Lyon
France
- Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière
- Vieux Lyon
- Place Bellecour
- Musée des Confluences
- Parc de la Tête d'Or
About Lyon
Lyon, at the confluence of the Rhône and Saône rivers in east-central France, was founded by the Romans as Lugdunum, capital of the Gauls. It later prospered through silk weaving and banking.
Its historic centre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, takes in the Renaissance lanes of Vieux Lyon with hidden passageways called traboules, Fourvière hill, and a celebrated food culture centred on traditional bouchons.
How many days do you need?
Allow two to three days: one for Vieux Lyon and Fourvière with its funicular, Roman theatres and basilica, one for the Presqu'île and the traboules of Croix-Rousse, and one for Confluence and the Parc de la Tête d'Or.
Where to stay
- Presqu'île — Central, between the two rivers, with shops and restaurants.
- Vieux Lyon — Renaissance atmosphere at the foot of Fourvière.
- Part-Dieu — Business district next to the main station and the Rhônexpress.
From the airport to the city
Lyon–Saint-Exupéry Airport (LYS) is about 16 miles east of the city. The Rhônexpress tram reaches Part-Dieu station in about 30 minutes, and the airport also has its own TGV station.
Getting around
TCL's metro, trams, buses and the funiculars up Fourvière share one ticket system. The centre is walkable, and Vélo'v bike-share stations are found throughout the city.
Good to know
- The Fête des Lumières light festival in early December draws huge crowds; book accommodation early.
- Some traboules are open to visitors only at set hours; respect residents' privacy.
- Bouchons serve hearty Lyonnais dishes, and booking a table is recommended. The currency is the euro.
Useful links
- ONLYLYON Tourism visiterlyon.com
- TCL (metro, trams, buses) tcl.fr
- Lyon Airports lyonaeroports.com
When to go?
Best time to visit for the weather: May–October. The warmest month is July (average high 82 °F); the wettest is May (3.5 in).
Monthly climate
| Month | Avg. high °F | Rain in | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 42.4 | 2.40 | Cool or rainy |
| February | 46.6 | 2.01 | Cool or rainy |
| March | 54.1 | 2.39 | Cool or rainy |
| April | 61.3 | 2.71 | Good |
| May | 67.8 | 3.54 | Ideal |
| June | 76.5 | 3.30 | Ideal |
| July | 81.9 | 2.84 | Ideal |
| August | 81.7 | 2.66 | Ideal |
| September | 74.7 | 2.74 | Ideal |
| October | 65.1 | 3.28 | Ideal |
| November | 52.2 | 3.34 | Cool or rainy |
| December | 44.1 | 3.13 | Cool or rainy |
Source: NASA POWER (MERRA-2 reanalysis), 2005–2024 monthly averages of daily high temperature and total rainfall. Values are estimates for an area of about 50 km and may differ from the city-centre weather station.
Public holidays 2027
- New Year's DayJanuary 1
- Easter MondayMarch 29
- Labour DayMay 1
- Ascension DayMay 6
- Victory DayMay 8
- Whit MondayMay 17
- Bastille DayJuly 14
- AssumptionAugust 15
- All Saints' DayNovember 1
- Armistice DayNovember 11
- Christmas DayDecember 25
Sources: date-holidays and python-holidays open data projects; for Northern Cyprus, its public holidays law.
Practical info
- CurrencyEuro (€)
- Dialling code+33
- Plugs & voltageType C, E · 230 V · 50 Hz
- Emergency112 · Police 17 · Ambulance 15 · Fire 18
- DrivingOn the right
Sources: IEC plug types, Wikidata, Wikipedia; unverified details are left blank.