Alicante Travel Guide

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Lyon really does represent the best things about France; arguably the finest cuisine in the world, beautiful classical French architecture, pavement cafes, perfectly manicured parks and even a World Heritage listed old town.

St Jean

... as France’s third-largest city, you can expect the usual assortment of museums and cultural diversions

Paris might have the romance, Nice the beach, but Lyon has the food. That’s right, if you’re after a good meal, then look no further than France’s third-largest city. The  gastronomy capital of the world, Michelin starred eateries, cafes and bistros abound. Not to mention, the city’s own traditional restaurants, known as bouchons offer up a healthy serving of hearty Lyonnaise cuisine such as coq au vin, all washed down with a glass of red – well this is Beaujolais country after all. You’ll find markets galore selling everything from local sausage and truffles to foie gras and a variety of cheeses will have you drooling. Trust us, after a trip here, you’ll never want to go to a boring supermarket again.

Old Lyon

This World Heritage listed old town is a delight of Renaissance gems, Gothic cathedrals and medieval churches.

But if you don’t consider yourself much of a foodie, Lyon has plenty of other tourist tricks up its sleeve, just ask UNESCO. This World Heritage listed old town is a delight of Renaissance gems, Gothic cathedrals and medieval churches, with many of the buildings doubling up as boutique hotels and restaurants. And as France’s third-largest city, you can expect the usual assortment of museums and cultural diversions; everything from massive collections of art to ancient Roman theatres and world-class museums. Then there’s the city’s iconic glass-domed opera house, which is worth a visit just to see the incredible black and gold interior, if nothing else. The nightlife’s not too bad either. This cosmopolitan city has a mix of everything from traditional pubs, wine bars, jazz cafes and even the odd riverboat-cum-nightclub or two, bobbing about on the River Rhone.

And when you’re not stuffing your face with fantastic Lyonnaise  cuisine, visiting its markets or partying the night away, you’ll probably be visiting the nearby medieval village of Pérouges or even strapping on some skis and hitting the slopes – well, the Alps are just around the corner after all.

Tips

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1/3

Invest in a Lyon City Card and you’ll be entitled to free public transport, free entry into selected museums and free access to guided tours of the city.

2/3

Check out Annecy, also known as the Venice of Savoie due to its magnificent network of small canals. This town is as picture postcard perfect as you can get and looks like it came fresh out of a fairytale.

3/3

For shopping, hit Rue Victor Hugo and Rue de la République  if you’re after high street stores. For something a little more upmarket check out Rue Emile Zola and Rue Gasparin, which rival anything you’ll find in Paris.

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