If The Hills taught us anything, it’s that you never want to be “the girl who didn’t go to Paris.” True — especially if Paris is still on your bucket list — but we’d argue France has more than one showstopper. Enter: Lyon, the country’s third-largest city and its undisputed gastronomic capital.
In addition to the buzzy food scene, Lyon also has splendid museums, expansive green spaces, vibrant neighborhoods, exceptional boutique hotels (stay at Hôtel de l’Abbaye), and that same je ne sais quoi — without the overwhelming crowds and exorbitant prices. Plus, with easy day trips to the Beaujolais wine region and even Switzerland, Lyon is the kind of city that turns “just a weekend” into “how can I move here?”
👟 No visit to Lyon is complete without wandering around Vieux-Lyon — the historic old town. Among the maze of Renaissance-era cobblestone streets, you’ll discover 15th- and 16th-century buildings, storied hidden passageways, and the ornate Cathédrale Saint-Jean-Baptiste.
From there, take a funicular ride to the top of Fourvière hill, where the main attraction is Notre-Dame de Fourvière, a 19th-century basilica with Byzantine-style mosaics, stained glass windows, and the city’s best panoramic views. As you make your way back down, be sure to stop at the Lugdunum Museum, which includes three archeological sites and a 10,000-seat Roman amphitheatre that now hosts music, opera, and dance performances.
🏛️ Soak up Lyon’s culture with a tour of its standout museums: The Musée des Beaux-Arts — housed in a former Benedictine abbey — spans 5,000 years of history, from Egyptian antiquities to works by Rodin and Picasso. The Musée des Confluences blends anthropology, science, and natural history to tackle life’s biggest questions. Film buffs will love Musée Lumière, the family home of brothers Louis and Auguste Lumière, inventors of the cinematograph and pioneers who put Lyon on the map as the birthplace of cinema.
Finally, Maison des Canuts chronicles the city’s silk industry and is located in the trendy Croix-Rousse neighborhood (essentially, the Lyonnaise equivalent of Montmartre), so leave time for browsing the small boutiques, vintage stores, and Lyon’s best outdoor market.
🍴 Come hungry, because food is a main attraction in Lyon. Start at Boulangerie Saint Paul, where the minimum order should include a croissant and a pink praline brioche (a Lyon specialty). For lunch, head to L’Établi to enjoy a shockingly affordable set menu featuring seasonal dishes, mind-blowing bread, and some surprises along the way.
And while you should absolutely indulge at Lyon’s Michelin-starred restaurants (we recommend Japanese-inspired Takao Takano), dining at one of its famous bouchons (a bistrolike establishment serving Lyonnais specialities) is a must. So make a reservation at Le Café Comptoir Abel and order the pike quenelle, chicken with morels, and pâté en croûte.