Where to stay

Lyon makes foodies swoon as the gastro star of France. Book rooms in the Part-Dieu neighborhood for the indoor gourmet market, Les Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse, named for the chef and nouvelle cuisine innovator. Part-Dieu is near the train station, so it's also ideal for the brand-new Cité Internationale de la Gastronomie food museum in the Grand Hôtel-Dieu. Stay in the neighborhood of La Confluence for a more contemporary vibe. The food court, Heat, is in the hip digital hub, H7, and rooms in the area are a quick tram or boat ride to the city center. Alternatively, great hotels in the heart of Vieux Lyon (Lyon Old Town) offer destination restaurants. Book a riverside room by the Saône for the Saint Antoine outdoor market, or stay in charming St Jean to try the bouchons Lyonnais bistros.

Hotels in the city's main neighborhood, the UNESCO-listed Presqu'ile, are the best choice for retail therapy. Interior design devotees will find good options in Auguste-Comte, where art dealers and antique treasure troves can be found. For shoppers who plan to wander the winding streets and browse lovely boutique stores, accommodations in Vieux Lyon (Lyon Old Town) are ideal. Stay in the hilltop neighborhood of Croix-Rousse to investigate the secret passageways, known as traboules, used by 19th-century silk weavers.

Choose accommodations in the hills of Lyon in Fourvière, where hotels have historic connections and overlook Vieux Lyon (Lyon Old Town). The area is also close to notable attractions such as the Metallic Tower, Roman theater, Basilica Notre Dame, and the Gallo-Roman Museum. Hotels in the 6th Arrondissement will put you in walking distance of the Museum of Contemporary Art and the Parc de la Tete d'Or. Alternatively, choose accommodations in the 2nd Arrondissement to be closer to the Musée des Confluences.