Lyon, France has always held a draw from me. Yes, it is a small city, but there are plenty of things to do and see in Lyon. This makes Lyon a perfect escape when traveling in France and wanting a break from all the unusual things to do in Paris.
Lyon feels undiscovered by tourism, which is surprising when you consider the city’s long history, rich culture, and delightful food. By the end of my visit in Lyon, I was in love with everything it had to offer. It is one of the best places to visit in France. And a city in France I will visit again and again, and not to far from some of the best national parks in France .
Let’s talk about why I love Lyon and what there is to do in this wonderful French city.
The Love of Art
A big theme in Lyon is art. I loved the city’s impressive museums, like the Musee des Beaux-Arts. However, the art in Lyon is found in more than just museums. Across the city, there are large murals, antique shops and art galleries that fill the streets, and places dedicated solely to the performing arts.
Every stroll through Lyon is full of French art, history, and culture. I am somewhat of an art lover and Lyon pleasantly surprised me with the amount of art the city has to offer.
Insanely Good Food
I love French food. I once got yelled at by my brother, during our visit to Lyon, for dragging him into all the bakeries we passed. I couldn’t help it. I had to try every mouth-watering pastry or savory snack.
In Lyon I could not stop eating, and I have no shame in this. Lyon is the food capital of France, and the city has everything from freshly baked deserts to famous meals in traditional French restaurants. Eat everything you can in Lyon, and have no regrets or guilt while doing it. I mean just check out this Lyon food guide to see all the delicious food to eat.
Epic Old Town
If there’s anything I liked more than trying new foods in Lyon, it is Old Town.
Lyon is over 2,000 years old, so you are wandering through an ancient city. Historic towns always bring out the magic in a place and make me feel as if I have been transported back in time.
Areas of Lyon, like the Colline de la Croix-Rousse, have complete neighborhoods dating back to the early 19th century. I loved wandering up and down the spiral staircases and exploring the winding roads. The old quarters of Lyon are so beautiful to discover, you could lose an entire day exploring. It might even be better to wander at night.
Beautiful Markets
What is a visit to France without visiting markets? Lyon has plenty of food markets and flea markets to visit. Actually, a few of my favorite days in Lyon were exploring the Saint-Antonie food market, and the Villeurbanne flea market. Which is much less hectic than some of the markets in Mexico..
Lyon is a fantastic example of a French city, and a place where you can easily spend a relaxing week.
Before long I couldn’t help but succumb to the charm, beauty, and atmosphere of this fantastic city. These reasons are just a small taste of what Lyon has to offer all travelers from around the globe.
Headed to France? Make sure you check out my travel tips for France and Europe travel tips as well.
I lived in Lyon for 4 months, and i completely agree with you. I fell in love with the city, with the bridges and the rivers, with the opposite atmosphere you breathe in Confluence and Vieux Lyon, and so on. But you should definitely go again during “La Fête des Lumières” (5-8 december). It is amazing!
Ludovica
Yes, there is so many things to do in Lyon as it is the third biggest city in France, and you presented them very well in your post, thank you!
You can also do so many things in the others cities.
Thanks for the comment! Lyon is stunning.