Hello!
I'm looking at a trip that will include a few days in Paris and two nights in Lyon. We've been to Paris and our travels for Paris are set but we haven't been to Lyon and are looking for suggestions on which area to stay in. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated. Thanks!
I'm in Lyon now , having been here for a week . I am staying at a Mercure Hotel ( Lyon Centre Saxe Lafayette ) I booked this last November , and it's perfect . Lovely hotel and excellent service . Central location , a five minute tram ride from Part Dieu Station . Easy , simple connections to the rest of the city . Leaving Tomorrow for Montreux, I'll miss Lyon , a favorite place for us .
I was in Lyon for 4 days in January and stayed at the RS recommended Hotel des Celestins. It is a lovely older hotel with large (for France) rooms and a well stocked though not lavish buffet breakfast. The staff was delightful. I rented a theater side superior room for 115 euro plus 12.50 euro for the breakfast per day (although I'm sure the price varies with the season). It is centrally located on the Presqu'ile and I walked everywhere (including up the hills to the cathedral and roman ruins/museum). My hands down favorite restaurant on this trip which included Paris, Florence, and Milan, was at Les Lyonais in Vieux Lyon. If you are there on a Sunday, you must try the Sunday Brunch. Otherwise, you are surrounded by restaurants and there is a supermarket on the Place Bellecourt (2 blocks away) where I bought lunch some days. It was my first trip to Lyon and I really enjoyed it. Have a great trip!
Thank you all for the suggestions! Looking forward to visiting Lyon and the amazing food!
We spent 3 nights in Lyon this past June. Hotel des Celestins was lovely. Great location for walking to the popular sights. The owner, Luarent, was great and loved talking about France or his time in America... We did a river tour and a food tour which was alot of fun. Beware of Andouillette sausage (aka chitlin sausage). I feel like 2.5 days was enough for me.
I stayed at the Mercure Lyon Centre Beaux-Arts. Nice hotel in the center of the city. Easy walk to old town. Easy walk to to Rue Merciere which is a street of one restaurant after another. I can recommend Le Merciere. Make reservations. I was there in November and needed them. Moderately priced for a nice meal with wine.
We spent two nights in Lyon as a side trip from Paris last fall. It was just a lovely stay. We booked centrally near Square Jacobin not far from the foot bridge across the Soane to the old historic center and funicular. We went up to the Basilica and the Odeon and Arean the first afternoon and walked back down.
The second day was devoted primarily to exploring the traboules; because COVID became an excuse to shut down access to many of the most famous and scenic traboules and courtyards, I would recommend hiring a private guide who has some more access. We did okay with maps and just walking and looking but would have liked to see more. None of the directions from old travel columns like 'ring the bell and concierge will admit you' worked. Did sneak into a few and found many that were open and there are some interesting ones including the one with the odd staircase in Croix Rousse as well as a couple of quite lovely ones in the old town. When we were there the tourist office was not offering Traboule tours which they have in the past. I did notice private guides. The tourist office may offer them again - we were still in COVID restrictions.
Be sure to reserve ahead for dinner -- you will always find something but the better places book up. We particularly enjoyed Bouchon Lyonnais just across the footbridge over the Soane -- we booked the day before. The two couples ahead of us were turned away because they had not booked.
Before taking the train back to Paris we checked our bags at Part Dieu and walked over to les Halles Paul Bocuse to grab a quick lunch.
Pretty city and it is pleasant to sit in the squares by the fountains and stroll alone the two rivers.
