Vieux Lyon

Lyon, France

The Renaissance old town beneath Fourvière hill, its traboules (hidden passageways) connecting streets that hide small bouchons and wine bars.

Places in Vieux Lyon

Gadagne Museum A museum of Lyon's history and puppetry (home of the Guignol tradition), set in a Renaissance mansion in Vieux Lyon.

Best time to visit: April to June and September to October bring comfortable weather for walking the old town and riverside. December's Fête des Lumières is a spectacular but crowded exception worth planning around rather than avoiding.
Getting around: Lyon's metro, tram, and funicular network is compact and efficient; the funicular up to Fourvière is worth taking for the ride as much as the view. The old town and Presqu'île are entirely walkable.
Currency: Euro (EUR)
Language: French. English is common in tourism.
Timezone: CET (UTC+1, UTC+2 in summer)
Current trends: The 2nd arrondissement around rue Mercière has become the after-work bistro and wine-bar strip, while the 7th arrondissement, particularly around the Mama Shelter hotel, is developing its own bar scene east of the Rhône.

Croix-Rousse — A hillside district once home to Lyon's silk weavers, now known for its Sunday market and a more bohemian, residential feel.
Presqu'île — The peninsula between the two rivers, Lyon's commercial and dining heart, dense with neo-bistros and wine bars around rue Mercière.