Discover Lyon, France’s second largest cultural city!
As the world capital of gastronomy and France's second-largest cultural city, Lyon really deserves to be known! Whether you're looking for a city break or a stopover on the road to your holiday destination, Lyon will seduce you with its richness and diversity.
Lyon, the city of gastronomy
Whether it’s gastronomic or authentic, Lyon's cuisine is a pillar of the city's culture.
While Lyon has many Michelin-starred restaurants (16 in 2023), it is also well-known for its traditional restaurants named "Bouchons Lyonnais". These authentic, convivial places are ideal if you want to taste the region's specialties, such as saucisson brioché, quenelle, cervelle de canut or tripes for the more adventurous! Lyon has its own culinary identity, and these typical dishes can only be found there.
To complete a gastronomic itinerary in Lyon, we recommend an aperitif at Les Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse. They're only open at day-time, but you can enjoy oysters and white wine at any time of the day! Don't forget to buy a brioche aux pralines and a Saint-Marcelin from La Mère Richard, the region's most famous cheese dairy, before leaving this typical place in Lyon.
Our favorite spots:
Restaurant Têtedoie, 1 Michelin star
Daniel et Denise, traditional “bouchon lyonnais”
Les Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse
A rich heritage
To visit Lyon is to take a journey through the ages, from antiquity to now. To navigate through 2,000 years of history and discover the city's 500 hectares of UNESCO World Heritage sites, here are the districts to discover on foot or by bike!
Fourvière hill, or the "hill that prays", takes its name from its majestic basilica. It offers a breathtaking view over the whole city, taking us back to the ancient period. The same panoramic view can be admired from Villa Maïa!
Vieux-Lyon, with its atypical and unmissable streets known as "Traboules", is just the place to get lost. These secret passages, linking the city's streets and courtyards, date back to the 19th century. Each traboule tells its own story, highlighting fascinating architectural elements and taking visitors on a journey back in time.
The hill of La Croix-Rousse is a veritable excursion into the world of silk, where the Canuts (silk workers) left their mark, making Lyon Europe's leading silk center.
The Parc de la Tête d'or, France's largest urban park, is totally dedicated to leisure, offering numerous activities (botanical garden, zoo, shows, among others).
The "Presqu'île", is located between the Rhône and Saône rivers. This area has a lot of emblematic places such as Place Bellecour and the Opéra, and is the ideal place for a shopping spree.
To find out more about Lyon, visit the Only Lyon website.
A lively cultural life
Lyon is a city that beats to the rhythm of culture, with so many museums of all types and a variety of events throughout the year.
The Musée des Beaux-Arts, the Lugdunum Gallo-Roman Museum, the Musée des Confluences. The Institut Lumière celebrates the historic city of cinema where the famous brothers of the same name were born... Lyon invites visitors to immerse in a world of creativity and artistic expression.
Art lovers will not be disappointed with the Biennale d'Art Contemporain, an international event showcasing the latest artistic trends. The Fête des Lumières illuminates the city's streets in December, transforming Lyon's walls into living canvases and creating a warm and magical atmosphere. Les Nuits de Fourvière, a not-to-be-missed summer festival, presents theatrical, dance and musical performances in the fantastic setting of the ancient theater of Fourvière. Lyon is also punctuated by culinary events, including the SIRHA, the world's largest trade fair for culinary arts, held every two years.
To discover Lyon's calendar of events, click here.
We could go on and on about Lyon's hidden treasures, tell you about the cafés-théâtres, tell you that every December 8th, as children, we put lanterns on our windows... but we prefer to leave you with a few surprises to discover during your stay at Villa Maïa!
Lyon is easily accessible with its international airport and direct flights from/to major cities including the European capitals, but also Dubai, Doha and Montreal ! Lyon is also only 2 hours by TGV from Paris or Marseille.
October 17th 2023 - Written by Claudine Lepine Bodard and Alicia Portigliatti