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 Lyon is commonly referred to as the gastronomy capital. In the past, this label was associated with sauces and a petit-bourgeois small-town complex. However, with the arrival of the TGV high-speed train connecting Lyon to Paris and Marseille, as well as the winning streak of Olympique Lyonnais in various League Championships, Lyon underwent a transformation. The city now boasts daring architecture, bustling cafés, and avant-garde exhibitions, ushering in a new era.

currency

1 Euro = 100 cents

phone

112

newspaper

Le Progrès – www.leprogres.fr
La Tribune de Lyon – tribunedelyon.fr

hours

In general, shops are open from 10am to 7pm.

population

Metropolitan area: 1,748,000 (2022)

info

Tourist information centre in Lyon
23 Pl. Bellecour, Lyon
Opening hours: daily 9am–6pm
Phone: +33 4 72 77 69 69

The City

There is water everywhere, flowing under 28 bridges. Lyon is divided into different areas by two rivers, the Saône and Rhône, and two hills, La Croix-Rousse and Fourvière. In the west, by the Fourvière hill, is the bustling, historic city centre with its Renaissance pomp. It bears witness to the riches that the city’s profitable silk industry earned, following François the First’s tax reductions in 1536.

In 43 BC, the Romans founded the capital city of the Gallic provinces on a peninsula, at the foot of La Croix-Rousse and in the area around the Town Hall and the Opera, France’s most prominent architects and artists were given a free hand in the 1990s. The result was Post-Modern glamour: a Rococo opera with a glass dome, a grand square with columns and 69 water jets.

From the Town Hall and the Opera, the main shopping, restaurant and café streets, the rue de la République and rue Président Herriot, extend in a north-south direction. The Congress Centre with the 3,000 seat amphitheater built by Renzo Piano, the Contemporary Art Museum and Interpol sandwiched between the Rhône River and the Park de la Tête d’Or, are part of the business centre on the left bank of the river. The underground railway system is extensive - you seldom have to walk for more than 15 minutes.

Do & See

Dive into culture, history, fashion and food in the wonderful city of Lyon. Whether you are here for a weekend or a week you will find countless things to do, from historic sights to world-class museums and pleasant city parks. Take your time and discover why it is so easy to fall in love with Lyon.

Jean-Pierre Dalbéra/Flickr

Musée d’Art Contemporain

Perfect Lazybones/Shutterstock.com

Musée des Tissus

Velvet/Wikimedia Commons

Institut Lumière

prochasson frederic/Shutterstock.com

Basilique Notre Dame de Fourviere

Auguste Morisot/Wikimedia Commons

Musée des Beaux Arts

onilmilk/Shutterstock.com

Le Centre d’Histoire de la Résistance et de la Déportation

ventdusud/Shutterstock.com

Walk along the Rhône

Jakez/Shutterstock.com

Boat Trips

lexan/Shutterstock.com

Parc de la Tête d'Or

Stéphane Leignier/Flickr

Aquarium Grand Lyon

Jakez/Shutterstock.com

Opéra de Lyon

Chef in a restaurant kitchen cooking food Kzenon/Shutterstock.com

Dining

Plunge into the small, picturesque, yet lively world of Lyon’s traditional restaurants – the bouchons. Their menus display all the specialities from the local markets and traditional Lyon dishes. Lyon is also the capital of gastronomy and grande cuisine. The uncontested master of French cuisine, Paul Bocuse, has his restaurant by the Saone, and new chefs brimming over with creative talent abound. In Stendhal’s "Memoirs of a Tourist," he wrote: “I know one thing that you do very well in Lyon, you can eat admirably there.”

Alpha/Flickr

Brasserie “Le Nord”

Shebeko/Shutterstock.com

Brasserie “Le Sud”

Matt Janicki/Flickr

Brasserie “L’Est”

Kzenon/Shutterstock.com

Brasserie “L’Ouest”

Kzenon/Shutterstock.com

Chez les Gones

atl10trader/Flickr

Brasserie Georges

Sonny Abesamis/Flickr

Les Planches

Shebeko/Shutterstock.com

Merle

Shebeko/Shutterstock.com

Tomo

David Pursehouse/Flickr

Franklin's Steakhouse

qanatstudio/Shutterstock.com

La Scala Siciliana

Paul Keller/Flickr

Le Petit Persan

Cafes

In grand French fashion, Lyon's cafes are a sight to behold. From grand squares such as Place des Terreaux, Place Louis Pradel to hidden alleys in the Old City, there is hardly a dull spot to stop for a coffee.

Jen/Flickr

Le Grand Café des Négociants

Susanne Nilsson/Flickr

Café Pignol

McPig/Flickr

Café 203

View of Saone river in Lyon city at evening ventdusud/Shutterstock.com

Bars & Nightlife

Night owls will have no problem finding things to do in Lyon. After admiring the city's beautiful monuments lit up by night, go to one of many animated bars or clubs to discover Lyon's energetic night life.

Hitdelight/Shutterstock.com

Buldo

Konstantin Chagin

Cour des Loges

Ninkasi Gerland

Ninkasi Gerland

Nata789/Shutterstock.com

Le Pharaon

Kzenon/Shutterstock.com

Le Sucre

Velvet

Hangar du Premier Film

Minerva Studio/Shutterstock.com

Modern Art Café

Pressmaster/Shutterstock.com

La Cave d'à Côté

sad444/Shutterstock.com

La Marquise

part of the city of Lyon prochasson frederic/Shutterstock.com

Shopping

Shopping becomes deceptively relaxed in a pedestrian-friendly city like Lyon. All you have to do is to follow the pedestrian route along the rue de la République and rue Président Edouard Herriot for your credit card to become overheated. But don’t forget that you are at the hub of the gastronomic galaxy. Failing to take a few samples of local specialities home would be a great mistake.

NeydtStock/Shutterstock.com

Charcuterie Sibilia

ricardo

Bernachon

Olesia Bilkei/Shutterstock.com

Galeries Lafayette

Goran Bogicevic/Shutterstock.com

La Bourse

Diego Cervo/Shutterstock.com

Vavro et Co

lightwavemedia/Shutterstock.com

In Cuisine

Studio ART/Shutterstock.com

Crafts Market

Thinglass/Shutterstock.com

Book Market

night view from St Georges footbridge in Lyon city ventdusud/Shutterstock.com

Tourist Information

Passport/Visa

France can be visited visa-free for up to 90 days by citizens of other EU/Schengen countries, as well as citizens of Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Malaysia, Israel, UAE and most countries in America. If you are unsure whether or not you need to apply for a visa, we recommend contacting the embassy or consulate in your country.

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Airport

Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport is located 25 km from downtown. You can take the express tram, which is the fastest link between the centre of Lyon and the Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport. The journey takes less than 30 minutes. A taxi to and from the airport also takes approximately 30 minutes. Alternatively, bus line 47 takes you to and from the airport to the city centre. Taking the TGV from Perrache or Part-Dieu, you can travel to or from Paris-Charles de Gaulle in just two hours.

Address: Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport, Lyon

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Website: www.lyonaeroports.com

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Best Time to Visit

Spring and early summer are favourite times to visit Lyon. The months of April, May and June bring the most pleasant weather, as well as the blooming of the foliage in the city's parks and rose gardens. Moreover, a visit during these months means beating the summer crowds.

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Public Transport

TCL has an extensive bus, tram and underground railway system in Lyon. Day passes or two-hour passes, which allow for travel on all vehicles, are frequently the most practical choice for visitors.

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Phone: +33 4 26 10 12 12

Website: www.tcl.fr

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Taxi

There are dozens of taxi companies in Lyon. Here are a few alternatives:

Allo Taxi
+33 4 78 28 23 23
www.allotaxi.fr

Taxi-radio
+33 4 72 10 86 86
www.taxilyon.com

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Post

La Poste is generally open from 8am to 7pm. You can find one office at the following address:

Address: 112 boulevard des Belges, Lyon

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Website: www.laposte.fr

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Pharmacy

Pharmacie Blanchet

Address: 5 place des Cordeliers, Lyon

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Phone: +33 4 78 42 12 42

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Telephone

Country code: +33

Area code: 04

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Electricity

220 Volt, 50 AC

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