Is Lyon worth visiting? Well, I received a lot of conflicting information when I asked this question. I was half tempted to cancel our stop in the city. In retrospect I am glad that I didn’t but I can see why everyone has a different opinion about the city.
Now if you are in the same boat that I was in, you are probably conflicted as well. I mean to tell you the truth, Is Lyon worth visiting? It is… It has a lot to offer but it does appeal to a certain demographic of people more than others. I’ll explain why in just a bit so stick with me will you?
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Table of Contents
Is Lyon Worth Visiting? – The Pros
1. Lyon Is Beautiful
Is Lyon worth visiting? The beautiful streets alone makes this city worth heading to!
The one thing that will strike you the moment you enter the heart of Lyon, is that the city is beautiful. It has a mix of the old and the new when it comes to buildings and structures. Parks are interspersed around, you have the hill rising in the distance and a river meandering through. This gives the city a vibe that is not seen in many other parts of the country.
This alone has earned it the title as one of the most underrated cities in France.
That being said, if you stand on the banks of the river and gaze towards the outskirts of the city, you will notice that it has more modern buildings and the old school charm that everyone talks about ceases to exist there.
So if someone tells you that Lyon isn’t as pretty as people make it out to be, it is worth considering the fact that there are different neighborhoods and planning your itinerary of the city will determine your experience.
2. Lyon Is A Very Walkable City
We arrived in Lyon absolutely exhausted and on the first night we just crashed into bed. The second day however was dedicated to exploring the city.
Now you have to understand that we were two adults pushing a stroller around with two toddlers in it. So when I say that Lyon is walkable, I really mean it.
For most part we had no issue at all. We did huff and puff up the slopes a bit but that was because of the weight of the kids in the stroller and had nothing to do with the accessibility of all the landmarks.
3. It Has Some Amazing Food
Did you know that Lyon is the gastronomic capital of the country? I know. I mean, I always thought of Paris as a foodies paradise but Lyon really took the cake. The food that we ate in Lyon was some of the best that we had during our trip.
One of my favorite places was O Passage. Pretty unassuming from the outside, delightful on the inside. Every single dish that we tried here was on point. The smoothies were perfect to quench our thirst. It also had a small kids play area which was amazing for our toddlers.
But this isn’t the only restaurant that is great. There are many! If you are a foodie and aren’t in the city for a very long time, I would recommend taking a food tour. Not only will you get a chance to visit the best of the best, you will also have a guide who will tell you all about the local delicacies and the history of each item.
4. The Transportation System Is Pretty Amazing
Remember how I said that the city is extremely walkable? Well for many walking may not be the first choice. I mean take it from me, trudging up and down the hill in the sun is really not the most pleasant way to spend the day.
Luckily, Lyon has an incredible transport system. Trains, buses, funiculars and more connect all the different parts of the city. Now if you are worried about getting around, just buy a day pass for public transport. There are various options that are available and it really turns out to be very reasonable.
5. The City Is Well Connected
Lyon is extremely well connected to the other parts of the country. Not only does it have its own train station which means that you can catch the intercities easily, it also has its own airport so you can fly in from many locations.
We drove in as part of our road trip and we didn’t have much of an issue. I do have to mention that the traffic can be crazy if you are getting in or out of Lyon in peak hours. If I were you, I would plan on leaving either early morning or late evening.
6. It Is Less Crowded
Lyon is generally not as crowded as Paris or some of the other popular cities in France. This means that you actually have a bit of breathing room when you visit. I hate being elbow to elbow with people and it gets so disconcerting when trying to manage two toddlers in a rush, that this was a breath of fresh air.
We could pace ourselves as we wandered around. No one rushed us through any attraction in the city. The restaurants weren’t always full. I must add that we visited in the shoulder season which helped even more.
Is Lyon worth visiting? Well if you ask me, with all the overtourism that Europe suffers from, the lack of the crowds is a relief!
7. Lyon Has Some Fascinating Roman Ruins
Is Lyon worth visiting? Take a look at these gorgeous Roman ruins!
Thinking about visiting Rome? Well Lyon will give you a taste of Roman culture because it has some interesting Roman ruins. The Fourvière hill was where the Romans founded their city of Lugdunum way back in 43 BC.
Today, the city obviously does not exist but you can see many of the ruins of structures that existed in that era. One of the main attractions is the Theatre Gallo Romain de Lyon and the museum that is attached to the structure. This is really something that you should not miss.
I’ll be honest. Pushing the stroller around here was hell. But otherwise it is pretty navigable. Make sure that you walk to the top and wander around the bottom. It gives you a full understanding of how impressive the structure might have been.
Is Lyon worth visiting? I would say that it certainly is if you love history and all old structures!
8. The Riverwalk Is Super Scenic
Is Lyon worth visiting? Take a walk along the river and find out!
One of the suggestions that we received from our hotel was to walk along the river. I’ll give you a one up on that. Walk towards the city and cross through one of the bridges. This way you will constantly be treated to a view of the cathedral at the top of the Fourvière hill.
One thing that I will say, the cathedral is further away than it looks. Seriously! I always felt as if it was just round the corner. Oh and one pro tip for you… If you love photography, you will find that evening light is just perfect along the promenade of the river.
9. The View From On Top Of The Hill Is Unparalleled
Is Lyon worth visiting? The view from at the top of Fourvière hill says it all!
Once you’ve climbed right up to the top of Fourvière hill, you will have a view of the city that will take your breath away. If you can still breathe that is. Lol. I would recommend taking the public transport up and walking down like we did. So much easier on the calves and on the lungs. Plus you will walk with the view in front of you which is really nice.
The trails are really cool. There is even a rose garden that you can stop at. We found it one of the most Instagrammable places in Lyon. So if you are going to ask if Lyon is worth visiting for the amazing views, I would say yes!
10. Lyon Is Home To Many Museums
Is Lyon worth visiting? If you are a history nerd like me or one that enjoys arts, then Lyon will not disappoint. In fact, it will surprise you. Lyon is home to a number of museums. You would have to stay here for a couple of days to see them all.
This is one of the reasons why I aim to head back to the city. Many of the museums were closed when we visited and we were also short on time. Why? Well we had a few hours to see the city and we had toddlers in tow so that certainly slowed us down.
Is Lyon Worth Visiting? – The Cons
1. Lyon Is Not As Hep
Well for me this was a total pro but I can see why this may not be for everybody. Lyon is quiet and sedate when compared to Paris. It doesn’t have the same kind of glamor and bling. It has not been in all those popular movies and books that Paris has.
I know that everyone says that Lyon is like Paris but let me get this straight. Remove the tourists, the hype and the huge stores… Well maybe. Sure.. It has a river and cathedrals and museums… It has small little alleyways and lots of gorgeous places to see. Heck remember when talking about the fun facts about Paris, I mentioned that it was divided into arrondissements? Well Lyon is too!
BUT! Lyon is so much quieter and calmer than the capital city. I loved it! Not everyone does though!
2. The Traffic Is Insane
Thinking of driving around Lyon? Forget it! Trust me! Park your car on the outskirts of the city somewhere and take the public transport in. This is because during peak hours, the traffic is insane. So instead of spending your day in one big frustrating traffic jam, choose to walk instead.
3. Parking Is Difficult
If you think driving in the city center is difficult, finding parking is impossible. Seriously! We were on a road trip but chose to keep our car on the outskirts of the city and take the public transport in. So much easier and sensible!
4. Accommodation Can Get Costly
Don’t kid yourself. Accommodation in Lyon can get super costly if you want to stay in the city center. This is especially true in the holiday seasons. So do yourself a favor and book your hotel in advance. Also book one that is on the outskirts of the city. You can easily get in and out of the city via public transport. It also gives you a place to park your car if you are driving.
Well there you have it. This is as balanced a view as I can possibly give you about the city. So is Lyon worth visiting? I would think so! This city is the perfect balance of the old and the new, the cool and the calm… Plus it has great food! Need I say more?
So what do you think? Is Lyon worth visiting? Let us know in the comments below!
