Top Tourist Places To Visit in Lyon

Lyon, also known as Liyon in Arpetan, is a city in east-central France in the region Rhône-Alpes. Lyon is the second-largest French urban area, the first being Paris and the third Marseille. It is a major center of business, situated between Paris and Marseille, and has a reputation as the French capital of gastronomy. The local professional football team, Olympique Lyonnais, has increased the profile of Lyon internationally through participation in European football championships. The residents of the city are called Lyonnais. Together with its suburbs and satellite towns, Lyon forms the second-largest metropolitan area in France after that of Paris. Lyon is also a major industrial center specializing in chemical, pharmaceutical, and biotech industries. Lyon was historically known as the silk capital of the world. The city is known as the culinary capital of France. It also hosts numerous international headquarters like Interpol, Euronews, International Agency for Research on Cancer or Cité Scolaire Internationale de Lyon. The city is known for its historical and architectural landmarks and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Climate and Geography

Lyon's climate is temperate and sunny. The average annual temperature is 52°F (11°C), with an average of 2,000 hours of sunshine per year.

Transportation

♦ By Metro

Lyon’s metro and bus systems are interconnected and you can get to most places in the city with one, daily ticket. Tickets can be used on metro trains, trams, buses and funicular railways, with the metro running from 05:00 to midnight and buses finishing at about 20:00. The metro system itself is spotless and boasts 40 stations and four separate lines. The funiculars run to the Roman theatres and Basilica.

♦ Taxis

There are a number of reputable taxi firms in Lyon that can be called and booked or hailed from any street for travel to destination where there is no metro, bus or tram line, or if visitors prefer the convenience of taxi travel. Make sure the meter is reset on entering the vehicle and that it is on during the journey; drivers do not expect tips.

♦ By Bus

The bus system in Lyon is part of the city’s metro/bus combination. The main bus station is located at Lyon Perrache railway station, which is just to the south of the city centre.

♦ By Bicycle

Lyon is fairly biker-friendly and there is now a public bicycle service available to travellers in the city, where they can pick up a bike and register their credit card at one place and drop the bike off at another place elsewhere in the city.

Shopping and Entertainment

Lyon is a real shopper’s paradise. The most attractive and practical shopping streets are to be found in the area of the Presqu’île. At its heart, you will find Rue Victor Hugo and Rue de la République. Here you can admire a variety of attractive shops and find the big department stores like Printemps, Galeries Lafayette and Habitat. At the golden triangle, formed by the Rue Emile Zola, Rue Gasparin and Rue Président Herriot, the elegant 19th century buildings make an appropriate setting for the fashionable and luxury boutiques frequented by an international clientele (Cartier, Hermès, Lacroix, Vuitton). If you are in search of antique furniture and objects, visit the Rue Auguste Comte and the Antique Dealer’s Market (Cité des Antiquaires). For furniture and home decoration stores, the best place to go is Cours de la Liberté. Part-Dieu is the Europe’s largest town-centre shopping mall with its 260 stores.

About Entertainment:-

• ART AND CULTURE Lyon is one of the most famous cities in France for its artistic and cultural activity. The capital of Gaul, the contemporary city has succeeded in gracefully combining ancient and modern components, and has earned the classification of UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visitors can explore the celebrated old neighborhoods of Lyon, enjoy the city's museums, artistic and historical, and search through the many libraries or take in the great variety of educational attractions.

• THEATER & DANCE There are many stages for theater and dance performances in Lyon, which are usually well-appreciated and frequented by the population. The best-known are the Theâtre des Jeunes Annees, the Theâtre National Populaire, the Maison de la Danse, the Theâtre des Celestins, and the Theâtre de la Croix-Rousse.

• NIGHTCLUBS AND SHOWS There are many places to go out at night and have fun in the town with your companions. There are excellent evenings to be had at Duplex, Eden Rock, or the Republique. The atmosphere of these nightspots is young and energetic. Of course there are also places for more intense partying or drinking. The rue Sainte Catherine is unbeatable for mythic nights. Bars line the street, creating an energetic buzz all night. Start at Ayers Rock and keep moving down the street for an intense evening! A final suggestion for the night: varied bars and pubs follow each other from Saint-Jean to Vaise along the Saône riverside. Cruise through to find an appealing one.

• SPORTS Lyon has something to offer the sports lovers with the Gerland stadium for the Olympique Lyonnais and the Astroballe for ASVEL Basket. It also has many other stadiums, gymnasiums, and sports cafes, notably the Victoire.