Reporters from French television channel TF1 tested city and mountain tourist passes in Lyon and Les Ménuires, finding they significantly cut holiday costs for vacationers. The passes allow tourists to access multiple attractions and activities at discounted rates.
In Lyon, located in the Rhône department, visitors carrying the city's tourist card, known as the City Card, walked along the waterfront. One vacationer in the TF1 report said the card was practical because it provided entry to several museums. The City Card includes access to about 20 museums, a guided tour, a Saône river cruise, and free public transportation.
The TF1 journalists compared the cost of a one-day visit to Lyon with and without the card. Purchasing the pass cost 29.90 euros, compared to 54.90 euros for paying individual fees. Longer stays offer larger savings, with a four-day pass priced at 63 euros per person.
Christine, a visitor who bought a three-day pass, said she calculated the cost of three days of public transport and checked individual museum prices. She said standalone costs were far higher than the pass price, adding that the card allowed her family to visit more places.
One in three tourists in Lyon now uses the card during their visit. Cécilia Prudhomme, director of the Only Lyon tourist office, said almost 40,000 passes were sold in 2025, calling it a strong result for the city.
Ascensionnel pass in Les Ménuires
Mountain resorts have also introduced tourist passes, including Les Ménuires in the Savoie department. The resort offers the Ascensionnel pass, which provides unlimited access to ski lifts, gondolas, the local swimming pool, sports activities, and guided hikes.
A mother visiting Les Ménuires said her family would never have tried those activities on their own. A retiree noted that the card was financially advantageous and practical, explaining that a single round trip in a gondola costs 26 euros without a pass.
For a seven-day stay in Les Ménuires, TF1 reporters found that activities cost 205 euros with the pass, compared to 399 euros without it. The savings mean vacationers using the pass pay almost half the regular price.
The system also benefits the mountain resort, which receives nine times fewer visitors in summer than in winter. Marlène Giacometti, director of the Les Ménuires & Saint-Martin-de-Belleville tourist office, said the pass is an essential product to attract summer tourists. She explained that summer attendance has grown by 16 percent over eight years, with passes acting as an entry point.
However, holding a pass can encourage tourists to schedule too many activities. One vacationer noted that there was so much to do that she feared missing out. The report, produced by Virginie Fauroux with reporters Gaëlle Charnay, Maxence Renaud, and Louis Léger, noted that the pass is not suitable for travelers who prefer to do nothing on holiday.
