Unplanned Lyon visit

I ended up staying in Lyon for two nights, and although unplanned it turned out to be a very nice weekend. I actually realized that I missed being by myself, and got reminded about how much I love exploring new places and cultures.

Lyon is a very romantic and cozy city, and its size is just perfect for a weekend getaway. The city is known for its historical and architectural landmarks and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The municipality of Lyon has a population of half a million and is France’s third largest city after Paris and Marseille. It is located approximately 470 km from Paris, 320 km from Marseille and 160 km from Geneva It also has an airport of its own, making it very easy to get to.

Lyon by night

I stayed at one of the youth hostels in old town, around 10 minutes walk from the Cathedral of Saint Jean. It had a very nice view over the whole city, and for 30 euros a night it was a perfect choice for me this time around.

View from the youth hostel

I assume this will not be my last time in Lyon, since I completely fell in love with both France and French caves. I therefore did not rush to explore the whole city, but focused on old town and the area around. The city is full of life, as more than 100 000 students live here during the year. I could definitely feel the student vibe, since many students arrive early in order to search for a place to stay and learn to get to know the city. I went running twice along the river, which for me is the best way of exploring a new place. Lyon is actually made for running, with two rivers (the Rhône and the Saône), many parks, churches and great outlooks spread around the whole city which you can enjoy at the same time as getting in shape.

River side in Lyon

Cathédrale Saint-Jean-Baptiste

Cathédrale Saint-Jean-Baptiste by night

Lyon is also great for walking, relaxing and having fun with friends as it is full of restaurants, cafes, ice creams shops and bars. It actually has more than twenty of the best restaurants in France according to the Michelin Guide (guess where my dive buddies and I will be going next time?).

One of many street restaurants in Lyon

Cozy streets of Lyon

A great meditation spot in one of the parks in Lyon