I am fortunate enough to have to travel to Lyon for work - and I just found out that I have this opportunity and I have to leave exactly 4 weeks from today. I can afford to spend 5 days after my work is completed before flying home. I would like to spend at least 2 days in Lyon itself, and I will need to end up in Paris for my flight out. That's what I'm starting with. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! (I have been to Paris once before, and I am looking forward to eating my way through this trip.)
Posted by
Orinda, California, United States
307 posts
Are you flying from SFO to Paris? Taking the train to Lyon? You can book your train tickets at: http://www.sncf.com It's very easy.
2 days in Lyon is good for after, though you may want to take an evening train on the 2nd day from Lyon to Paris to start your next 3 days.
We stayed at the Hotel des Artistes, which was comfortable with a good location. We stayed only 1 night and then left on the evening train to CDG, so only ate one dinner out, which was just ok. We were there on a Monday, so had limited choices. I always recommend Bernachon for chocolate!
Posted by
OP
San Rafael, California, USA
19 posts
Thank you for your suggestions Gail! It's nice to hear from someone from my hometown. :-) Yes, I'll be flying from SFO to CDG and then train it down to Lyon and back.
Posted by
Orinda, California, United States
307 posts
Spend some time across the river in Vieux Lyon - wander the streets, find the Traiboules (Secret Passages) http://www.atlasobscura.com/places/traboules-secret-passages, hike up or take the funicular to La Basilique Notre Dame de Fourviere for the view over Lyon and the lovely biblical mosaics. The Amphitheater "Theatre gallo-romain" is down around the corner and you can take the funicular down to where you started.
Again, visit the Bernachon chocolate shop for the best chocolate - the dark chocolate bars filled with salted caramel are my favorite!
Posted by
Normandie
302 posts
To answer your questions, what are your interests? If people knew more about what you enjoy and what you don't like it would help to narrow down the suggestions.
I see others have recommended Bernachon. I used to live a few blocks from their shop on Cours Franklin Roosevelt in the 6th arrondisement. It's good chocolate, to be sure (and there are other purveyors of good chocolate in Lyon as well), but Bernachon is a bit out of the way from most of the areas frequented by tourists unless you were interested in visiting Parc de la Tête d'Or. It's a lovely park. I can tell you more about it if you'd like. But I don't know if that's what interests you or what kind of food you'd like to sample when you visit Lyon.
Lastly, do you want to spend any time at all in Paris or would you be content to take a train back to CDG and get on your plane?
Posted by
Boston
4132 posts
Not knowing what you like, I will simply recommend the Lyon City card because it includes so much: museums, river cruise, transit pass, and a guided walking tour (I took a tour of the traboules). There is even a way to hook it into the bikeshare system and cheap ubiquitous wifi, though I didn't figure out the former or need the latter.
I recommend the bikeshare, btw, which was easy to book separately.
Posted by
OP
San Rafael, California, USA
19 posts
Thank you all for your helpful suggestions - I like to explore by walking as much as possible (although it sounds like the bike share will be right up my alley as well), exploring the local food scene, be it restaurants, street food, market stalls, etc., museums and cultural things. I do want to spend a day or two in Paris before my flight since the d'Orsay was being renovated when I visited last time, and you need a lifetime to explore the Louvre.
Posted by
Boston
4132 posts
Do you know how bike shares work? You pay a flat fee and the first half hour is free; then to avoid further charges you return your bike to a bike station and then get another one for another half hour et cetera.
There was one day I must have done this six times. I used the bike share to get to the old city for a walking tour, then to a farmers market on the other side of the river, then to the new Les Halles, a palace for gourmands. Later I rode up to the Tete D'or park and back, swapping the bikes in and out for some walking as well as riding.
Posted by
New York, NY, USA
11294 posts
Lyon is a very nice city to hang out in - my favorite in France after Paris.
Rick's France book has a very good Lyon chapter; if you aren't buying a copy, try to look at one for ideas.
The Resistance Museum also has material on collaboration - may be a bit "heavy" but very good.
If you're a photography or film history person (I am), the Lumiere Museum is a must. If you're not, I'm not sure if you will appreciate it as much as I did.
If it's a nice day, I agree with seeing the Parc de la Tête d'Or - all kinds of people will be there.
Transit in Lyon is not only excellent, but can be fun. As Rick says, standing in the front car of the driverless metro line D is like piloting your own starship.
The market along the river goes on for many blocks; I'm not sure which days it's held, but even I (not a big "market person") enjoyed it.
I too found the Lyon Card a good deal, but as always, see if you are doing enough covered things to make it a worthwhile purchase.