Lyon is France's gastronomic capital by any honest reckoning — the city that produced Paul Bocuse and gave the world the bouchon, a particular kind of convivial Lyonnaise bistro where quenelles and andouillette are served without apology. The UNESCO-listed Vieux Lyon quarter is a warren of Renaissance courtyards and traboules — secret passageways threading between buildings that once sheltered silk workers — now lined with boutiques and wine bars. The Fourvière hill rises above it all, crowned by a white basilica with views over two rivers, while December's Fête des Lumières turns every facade into a canvas of light. Stay in the presqu'île, the peninsula between the Saône and Rhône, for the finest addresses and restaurant access.
- Suggested duration: 3–4 days
- Best time to visit: April to June and September to November for pleasant weather; December for the extraordinary Festival of Lights.