Although Lyon is the country’s second largest metro area, its centre is compact. One can see most of the top sights in 3–4 days. Food aficionados will want more time to spend in starred restaurants, bouchons, markets and bakeries selling pink praline pastries.
A feast for the senses
The curious traveller’s guide to Lyon, France
Exploring Lyon, a Gallo-Roman city of gastronomy and illumination
Lugdunum was the capital of the Gauls during the Roman Empire. Today, this regional capital is also the capital of gastronomy – home to the Bocuse d’Or culinary competition, the longest-running 3-star restaurant and numerous cosy bouchons celebrating Lyonnais cuisine. How about dinner and a show? Lyon is the birthplace of cinema, an invention by the Lumière brothers. And if visiting in early December, don’t miss the spectacular Festival of Lights, which started in honour of the Virgin Mary.
What to see and do in Lyon
Settlement began at the confluence of the Rhône and Saône. Two millennia later, it is here that most of the top attractions – Vieux Lyon, Roman theatres, Fourvière hill and its basilica – are found.
Meaningful Moments in Lyon
The Lyonnais way of life beckons you to slow down, seek conviviality and savour the cuisine. Discoveries come in all sizes and from unexpected places: behind secret passageways, atop Fourvière hill, inside an underground museum, in the footsteps of gladiators.
Create your own tour
Plan your visit to Lyon
Escape the ordinary by curating your visit to Lyon. From your boutique hotel on the central peninsula, the city’s top attractions – Vieux Lyon, Opéra National, Parc de la Tête d’Or, Roman-era ruins, museums, basilica and cathedral – are within easy reach.
24 hours in Lyon
Old Lyon takes you back to a time when merchants traversed the town via traboules, secret passages that reveal lovely courtyards. Between visits to architectural gems like Cathédrale Saint-Jean, settle into a bouchon for hearty meat dishes, salade lyonnaise and an ambiance you won’t soon forget.
If you have more time in Lyon...
Atop Fourvière hill is a vast white basilica with a tower on each corner. Take the funicular to the “upside-down elephant” to explore its Neo-Byzantine artistry, then take in sweeping views from the city’s highest point. A few paces away are Roman theatres – still in use – and a hillside museum.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Like many French cities of a similar size, Lyon’s streets are full of locals walking about, even at night. The safest areas for solo travellers to stay are also the ones with the most attractions, such as Presqu'ïle, Fourvière and Croix-Rousse.
As many visitors to Lyon pass through Paris, the train is the most scenic and enjoyable way to reach the city. High-speed trains (TGV) travel nonstop from Gare de Lyon in Paris to Lyon Part-Dieu, and the journey takes less than two hours.
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