We will only have one day to enjoy Lyon. Will be traveling by train from Beaune. I realize that Lyon probably deserves more than just a day, but that's all the time we'll have. We want to explore the old town, have a leisurely lunch and just wander.
Is it better to arrive at Lyon's Part-Dieu or Perrache station?
Thanks for your help.
Part-Dieu is the main station and will have more trains. You can buy a Lyon day pass and take the Metro from the station to anywhere in Lyon. There is a luggage storage facility at Part-Dieu station where your bags get X-Rayed first, then you can store them in a locker.
More than likely you will not have a choice on the station. I believe all trains coming from Beaune will arrive at Part-Dieu. Either way both stations are connected to the metro, bus and tram line. From Part Dieu you can reach the city center -take the metro to Place Bellecour. Blue metro line B then transfer to line D. If you have Rick's book we outline this in the Lyon chapter. You might want to purchase a one day travel card.
Since your time is short you'll want to take a taxi from either station so it doesn't really matter which one you pick from a geographical p.o.v. From an aesthetic p.o.v., Perrache is a little less hectic and barn-like.
If you spend the whole day in the old town, consider lunch at the Three Maries and taking the funicular up to the church -- there is a small museum beside the church that most people skip but is worth a quick look. The Roman antiquities museum at the theater is more important, of course. There is a steep hillside park you can descend through if you don't want more streetscape.
One more tip if you don't want to take taxis -- there is a very nice bus that runs from just below Gare St Paul to a stop one block north of Part-Dieu, along Cours Lafayette -- this is a way to avoid having to backtrack through Vieux Lyon to the metro stop.
If you look on google maps for the address
5 Rue Ocatvio Mey in Lyon you'll see people standing at the bus stop.
Do the street-view virtual walk from that bus stop through the old town to the metro stop and you'll have a fair sense of Vieux Lyon.
Given Lyon traffic a taxi in the centre will probably end up being no faster than Metro and/or tram and probably be worse.
Thanks everyone for your help. Now our group of 5 is having second thoughts about Lyon for a day trip. Will do another post for suggestions
I would second avirosemail's suggestion of getting the C3 bus from the Part-Dieu station forecourt to the St Paul station, which is at the edge of Vieux-Lyon. On the way you will pass through the later eighteenth/nineteenth century town centre, including the opera and the town hall. It may also be an interesting experience for you as it is a "trolleybus" - a type of electric bus that runs off overhead wires like a streetcar.
