Day trips from Lyon

You don’t mention being “foodies,” but Lyon is the food capitol in a good-focused country. Lyon’s big, and has personally occupied many days on several trips. There’s the old town, the new town (including the Lumiere Museum, with the history of moving pictures), and the Croix Rousse silkworker neighborhood, high above town. Any chance a cooking class would suit you, for a couple hours or the better part of a day?

And Lyon’s a hop, skip, and a couple of jumps from the Alps. Maybe a day trip to Annecy, or even farther, to Albertville, Grenoble, or Chamonix? Or even over to Geneva, Switzerland?

Well, I lived in Lyon for several years, so 3.5 days would barely scratch the surface. If you like history, the Gallo-Roman museum on Fourvière hill is very good. The museum on the WWII history of the resistance and deportation is very good. If you find you are not "Romanout" a short train ride to Vienne and its ruins and museum are worthwhile. Vienne was an important shipping port on the Rhône during Roman times, supplying wine in amphora to Rome. You could also take the train to Meximieux and walk to the medieval village of Pérouges. It was used to film several versions of the Three Musketeers and is a popular sight. The Lumière Brothers invented the modern motion picture camera and their museum is at their former house in Lyon. The walk down from Fourvière Hill to Vieux Lyon through the Jardin du Rosaire is very pleasant. Even if you don't buy anything walking through the l-o-n-g marchée Quai St. Antoine is a feast for the eyes and other senses. Renting a bike and riding along the Rhône River, stopping and having lunch in a floating restaurant can be very pleasant. The fine arts museum near Bartholdi's recently-renovated fountain is very good. The Domaine de Lacroix-Laval (accessible by city bus) is a modest château and beautiful park with places to eat at which one can spend a leisurely afternoon. You can stop by and talk to the horses quartered there. It's OK to use English -- they're very patient. It's especially beautiful in the autumn with the falling leaves.

I could go on...

Another vote for the Resistance museum, and the textile museum is also interesting.

Thank you so much for the Resistance Museum, I had not seen that in my readings. We visited Normandy last fall and I overdosed on French and Italian resistance. Lyon was ever present in many stories and I had hoped there might be something there.

I was in Lyon for a few days last summer. Not my favorite city in France but I did enjoy the old town, specifically the traboules. I did take two day trips, one to Perouges, which I highly recommend, and one to Vienne, which was just OK. Both by train, and both easily done in a half day. Also really enjoyed the Musee Conflulences.

Here is the trip report with photos - https://andiamo.zenfolio.com/blog/2019/10/lyon-and-dijon-france-july-2019

There's also this, which I'm dying to see, surely one of the world's best examples of naïve architecture. Alas, it looks awkward/expensive to get to Hauterives without a car. It requires a train to St. Rambert d'Albon and then a 16-mile taxi ride (one-way). I don't drive in Europe. Life is unfair sometimes.

Edited to add the missing link.

Vienne, which was just OK

Interesting. Vienne has an extensive set of ruins of a warehouse/living/bath area, a forum, and a Roman temple, all separated from one another and located in a smallish town an easy trip from Lyon. Its museum helps one understand the role Roman Gaul played in the life of greater Rome, and explains how the port facility operated. It's fascinating. Just a few years ago, archaeologists discovered a new find in Vienne dubbed the "little Pompei" with several new structures and artifacts. I would argue it's a bit more than just OK.

As for Le Palais idéal, it's interesting. My wife and I drove some friends there a few years ago on a day trip from Lyon. Le Facteur Cheval was certainly an odd one. I think there are far more interesting pursuits in and around Lyon, but if that kind of thing interests you, it's certainly something you won't see every day.

You would not be bored spending all that time in Lyon.

I agree with Adam. 3.5 days in Lyon is not too much. If you want to take some day trips, that's fine, but if not, you'll find plenty to see and do.

Do you have Rick's France book? In it, there's a very good chapter on Lyon. And, in addition to the sights he mentions, there's the Parc de la Tête d'Or. This is a large and lovely park, easily accessible by transit; on a nice day, much of the city was there.

Lyon is my favorite place in France other than Paris. If you like cities, you will definitely not regret spending a few days there.