3 days in Lyon

The Bocuse Market is well-known and contains both fresh foods and prepared (several restaurants are inside). Many of the finest restaurants in Lyon get their produce, meats and fish there. There are several other markets in the city; I recommend checking the city's tourism website, en.visiterlyon.com, for days and hours.

La Croix Rousse is on a bluff overlooking the city, and it contains La Maison des Canuts, a museum devoted to the historical production of silk, once a major industry in the city. The surrounding area is very artsy-craftsy, and bohemian in outlook. La Croix Rousse is quite a hike by foot, so would recommend getting a taxi; the metro system also has a stop there, but we never took the metro. I understand that portion of the system operates (or formerly did) as a funicular.

We stayed in the 1er Arrondissement, very close to the Musee des Beaux-Artes de Lyon, and not far from the old Roman amphitheatre dating to 19 A.D. It was an ideal location, though seems like you've already chosen your lodgings.

Others can no doubt help you with cuisine. We mostly ate lots of really good pizza in Lyon and drank lots of excellent beer. Turns out craft beer has become very popular there.

Thank you. We are staying in the first Arrondissement so your advice is right on track!

Not a foodie, but I thought the Paul Bocuse market was great, and I found there the haricots de Tarbes that my neighbor had requested so he could make us a cassoulet (he's a foodie who loves to cook, the ideal neighbor). I was underwhelmed by the Beaux Arts museum, though it's in a great building on the great Place des Terraux, which also features the Hotel de Ville.

I stayed near the Place des Celestins, and liked that and the nearby Place des Jacobins. But for me the best was the Gallo-Roman Museum up the hill across the Saone. It's best reached by funicular to the Notre Dame Basilica, which is also very good). From the terrace next to the basilica you can see across the city and valley to the Alps, including Mont-Blanc. The museum is easy to visit, starting at the top and going down a series of ramps, with a wealth of objects well explained. At the bottom of the museum you walk out to the two Roman theaters, which are pretty well preserved as ruins go. You may want to use a taxi for these sights as the hill climb is pretty long either way.

Vieux Lyon has wonderful medieval buildings and the St-Jean Cathedral (11th to 15th centuries), with an astronomical clock, 13th century stained glass, and a display of interesting objects in a big side room. It was pretty crowded with tourists (like us) on the Sunday I visited. Three days will give you a chance to see a lot and doubtless eat very well!

Thank you so much!

HIre a guide for the Traboules who has a bit of extra access since many have been closed to the public.

I was underwhelmed by the Beaux Arts museum

Honestly, I can't disagree with this assessment. It's really more interesting for the building itself and its history than for the art it contains. Much of the museum content qualifies more as industrial design studies than art.