Lyon, the Magical – Top Places to Travel in France

If you’re deciding where to travel in France, you’ve got to narrow your focus. The whole country probably deserves your attention, in some way or another. But choosing travel destinations depends largely upon what you want to see and do on your trip and the type of traveler you are.

When it comes to Lyon, here are some adjectives to keep in mind:

– Excellent location for visiting other French, Swiss, and Italian highlights
– Packed with historic sites and food considered the best in the country
– Between 4 and 5 hours from Paris by car – not bad

 

If you couldn’t tell from our choice of descriptors, Lyon is one of our favorite places to travel in France. Located in the mid-southeast of the country in the Rhône Alps region, it’s easily accessible by car and a great city to plan a road trip around. If you’re wondering where you can take your rental, remember that our total insurance coverage covers all countries that border France, plus Portugal. (Special bonus!)

So Why Lyon?

To start, a huge draw for any traveler is the Fête des Lumières, or Festival of Lights, a massive celebration that draws over 4 million tourists into the city every year. According to Wikipedia, this makes it the third largest international festival in the world.

Legend has it that the holiday originated hundreds of years ago in the 1600s, when the city was plagued with disease. Villagers pledged their devotion to the Virgin Mary and promised that if she saved their town from sickness, they would celebrate her every year. Lo and behold, the town recovered. This celebration lasts from the 8th to the 11th December every year, although festivities can vary depending on the day of the week.

 

But there are plenty of reasons to go to Lyon year-round.

First off, the city is designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site – meaning the town is historically significant to human history. Though France may be covered in World Heritage Sites, not many cities can claim the singular fame of actually being a world heritage site. In the case of Lyon the UNESCO award refers mostly to Vieux Lyon, or “Old Lyon” – a section of the city that dates back to the middle ages.

Equally exciting for visitors is the accolades Lyon wins for its food. In a country with a worldwide culinary reputation, Lyon is widely considered to be the center of French cuisine. And we’re happy to report, the food here is amazing. You’ll find a variety of Lyonnaise specialities here, along with perfected French dishes from every corner of the country.

 

 

Lyon is also covered in natural beauty, with a great location on two rivers including the Rhône.

 

So you’ve got the best food in the country, a living, breathing, World Heritage site, and bright rivers topped with historic buildings to tie it all together.

Making the city even more visitor-friendly, Lyon is filled with numerous pedestrian-only areas. You want to get to know France? You’ve got to engage in the classic travel activity: Exploring and wandering. No trip would be complete without letting loose and discovering for yourself.

The pedestrian-dominated rues of the city reach their peak in the narrow streets and plazas of Vieux Lyon. As you look around at the little shops and food stands, you just may feel like you’re in another century.

 

 

Though it may not boast quite as many people as Paris or Marseille, Lyon is still the third largest city in France, population-wise. It may actually be the perfect size to strike a balance between a slower pace of life and a lively local culture. Lyonnais people are friendly, and there is also a large international population, due mostly to local universities and thriving industry. There’s a good public transit system in Lyon, and enough attractions to keep visitors engaged.

Fête des Lumières

You can’t talk about Lyon though without talking about its defining celebration. The festival is not even just a draw for Lyon – it’s a draw for France. If you are lucky enough to be in France in December, we highly recommend a visit to Lyon during the Fête des Lumières. The party is unique and you’ll only be able to find it in Lyon.

 

A light show from 2013’s celebration. (2)

A light show from 2013’s celebration. (1)

 

The city is buzzing during the festival. Pack your walking shoes, travelers, because you’ll have plenty of outdoor attractions to take in. Remember that you will need to be comfortable with crowds for this celebration. Very comfortable. Millions of tourists descend upon the city from all corners of the country, so there is an exciting (if packed!) atmosphere. When I visited in 2013, the first day fell on a Sunday and so the festivities began a few days early. This translated to almost an entire week of celebrations!

In every alley of the city center and Vieux Lyon, there are street musicians, and tons of fresh, hot street food complete with a sort of heated sangria, known as vin chaud. People are lively, smiling, and the energy is infectious.

But it wouldn’t be Fête des Lumières without the lights – timed light shows, dozens of them, set to music, strewn all over the city and across plazas. The shows are artistic, interesting, and some are even surrealist. The city becomes an outdoor art installation. Incredibly intricate videos are projected onto buildings and statues, and the hilltop church Basilique de Fourvière lights up to the beat of the music. The rivers are engulfed by people and the city pulses.

Top Places to Go During the Fête Des Lumières

The best way to take in Fête des Lumières is to walk across the city and explore the light shows on the plazas, and discover the plethora of hidden food stalls, street performers, and more tucked into narrow Lyonnais streets.

Place Bellecour is one of the largest and most famous plazas in Lyon, and you will be guaranteed to find light shows here. There is a fantastic view of Lyon’s hilltop cathedral, Basilique de Fourvière, and you can even take in the lit up city atop a Ferris wheel. 

 

Though the attractions change every year, 2013’s show in Place des Jacobins was excellent.

Place des Terreaux promises a huge, multi-building spanning story, projected on its historic buildings and accompanied by music.

 

Next, make your way over to La Saône, the smaller of the two rivers in the city that faces Vieux Lyon (Old Lyon) and the spectacular cathedral, Basilique de Fourvière. In 2013 there was a coordinated light show to orchestral music on the Basilique de Fourvière and the nearby City Hall.

 

From your vantage point on La Saône river, take one of the nearby bridges into Vieux Lyon, an un-missable attraction. The sites within the Old City are better taken in during the day. But at night time, your top attraction is at the top of the Fourvière hill, which you can get to by taking the hill-traversing funiculaire! From here you can visit the famous cathedral, and most exciting of all – view the entire, sparkling city.

When Sunday the 8th came, the métro system was entirely free.

 

You may just be completely spent after three (or more) packed days of Fête des Lumières.  As the city dies down and the streetcleaners take to the streets, you may want to change your scenery. Maybe you want a restful getaway in the alps…

Destinations Nearby

Yet another great thing about Lyon is just how close it is to other French highlights and even neighboring countries. It’s situated nearby the Swiss and Italian borders, and a stone’s throw from beautiful destinations in the French alps.

Geneva, Switzerland
If you’ve been practicing your French, you’re in luck! Another cultural milieu just nearby, and you can continue tuning your language skills.
Distance from Lyon: 148 km, about 1.5 hours

 

Turin (Torino), Italy
Ready to explore? Art and architecturally-rich Turin is about 315 km and 3 hours and 20 minutes from Lyon.

Grenoble and Annecy, France
Grenoble is located at the base of the French alps, and perfect for lovers of skiing and other outdoor sports. And Annecy is known among French as an affordable,  fun destination full of students and natural beauty. The two destinatons are about an hour apart from each other by car, so travelers often pair them together.
Lyon to Grenoble: 1 hour 10 minutes, 112 kms
Lyon to Annecy: 1 hour 30 minutes, 145 kms

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We hope to have inspired you to visit Lyon and other cities in the Rhône Alps region! If you’ve taken a memorable trip to the area, tell us about it in the comments below.

As always,
Happy Travels!

Sasha at TravelerCar

Check out some of 2013’s Fête Des Lumières Attractions
Place des Jacobins, Fête des Lumières 2013
Place des Terreaux, Fête des Lumières 2013

 

Related:
6 Top Southern Destinations for Travel in France
Regioinal Road Trip in Bretagne and Normandie