Flights from Lyon to Spain from 41USD*

Flights to Spain from Lyon

From Lyon, Vueling flies direct to 25 destinations in Spain, a network matched in size only by Milan’s. Barcelona is around 1 hour and 15 minutes away and Madrid about 2 hours.

Spain is really several countries in one, and the choice that shapes the trip is not when to go but which one to visit. With flights this short, a weekend is enough for one city, while a week lets you take in two or three.

What documents you need to travel to Spain

Spain and France are both in the European Union and the Schengen Area, so French and other EU citizens only need a valid national ID card or passport, with no visa.

Even without border checks between the two countries, you must carry your documents for the whole trip and make sure they have not expired before you book. Children travelling with you each need their own. The European Health Insurance Card covers public healthcare during your stay. If you hold a non-EU nationality, check your case on the travel documents page.

What to know when you land in Spain

From the airport into town. The main gateways have good transport links, so there is no need to book a transfer. In Barcelona, metro line 9 Sud and the Aerobús reach the centre in under half an hour. In Madrid, the metro and Cercanías commuter trains link the terminals with Atocha. In Malaga, the Cercanías train serves the city centre and the Costa del Sol, and in Palma the shuttle bus covers the 8 km to the old town.

Mealtimes. This is the biggest change from France. In Spain, lunch is between 14:00 and 16:00 and dinner from 21:00, with many kitchens closed until then. A restaurant at 19:30 will be empty or shut, so plan your first day around it.

High-speed rail. The AVE links Madrid and Barcelona in around 2 and a half hours, and the lines to Seville, Malaga and Valencia start from Madrid. Stations sit in the city centres, which means you can string together two or three destinations without going back to the airport.

Climate by region. The north, from Galicia to the Basque Country, is Atlantic, damp and mild. The Mediterranean coast is dry and sunny for most of the year. The interior and Andalusia go above 40°C in high summer and turn cold in winter.

Spain uses the euro. Plug sockets are types C and F, at 230V.

What to do in Spain

City breaks: Barcelona and Madrid

Barcelona brings together the Sagrada Familia, Park Güell and the Gothic Quarter, with a beach inside the city and the Boqueria market on the Ramblas. Madrid packs the Prado, the Reina Sofía and the Thyssen into less than a kilometre, with Malasaña and Lavapiés for evenings out and Toledo half an hour away by train.

Andalusia

Seville has the Real Alcázar, the Giralda, flamenco in Triana and tapas in neighbourhood bars, and it is at its best in spring. Granada has the Alhambra and the Generalife, Córdoba the Mosque-Cathedral, and Malaga the Picasso Museum and the Costa del Sol.

The islands

Palma de Mallorca pairs a Gothic cathedral facing the sea with the Serra de Tramuntana, a World Heritage Site, while Ibiza brings its coves and its nightlife. Tenerife and Gran Canaria stay mild in the depths of winter, and Tenerife also has Mount Teide.

The green north

The part of Spain that feels most like south-west France: Atlantic, damp, and with a food culture that holds its own against it. Bilbao has the Guggenheim and the pintxos of the Casco Viejo, San Sebastián has La Concha, and Santiago de Compostela marks the end of the Camino.

Luggage for your flight to Spain

What you can take depends on the fare you choose when booking. The simplest fare includes a personal item that fits under the seat in front, and from there you can add cabin or checked luggage.

For a city weekend, cabin luggage is enough. A week on the coast or a family trip calls for checked bags. Deciding when you book avoids surprises at the check-in desk. Check the current conditions in Vueling’s luggage policy.