Lyon City Breaks

Q: How many days should I spend in Lyon City?

Although it's the third-largest city in France, Lyon itself is quite compact. You can walk comfortably around the old town, and good public transport will take you to most tourist destinations. If you just want to visit Lyon's main attractions, you can probably see most on a weekend city break. If you're visiting in the summer, you may want to extend this to five days or a week so you can fit in some of the natural parks and lakes. You'll have time to swim and sunbathe, or just get some fresh air.

Q: Is Lyon City family-friendly?

Lyon City is a good place for families. You can take children to outdoor playgrounds in the Parc de la Tete d’Or, where they can visit a small zoo. Kids can also ride ponies or a mini train here and take a boat trip on the lake. If you're up for a higher adrenalin rush, take them to Actua Karting, one of Europe's largest go-kart complexes. At France Aventures Lyon Fourviere, you'll find a park with acrobatic treetop courses and zip lining. For indoor attractions, you can go to the Museum of Movies and Miniatures or the city aquarium.

Q: What should I eat in Lyon City?

Local specialities include cervelle de canuts - a soft, herbed cheese, tablier de sapeur (tripe) and salad Lyonnaise with bacon and poached egg.

Q: What’s Lyon City famous for?

Lyon City was originally founded by Julius Caesar, and the 2000-year-old amphitheatre is still used for shows and rock concerts. Lyon's been a famous banking centre since the Middle Ages, and the core of the French textile industry, especially silk. Lyon has also gained a global reputation as a foodie capital, so you'll find some of the best chefs and Michelin-starred restaurants in the world here. You're also in one of the big wine-producing regions of France with the famous Rhone reds.

Q: How do I get around Lyon City?

Explore by foot on a fine day for a thoroughly enjoyable experience. Or hop on a bus, tram or ferry or rent a city bike.

Q: Is Lyon City good for a city break?

Lyon City is an ideal choice for a city break. You'll be able to explore its long cultural history, from the still functioning Roman amphitheatre to its spectacular modern architecture. You'll find plenty of museums and art galleries, plus an opera house and a 19th-century Romanesque basilica. You'll love the UNESCO World Heritage old town, with its narrow winding streets and traditional shops, where they've been trading in textiles and money since the Middle Ages. You'll not want to miss the traboules, or secret covered passageways. Silk merchants took advantage of these to protect themselves from the weather – and passing thieves.

Q: Which part of Lyon City has good nightlife?

Holidays to Lyon City give you a chance to spend an evening at the opera or see a performance in the Roman amphitheatre. You can spend a whole evening eating in Michelin-starred restaurants or just sit and stare at the illuminations of Lyon City. Over 100 buildings are lit up. The liveliest districts for nightlife are generally the Old Town, the Presqu'ile, and the Croix Rousse. You'll encounter a new wave environment of trendy cocktail bars, inns and clubs around the wider city, including high-energy electronic raves with DJs, in the riverside warehouses at Confluence.

Q: When’s the best time to visit Lyon City?

Summer in Lyon City is generally not too stifling and you can enjoy bathing in the lakes or cruising down the river. It’s also good weather for cycling, and you can see special events in the Roman amphitheatre during the Nuits de Fourvière festival in June and July. Spring is fresh and flowery and, in the autumn, you'll have the new wines and seasonal foods. In the winter, the city is popular for the December Festival of Lights, first held in 1852. The whole city is flooded with sound and light shows and locals put lighted candles in their windows.

Q: Where's good at night in Lyon City?

You'll find the liveliest bars, pubs and clubs in the Old Town, on the Saône riverbanks and in the Presqu'île and Croix Rousse neighbourhoods.

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Find your perfect holiday

A culinary capital with a Roman soul

Choose a holiday to Lyon City, and discover the lovely land between the Rhone and the Saône rivers in the south-western France. The urban sprawl of Lyon makes it the second largest metropolitan area in France. Despite its size, Lyon is compact, with good transportation options to get you to tourist destinations quickly. Lyon has a reputation as the ‘gastronomic capitol’ of the world and as a result is home to some of the finest chefs and restaurants in the world. Lyon holidays are the perfect getaway for all those foodies out there. Besides its fabulous food, Lyon possesses a huge cultural history to be explored. With 30 museums, parks and a world famous opera house, it’s no wonder holidays to Lyon are such a popular tourist destination.

Best things to do Beaches

Discover your muse
Lyon has more than 30 museums but top of the list is the Museum of Fine Arts, considered one of the best museums in France.
Bag a bargain
Lyon is a bastion of fashion and has a multitude of options where shopping is concerned. Around Rue Auguste-Comte you'll find plenty of antique dealers.
Get a breath of fresh air
Get away from the hustle and bustle of the city at Parc de la Tete d'Or, located at Boulevard des Belges.