Quartier Saint-Jean
There is no better place to get in touch with the ‘real’ Lyon than in the Quartier Saint-Jean. It is the city’s Old Town and offers an atmosphere unrivaled by the rest of Lyon. The cobblestone streets, shops, and buildings date back to medieval times. It is a brilliant place to spend a day wandering the alleys and enjoying the cafes and quaint restaurants. The Musée d’Histoire de Lyon can be found in the Quartier Saint-Jean along with the Musée des Arts de La Marionnette. The Old Town is perfect any time of the day and travelers won’t be disappointed.
Lyon Zoo
Lyon Zoo was founded in 1858 and today houses more than 300 animals. Entry is free so visitors can explore the animal exhibits without spending any dime, which is always helpful on vacation. The zoo is a great place to visit with the kids on holiday. Not only does it provide them with many never before seen animals, but it gives the whole family the chance to enjoy a sightseeing trip together. Lyon Zoo is located in the middle of the Parc de la Tete d’Or. The entire park is a wonderful place to visit for some peace, quiet, and exercise. When the trip to the zoo is completed, families can continue exploring the 290-acre park.
Musée des Confluences
The Musée des Confluences is a science center and anthropology museum. Opened in 2014, its design is just as intriguing as the exhibits housed inside. The Musée des Confluences was designed to look like a stainless steel and glass cloud floating in the air. Visitors love snapping Instagram worthy selfies in front of the spectacular building. On the inside, the museum features four main exhibits: Origins – Stories of the World, Species – the Web of life, Societies – Human theatre, and Eternities – Visions of the beyond. The museum also houses temporary exhibits that change regularly.
Ancient Theatre of Fourvière
Explore the sights of Lyon from the hilltop lookout spot of Fourvière. Even though you're firmly in France, the stunning Roman ancient architecture has earned the area UNESCO world heritage site status. The old town area also has plenty of other artifacts, so take the day and explore the sights of Fourvière.
Parc de Parilly
Enjoying great cuisine and indulging in wine tasting can easily compromise your weight loss goals. If you prefer the outdoors to the hotel gym, take some time away from the city in this picturesque city park, surrounded by 18,000 trees. The park also has a vast array of sports facilities allowing you to unwind and get some exercise in. Whether it be on the bike lanes, 10 football fields, or 12 basketball courts, there are plenty of options to burn off some calories.
Musée de l’Automobile Henri Malartre
The Musée Henri Malarte isn’t commonly found on Lyon tourist advertisements. Tourists may not even realize it exists before traveling to Lyon without looking for it specifically. The museum is located in an old chateau, and it houses a vintage collection of cars, bicycles, and motorbikes. Many of the makes are French, but there are also exhibit vehicles made outside of France. There are also old trams and funicular cable cars housed in the eccentric museum. Visitors can even take a ride in a classic car when visiting. The museum’s bizarre collection is one of the things that gives it so much charm. No petrolhead should miss visiting it during a trip to Lyon.
Centre d'Histoire de la Résistance et de la Déportation
The Resistance and Deportation History Center is a must-visit for any history buff. It is located in a building formerly occupied by the head of the Gestapo during World War II. Lyon was the epicenter of France’s resistance to the Nazi regime. The exhibits showcase the history of Lyon during the Nazi era. Visitors can learn all about the people involved with the resistance and those who were killed by the Nazis. It is a powerful memorial to those who lost their lives.
Circuit du Laquais
Circuit du Laquais offers a driving experience and school for petrol heads to get high-speed thrills. Visitors can choose from a number of supercars to sit behind the wheel of during the experience. These include a Porsche 911, Lamborghini Huracan, McLaren 540C, and many more.
The driving school allows students to pick between three different experiences. Learners can choose a Formula Renault, Lotus Caterham Seven, or Fun Cup experience. Students will get a lesson on driving their chosen car before taking to the track behind the wheel.
Rhone Valley Wine Tasting
The Rhone Valley is one of the most well-known French wine-making regions and home to famous blends like Chateauneuf-du-Pape. Countless tour companies offer a fantastic variety of daytrips and experiences for every audience, whether you are well-versed in wine or not. Companies organize everything from the places you visit, stay, and even where you eat. If you fancy taking it more at your own pace, there is plenty to see and do in the Rhone Valley.
Lyon is a city with culture, history, and automobile excitement. It is a city that should be sought out by travelers who fancy seeing a great French city but want to get away from the cliched Paris vacation. It may not be the first French city one thinks of, but it offers more bang for the vacation buck than many of its contemporaries.
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Local Favorite: Pike Quenelle
Lyon is well-known as a gastronomy hub, with the French city home to 20 Michelin star restaurants. Lyon's most famous dish is arguably Pike Quenelle. It is made with wheat flour mixed with butter, milk, and eggs before the mixture combines with pike fish meat. A Nantua sauce containing crayfish tails and crayfish butter is served with it. Béchamel sauce can be substituted for the Nantua sauce. The origins of la quenelle are unknown, but it is believed the Lyon version came into existence around the end of the 1800s. Lyon's quenelle differs from others as it contains pike fish meat while other French regions use other types of meat in theirs.
