Lyon is like the second or third biggest city after Paris and the gourmet capital of France. So…read morethat alone is worth visiting. Old town Lyon which is on the Saone River side - is oh-so-quaint and charming and a draw for Lyonnais and tourists alike. Plenty of interesting shops and tons of bistros, bars, and cafes. Terrific for people-watching! Just simply enchanting to stroll these cobblestoned streets and admire the architecture and ambience.

From the owner: L'ancienne cité romaine Quartier historique et touristique par excellence, le Vieux Lyon désigne…read morel'ensemble urbain situé entre la Saône et le bas de la colline de Fourvière. Jusqu'au 16ème siècle, le Vieux Lyon fut le centre religieux, politique et économique de la ville. A partir de cette époque et grâce à la venue de riches immigrés, le Vieux Lyon se transforma en un magnifique ensemble architectural de style Renaissance. Aujourd'hui réhabilité, ce quartier principalement piéton et pavé, regorge de traboules - passages aux couleurs ocre entre deux immeubles - de boutiques, de restaurants et de magnifiques hôtels comme celui de La Tour Rose ou de La Cour des Loges. Il abrite également le Musée Gadagne, la primatiale Saint Jean et la Place du Change. Ce quartier florentin aux couleurs chaudes rejoint les plus beaux ensembles architecturaux du monde tels que ceux de Venise, Prague et du Parthénon. Classé au patrimoine mondial de l'Unesco en 1998.

Free to enter, but modern updates have made this Roman monument somewhat disappointing…read more You can take the funicular to take you up the hill. It's still used for modern concerts, which would be a fun thing to do. We saw them setting up for an event which was part of the annual Fête de la Musique.

Wonderfully preserved Roman ruins just downhill from the Basilica de Notre Dame de Fourvière. It's…read morea great place to stop off and rest after visiting the basilica! So very peaceful there and I got a kick from resting my tired old butt on the same seats as some Roman citizens did 2000 years ago. I gotta say, those Roman architects knew how to build and design seating that was surprisingly comfortable, bare stone and cement that they are! If Vieux Lyon is old then these ruins - formerly known as Lugdunum - was ancient Lyon. It really is quite awesome thinking about the layered history of this city. The open air theaters' are still used today; there is a museum too but unfortunately wasn't open on the day we visited. I would have loved to learn more about Lugdunum and its evolution into modern-day Lyon.

Love it. It wobbles in the wind. Makes for a fun walk…read more Who wouldn't like this bridge?

From the owner: Un hôpital et un monument L'Hôtel Dieu constitua pendant longtemps un modèle pour les hôpitaux…read morefrançais et européens. La qualité des soins que l'on y dispensait et de son administration a valu à Lyon le titre de "ville de la Charité". Si ses origines remontent au XIIe siècle, il prend sa véritable dimension au XVIIe puis son réaménagement est confié en 1779 au grand architecte de Lyon J.G. Soufflot à qui l'on doit le Panthéon à Paris. Son dôme et son immense façade de 375 m très bien éclairés en bordure du Rhône sont devenus l'un des repères du paysage lyonnais.

I found using Place Bellecour as a way to shorten walking time to be the best use of this square…read more I'm sure it gets used for events and the like but there isn't really much to see or do in this square. The tourism office is located here, if you're into that sort of thing. There is also a big statue in the middle of the square, which had some nonsensical graffiti on it. The square itself is just packed red dirt with a lot of loose debris so be careful if you're wearing sandals or slippers. There are a lot of shopping and food places nearby. There is also a great view of the Fourviere, especially at night.

Expansive courtyard in the heart of old Lyon, this is the place to meet and greet, sight-see, and…read moremost importantly, where to decide to have lunch! On this early May day, the weather was most cordial, sunny, and mild - despite the "yellow jacket" demonstration and heavily armed police presence - and lots of people about enjoying the holiday. Evening in La Place Bellecour is tranquil and magical as well - so photogenic! A must-see in Lyon especially as a post-prandial stroll after a great meal.