Lyon: Guide, Hotels, Map & Photos
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EUR 99 - 150 Le Petit Tramassac
 Le Petit Tramassac is located in the heart of old Lyon, within a 15th-century building. It offers modern, stylish apartment accommodation with free W… MoreEUR 70 - 204 Le Phenix Hotel
 Le Phenix Hotel is a 5-minute walk from Old Lyon, and 100 metres from Saint Paul Bus Station. It has a piano bar and offers air-conditioned accommodat… MoreEUR 66 - 92 Laennec
 The Laennec is 4 km from Lyon’s Part-Dieu Train Station and a 5-minute walk from the Grange Blanche Metro and Tramway stops. It offers 3-star accomm… MoreEUR 74 - 110 Lacassagne
 This hotel is located in a quiet area in the east of Lyon, a 10-minute drive from the city centre. It offers rooms with free Wi-Fi and garden views.
… MoreEUR 146 - 550 La Tour Rose
 La Tour Rose is in Lyon’s old town, less than 10 minutes’ walk from the Notre Dame de Fourvière Basilica. It offers rooms, suites and apartments … MoreEUR 44 - 78 Le Saint Pierre des Terreaux
 Located on the Presqu’Ile in central Lyon, hotel Saint Pierre is 350 metres from Hotel de Ville Metro and a 10 minute walk from Vieux Lyon. It offe… MoreEUR 45 - 130 Les Carrés Pégase
 Les Carrés Pégase is in the city of Lyon, only a few steps from the Perrache railway station and the city centre. It offers studio and duplex apartm… MoreEUR 69 - 235 Mercure Lyon Lumière
 Just 200 metres from the Sans Souci Metro stop, this Mercure hotel is a 10-minute Metro ride from Lyon’s city centre and the Part-Dieu Train Station… MoreEUR 69 - 215 Mercure Lyon Brotteaux
 This Lyon hotel is a 10-minute walk from the Part Dieu TGV station and a 2-minute walk from the Brotteaux Metro station. It offers air-conditioned roo… MoreEUR 90 - 220 Mercure Lyon Beaux-Arts
 Mercure Lyon Beaux-Arts is located in the city centre on the peninsular between the Rhone and Saone rivers. It offers air-conditioned, non-smoking roo… MoreEUR 89 - 245 Mercure Carlton Lyon
 This Mercure Hotel is located in Lyon and overlooks the Place de la République. It offers air-conditioned accommodation with free Wi-Fi access, flat-… MoreEUR 110 - 400 La Reine Astrid Warwick
 La Reine Astrid provides spacious accommodation opposite the Tete d’Or Park, the largest cultivated park in Lyon, and close to the Cité Internation… MoreEUR 72 - 110 La Résidence
 La Residence is located on Lyon’s Presqu’ile, just a 2-minute walk from the Place Bellecour. It offers soundproofed and air-conditioned rooms with… MoreEUR 30 - 55 Hotel Montesquieu
 Located in central Lyon, Hotel Montesquieu is 100 metres from the Saint-Andre Tramway stop. It offers air-conditioned accommodation and free Wi-Fi is … MoreEUR 77 - 94 Hotel Elysée
 The Elyseé Hotel is located in the heart of Lyon city centre, just a few steps from the Place Bellecour. It offers soundproofed accommodation with fr… MoreEUR 61 - 72 Hotel du Théatre
 Hotel du Théatre offers en suite accommodation between the Rhone and Saone Rivers, across from Vieux Lyon. Some rooms overlook the Place des Célesti… MoreEUR 50 - 103 Hotel du Simplon
 Hotel du Simplon offers en suite accommodation in Lyon’s Presqu’ile district between the Rhone and Saone Rivers. Each room is uniquely decorated a… MoreEUR 65 - 90 Hotel Qualys Axotel Perrache
 Hotel Qualys is located on Lyon’s Presqu’île, 600 metres from Perrache TGV and Metro station. It has a gastronomic restaurant, a picturesque shad… MoreEUR 49 - 106 Hotel Victoria
 Hotel Victoria’s low-cost accommodation is in Lyon’s 2nd arrondissement, near the Rhone River. There is free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel.
Hotel Vi… MoreEUR 45 - 120 Kyriad Lyon - Perrache - Confluence
 This hotel offers rooms with free Wi-Fi internet access and flat-screen satellite TVs. It is a 10-minute walk from the Perrache train station and over… MoreEUR 44 - 145 Kyriad Hotel Lyon Centre Croix Rousse
 This hotel is in central Lyon, in the Croix Rousse area. It is 100 metres from the Hénon Metro station and offers an underground car park and free Wi… MoreEUR 50 - 128 Inter-Hotel de la Loire
 Inter-Hotel de la Loire offers affordable accommodation near the city centre and old town. It is a 5-minute walk from the Lyon Perrache railway statio… MoreEUR 68 - 90 Hotelo
 The Hotelo is located in the historic centre of Lyon, on the Presqu’île, next to Place Carnot. It has en suite guest rooms with air-conditioning, s… MoreEUR 69 - 309 Mercure Lyon Plaza République
 Located on Lyon’s Presqu’ile, this Mercure hotel is a 10-minute walk from Old Lyon and the city centre. It offers soundproofed accommodation with … MoreEUR 84 - 214 Mercure Lyon Saxe Lafayette
 Located in central Lyon, this Mercure hotel is just a 10-minute walk from the Part-Dieu TGV Train Station. It offers air-conditioned rooms.
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Lyon: Guide
Lyon is a city in the Rhone-Alpes region of France. It's the second-largest city in that country.
Understand
Lyon is a city rich in history, from Roman times to the Resistance. It is also renowned for its gastronomy.
The city is based around two hills and two rivers. In the west is the hill of Fourvière, topped by the prominent 19th Century basilica and in the north, the hill of the Croix Rousse, where silk weavers used to work.
The Saône river cuts through two hills and is met at the southern point of the city by the Rhône river, coming from the east.
The city is divided into 9 districts or 'arrondissements':
The 1st and 2nd arrondissements cover the area between the Rhône and the Saône (the Presqu'île), including the slopes of the Croix Rousse hill. It is an area where you will find many bars, restaurants, Lyon's opera house, and interesting pedestrian shopping strips.
The 3rd, 6th and 7th arrondissements are to the East of the Rhône.
The 4th arrondissement includes the Croix Rousse plateau
The 5th arrondissement includes the hill of Fourvière and the old city
The 8th arrondissement is to the south east
The 9th arrondissement is in the north west.
Get in
By plane
The Saint-Exupéry airport (old name: Satolas), 25 km west of Lyon, is linked to the main cities of France and the world. The service will take you by bus from the airport to central Lyon in 30-50 minutes and cost around 8€. Taxis to Lyon from the airport cost around 75€.
By train
Lyon has three train stations:
Perrache - trains from Paris arrive here. It is only a short walk to Place Bellecour along an interesting pedestrian shopping strip (Rue Victor Hugo).
Part-Dieu - This station is in the commercial centre but has good transport links to the rest of the city by tram bus and metro.
Saint-Exupéry (the station is outside the city and serves the airport)
Lyon is linked by TGV (fast trains) to Paris (2 hours) and Marseille (2 hours).
Lyon is at the middle of a major road network:
A6 to the north: Paris...
Lyon's public transport, , consists of an extensive network of buses, subway (4 lines, 38 stations) and tramway (2 lines, 49 stations). The metro is efficient, relatively inexpensive, and by far the best way to easily move around.
Lyon has also 2 lines of funicular. These are accessible from the Vieux Lyon metro station and provide access to the Roman theatres and Basilica respectively.
Public transport maps : http://www.tcl.fr/site/00_plans_reseau/index.asp#metro
Since May 2005, Lyon also has a public bicycle service which allows travellers, after registering a credit card, to pick up and drop cycles to and from points around the city. You may need a credit card (Visa/MC/French CB) to make use of the service. The prices are very cheap: 1 euro for the "velo'v" card, then 2 euros per hour of use, with the first half hour of each use free. Check that the bike you want is OK or you could have bad surprises.
Traffic is dense. Avoid driving within the city if you can. There are car hire places at the major stations. Best to hire from Part-Dieu, as the subsequent navigation is much easier. For the city center look for sights "Presqu'île"
Lyon has many monuments and museums. Compared to cities such as Paris, the museums may be a disappointment.
Theatres Romains de Fourviere, a Roman amphitheater.
Get lost in the traboules. These passages under the building linking backyards with the streets are found mainly on the croix rousse hill. They were first made for the use of the "canuts" (silk workers of the late XVIII to mid XIX century) so that the pieces of fabric could be moved from workshop to workshop without being spoiled by rain. They also were used as hiding places during the German occupation by the resistance members. Today traboules are disappearing because of the security measures against burglary ("digicodes"). The most beautiful ones have been preserved.
Visit the Old town (Vieux Lyon), which features well preserved medieval and renaissance buildings, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Lyon is an important university center. French language courses are available at ,
'La Part-Dieu' is the biggest mall in France.
Rue de la République, wide pedestrian street north of Bellecour
In the traditional bouchons lyonnais you can usually eat and drink at a good price. Restaurants have their menus with prices displayed outside. The region around Lyon is generally considered to have some of the best food in all of France. For vegetarians, though, the choice might be limited.
Chez Mounier: a traditional bouchon with good food for a very reasonable price: a complete menu for 10 euros. Located on the south-east street of the Place Bellecour.
Otherwise, kebab shops abound, all with the same price: 4 euros for a kebab, 3.50 for chicken or vegetarian. Look especially near Place des Terreaux (metro Hotel de Ville).
Le Layon - excellent French cuisine, situated in the center of the old-town, with a great terrace. Typical price 15 - 25 €. The are fantastic.
Le Nord' - one of Paul Bocuse's 4 brasseries in Lyon, located in the 9eme arrondisement, near the shores of the Saone river. Exquisite meals from $50 onwards.
Auberge du Pont de Collonges : Paul Bocuse's restaurant, one of the most famous restaurant of France. 40 Quai de la Plage. Tel 04 72 42 90 90, Fax 04 72 27 85 87. From 100 € onward. http://www.bocuse.fr/restaurant/default.htm
Lyon offers some nice nightlife. A good starting point is Place des Terreaux and then upwards towards the Croix Rousse. In the streets that climb the hill there are many nice places.
Becs de Jazz nice jazz club open the week-end from 1 a.m. with live jazz and great atmosphere.
Phoebus, 22 rue Pouteau, pub with nice live music (African, reggae).
L'Abreuvoir, rue de st catherine, just above Terreaux there you can join some crazy French listening to crazy French music. Definitively an experience, though not everyone's cup of tea.
Johnny Walsh's, near the Saint Georges Church, nice authentic Irish pub with good music and some live performances.
Wallace, Place Saint Paul, cool whisky bar with a wide range of drinks.
St James and The Smoking Dog near the Place Saint Paul.
L'Amsterdam, 21 Quai Romain Rolland, nice dutch pub.
Le Perroquet Bourré (The Drunk Parrot), 18 Rue Saint Catherine, cheap rhum, the inside is decorated as a pirate ship.
At the quai Albert Augagneur is another centre of Lyon nightlife. Along the Rhone river are several out of duty riverboats (péniches) that serve as nightclubs or bars.
Sirius, 21 quai Augagneur, live events almost every day of the week. The week-ends party on two levels. Nice.
Fish, 21 Quai Augagneur, another boat, here the house and techno crowd will feel at home.
Marquise , Quai Augagneur, here you get nice alternative hip-hop, retro soul and other nice stuff. Sometimes theatre performances.
River Side, 5 rue St Paul, this is one of the rare places where they play rock music in Lyon. Admission after midnight. Only open on week-ends and before holidays.
Hotel Vaubecour , 28 rue Vaubecour (2nd arrondissement). Under €30. A very simple, but clean and friendly hotel. Near Perrache train station and close to just about everything. Looked the same as always as of June 2004. Phone: 04 78 37 44 91.
Auberge de Jeunesse de Vieux Lyon (youth hostel). Belongs to YHA (international youth hostels association). Bunk bed in a dorm plus breakfast for 13 euros (plus fee if not member of YHA). Take the metro to Vieux Lyon station then the funicular to Place des Minimes (otherwise a serious hike up a steep hill). Excellent views over city. Tiny kitchen, extremely limited rooms for couples/families. No telephone bookings.
Hotel Sofitel Lyon Bellecour , 20, quai Gailleton (2nd arrondissement). Luxury hotel close to the famous Place Bellecour. Large number of meeting rooms for conventions. Phone: (+33)4/72412020.
The car museum of Rochetaillée has a very nice collection of modern and old cars. The main attraction of the museum is the armoured car of Adolf Hitler. Château Rochetaillée, 69270 Rochetaillée-sur-Saône, Tel: 04 78 22 18 80, Fax: 04 78 22 69 60. Open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. everyday in July and August, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. rest of the year. Closed on Christmas and New Year. Fees: Adults 5 €, free for children under 18.
This "Travel Guide" section is drawn from the Wikitravel article "Lyon". We hope you will edit and improve it. It is available under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.5 license. By car
A7 to the south: Marseille, Nice, Spain, Italy...
A43 to the east: Grenoble, the Alps, Northern Italy...
A47 to the west: Saint-Étienne, Clermont-Ferrand, Massif Central, west of France...
A42 : to the north-east: Bourg-en-Bresse, Geneva (Switzerland), Germany... Get around
By bus, tram or subway
By car
See
Tête d'Or Park, including zoo and botanical garden.
Basilique de Fourvière (church) , nice view of the city
Tour de Fourvière
Palais Saint-Pierre
Place Bellecour - Europe's largest completely clear public square.
Place des Terreaux
Musée de la Résistance (museum of the Resistance during the Second Wold War): 14 avenue Berthelot, 69007 Lyon. Tel: 04 72 73 33 54, Fax: 04 72 73 32 98. Open from 9 a.m to 5:30 p.m. Closed on Mondays, Tuesdays and holidays. Fees: 3 €. Free for children under 18.
Musées des Arts Décoratifs and Musée des Tissus: 34 rue de la Charité 69002, Lyon. Tel: 04 78 38 42 00, Fax: 04 72 40 25 12, musees@lyon.cci.fr, http://www.lyon.cci.fr/musee-des-arts-decos/. Open from 10 a.m. to 12 a.m. and 2 p.m. to à 5:30 p.m. Closed on Mondays and holidays. Fees (can also be used for the Musée des Tissus): Adults: 4.58 €. Groups (10 adults minimum) : 3.81 €. Students : 2.29 €. Free for children under 18.
Musée historique de Lyon et Musée de la Marionnette
Musée de l'Imprimerie: Visit it only if you're a printing specialist, the collection is important but it is presented in a totaly outdated way. To avoid. 13 rue de la Poulaillerie, 69002 Lyon. Tel: 04 78 37 65 98, Fax: 04 78 38 25 95. museeimp@lyon.asi.fr. Open from Wednesday to Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 12 a.m. and 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Closed on holidays. Fees: 4 €, students in groups: 2 €.
Institut Lumière: 25 rue du Premier Film, 69008 Lyon. Tel: 04 78 78 18 95. Open from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Closed on Mondays and holidays. Fees: 2.50 €.
Musée d'Histoire naturelle: 28 Boulevard des Belges, 69006 Lyon. Tel: 04 72 69 05 00, Fax: 04 78 94 62 25. Open from Wednesday to Sunday, from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Fees: 3 €. http://www.museum-lyon.org/
Musée d'Art contemporain
Musée des Beaux Arts
Musée de la Civilisation gallo-romaine:The second largest museum in France, it has all kinds of things relating to Rhone-alps history. A free visit to the Roman amphitheatres may be just as interesting for those not into the details.
Musée de la resistance: often holds exhibitions (mostly photography) Do
Learn
, , . If you look for an immersion programme, you can have a look at ESL schools groups Work
Buy
Eat
Budget
Mid-range
Splurge
Drink
Sleep
Budget
Mid-range
Splurge
Contact
Most of cybercafes and call shops are in the district of Guillotière, because of the large population of immigrants living there but you will also find cybercafes in the center.Stay safe
Cope
Get out
Perouges is a small village at 30 minutes of Lyon. Its buildings all date to the middle ages and it's a popular week-end destination for people who live in Lyon.
The bird park of Villars-les-Dombes
Vienne and its international jazz festival.
The Switzerland|Swiss border and the city of Geneva are just over two hours away by train.
Annecy, the Venice de Savoie is about 2 hours away a and makes a nice daytrip.