How much time in Lyon, pre cruise?

[horatio123]

Trying to decide on arriving the day before or two days before. I know there is never enough time to see everything there is to see but is Lyon a place you would want to spend a couple of days? Any hotel recommendations pre cruise?

[Stratheden]

For me it would depend on how quickly I could get over the jet lag and to make sure I was covered for any mixed connections etc.

[H2Otstr]

I wished that I had more time in Lyon. We had our cruise day there, docked overnight and the next day was a Sunday and nothing was open.

[orchestrapal]

There is a wonderful new Radisson BLU with great rooms and views.

Lyon is short of 5* hotels but has a lot of smaller charming expensive hotels.

If your a foodie there is no thing as too much time in Lyon but if not one or two extra days are plenty.

[hattack]

We flew the redeye to Paris..took the 200 mph high speed train (1st class both ways) to Lyon and spent 2 days before our River Cruise...it happen to be Easter weekend so there was alot going on..stayed at a small B&B and loved going to the Farmer's Market on Saturday morning before our departing on our River Cruise..upon our return to Lyon, spent the night and visited several Jazz Clubs and took the high speed train back to Paris the next morning and spent 3 days

 

Lyon is beautiful..agree with the poster that indicated 2 days should do it..Lyon at night on the River is beautiful

[Host Jazzbeau]

Thanks for this thread! I'm planning a driving vacation to link up with the AMA Provence cruise in Lyon, and was planning to just drive into Lyon on embarkation day. This thread has led me to add a day to the pre-cruise itinerary so we can do sightseeing in Lyon (in addition to what AMA will already include) and most importantly, have dinner in the culinary capital of France. [There's no smiley for drooling in anticipation...]

[Bet & Peg]

Last year we were on the Viking Rhone River cruise and spent a day and a half in Lyon - lovely city - wish we had more time there!!! We did eat lunch there and it was a wonderful mean - I had to try real quenelles!!!

 

You may have found all these links but they're from my last year's research. Hope you enjoy Lyon!!!! And hope the links work!!

 

Why Lyon is food capital of the world Travel The Observer

CafeComptoirAble

Chez Mounier Restaurant Reviews, Lyon, France - TripAdvisor

LeTibouren

La mere Jean, Lyon - Restaurant Reviews - TripAdvisor

L'Atelier - where we actually ate!!! Street full of restaurants!!!

 

Lyon is also know for its silk - fabulous silk shops and even a museum!

Soierie Saint Georges - Lyon Tourist Office and Convention Bureau - great slik store!!!!

[Host Jazzbeau]

You may have found all these links but they're from my last year's research. Hope you enjoy Lyon!!!! And hope the links work!!

 

Thanks! I had not seen these, and they are very helpful.

[horatio123]

Wow, thanks for the advice...maybe we will arrive on a Friday and start the cruise on the Sunday..sounds like enough time. Will check out the Radisson.

[rjscott]

Last year we were on the Viking Rhone River cruise and spent a day and a half in Lyon - lovely city - wish we had more time there!!! We did eat lunch there and it was a wonderful mean - I had to try real quenelles!!!

 

You may have found all these links but they're from my last year's research. Hope you enjoy Lyon!!!! And hope the links work!!

 

Why Lyon is food capital of the world Travel The Observer

CafeComptoirAble

Chez Mounier Restaurant Reviews, Lyon, France - TripAdvisor

LeTibouren

La mere Jean, Lyon - Restaurant Reviews - TripAdvisor

L'Atelier - where we actually ate!!! Street full of restaurants!!!

 

Lyon is also know for its silk - fabulous silk shops and even a museum!

Soierie Saint Georges - Lyon Tourist Office and Convention Bureau - great slik store!!!!

Peg,

Hope we have time to check out some of the silk shops while in Lyon. Thx for the link.

Becki

[susan1234]

Does anyone know what is Vikings' pre-cruise hotel in Lyon?

[editor@cruisecritic]

In March, we spent four nights in Lyon (before boarding Uniworld's SS Catherine) and it wasn't even enough time! Loved the city. Have stayed at the Sofitel (it's considered the city's best hotel but it's a bit tired, good service, though, and central location). On this trip we booked a flat, and that was -- fantastic! Went to the markets, cooked a little bit, enjoyed feeling like a local, and really, just relaxing into the city. It was not enough time :)

 

I think if we had more time we'd explore some of the outlying areas, but really, just enjoyed our time in the city.

 

Happy to send you info on the flat or anything else you want to know.

 

Carolyn

 

Carolyn Spencer Brown

Editor in Chief

Cruise Critic