Lyon Travel Guide

Like most large cities, Lyon offers a wide range of accommodation, with hotels to suit every taste and pocketbook. To find your way around, it helps to think of the town in terms of three distinct parts separated by two rivers; the rive droite (right bank) of the Saône (comprising Old Lyon and Vaise), the presqu'île (the spit of land between the two rivers) and the rive gauche (left bank) of the Rhône (the eastern districts).

The right bank of the Saône (5ème and 9ème arrondissements) Here in the heart of Old Lyon you will find the finest of the city's four-star hotels: the Cour des Loges and Villa Florentine. Both have a very particular charm which combines luxury, originality, and beauty of design. A more practical affair is the Terminus Saint Paul, highly recommended due to its excellent location and dedicated upkeep. Further North in the Vaise quartier, the Hôtel du Tourisme stands out for its location overlooking the Saône and its unbeatable prices.

Presqu'île (1er, 2ème and 4ème arrondissements) This is where most of Lyon's cultural and commercial activity takes place, and the choice of hotels is as large as it is varied. In the Perrache quarter to the south, the Ibis Lyon Centre-Perrache and the Clarine are notable for their excellent value for money. In the central Bellecour quarter, the Royal and Sofitel hotels are the undisputed kings of luxury. Two rather more affordable establishments, noteworthy for their comfort and strategic location, are the Grand Hôtel de la Paix and the Comfort Hôtel Saint-Antoine, both off the rue de la République. In the Terreaux and Croix-Rousse districts, the hotels bearing those names (Hôtel St Pierre des Terreaux and Hôtel de la Croix-Rousse) offer the best prices for service that exceeds expectations.

Rive gauche of the Rhône (3ème, 6ème, 7ème and 8ème arrondissements) This part of town buzzes with activity, and with good reason. It encompasses the commercial and legal centres, the universities, the Cité Internationale, the Parc de la Tête d'Or, and the largest hospitals in the region. Hotels oriented toward business people abound in the Part-Dieu quarter; Méridien Part-Dieu and Novotel Lyon La Part-Dieu are some of the most luxurious, while the Ibis is less expensive. Not to be missed, further east in the chic Brotteaux quarter, is the Patio Morand, a peaceful and charming old villa. The magnificent Hilton situated in the Cité Internationale is the best option for those in search of peace and quiet, luxury, and proximity to the Parc de la Tête d'Or.2008-08-02T07:29:22.000 27