Founded by the Romans as Lugdunum in 43 BCE, Lyon rose as the capital of Gaul and later as a silk-weaving powerhouse. Its hidden passageways—traboules—thread through courtyards once used by silk workers, now inviting you into a living museum of Renaissance façades and artisanal workshops.

Food is Lyon’s heartbeat. Legendary chef Paul Bocuse helped cement the city’s status as the world capital of gastronomy, and today you’ll find hearty bouchon fare, praline brioche perfuming bakeries, and market halls brimming with Saint-Marcellin, charcuterie, and Beaujolais bottles. Expect convivial, generous meals—this is a city that lingers at the table.

Practical notes: Sundays and Mondays can be quieter for restaurants; reserve bouchons in advance. Lyon is compact—walk, hop the metro, or borrow a Vélov’ bike. You’ll arrive on Day 1 afternoon and depart Day 2 afternoon, so this plan front-loads highlights and delicious stops.

Lyon

Cradled by the Rhône and Saône rivers, Lyon is a tapestry of districts: Renaissance Vieux Lyon, the grand 19th-century Presqu’île, bohemian Croix-Rousse, and futuristic Confluence. Each quarter tells a chapter of the city’s story—best read on foot, fork in hand.

• Top sights: Vieux Lyon and its traboules, Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière, the Roman Theaters, Place des Terreaux and the Fine Arts Museum, Parc de la Tête d’Or, and the Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse.
• Don’t miss: Praluline (praline-studded brioche), quenelles de brochet in Nantua sauce, tablier de sapeur, and a glass of Beaujolais or Northern Rhône Syrah/Viognier.
• Neighborhood vibes: Vieux Lyon for old-world romance, Presqu’île for shopping and squares, Croix-Rousse for street art and silk history, Confluence for waterfront design and sunsets.

Where to stay (handpicked options + search tools):

• Splurge-with-a-view: Villa Florentine (hilltop suites above Vieux Lyon, sublime city panoramas and pool).
• Design-forward wellness: Hôtel Lyon Métropole (riverfront spa complex; good for laps and relaxing between meals).
• Value near transport: Hotel des Savoies Lyon Perrache or Hôtel Victoria Lyon Perrache Confluence (easy access to Presqu’île and Confluence).
• Apartment-style: Aparthotel Adagio Lyon Patio Confluence (modern units by the river; handy for families).
• Compare more stays: VRBO Lyon or Hotels.com Lyon.

Getting to Lyon (bookable options):

• Within Europe: High-speed trains to Lyon Part-Dieu (e.g., Paris–Lyon ~2 hours) via Omio Trains. Expect €25–€90 depending on time and advance purchase.
• Flights: Search regional and intra-Europe fares on Omio Flights; budget carriers often serve LYS.
• Buses: Cost-effective links (e.g., Geneva–Lyon ~2h15 from ~€10) on Omio Buses.
• From outside Europe: Compare long-haul fares on Trip.com Flights and Kiwi.com Flights.

Arrival logistics: From Lyon–Saint Exupéry Airport, the Rhônexpress tram reaches Part-Dieu in ~30 minutes. A 24-hour TCL transit pass (metro, tram, bus, funicular) is roughly €6–€7; tap-and-go works well for short hops.

Day 1: Vieux Lyon, Traboules, and Skyline Sunsets

Morning: Travel to Lyon. If you arrive early, caffeinate at Mokxa Roasters (silky flat whites near Place Sathonay) or Slake Coffee House (house-roasted beans and hearty toasts by Hôtel de Ville). Snack on a warm Praluline from Maison Pralus—Lyon’s signature pink praline brioche—so you hit the ground smiling.

Afternoon: Check in, then wander Vieux Lyon, a UNESCO-listed warren of Renaissance courtyards and silkworkers’ traboules. Step into Cathédrale Saint-Jean and watch the 14th-century astronomical clock chime. Ride the funicular up to Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière for gilded mosaics and the best view in town; the Roman theaters sit just behind, whispering of Lugdunum’s past.

Prefer a guide to unlock secret passages and stories? Join this top-rated small-group tour (funicular included):
Lyon Highlights & Secrets Walking Guided Tour (small group) including Funicular

Evening: Settle into a classic bouchon—the soulful taverns that define Lyonnaise cooking. Book Café des Fédérations for quenelles in Nantua sauce and salade lyonnaise; Daniel et Denise (Chef Joseph Viola) for award-winning pâté en croûte; or Le Garet for old-school ambiance and generous plates. Pair with Beaujolais or Côte-Rôtie and finish with pink praline tart or île flottante.

If you’d rather graze with a local host, this evening tasting tour is a delicious introduction:
Lyon Sunset Food Tour – A Full Taste of France by Do Eat Better

Nightcap: Stroll the Saône quays as the Fourvière basilica glows above. For wine, try La Cave d’à Côté near the Opéra (by-the-glass gems from Beaujolais and the Northern Rhône). On weekends, the barge bars on the Rhône hum with music and river breezes.

Day 2: Presqu’île, Halles de Lyon, and Departure

Morning: Start at Place Bellecour and amble up Rue Victor Hugo toward Place des Jacobins and the elegant Presqu’île. Pop into the Fresque des Lyonnais near Place des Terreaux to meet the city’s famous sons and daughters painted larger-than-life. Coffee round two? Puzzle Café does filter flights; Loutsa roasts stellar single origins.

Next, feast your senses at the Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse. Taste creamy Saint-Marcellin from Mère Richard, charcuterie from Maison Sibilia, or a dozen fines de claire oysters with a splash of Muscadet. For a sit-down, ask for a plate of pike quenelles or andouillette with mustard sauce; save room for praline tart.

Food lovers can bundle tastings and storytelling into one memorable morning-to-lunch experience:
Lyon Old Town Food Tour with Local Specialties Tasting & Lunch

Prefer to cover more ground on two wheels before you go? This zippy overview loops riverbanks, Tête d’Or Park, and Old Town in ~2 hours:
2h - Electric Bike Tour of Lyon with a Local Guide

Afternoon: Departure day. If time allows, grab chocolate from Bernachon or a last Praluline for the train. Head to Part-Dieu or Perrache for trains booked on Omio Trains, or to LYS for flights reserved via Omio Flights or Trip.com Flights. Aim to be at the airport 2 hours before departure; allow ~30 minutes for the Rhônexpress.

Evening: If you have a late train or flight, squeeze in a golden-hour walk through Confluence—industrial-chic warehouses turned galleries and rooftop bars. Le Sucre often hosts sunset sessions; otherwise, toast the city with a glass of Viognier along the Rhône.

Where to eat and drink (extra picks to mix and match):

• Bouchons: Bouchon des Cordeliers (friendly, central), Le Bouchon Comptoir Brunet (classic staples, convivial vibe).
• Modern bistros: Les Apothicaires (inventive tasting menu), Prairial (vegetable-forward Michelin-starred plates).
• Sweets: Pignol for praline tart and religieuses; Boulangerie Jocteur for baguettes and tartes.
• Wine bars: Antic Wine (Old Town cellar), Le Ballon (by-the-glass discoveries).

Local tips: Many bouchons close Sun/Mon; book dinner for 7:30–8:00 pm. Traboules are residential—keep voices low and doors closed behind you. For silk history and murals, add Croix-Rousse (Mur des Canuts) if you have extra time.

Optional half-day additions for a future visit: If you return, consider a Beaujolais countryside tasting (vineyards in 45–60 minutes) or a Rhône Valley Syrah/Viognier sampler. With more time, these two are standouts:
Beaujolais wine tour from Lyon half day

Northern Rhône Valley Wine tour from Lyon Half Day

Two days in Lyon fly by—yet you’ll leave with a head full of views, a camera roll of golden alleyways, and a palate tuned to quenelles, pralines, and peppery Syrah. Consider this a delicious prologue to a longer Rhône-Alpes adventure.