Lyon, France - is it worth a trip?

We took the TGV train from Paris to Lyon about 10 yrs ago (wow, time flies!) and thought Lyon very charming. Old and new architecture well balanced, wonderful older sections and amazing food - its supposed to be the culinary capital I think. We stayed with friends just outside of Lyon, so not sure how long to suggest for your trip. Since its in the southwest, we then drove to Geneva and then to Italy.

In my opinion it is one of the most charming places in France, everybody knows that food is exceptional, it is a beautiful city. There is the oldest part, medieval , dotted with little alleys and old buildings and a manificent gothic cathedral, then you have the area that is Louis XIV period, fascinating too, well I cannot tell you everything that is worth a visit. My answer y ten times :YES.
Go to://www.en.lyon-france.com/ which is the official site. There they have great week end offers. At the time we went the offer we took was one night free during the week end.
Read a little about this fascinating destination. Also de Office de Tourisme offer very interesting walking tours. Good luck.

It's one of our favorite cities in France. You could probably cover most of it it 2 days, but wouldn't run out of things to see if you had 4-5.

We usually stay in Vieux Lyon (Old Town) at Cour des Loges. For food, google "Lyon bouchons" for info on the city's most traditional restaurants. There are also several Michelin starred options in (and just outside) the city. Most notable perhaps is Paul Bocuse.

I second all the responses so far!

Weather in January: as Lyon has a continental climate, it gets very hot in summer and can get very cold in winter. However, there are usually plenty of bright (if chilly) days so even if it's cold there's a good chance the sun will be shining!

The Gallo-Roman museum in Lyon is also fascinating.

If you read murder mysteries you might enjoy Katherine Hall Page's The Body in the Vestibule, set in Lyon

Lyon makes a great deal more sense but why spend so much of one day on a train?

There are a large number of easy and worthwhile day trips from Paris.

The OP didn't mention Paris, but Paris to Lyon on Eurostar is around about 2 hours...so I don't think that it will take them all day.....

I very much liked my visit to Lyon. As well as the attractions mentioned, I would add Le Halles, named for Paul Bocuse. Go there hungry, and with money in your pocket.

This thread now has me hooked on visiting Lyon. I was thinking about a stopping place between Provence and Paris and now the decision has been made. So thanks Susan300 for starting this thread.

Padraig - I can't readily make the name connection between Les Halles and Paul Bocuse. Can you further inform me please?

Information on Lyon. Richard http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/lyon

If archeology interests you, Lyon has one of the best museums of its Roman past. Lyon was a principal military and political base during Roman Gaul.

Lyon's cathedral perches high above the city. Don't miss it and don't miss the view.

At one time, Lyon was the center of France's silk weaving trade. For all I know, it may still be. Anyway, there is a fascinating museum of silk fabrics in the city.

Paul Bocuse is perhaps the most respected chef in France, and he runs his eateries in and near Lyon. They have named Les Halles in his honour. The market specialises in gourmet food, mouth-watering stuff, and there are a number of stalls at which you can snack -- expensively, but very well.

What fabulous responses and information. Thank you all.
Happy Halloween!
Susan

Lyon is like Portland in a way. Not too big, warm coffee houses, excellent and plentiful restaurants and pleasantly walkable. Plus, like Graziella mentions above, it has the bon-weekend deal. Ask your hotel about dinner reservations. My niece and I stayed in a very low budget hotel and even they had an 'in' at the restaurant around the corner.
One man told us there are really 3 rivers in Lyon. "The Rhone, The Saone, and the Beaujolais!" Probably as corny and old as the hills, but I loved it.

Vttraveler, thanks for the book recommendation. I'm all over it!

I may be the dissenter here. I think it is "worth" seeing - it is certainly an interesting city with fantastic restaurants - but I didn't like Lyon as much I expected I would. I was there last March for a few days. I found it to not have the depth of a very big city but it is also too big to be really charming, in my opinion. It seemed more run down then I was expecting as I was under the (mistaken?) impression that Lyon is a very wealthy city but perhaps it was once, and is less so now.

I would also try not to go there on a Sunday as many stores and restaurants are closed that day. We arrived (from the US) on a Saturday and I was planning to go back to a bunch of stores that looked nice the following day and found most of them closed.

Having said that, if you have traveled extensively in France and are looking for something new, there is certainly plenty to do for an overnight. I just didn't find Lyon immediately appealing and think that as part of a combination trip with Paris, we should have gone to Strasbourg or somewhere more "quaint" as a contrast to Paris.

As far as hotel, I stayed at La Residence upon advice from this forum and did like the hotel. The restaurants are great too.

Hi sus,

>I have been throughout France quite a bit, but never to Lyon. Can someone out there tell me if it's worth a trip? <

Definitely.

I'll be writing about our recent visit in my trip report at
http://www.fodors.com/community/europe/ira-returns-from-22-loverly-days-in-europe.cfm?125

I think that it could be worth 4-5 days.

A few miles South of Lyons don't miss Vienne and its Roman ruins (theater, temple) and the Roman Museum of Saint-Romain en-Gal just across the river.

May I second La Residence? It was well located, not fancy, but very comfortable and adequate with nice bathrooms. The breakfast buffet was simple but also enough to give you a good start each day. The price was superb, but our stay was in 2000, so things may have changed. We enjoyed Lyon and that was where I experienced the best quenelles ever! They were mild, delicate little puffs of fish mousse floating in a rich cream sauce and run under a broiler to give a crusty finish. Divine.

Correction: our trip to Lyon was 2004. Slightly more recent.

La Résidence is still a great hotel and a real bargain in Lyon. And they have free wi-fi

What was the name of that cooking school in Lyon that serves great meals? I have forgotten the name, I wish to let everybody know about it, and also I would like to go back..

No one has mentioned the Musee de la Resistance. http://www.sacred-destinations.com/france/lyon-musee-de-la-resistance.htm You will easily exhaust the batteries in your audiophone.

Lyon is one of the most beautiful cities I know of. Best area is definitely the right bank of the Saone at the bottom of the hill called Fourviere; those areas are called Saint jean, Saint Paul, Saint George. For you to know, The Saint-Jean and the Croix-Rousse areas, which are noted for their narrow passageways (traboules) that pass through buildings and link the streets either side, were designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1998. One of the most beautiful hotel I know of in the world is there in Lyon, Hotel des Loges. Just one night there is an experience worth it.

> Hotel des Loges

I think another poster above gave the correct name (or not?): Hôtel Cour de Loges

Definitely. Great Gallo-roman museum, fine arts museum, Unesco-listed Old Town, roman amphitheatre overlooking city, culinary capital of France, good Metro, compact...etc..I wlked Croix-Rousee area and from Fourviere area.

I spent 4 days there couple years back and would go back.
I also took a train ride to Chambery and saw some nic Alp scenery.

But yes, there are parts of the City that are just like any other big city. And, I would think that 3-5 days would be enough to see the city.

I was going to visit Lyons in January as a day trip from Paris as well but the train cost was $209 per person. I know this sounds like it is too much. Does anyone know if it is correct. I used the TGV website.

Davidjac