Four days eating and walking through Lyon

I arrived at Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport and took the transfer into the city center, dropping my bags at the Hotel Carlton Lyon - MGallery Hotel Collection in the Presqu'île district. My first evening was simple: a walk along the River Saône to see the bridges lit up against the water. I ended the night with dinner at Bouchon Les Lyonnais, where the atmosphere was crowded but efficient. It was a good introduction to the local pace.

The next morning, I checked out and headed toward Vieux Lyon. I spent a few hours at the Musée Gadagne, which gives a clear look at the city's past, before visiting the Cathédrale Saint-Jean-Baptiste. Walking the Traboules of Vieux Lyon required some trial and error, as they are essentially private shortcuts through residential buildings. I eventually made it up to the Basilique Notre-Dame de Fourvière for the view, then walked down to see the Théâtre antique de Fourvière. Lunch at Le Bistrot de la Traboule and a later stop at La Meunière kept me fueled for the climbing.

The walk up the hill to the basilica is steep, but the view over the city rooftops makes the incline worth the effort.

On my third day, I moved toward the La Croix-Rousse neighborhood. I spent the morning at the Maison des Canuts to learn about the silk weavers who once defined this area. It’s a different vibe than the center, with more of a residential, bohemian feel. I also carved out time for the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Lyon, which is massive and requires more energy than I expected. I finished the day with meals at Le Garet and the Café des Fédérations, rounding out my tour of the local bouchon scene.

My final morning started at Place Bellecour, a wide-open square that serves as a solid orientation point. Before leaving, I spent some time walking through the nearby streets one last time. The city is very walkable, though my feet were definitely feeling the five days of pavement and hills. It is a straightforward place to navigate solo, provided you don't mind a few stairs.