Welcome to one of the most charming cities in France ! Lyon is definitely one of those cities that makes you feel like you are stepping into an old French movie scenery. Although it is one of the largest French cities, you can still visit it as a day trip. Having the right itinerary will allow you to see the main attractions of Lyon. We have been living in France for the last few years. So, we can guide you through your 24 hours focusing on exploring the city, but also enjoying your time as a tourist. In this article, you will find everything you need to know to spend a full day in Lyon.
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Things to know before visiting Lyon, France
Lyon is located in the heart of the “Rhône-Alpes” region, and is the third largest city in France. Thus, it offers many things to do and interesting places to visit. Compared to other French cities, it also has a lively nightlife, especially in the summer. If you are a foodie, Lyon should be on your list, as it is the gastronomical capital of France. So, you will have a wide range of cuisines and restaurants in this city ! Despite its size, it can be visited in a day for the simple reason that its main tourist attractions are concentrated in the city center. If you are traveling on a budget, you should be aware that it is one of the most expensive cities in France. But, you can find affordable food or choose free things to do. It is a historic city with brilliant architecture that will leave you with the best impressions !
Depending on which country you come from and how long you will be in France, we strongly recommend purchasing a digital e-SIM card for mobile data. Lyon and France in general are not known for their affordable mobile phone plans. Therefore, we would prefer to buy an e-SIM card online to save money and time. Obviously, if you are from a European country, you can use your free roaming.
How to get to Lyon ?
Due to its geographical location, access to Lyon is easy. You can either take the bus or train from almost any French city or fly directly to Lyon Saint-Exupéry International airport. Especially the connection with Paris, Marseille and Strasbourg is very easy. Trains or buses run regularly and serve millions of people every day. Since Lyon is located close the French Alps, you can aslo get to the famous ski resorts like Val d’Isère, Mégève, Charmonix or Alpe d’Huez easily. If you are coming from nearby European countries, you can fly into Lyon international airport and then easily get to the city center. Since it is a big city, there are many international flights daily. So, you can reach Lyon from almost anywhere !
Another convenient way to get to Lyon is by car. In the heart of Europe, close to Switzerland, Italy and Germany, it is the perfect destination to add to your road trip itinerary. More specifically, in case you are headed to Paris or the French Riviera, Lyon is an amazing city to stop and explore. Obviously, as access from European or international countries is easy and direct, you can always use it as a starting point for your road trips in France. For example, you can take a road trip to the French Alps in the winter or the South of France in summer.
The best time to visit Lyon
While Lyon is a city you can visit all year round, we strongly believe that the shoulder season (spring and autumn) is the best time to make this trip. In winter, it is quite grey and cold and in summer, you can encounter very high temperatures. But, if you want to avoid the hot days, you will almost always have sunny days in spring ! You will also have the opportunity to admire the colorful flowers even in the city center. Of course, the weather is still good in autumn and less crowded.
Is one day in Lyon enough ?
As we said earlier, Lyon is not a small city where you can visit all its gems in one day. However, the fact that the main tourist attractions are located in the center makes it possible to visit them, even in 24 hours. During day trips, it is important to focus on the best places to see, so that you have more free time to enjoy a walk around the city, try local food or even go shopping.
How to get around Lyon ?
Getting around in Lyon is simple and quick (most of the times), as there is a good public transport. But, it is not the most affordable thing. Regular buses, trams and metros run in Lyon. So, you can go almost everywhere within the city using only public transport. However, single tickets are expensive. That is why we highly recommend getting a City Pass to save money and even time. Keep in mind that all transports are very crowded at peak times.
As for the transfer from the airport to the city center and vice versa, there are two convenient ways. The first is with the “Rhone Express” which is a train that connects the airport to the city center and is quite pricey. The other way to get downtown or anywhere else is to book a transfer from the airport airport. You should consider the latter, especially if you are more than one person or a family, or want to go somewhere specific in Lyon. You will definitely save time and maybe money.
The perfect 1-day itinerary in Lyon
1-Starting the day with breakfast in the city center
You can’t be in the food capital of France and not start your day with a typical French breakfast. You should definitely try a croissant or a pain au chocolat, especially if you have a sweet tooth. There are many great cafés for breakfast in the city center ! To be honest, wherever you are in the center, you will find many cafés, bakeries or French patisseries to enjoy a delicious breakfast. We highly recommend looking for breakfast spots in Place Bellecour, Cordeliers or Place Carnot.
2-Take a stroll through Place Bellecour
The central square in the city center is Place Bellecour. Here you will find almost everything ! Many cafés, restaurants, shops and hotels make it such a lively place. Because of this vibrant atmosphere, it is one of our go-to places. If you are an architecture buff, you will love Place Bellecour for its classic buildings. In the heart of Place Bellecour, you will also find the Ferris wheel which is one of the most famous spots in Lyon.
Just after Place Bellecour, you will find Place de la République et Cordeliers which are the other must-visit areas in the center. There are again countless shops and enough restaurants and cafés to have a good time. Place Bellecour is accessible by metro (lines A and D). The same goes for Cordeliers which is the next metro stop. But, because it is the commercial heart of Lyon, it is often very crowded. Beware of pickpockets who are very common either on the subway or on the streets !
3-Explore the Old Town of Lyon
Just a few meters (around 750 meters) from Place Bellecour, you will find one of the most picturesque areas of Lyon, the “Vieux Lyon” (the Old Town in English). It has a completely different atmosphere compared to the previous places ! The old colorful houses, the narrow streets, the Notre-Dame de Fourvière (the emblem of of the city) and the Lyon Cathedral make it a very special location. In case you want to spend time visiting the Basilica of Fourvière, you should take the funicular directly from the Old Town (direction Fourvière).
It is really worth a visit, as it is an important historical monument registered to the UNESCO World Heritage Site. It also offers the best panoramic view. Since you only have one day in Lyon, we do not recommend visiting the Basilica this time. However, if you really want to see it up close, you can visit the Fourvière directly and then take the funicular down to the Old Town. After your visit, you can spend some time in the Old Town wandering its alleyways and admiring the Lyon Cathedral and vintage shops. Of course, you can choose to take a private tour in case you want to know more about Lyon and its history ! But, we strongly recommend choosing between a visit to Fourvière or a guided tour.
4-Take your lunch in the Old Town
In our opinion, the Old Town is the best place to go for lunch, as it has a great variety of restaurants and many of them serve authentic French and Lyonnais cuisine. Traditional “buchons” are the restaurants to check out if you want this kind of lunch. Obviously you can find Italian, Asian or other types of meals. But, as a tourist, it is better to try the local cuisine and enjoy a full Lyonnais experience. Another reason to go for lunch in the Old Town is the authentic decoration of the restaurants. They give off all the old French vibes and make it a complete dining experience that is really worth it, especially if you are a foodie.
5-Head to Croix-Rousse district
If you are willing to go uptown to the Croix-Rousse neighbourhood, you will love it. It is one of our favorite places, because it is much smaller than the busy city center, but just as beautiful and more picturesque. There are incredible colors everywhere, old houses and lots of bars, restaurants and cafés to have a great time. In addition to the Basilica of Fourvière, you will find amazing panoramic views of Lyon in this incredible area. You can reach it easily by metro. We would not recommend heading to Croix-Rousse on foot, because there are a lot of stairs to climb and you need a lot more time. As it is one of the most historic neighbourhoods in the city, it is interesting to discover its gems and learn more about its history. So, you can take a storytelling tour of Croix-Rousse. However, the tour is in French, so it is only for French speakers !
6-Go to the Saône River for sunset
Your day in Lyon is coming to an end. So, you need to be close to the city center to get out of Lyon or go back to your hotel easily. You can enjoy a magical sunset on the river Saône which is the second river of the city. Between the Old Town and Place Bellecour, you will find this incredible sunset spot known as the “red footbridge” on Saône River. It is quite peaceful and the sunset colors of the sky make it even more beautiful.
7-End your day with a stroll along the Rhône River
If you are looking for the last place to visit in Lyon, we would recommend a walk along the Rhône River. On the river docks, there are several riverboats that act as bars mainly in spring, summer and autumn. So, you can take a romantic walk or rent a bike, and then enjoy a drink or grab a quick dinner on these boats ! They are usually crowded at night. So, you will enjoy a lively ambiance to end your day in Lyon.
Other amazing cities to visit in France
France is one of the most beautiful and diverse countries in Europe. Below you will find our recommendations for other charming French cities that are definitely worth visiting. If you spend a lot of time in France, the following places really deserve a visit. You can visit some of them even as day trips.
1-Paris
If we had to choose the first city to visit in France, we would definitely pick Paris. The City of Love is a unique destination that you should visit at least once in your life, even as a day trip. Apart from its glorious architecture, art and history, Paris will always be one of the most romantic and photogenic places in the world. Since it is an expensive city, we advise you to buy the Paris pass that covers all the popular attractions. This way you will skip the long queues and of course you will save money.
2-Strasbourg
Strasbourg is located in the Alsace region and is the official seat of the European Parliament. But, it is also the capital of Christmas. Thus, it is one of the most magical places to visit at Christmas not only in France, but also in Europe. Since it is very close to the German border, it is easily accessible. You can visit Strasbourg all year round. But, nothing beats the festive Christmas atmosphere and decorations.
3-Colmar
If you visit Strasbourg, you cannot leave the Alsace region without visiting the fairytale town of Colmar. Half-timbered houses, canals and narrow streets are what make this town so special. Of course, the best time to visit is also at Christmas, since its Christmas decorations will leave you speechless.
4-Nice
As you may know, the South of France and more specifically the famous Côte d’Azur is one of the most beautiful regions in France. Mainly because of its amazing beaches with deep blue waters and Mediterranean vibes, the whole area is full of amazing places to visit. So, you can easily base yourself in Nice and take day trips to the others gems of the French Riviera.
5-Menton
We couldn’t end our list without recommending Menton. It is the last French town before the Italian borden and is considered the hidden gem of the French Riviera. Menton is also know as the city of lemons, as there are lemons and palm trees everywhere. It is one of our favorite places in France ! Vibrant colors, beautiful beaches, charming streets and delicious food are the main reason we love this French town. We can’t recommend it enough.
Final Thoughts
Lyon is a wonderful city to visit during your stay in France. Especially if you are a foodie, it is the right place for you with a huge variety of restaurants and cafés. Of course you will need more than one day to explore it properly. However, you can still get a good taste of Lyon during in one day. If you can spare some extra time in France, we recommend that you add as many places as possible to your itinerary. All the above are unique French destinations with plenty to see and do.
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