FR · Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes · 45.77°N 4.84°E

lyon

Renaissance lanes, riverside walks and covered passages through old silk districts.

Best time
April–June and September–October are mild and good for walking. July–August can be hot; November–February is cold and damp, and early December brings the Festival of Lights.
How long
2–3 days
Getting there
Fly direct from KL to Paris (about 13.5 hours), then take the TGV to Lyon in about 2 hours; some leave straight from Charles de Gaulle airport. France is 6 hours behind KL in summer and 7 in winter.
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FR · Auvergne-Rhône-Alpeslyon45.77°N 4.84°Egowherelah.com
Dear group chat,Renaissance lanes, riverside walks and covered passages through old silk districts.— gowherelahTo: whoever’s drivingLyonFR, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
KLlyon
≈ 10,287 km from KL, as the crow flies
Vue de la statue en 2026.

Photo: Corentin Eustacchi · CC BY-SA 4.0

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Photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each.

Lyon calls itself France's food capital, and it sits where the Rhône and Saône meet, with a Renaissance old town and hidden passageways called traboules. It's calmer than Paris and two hours away by fast train.

Makan

  1. Praline tartBright pink crushed pralines baked into a tart, the city's signature sweet.Map ↗
  2. QuenellesLight fish or chicken dumplings baked in a creamy sauce.Map ↗
  3. Cervelle de canutA herby fresh-cheese dip whose name means 'silk-weaver's brains'.Map ↗

Things to do

  1. Vieux Lyon and the traboulesRenaissance lanes with covered passages that cut through buildings and courtyards, some open to walk through.Map ↗
  2. FourvièreThe basilica on the hill, a funicular ride up, with Roman theatres just below.Map ↗
  3. Presqu'îleThe strip of land between the two rivers, with grand squares like Place Bellecour.Map ↗
  4. Parc de la Tête d'OrA huge city park with a lake, rose gardens and a free zoo.Map ↗
  5. Les Halles Paul BocuseThe covered food market, with cheese, oysters and pastries.Map ↗

Good to know

  • Traditional bouchons lean heavily on pork and wine. For halal meat, La Guillotière, across the Rhône, has plenty of North African restaurants.
  • The old town and Fourvière are steep and cobbled, so wear comfortable shoes.

Last checked October 2026. Things change, so check opening times, fees and transport before you go.