Student vibe
Active and food-obsessed. Lyon students bike to markets, take weekend ski trips to Chamrousse or Les 7 Laux, and day-trip to Annecy in summer. The region has a strong student culture with very affordable traditional Lyonnaise brasseries called 'bouchons'.
Getting there by train
From lyon
40 min to Annecy
TER direct from Lyon Part-Dieu, frequent
From grenoble
1h20 to Annecy
TER regional
From strasbourg
3h30 to Lyon
TGV direct or via Paris
From paris
2h to Lyon
TGV Inouï, very frequent
Journey times are approximate. Always check current schedules on sncf-connect.com.
Annecy Old Town & Lake
Full day or weekend
The clearest lake in Europe, framed by alpine peaks and a perfectly preserved medieval old town.
Public beaches are free. Boat hire is paid but students often just swim from the shore.
💡 Student tip
Arriving by 9am lets you swim at the free public beach (Plage d'Annecy) before crowds. The old town is free to walk. Picnic supplies at the Tuesday and Friday market are very cheap.
🌿 nature😌 relaxation🏰 architecture🏖️ beaches
Vieux Lyon (Old Lyon)
Half day
The largest Renaissance urban district in France, classified UNESCO World Heritage. Famous for its traboules (hidden passageways).
💡 Student tip
Traboules are free to explore (most are marked on tourism maps). A bouchon lunch costs €12–18 for a three-course set menu — cheaper than it looks.
🏛️ history🏰 architecture🍷 food🎭 culture
Chartreuse Massif
Full day or weekend
Wild limestone mountains just 30 km from Grenoble, with alpine meadows, caves, and the famous Chartreuse monastery.
💡 Student tip
Take the bus from Grenoble to Saint-Pierre-de-Chartreuse for free hiking on well-marked GR trails. No car needed in summer.
🌿 nature⛰️ adventure🏔️ mountains
Puy de Dôme Volcano
Half day
The most famous peak in the Massif Central — a 1465 m dormant volcano with sweeping views over 80 other volcanic cones.
💡 Student tip
The cogwheel train (Panoramique des Dômes) has a ticket cost; walking up is free on the same day if you're fit. Check current student rates on puydedome.com.
🌿 nature⛰️ adventure🏔️ mountains
Les Gorges de l'Ardèche
Full day or weekend
30 km of natural canyon carved by the Ardèche river — canoe-able the entire length.
💡 Student tip
Canoe hire is affordable (€25–40pp for a half-day circuit). Go in June or September to avoid August peak. Some campsites along the river are very cheap.
⛰️ adventure🌿 nature😌 relaxation
🎫 Student discounts in this region
Lyon museums offer reduced student rates — check each museum individually. The region's natural sites (Chartreuse, Ardèche, Vercors) are free to hike. TER youth passes available — verify ter.sncf.com for current Grand Lyon area offers.
🚂 Travel tip
Lyon's Part-Dieu station is one of France's great rail hubs — TGV connections to Paris (2h), Marseille (1h40), and multiple regional TER lines fan out to Annecy, Grenoble, and the Ardèche.
Official sources
Last verified: 2025-09-01