Lyon

Lyon, at the meeting of the Rhône and the Saône, has a long reputation as a city of food. Its bouchons serve Lyonnais cooking, and the covered market of Les Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse gathers cheese, charcuterie and pastry stalls under one roof. In June, the city has a street food festival: the Lyon Street Food Festival, held from 11 to 14 June in 2026 and set for 10 to 13 June 2027, its 11th edition. In 2026 it took place at the Grandes Locos, in La Mulatière, on the city’s south-western edge.

Practical notes

• Lyon Part-Dieu is the main high-speed station, less than two hours from Paris on the fastest TGVs.
• Lyon-Saint-Exupéry airport, east of the city, is linked to Part-Dieu by the Rhônexpress tram.

Later in the year

North of the city, the Beaujolais village of Beaujeu holds Les Sarmentelles in November (18 to 22 November in 2026).

What to eat in Lyon

Lyonnais cooking is the food of the bouchons: quenelles, light dumplings often served with a crayfish sauce, saucisson brioché, a sausage baked in brioche, cervelle de canut, a herbed fresh cheese, and the pink praline tart. The wines around the city are Beaujolais to the north and the Côtes du Rhône to the south.

Where to stay

The Presqu’île, between the two rivers, and Vieux Lyon, the Renaissance old town at the foot of Fourvière hill, are the central bases. The Part-Dieu area suits a stay built around trains.