[2024 Lyon Stay] Travel Guide for Hôtel Mercure Lyon Centre - Gare Part-Dieu (Updated Sep)

Eurail/Bus + CITYWALK: One-day tour in Lyon

August 16th, after spending the whole day on the train yesterday and having a good sleep, it was almost 9 AM when I woke up today. After washing up and getting ready, it was already late, so I decided to combine two meals into one and have a BRUNCH like Westerners do. About a 20-minute walk from the hotel is a food market called Les Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse, which offers a variety of French delicacies, including cured meats, seafood, and pastries. One seafood restaurant that serves oysters and snails was particularly crowded. I chose this place for BRUNCH, ordering a medium portion of oysters, a small portion of prawns, and a serving of French snails with white wine. Including the service fee, it cost 84 euros for two people. The price was a bit high, but the food was indeed delicious. After eating, we went back to the hotel to rest. After a nap, we set off again at 2 PM towards the old town of Lyon. It took less than half an hour to stroll from the hotel to the banks of the Rhône River. The view of the old town peninsula from the riverbank is somewhat reminiscent of the west bank of the Vltava River in Prague. Sitting by the river, enjoying the cool breeze and the beautiful scenery on the opposite bank, it felt like being back on the banks of the Vltava River. We crossed the bridge to explore the old town, first arriving at Place de la République, then heading to Place des Jacobins. After a short rest in the square, we went to the banks of the Saône River. From here, you can enjoy the beautiful views of Lyon Cathedral and the Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière on the opposite bank. We found a café, ordered a coffee and a soft drink, watched the people coming and going, and let time slowly pass by. Then we continued walking north along the small roads of the old town of Lyon, stopping to check out interesting shops along the way, and finally arrived at the ruins of the Three Gauls Amphitheater, where we enjoyed a distant view of Lyon from a high point. On the way back, we passed by the City Hall, Lyon National Opera, the Palais de la Bourse, and Saint-Nizier Church, all of which are worth a visit. Heading east and crossing the bridge straight ahead, we arrived at the Westfield La Part-Dieu shopping mall, where we bought some ice cream to cool down before returning to the hotel. We stopped by a supermarket to buy salmon, ham, and cream lettuce with baby carrots for a simple yet rich dinner!