Must SeeFree
Vieux Lyon
Vieux Lyon
A UNESCO old town of Renaissance lanes, courtyards and hidden passageways.
- Suggested time: 2h 30m
- No booking needed
- Suits: Couples
Open-air; shops open daily
Lyon
France’s gastronomic capital, with Renaissance lanes and hidden passages.
Plan your Lyon trip
- Flight + Hotel PackageRecommended Best option if you want the trip arranged together. View Packages Packages
- Hotels Prefer to book accommodation separately? View Hotels Hotels
- Flights Already have accommodation? View Flights Flights
- Things To Do Tours, attractions and experiences. View Activities Activities
Overview
Why go to Lyon
Lyon is a confident, food-obsessed city between two rivers, with a UNESCO old town, secret passageways called traboules and hearty bouchon restaurants. It is less crowded than Paris and very good value.
- Where
- Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France
- Recommended stay
- 2–3 nights
- Best time to go
- April–June and September–October; winters are chilly but the Festival of Lights in December is magical.
- Approx. daily budget
- £70–135 a dayPer person, excluding flights. Indicative.
What does Lyon cost?
Full cost guide- Budget traveller£65–90a day
- Mid-range traveller£120–175a day
- Luxury traveller£245+a day
Approximate per person per day, including a share of a twin room, and excluding flights. Not live prices.
Things To Do
See all 13 Top picks in Lyon
ViewpointsFree
Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière
Fourvière
A white hilltop basilica overlooking Lyon, with a panoramic terrace.
- Suggested time: 1h 30m
- No booking needed
- Suits: Couples · Photographers
Daily, roughly 7:00–19:00
Must See~£6
Roman Theatres of Fourvière
Fourvière
Two ancient Roman theatres on a hillside, still used for summer concerts.
- Suggested time: 1h 30m
- No booking needed
- Suits: Culture lovers
Daily, roughly 9:00–18:00
Shopping & MarketsFree
Les Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse
Part-Dieu
A celebrated indoor food market of charcuterie, cheeses and oyster bars.
- Suggested time: 1h 30m
- No booking needed
- Suits: Food lovers
Tuesday–Sunday, roughly 7:00–19:00
Hidden Gems
See all 3 Beyond the checklist
Hidden GemsFree
Traboules of Croix-Rousse
Croix-Rousse
Secret passageways through old silk-workers’ buildings, still used by locals.
- Suggested time: 2 hrs
- No booking needed
- Suits: Everyone
Open-air; some passages open daytime only
Hidden GemsFree
Mur des Canuts Mural
Croix-Rousse
A giant trompe-l’œil mural painting a street scene that fools passers-by.
- Suggested time: 45 min
- No booking needed
- Suits: Everyone
Open-air; always accessible
Day Trips~£45
Beaujolais Wine Villages Day Trip
Beaujolais (40 km)
Golden-stone villages, rolling vineyards and wine tastings just north of Lyon.
- Suggested time: Full day
- Booking recommended
- Suits: Couples · Food lovers
Tours and trains vary; check timetables
Hotels
All 3 hotels Best-value hotels in Lyon
Well reviewed and fairly priced for what you get: not simply the cheapest.
Best ValueBest Budget Choice
Example listingCroix-Rousse Guesthouse
Croix-Rousse, Lyon
Very good valueValue score 76 out of 100
Rated 8.7/10, priced in line with similar 3★ hotels in Lyon, in a central location.
From £75 per night · check current availability
Best Mid-Range HotelBest Location
Example listingHôtel Vieux Lyon Renaissance
Vieux Lyon, Lyon
Very good valueValue score 75 out of 100
Rated 8.9/10, priced in line with similar 4★ hotels in Lyon, in a central location.
From £130 per night · check current availability
Example listing
Presqu’île Design Hotel
Presqu’île, Lyon
Very good valueValue score 75 out of 100
Rated 8.6/10, priced in line with similar 4★ hotels in Lyon, in a central location.
From £120 per night · check current availability
Food & Restaurants
See all 5 Where to eat
Daniel et Denise Saint-Jean
A classic bouchon, Lyon’s traditional bistro, run by a Meilleur Ouvrier de France chef, serving regional dishes in a cosy room.
Known for: Quenelles, andouillette, tarte aux pralines
About £20–40 per person
Local favourite Good for Families · Groups
Brasserie Georges
A vast Art Deco brasserie open since 1836, with a huge dining hall and a menu of Lyonnais classics.
Known for: Choucroute, seafood, brasserie classics
About £20–40 per person
Local favourite Good for Families · Groups
Maison Sébastien Bouillet
A renowned pâtissier known for the Lyon speciality tarte aux pralines, made with pink sugar-coated almonds.
Known for: Tarte aux pralines roses
Under about £20 per person
Local favourite Good for Couples · Families
La Mère Brazier
A historic restaurant founded by the celebrated “Mère Brazier”, offering refined, Lyon-rooted cooking.
Known for: Poularde demi-deuil, tasting menu
£70+ per person
Special occasion Good for Couples · Groups
A suggested Lyon itinerary
3 nights Couple
Lyon · Highlights
Lyon in 3 nights
A balanced first-visit plan built from our Lyon picks: the headline sights, a local favourite or two and time to breathe.
- Day 1 · Vieux Lyon, Roman Theatres of Fourvière, Bouchon Lunch on Rue Mercière, Traboules of Croix-Rousse
- Day 2 · Beaujolais Wine Villages Day Trip, Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière
- Day 3 · Les Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse, Parc de la Tête d’Or, Mur des Canuts Mural
Plan Lyon your way
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