Travel

24 Hours In Lyon Without A Plan: A Culture Lover’s Guide

A guide to 24 hours in Lyon, in which I do no pre-planning and see what there is to see and do on a sunny summer’s day in Lyon.

24 Hours In Lyon

Do you remember when I spent 24 hours in Dresden, did many more activities than is advisable on a single day, and then told you all about it? Well this is basically the opposite of that. I visited Dresden on a cold and rainy April day, and ended up doing basically all the things I’d read about in advance. It was enjoyable but exhausting. When an old friend who was travelling through Europe invited me to join him for a jaunt to Lyon, I was delighted. There was no way I would try to subject him to my over-enthusiastic solo travelling style, however. And it wasn’t the point, anyway: this trip was about catching up and reconnecting.

It was the first trip to Lyon for both of us, so also a chance to explore. For real culture lovers such as myself (and hopefully you), you don’t have to visit all the museums in order to start to understand a place. Even if, like me on this occasion, you don’t have time to do any pre-reading, so many cities wear their hearts and histories on their sleeves. You can get a good sense of them by wandering the streets and looking at monuments, architectural styles, food, and how people live in the city.

So today’s walk through Lyon is done in the style of a flâneur. Join me for a wander around Lyon as we discover a little of the history and culture of this storied city.


Arrival In Lyon: Croix Rousse To Parc de la Tête d’Or





A Zoo And A Riverside Walk









The Early Bird Gets The Worm





Into The Central City







On The Hunt For The Cathedral








Finally, The Cathedral! And Lyon’s Old Town










Bonus Time: A Boat Tour










Farewell To My 24 Hours In Lyon



For more sustainable travelling options, why not consider a journey by train? Take a look at Trainline to explore Europe’s vast network of rail and coach services.



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