A Day Trip To Lyon France!
In July of 2024 we spent a month living in the French Alpine region of Annecy. It was one of the best trips we have every taken, and you can read more about the incredible city of Annecy here. One of the reasons we loved Annecy so much is its prime location between many charming French and Swiss towns, such as Geneva, Chamonix, and Lyon! We only had time for a day trip to Lyon, but we will deffinetly be back again!
Lyon is a charming and Beautiful city known as the food capital of France! It is located in the southern half of the country, and is very walkable. We typically don’t rent cars when we travel, so we really appreciated how easy it is to get around Lyon! If you don’t want to walk, you can easily take a bus, or train anywhere in the city. There are also many stations to pick up a rental bike for an hour or two!
Things to do in Lyon!
Lyon is full of so many beautiful things to see and do! Weather you are a nature lover, a foodie, or an architecture fanatic you will find something to enjoy about Lyon! We didn’t have time to see everything on this list, but that doesn’t mean you can’t! My personal favorite had to be the botanical garden! It is like a fairytale!
1) Take a City Tour
Often the best way to start your visit is with a city tour! This will help you get orientated to the city, and give you a few pointers for the local culture. There are plenty of options to choose from in Lyon weather you would like to see the city on foot, try out some segways, or take a tour by E-Bike!
2) Check out The Food Scene
Lyon is the food capital of France, so you absolutely can not miss out on some fine dining while you are here! You might want to do this alone, or you could opt for a food tour to help you pack in as many tastings as possible! There are also a number of wine tasting options throughout the city, or you might like to try a cooking class!
There are many restaurants throughout Lyon known as Bouchons, which serve traditional French dishes. The ones in very tourist heavy areas may not have the highest quality food, so we recommend you check out some of the less crowded parts of town, where locals eat! We particularly enjoyed our lunch at Chez Raphael, a little restaurant outside of the botanical gardens! The staff was so friendly and kind to us, and the food was to die for! I also tried a new wine from Chambre De amor which I highly recommend!
3) Catch A Boat
The Rhone river runs through the center of Lyon and lends a lot of charm to the town! I don’t know about you, but I have never been unhappy on a boat! Why not catch a 2 hour dinner cruise along the river, or else opt for a guided sight seeing cruise! The hop on, hop off ferry might also be a good option if you want to get around town in style!
4) Admire The Architecture
Situated on the edge of the Sanone river, old town Lyon is full of fantastic architecture! Make sure you check out The cathedral of Saint Jean-Baptiste, and Saint George’s Church of Lyon before you head to the Basilica of Notre Dame at the top of the hill! The easiest way up is to catch the cable car or “Funiculaire De Lyon” which will save your legs a big workout! Once you are up there make sure you check out the Romean amphitheater or “Theatre Gallo Romain“.
5) Lyon Botanical Garden
The Botanical Garden of Lyon and the park that surrounds it were easily my favorite part of the city! If you enjoy nature you could spend an entire day here!
The Botanical Gardens include outdoor gardens as well as many beautiful and impressive greenhouses! On top of that, there is a small zoo which is free to the public. It houses Giraffes, Zebras, Flamingos, monkeys and more. If you are traveling with kids, make sure to check out the fairgrounds, including a carrousel, puppet theater, and various snack stands! You might also want to catch the train.
Couples looking for a romantic afternoon can relax by the lake, take a stroll through the rose gardens, or grab a drink at one of the waterfront caffes! This park really is an event all its own, and most of the entertainmet here is free!