A day in Lyon
TRAVEL DATE : REGULARLY
Lyon was a beautiful place to be growing up thanks to various cultural, historical and natural sights. Here is my recommended itinerary if you only have a day in the city of lights.
You can start the day close to the Saone River with a nice brunch at Suzette. Enjoy some pancakes and scramble eggs with a view on the Saint-Nizier Church. Digest your meal by walking along the river side and cross the La Feuillée bridge to start your journey through the historical center or Lyon.
Le Vieux Lyon
Admire the architecture, the paved streets and the smell of French bakeries while walking down Lyon Old Town.
- Head to la Maison du Crible aka the Pink Tower (22 Rue du Bœuf) to discover one of the famous buildings of Lyon.
- Let’s then walk down La Longue Traboule (from 27 Saint Jean to 6 rue des Trois Maries) for a history moment: the traboules are passages through courtyards of buildings that allow you to go from a street to another. Originally, these passageways were used to go to the river in order to get water. Later, they served as a refuge during of the revolt of the Canuts between 1831 and 1834 but also to the resistance fighters during the Second World War. Today, only about forty traboules out of the 500 existing ones are still accessible.
- Now, we are heading to the Palais du Justice, an impressive building looking over the river with its 24 columns representing the hours of a day. Here, sits the criminal court and the court of appeal.
- A few meters further, you will find the Museum of Cinéma et Miniature (60 Rue Saint-Jean) displaying a collection devoted to the art of miniature and another to special effects techniques used in movies. Definitely worth a visit.
After all the walking, I suggest you have lunch in one of the Bouchon Lyonnais to try traditional dishes. I personally like Le Un, Deux, Trois (1 Pl. Neuve Saint-Jean) where you can taste the Quenelle de brochet and a Praline pie.
Let’s get back on our feet and head to Cathédrale Saint Jean for more breath-taking architecture. Shall we grab the funicular to Fourvière and visit the gigantic Basilique Notre Dame de Fourvière as well as enjoying a panoramic view over Lyon.
Parc de la Tête d’Or
We are now about to cross the city. Take the subway to Bellecour and grab an electric scooter (Dott or Tier) to drive on the bike lane along the bank of the Rhone River, straight to our French Central Park. There, get lost around the lakes, the botanical garden and the open zoo.
Presqu’ile de Lyon
Now the sun is about to set, it’s time to make it to the peninsula of Lyon. Head to Place Louis Pradel where you will find the Opera of Lyon. Grab the elevator to Les Muses bar to enjoy a drink on the terrace of the Opera, behind the eight muses, looking over the Hotel the Ville. I then recommend having dinner at Café 203 for a friendly atmosphere and delicious food. Finish the day by walking over the Place des Terreaux to enjoy the night illuminations.
