Curator’s statement
Lyon, often referred to as Little Paris, is a captivating city nestled in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. This charming destination blends the old and new in perfect harmony, creating a magical atmosphere. While many consider Paris the foodie capital of France, Lyon truly holds that title with its renowned gastronomy and exquisite cuisine. Beyond its culinary delights, I think Lyon is also fantastic for family travel, offering a plethora of exciting attractions and activities for kids to explore.
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Day 1: Arrival & Rue Mercière
The best way to arrive in Lyon is by train. They have three stations, but I recommend using either Gare de Lyon-Perrache or Lyon Part-Dieu. Both are in the city center. Alternatively, you can arrive by plane to Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport or by renting a car.
After checking into your hotel, I recommend strolling around New Town and exploring the buzzing streets of Lyon. A great place to start is Rue Mercière (just south of Rue Grenette) as the street is closed for pedestrians and is full of fun shops and delicious eats.
At 7 pm, stop in Fiston for a great dinner. I recommend getting one of their set menus, as it is usually a great deal and highlights more of the local cuisine.
Once you finish dinner, walk back to your hotel, like the French, and enjoy the nice weather the city is often blessed with.
Day 2: Parc de la Tête d'Or
For your first full day, you can easily spend the day at Parc de la Tête d'Or. At the park, there is a botanical garden, zoo and jungle gym that are all free to the public. Additionally, the park has restaurants and fun activities like go-karts and mini-golf at a cost. I recommend bringing a picnic lunch that you can easily grab from a grocery store nearby and spending the day there before heading back to your hotel to get ready for dinner.
For dinner, enjoy the best steak frites in all of France (seriously) at L’Entrecôte. They only serve steak with their famous green sauce, salad and fries and have a great menu of desserts as well.
Day 3: Old Town of Lyon
Start your day with a food tour in the Old Town of Lyon! This will keep you busy for a few hours, seeing some of the sites of the western part of the city and trying all the Lyonnaise classics.
Finish off your time in Old Town at the Musée Cinéma et Miniature, where you can see original set pieces, animatronics and costumes from some of your favorite movies.
End the day at Ayla for a Lebanese twist on French cuisine.
Day 4: Bonus day
If you have a fourth day, start with a trip to the famous Amphitheatre of the Three Gauls and explore the historical site.
For a quick lunch, get some tasty Japanese food at FUFU Ramen. I recommend the ramen bowl and gyoza to share!
Need to know
Other great places for food and drinks:
Bouchon Bât d’Argent (traditional Lyonnaise)
Ô Passage (tea/coffee and snacks)
Le Zeste Gourmand (fine dining)
For shopping and gifts:
Au Pays du Citron (lemon liquor and snacks)
Soierie Lyonnaise (silk products)
Other sites:
Boat cruise on the Saône River
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Lacey Hayes
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This itinerary is a part of our ongoing series on travel to France. Looking for more travel inspiration? Check out my guide, The Eternal City: 2 Summer Days in Rome, Italy with Kids.