Known worldwide for its gourmet food and wine, the city of Lyon offers an amazing range of restaurants as well as many architectural highlights and historic places to explore. Using it as a base you can also explore the countryside and many other attractions in this charming part of France.
Stunning sights
There are many impressive monuments to see around the center of Lyon. While it may be smaller than Paris’s iconic Notre Dame, Lyon’s cathedral is no less beautiful.
The Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière is an impressive 19th century structure on a hilltop overlooking the city, so you can enjoy views of the surrounding areas and even the Alps in the distance. You can reserve tickets online to take one of its 90-minute rooftop tours.
Also well worth a visit is the Musée des Confluences, a huge modern glass and metal structure set between the Rhône and Saône. From the outside it’s a hugely impressive sight, and if you venture inside you’ll find several fascinating exhibitions including a natural science display that traces life on earth all the way back to the Big Bang.
Gourmet treats
Lyon is perhaps most famous for its cuisine, and you’ll be truly spoilt for choice if you’re looking for traditional French food. Thanks to the city’s location in the heart of France, Lyonnaise chefs have access to the very best regional produce, including fresh vegetables from Charolais and fish from Savoy.
It’s also just a few miles from the famous wine region of Beaujolais and, of course, there are a number of local cheeses produced nearby. Local markets including Les Halles de Lyon and La Croix Rousse offer the chance to buy some top-quality produce, while in the evening you can dine at one of the Michelin-starred restaurants in the city.
A traditional Lyonnaise restaurant is known as a bouchon and is usually a small, family-run bistro. Here you’ll find filling homemade foods such as duck pâté, sausages and roast pork, all served in a homely, rustic atmosphere. If you’re feeling adventurous, try the tablier de sapeur, a specialty made from beef tripe.
The finer things in life
As befits a major French city, Lyon is rich in culture too. The Musee des Beaux Arts can easily occupy a whole day of your time, although it’s much more manageable than its Parisian counterpart, the Louvre. Here you’ll wander past pieces by Picasso and Monet, stunning sculpture by Rodin and also antiquities from across the globe. Fascinating changing exhibitions keep things fresh.
For a refined evening out in sumptuous surroundings, snaffle a ticket or two for the Opera de Lyon. This lovely 19th century building was given a sympathetic late-20th century touch-up and it hosts an internationally renowned program.
Car rental in Lyon is your key to unlocking the very best of this vital city, a place of pride, culture and cuisine. And, if you have time left, the rest of France awaits…