Photo: Dennis G. Jarvis · CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Lyon
France's food capital: Renaissance lanes, Roman theatres and two rivers.
France's food capital, where two rivers meet: a Renaissance old town of hidden passageways under a hill crowned by a white basilica and Roman theatres, a grand peninsula of squares between the rivers, and one of Europe's biggest city parks. Cheap set lunches, easy trams and fast trains to Paris and the south.
Places to see
Vieux LyonWalk · Cobbled lanes along the foot of Fourvière hill lined with tall ochre, pink and orange…Free
The traboules (Tour Rose)Sight · Doors off the street that open into covered passages, through vaulted halls and…Free- Fourvière BasilicaChurch · A white basilica with four corner towers on top of the hill, lavish inside with gold…Free
When to go
- Jan7° / 0°Some rainQuiet
- Feb9° / 1°Some rainQuiet
- Mar14° / 4°Some rainQuiet
- Apr17° / 7°Some rainBusy
- May21° / 11°Often wetBusy
- Jun25° / 14°Some rainBusy
- Jul28° / 17°Some rainBusy
- Aug28° / 16°Some rainQuiet
- Sep
Staying and getting around
Good areas to stay
Vieux Lyon. The Renaissance old town along the Saône, with its traboules and the cathedral: atmospheric, lively at night, with a hostel or two on the slope.
The Presqu'île. The peninsula between the rivers: big squares, shopping streets, the town hall and the art museum. Central, handy for everything.
The left bank and Part-Dieu. East of the Rhône: the main station, Les Halles food hall and the Tête d'Or park. Plenty of cheaper hotels near the station.
Flying in
Lyon–Saint-Exupéry (LYS): Rhônexpress tram to Part-Dieu station, about 30 min, ≈ A$30. The airport tram is dear; cheaper if bought ahead online (check).
Flewaway's estimate for the usual budget way into Lyon; check times and fares before you fly.
Getting around
Mostly on foot. A single ticket is ≈ A$4. The old town and Presqu'île are walkable; funiculars climb Fourvière, and the metro and trams reach Part-Dieu, the park and Confluence. The city's shared bikes are cheap for short hops (check).
TCL 24-hour ticket (≈ A$11, 24 hours): Unlimited metro, trams, buses and the Fourvière funiculars; worth it from about four rides (check).
