We can go to either Brussells or Lyon for a day trip by train from paris. Which would you choose. We like food, shopping historical sights and just walking around. It will be the first week of January.

Thanks for the help

Hi D,

A daytrip in January. Unless you will be in Paris more than 6 nights, I suggest that you stay in Paris.

If I had to choose between the 2, it would be Brussels,

I'd prefer Dijon.

Hi,
Having lived in both cities (and Paris too!) here are what I feel are the pros and cons of visiting both:

Brussels: Pros - Train ride is shorter (under 1 hour 30 mins), Grand'Place is stunning, excellent food, great beer, lots of good bars serving food all day, friendly people (a great deal of whom speak very good English), culturally very exciting, wonderful Art Nouveau buildings
Cons - some of the sites are a bit spread out and not all areas in the centre are picturesque, weather in January can be pretty unpleasant, city centre not wonderful for shopping (main shopping area is really ugly, though there are some great boutiques dotted elsewhere around the city), you'll have to get public transport or a taxi to the centre of town from the station

Lyon: Pros - gorgeous city, very easy to walk around and pedestrian-friendly, city centre areas (Presqu'Ile and old town) short, easy walk from train station (Perrache), lots of shops within easy access, excellent food, old town is steeped in history with many beautiful buildings, fair chance of bright, sunny weather
Cons - train ride slightly longer (2 hours), weather even when sunny can be extremely cold in winter, umm... and I can't think of any other cons!

So from the above, I'd go for Lyon if you don't mind spending four hours on a train. Having said that, though the trip to Brussels is quicker you'd then have to get from Midi station to the centre of town by public transport or taxi, so from city centre to city centre the journey times might end up being quite similar.

(However, should you be interested in knowing which is the better town to live, I'd have to say Brussels!)

I'll ditto Ira and say..stay, but contradict and say Lyon

Brussels is one city that many people i talk to were really really disappointed in - a huge busy modern city with very few preserved old areas. Lyon is also a huge city - 2nd biggest in France i think but has a really neat Old Town, known for its intimate Traboules - or mysterious narrow passage ways - Lyon is also nicely located where two river meet - nice riverside walks, etc. And the train ride to Lyon is way nicer than that to Brussels - to get to Brussels you go thru fairly boring Flanders, an industrial scarred area - but also the quintessential French countryside between ugly cities too - but to Lyon you go thru a slice of pastoral Burgundy with each hillock seemingly crowned by a soaring church steeple and village church. Even at 185 mph you can see the lovely signature French countryside - TGVs to Lyon are often Dupleix - (sp?) or double-decked trains so try to get a seat on top for the best views - down below you may only see windblocks along the tracks.

Thanks all. I realize that Paris has more than enough things to do but we have decided to go to one of the two places and are seeking advice on which. We will also be in Paris for 7 days and it is our 5th trip to Paris.

Thanks

David J

Lyon has history, food (gastronomic capital of France?), views, museums, interesting architecture, and a good metro. I spent 4 days there and was pleased with my trip and its length. It is a long train ride however., so you would need to plan your day wisely.

This is such a no brainer....LYON!!! I don't think I could had been more dissapointed with Brussels. Lyon is an absolute gem, I cannot even imagine going to France and not visiting Lyon; that's how impressed I was. Fascinating Roman ruins (Caracalla was born in Lyon), the traboulles (secret corridors), and Place Bellecour can fill a day that you will never forget.

and taking that funicular up to Notre-Dame de ?? church, a pilgrimage mecca of sorts high on a hill above Lyon's Old Town. and the Place BellCouer (or whatever the truly grand place is right near one of the main train stations - the heart of Lyon really with i believe on it the Hotel de Ville. Anyway a grand grand square.

I think Lyon is vastly underrated - at least relatively few here ever talk about it when going to or fro Provence.

We were pleasantly surprised by Brussels - maybe it had to do with hearing about so many other people being disappointed in it, our expectation wasn't so high - but we thoroughly enjoyed our time there.

I haven't been to Lyon, so I can't compare the cities, just wanted to chime in that we found Brussels to be quite a nice city.

I've been to both and really liked them both. Both would be fine for a day trip, but they are just totally different cities so I don't think one can compare very well. I would go to whichever appeals to you the most, that's all. Lyon isn't much farther than Brussels in terms of train time, that wouldn't make much difference unless it really matters to you, of course. I limit myself to about 2.5 hrs one way by train for day tripa and actually went to both those cities for the day from Paris myself.

<i>it is our 5th trip to Paris...</i>

Have you considered doing an overnight in Lyon? It sounds like a lot for a day trip.

i think brussells is too busy for you as you would rather
sleep and lyon is not really in france

Interesting topic. I'm thinking of landing at CDG and hopping on a train at the airport for Lyon, spending two nights there and then a week in Paris. We've been to brugges and loved it as a daytrip. If you really want to go to Belguim that would be my choice.

I'm happy to hear all the great things about Lyon. We are just getting the hang of train travel in france. Last year we hopped on a train at CDG and spent a weekend in Angers. We really enoyed that so I'm looking forward to Lyon.

framie wrote: >>lyon (sic) is not really in france (sic)<< WOW, you learn something new everyday....!!