Are you looking for the perfect plan for a weekend getaway? The best destination, whether you want to just walk around or wish to go shopping: Lyon. Just a few hours by train from Spain, you can reach the city centre, gastronomic capital of France, with a historic district designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Hop on our AVE (high-speed) France trains, AVE (high-speed) International travelling between Spain and France, and just relax.
What could be better than getting lost in its traboules, streets and squares, which have seen more than two thousand years of history pass? As you can see, the impressive two-thousand-year-old city and silk capital is surrounded by the Fourvière hills and La Croix Rousse, at the confluence of the Rhône and Saône, where the influence of both is reflected in the street layouts.
Below is a complete guide to Lyon on foot in just two days and to delve into its culture and traditions.
Below are some options to discover the city in the most amazing way:
There is no better way to start the day than to enjoy the city's amazing spaces: start the tour on the vast Tête d'Or lake, go for a ride on a bicycle bordering the Rhône's banks and cross the circuit of painted walls surrounding Saône. You will find the Vieux-Lyon district on the banks of the Saône River, designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, a true example of city's splendour during the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries.
You should also admire Place Bellecour, one of the largest in France. The two main pedestrian streets of the city end on this square (Rue Republique and Victor Hugo). And you cannot leave Lyon without crossing its traboules, characteristic passages (especially in Saint-Jean and Croix-Rousse districts) that allow you to move from one street to another in parallel and more quickly and without leaving the building.
If you fancy a quieter plan, you can visit the city's most incredible museums using the Lyon City Card, such as the Lumière Brothers Museum, Museum of Art or Le Petit Musée de Guignol, among others. We recommend the Ancient Theatre of Fourvière (Amphitheatre Gallo-Romain), where the famous festival of Fourvière Nights takes place.
Cross Saône River to reach the Peninsula, home of the Museum of Fine Arts, France's second most important museum after the Louvre. The exhibitions in the Museum of Textiles and Decorative Arts allow visitors to discover more about Lyon's silk industry, capital of silk since the sixteenth century.
Lyon is great for shopping, part of the city's joie de vivre. There are more than 70 shops carrying major brands on Carré d’Or, between Place Bellecour and Place de Cordeliers, a nice neighbourhood to explore on foot. You can also find many different shops at the Silver Arcade of Lyon (Passage de l'Argue), built in the nineteenth century, between Republique and Edouard Herriot streets.
Visit Fourvière hill and enjoy a panoramic view of Lyon or admire the city during an evening cruise on the Rhône and Saône rivers.
You have endless options to delight your palate: enjoy a hearty meal in a bouchon, traditional Lyonnaisse restaurant, or check out the local specialties in Les Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse, or visit its famous vineyards: Beaujolais, Côtes Rôties and Côtes du Rhône.
Whatever your style, we recommend you visit Lyon, an unprecedented city where you will find one of the widest range of cultural events in Europe and a great festive atmosphere at any time of the year, from The Festival of Lights in December to the International Contemporary Art and Dance Biennales.
Delve into French and global culture through its museums. We will take you there in the most comfortable, fast and sustainable way, thanks to our Alta Velocidad (high-speed) International trains travelling between Spain and France.
Have you chosen the destination of your next cultural visit? Choose how you would like to travel and what you would like to visit and we will define the destinations and means of transport. Have you found out about our discounts? Take advantage of these offers and get the best price on your train ticket.