Lyon, France

My family and I are currently in Lyon, on a four-week work/vacation trip. 3 days is definitely enough to see the highlights, but there are lots more things, neighborhoods and things to experience for an extended stay, if you're considdering it. Plus, depending on the weather (it's been HOT), you are somewhat limited to outdoor sights in the morning. And many museums do not have AC, which has precluded some visits.

Planning ideas here
https://www.ricksteves.com/europe/france/lyon

It depends on how inquisitive and interested you are.

I lived in Lyon for nearly three years and I was still learning fascinating things about it when I moved north.

In other words, there is plenty to fill three full days and still leave you wanting for more time. But you have to know where to look.

What "sights" are you planning to visit?

We had a lovely 3 night stay in Lyon in September. Our planning was largely guided by the RS and Michelin France guidebooks, as well as the Lyon city tourism website, https://en.visiterlyon.com/.

In two days we enjoyed (top to bottom)

• Centre d'Histoire de la Résistance et de la Déportation
• lunch at Les Halles Paul Bocuse (in Lyon, it is pronounced Lay Ahl, rather than Lay Zall; I confused people on the bus when I asked, “Quel arret a Les Halles?” , with that “z” there in my pronunciation. Then someone said, Ah, lay Al!)
• The Saone R cruise was a lot of fun. (And I was bored a few days later on our Seine R cruise; one difference was much better sound on the Lyon cruise. Weather - and the fact that Lyon was new to me - may have been contributing factors)
• Lugdunum (ancient Roman site and museum)
• Traboules / Silk industry walking tour
• Food market on the left bank of the Saone was good; Sunday morning art market on the opposite bank was “OK.”
• Musee des Beaux Arts
• My wife liked the 19th c. Notre Dame cathedral; it did -0- for me.
• We walked “old Lyon” on the right bank of the Saone. I was not excited by that.

(LATE EDIT - we enjoyed Lyon more than the above suggests. Really enjoyed the top 7 items above quite a bit. )

What we missed …

• Musee de la Confluence
• Musee Lumiere

So three days is not too much. There’s a lot of energy, architecture and TWO rivers in Lyon.

The ONLY-LYON city pass is great. We had the 48 hour version which covered all the museums that we went to that had charges, all buses, all metro rides and the river tour. I don’t know if it saved us any money, or not. It was probably close. But not having to worry about fares for bus and metro rides was great.

Somehow, we were not wowed by our dining experiences in Lyon. The lunch at Les Halles at a middle eastern spot was quite good. What seemed like a typical, older and established Bouchon was fine, but not great. Ditto for the Michelin Bib recommended restaurant we had booked in advance.

FWIW - Our Lyon/Paris TR is at: https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/sw-germany-e-france-lyon-paris-part-4-of-4

Brioche praline rosé
Thank me later

Funiculars
I love them
Destination has great views

We spent 5 days in Lyon. Loved it.

I stayed five nights, so four full days, and that was about right. An extra day would mean one or two more good Lyon meals.

Thanks everyone, Lyon is on our short list & there were many tips here that are so appreciated. Fred, I had missed your last TR to Paris, your smallish hotel in the Latin Quarter looked amazing!

Brioche praline rosé Thank me later

Hahahaha