Lyon holidays

How to reach Lyon

• Flight time: Flights to Lyon from London take about 1 hour 40 minutes. You can also find direct flights to Lyon from other major UK airports with similar durations.

• Transfer time: From Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport, 25km to the southeast of the city, the only way of reaching the city centre is the Rhônexpress tram, which takes 30 minutes and terminates at Part-Dieu train station.

• Price: A one-way ticket on the Rhônexpress tram costs €10. Taxis cost between €40 and €55 for a trip to the city centre.

Best time to visit Lyon

Deciding when to take your holidays to Lyon will depend on whether you prefer warmer weather and a busy atmosphere, or a milder, quieter time.

• March to May: Spring is a great time to visit Lyon, with alfresco dining kicking into gear, plus local vineyard tours and numerous festivals. The weather starts to warm up nicely, with temperatures ranging from 10°C to 20°C, rainfall is moderate, and you can enjoy around 8-10 hours of sunshine daily.

• June to August: Summer is peak tourist season, when the city’s quays and streets take on a life of their own. Temperatures range from 20°C to 30°C, rainfall is low, and there are about 10-12 hours of sunshine daily.

• September to November: The best time to visit Lyon is September and October, when the city empties of its summertime tourists, leaving behind crisp, cool autumn weather and stunning colours. Temperatures range from 10°C to 20°C and you can still expect 7-9 hours of sunshine daily.

• December to February: Winter in Lyon is mild compared to the UK. Average temperatures range from 0°C to 10°C but you should still see around 4-6 hours of sunshine daily. It’s worth coming in December just to see the wonderful Fête des Lumières.

Practical information

• Spoken languages: French is the main language, but English is widely spoken here.

• Local habits and customs: You’re not obliged to leave a tip in France. Tipping is not expected in French culture as the service is already factored into the price of your meal.

• Health and safety: Lyon is safe, but it is France’s second biggest city, so pay attention to your belongings, particularly on public transport. Emergency services can be reached by dialling 112.

• Currency: The Euro (€) is the currency used. ATMs are widely available, and credit cards are accepted in most places.

• Getting around: Lyon is an eminently walkable city, but does have an excellent public transport system comprising four métro lines, four tramlines, as well as trolleybuses, buses and two funiculars (ficelle). Single tickets are available but better value is the one-day Ticket Liberté, or a carnet of ten. Tickets can be bought at machines outside métro and tram stations or at any of the TCL offices.

• Electricity and plug types: Voltage is officially 230V, using plugs with two round pins. UK travellers will need an adaptor.

• Time zone: Lyon is in the Central European Time zone (CET), which is 1 hour ahead of GMT. Daylight Saving Time is observed.

• Required travel documentation: UK travellers need a valid passport to enter France. No visa is required for stays under 90 days within a 180-day period.

Best things to do in Lyon

Lyon offers superb cultural attractions, from a raft of fine churches to half a dozen exceptional museums, although the city’s food, markets, nightlife and music might tempt you to stay just that little bit longer.

Viewpoints and panoramas

• Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière: March to the top of the observation tower for a vertigo-inducing rooftop walk – if you can’t stomach that, you can take in the magnificent citywide views from the esplanade.

• Confluences: Occupying the thinnest wedge of land at the confluence of the Saône and Rhône rivers, the views from here are awesome.

The best districts

• La Croix-Rousse: The old silk-weavers district spreads up the steep slopes of the hill above the northern end of the Presqu’île, and today is packed with countless indie bars, restaurants, galleries and shops.

• Presqu'île: This lively district between the Rhône and Saône rivers is the true heart of Lyon, packed with cafés, high-end shops and exciting nightlife.

Parks and gardens

• Parc de la Tête d'Or: France’s largest urban park has much to entertain, including a botanical garden, miniature train, carousel, boat trips on the lake and even a zoo, home to more than 300 animals.

• Jardin Rosa Mir: A little-known gem in the Croix-Rousse district, this delightful garden is a one-man work of art, filled with flowers, shells and mosaics.

Museums

• Musée des Confluences: The gleaming centrepiece of the revamped Confluence district, Lyon’s architectural marvel houses a remarkable collection of natural, historical and scientific artefacts.

• Musée des Beaux-Arts: Housed in a former Benedictine abbey, the collections of the Musée des Beaux-Arts are second in France only to those in the Louvre.

Historical monuments

• Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière: A hulking, incredibly ornate wedding cake of a church, and overblown it may be, but the interior is utterly dazzling, from the marble statues and stained glass to the gold and turquoise mosaic wall panels.

• Roman Theatres of Fourvière: Dug into the hillside stand the substantial remains of two ruined theatres – the larger of which was built by Augustus in 15 BC and extended in the 2nd century by Hadrian to seat 10,000 spectators.

• Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse: More of a monument to food, this world-famous indoor market has been a temple of food since 1859, with goodies ranging from oysters and truffles to spiced sausages and cheeses, and much, much more.

Day trips in the area

• Perouges: A lovely village of cobbled alleyways and ancient houses, this timeless village is an immaculate work of conservation.

• Vienne: Vienne is run through with Roman remains, though this vast plot, across the river in St-Romain-en-Gal, offers the most intriguing insight into the daily life and domestic architecture of Roman France.

Activities for families in Lyon

Lyon is packed with terrific family-friendly activities, from trips out on the Rhone to a raft of museums that are both educational and entertaining.

• Boat trips: Who doesn’t love a trip out on the water? Les Bateaux Lyonnais leaves from quai des Célestins, with boats running up the Saône to Île Barbe or down to the confluence with the Rhône.

• Interactive museums: The best bet for younger kids is the Musée des Marionnettes du Monde, showcasing the many different forms of puppetry from both France and around the world, including Venetian glove puppets, Javanese rod puppets and Chinese shadow puppets.

• Aquariums and zoos: The city zoo, located within the grounds of Parc de la Tête d'Or, shelters more than 300 animals, the highlight of which are those on the African Plain.

• Weaving exhibitions: One of the few remaining silk-worker ateliers in Lyon is the former trimming workshop of one Madame Létourneau, now run by Soierie Vivante. A tour of the workshop includes a demonstration of the three beautiful Jacquard looms dating from 1870.

Free things to do in Lyon

There’s much that’s free to enjoy on Lyon holidays simply by wandering the streets, for example hunting down street art or seeking out Traboules, plus much else besides.

• Street art: Lyon has a strong history of mural art, which introduces some colour to the city’s grimescape, while simultaneously bringing (free) art to the masses. The easiest ones to track down are the Mur des Canuts in Croix-Rousse and La Fresque des Lyonnais which honours Lyon’s most famous citizens, such as the Lumière brothers.

• Track down the Traboules: All around Lyon lurk traboules, alleyways and tunnelled passages originally built to provide shelter from the weather for the silk-weaver; go seek ‘em out!

• Festivals: Lyon’s big annual event, bar none, is December’s Fête des Lumières, which sees streets, parks, squares and facades of buildings transformed by installations created by local and international lighting designers, visual artists and video artists.

Nature and outdoor activities

With the Alps on its doorstep, the possibilities for outdoor fun in and around Lyon are endless - the most obvious one being first-class hiking and skiing. But the French love their bikes and the trails here are superb.

• Hiking: The best hiking close to Lyon is in the Chartreuse massif, a place of spectacular landscapes, including sharp limestone peaks, mountain pastures and large areas of pine forest. For tougher, longer climbs, you’ll need to travel a little further into the Alps.

• Cycling: For city cycling, Vélo’v is a pick-up and drop-off bike hire scheme with stations all over the city. After subscribing, the first 30 minutes are free, after which it’s a per-minute billing system. More challenging is the ViaRhôna cycle path, a varied route that takes you through stunning landscapes, not least some beautiful vineyards.

• Adventure parks: Cityaventure is a nature leisure park located in the heart of the century-old forest of Sainte-Foy-Les-Lyon, with tree-top trails and zip lines among its many thrill-a-minute activities.

Local dishes in Lyon

Food is king here, with award-winning chefs and Michelin stars galore, though for an alternative take on Lyonnais cuisine, make a beeline for one of the city’s famous bouchons.

Some typical dishes

• Salade Lyonnaise: A classic Lyonnaise dish made with frisée lettuce, crispy bacon, a poached egg and croutons then dressed with a mustard vinaigrette.

• Cervelle de Canut: It doesn’t sound like the most appealing dish - it means “silk worker’s brain” - but this is a yummy cheese spread made with fromage blanc or fresh cow’s cheese mixed with shallots, olive oil, salt, pepper and vinegar.

• Pâté en Croute: Pâté cooked in shortcrust pastry, which is filled with either pork, veal or chicken, marinated in wine and spices, and then mixed with duck foie gras.

Meat dishes

• Andouillette: A type of sausage made with pork intestines (hence an acquired taste) known for its strong flavour; with its intense, unusual smell, it’s often described by some people as reminiscent of urine…

• Tete de veau: As the name might imply, this French dish consists of a calf’s head, with the tongue and brain boiled separately with a combination of spices - yep, another acquired taste.

Fish and seafood dishes

• Quenelles de Brochet: A delicate dish made with pike fish, formed into dumplings, and served with a rich sauce Nantua made from crayfish.

Sweets and desserts

Montélimar nougat is a moreish bonbon made of sweet honey and crunchy nuts - best sampled in Montélimar itself; Tarte aux Pralines are made from pink sugar-coated almonds.

Local drinks

• Chartreuses: Powerfully alcoholic herbal elixirs ranging from the better-known green and yellow variants to a number of gentler fruit and nut liqueurs.

• Beaujolais wine: From the light, fruity reds of Beaujolais Nouveau to the more robust Beaujolais Crus, the region’s lush vineyards yield some of the country’s most distinctive wines.