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France : Lyon - December 2007

Country Code: Dial for France

The buildings of Lyon are lit up during December for the city’s Festival of Lights. This month, visitors will also be just in time for the city’s famous Contemporary Art Biennial. Laura Sharpe gets that festive feeling looking round four of Lyon’s nine districts

Getting around

Saint Exupéry Airport

Bus: There is the Satobus every 20 minutes to and from the airport. Buses run from 5.35am to 11.40pm, seven days a week. A single ticket to the city costs €8.60 and the journey takes about 50 minutes.
Taxi: A taxi to the city centre costs approximately €50 during the day and €65 at night, taking around 45 minutes.
Tourist information: The main tourist office is located at Place Bellecour (tel. , en. www.lyon-france.com).

FIRST DISTRICT

The city’s premier district is a medley of prestigious buildings and fashionable shops.

Sleep soundly – Try the refined Boscolo Grand Hôtel (11 Rue Grolée, tel. , boscolohotels.com, rooms from €126). Otherwise, Hôtel Saint Vincent (9 Rue Pareille, tel. , hotel-saintvincent.com, rooms from €50) is a quiet haven.

Culture vultures – For creative dance, theatre and circus, go to Les Subsistances (8 bis Quai Saint Vincent).

Must eat – Maison Villemanzy (25 Montée Saint-Sébastien, tel. ) serves delicate dishes and boasts stunning views.

Must drink – La Fourmi Rouge (7 Place Colbert) is cosy and welcoming. La Luz (6 Petite Rue Feuillants) does great sangria.

Dance the night away – L’Opéra Rock (7 Rue Terme) is good for karaoke

Shop til you drop – Discover elegant creations at Art et Découvertes (10 Rue Joseph Serlin).

SECOND DISTRICT

Lyon’s second district is where the rivers Rhône and Saône meet.

Sleep soundly – Grande Hôtel Mercure Château Perrache (12 Cours de Verdun Rambaud, tel. , mercure.com, rooms from €120) is close to the station. Hôtel de Bretagne (10 Rue Dubois, tel. , www.hoteldebretagne-lyon.com, rooms from €45) is a stone’s throw from most tourist attractions.

Culture vultures – La Sucrière (48 Quai Rambaud) is one of the venues playing host to the world-renowned Contemporary Art Biennial.

Must eat – Cuisine et Dépendances (46 Rue Ferrandière, tel. ) excels at exquisite fish dishes. Le Jean Moulin (22 Rue Gentil, tel. ) does jazzed-up French cuisine.

Must drink – See and be seen at L’Avant Première (19 Rue Thomassin).

Dance the night away – Ambassade (4 Rue Stella) is perennially popular.

Shop til you drop – The market on Quai Saint-Antoine sells fresh produce.

FIFTH DISTRICT

Vieux Lyon features picturesque cobbled streets and ancient passageways.

Sleep soundly – La Tour Rose (22 Rue du Boeuf, tel. , www.tour-rose.com, rooms from €126) is an old favourite. If you’re happy roughing it, go for Auberge de Jeunesse du Vieux Lyon (41-45 Montée du Chemin Neuf, tel. , fuaj.net, rooms from €16).

Culture vultures – Admire the religious art at Musée de Fourvière (8 Place de Fourvière).

Must eat – The décor and menu at Café Épicerie (6 Rue du Boeuf, tel. ) are divine. Le Baladin (8 Rue Juiverie, tel. ) serves feasts fit for a medieval king.

Must drink – Savour the wine and atmosphere at Le 110 Vins (3 Rue Saint-Georges). Or try the mint tea at La Shisha des Gones (11 Rue Ferrachat).

Dance the night away – Say “cheese” at Kiss Club (1 Place de la Trinité).

EIGHTH DISTRICT

The eighth district provides easy access to Saint Exupéry Airport.

Sleep soundly – Hôtel Laennec (36 Rue Seignemartin, tel. , www.hotel-laennec.com, rooms from €65) is ideal for conventions. Hôtel Le Lumière (26 Rue Villon, tel. , hotel-lumiere.com, rooms from €50) continues the cinematic theme.

Culture vultures – Musée Lumière (25 Rue du Premier-Film) sheds light on the history of cinema.

Must eat – Le Bistrot Autrement (12 Place Ambroise Courtois, tel. ) cooks meat and fish on hot stones. Sample the kangaroo steak at Fabrice Moya (97 Route de Vienne, tel. ).

Must drink – Drink coffee with a clear conscience at the fair-trade Café Des Xanthines (16 Cours Albert Thomas).

Compiled by Laura Sharpe