Where to Stay in Lyon – Neighborhood + Hotel Guide

Where to Stay in Lyon for YOU

Click on the link you’re interested in above to see the best hotel in the area.

The Best Neighborhoods to Stay in Lyon – Pros & Cons

Discover what each neighborhood has to offer and the pros and cons of each right below.

The BEST Area to Stay in Lyon: Vieux Lyon

The Vieux Lyon quarter became the first preserved area in France in 1964. This already goes to show how incredible this place is, and that, even if you don’t elect to stay there during your holiday in Lyon, you should at the very least have a look at it.

From paved streets to well-preserved monuments and basilicas, the Vieux Lyon offers plenty of activities and incredible sights. Strolling along its particularly narrow ways whilst being surrounded by medieval buildings will feel like you went back in time.

Whether you love shopping, discovering stunning religious constructions, or finding the hidden traboules (pathways that run from one street to another by crossing through a building) the Vieux Lyon is famous for, you will find a reason to pick this neighborhood.

Here’s my selection of the best accommodations in the Vieux Lyon by travel style:

✅ Best Hotel: Old town – Vieux Lyon -50 m2 flat: Perfectly located in the Vieux Lyon, this flat is clean, stylishly decorated, and particularly cozy. 

✨ Luxury Choice: MiHotel – La Maison Rose: Situated in the same streets as my #1 pick, this place feels marvelously luxurious, with its rooftop jacuzzi and most comfortable beds.

💰 Budget Pick: Collège Hôtel: For a pretty low price, this accommodation has it all, from clean and bright rooms to a nice location next to the main points of interest.

Best Place to Stay in Lyon On a Budget: La Guillotière

Although it might not be the cutest neighborhood of Lyon, La Guillotière is definitely the best one when it comes to more affordable holidays. Don’t worry, it still is pretty lovely to stay there, for several reasons, and you won’t regret it.

First off, despite being a cheaper area, it is still centrally located, and you will thus have prime access to all of the best places in the city. Not all cheap neighborhoods have to be in the suburbs!

Then, there are several interesting cultural institutions, as well as loads of shops and restaurants. So, if you are looking for fun times out, La Guillotière is for you!

Here’s my selection of the best accommodations in La Guillotière by travel style:

✅ Best Hotel – Studio lumineux – Lyon: This studio is all you need for a comfortable stay and the best compromise you can find between location (right next to the metro line) and pricing (one of the more affordable options in the area).

✨ Luxury Choice – 7e Ciel – Rooftop Panoramique: Because of how sunny and well-equipped its rooftop terrace is, you will want to spend most of your time there, believe me.

💰 Budget Pick – Chambre d’hôtes – Garibaldi: In this accommodation, you will be warmly welcomed by the hostess, and will stay in a clean and cozy room.

Best Area in Lyon to Stay for Families: Croix-Rousse

Located in the heights of Lyon, Croix-Rousse is a peaceful and spectacular neighborhood: from there, you will enjoy stunning views of the whole city and all the while you will be in a quieter area. Isn’t that perfect for a family stay?

Well, in case you need more, the atmosphere of Croix-Rousse is particularly laid-back and is ideal for families. There, you will experience a typical French neighborhood lifestyle and a bustling activity.

What’s unique about this area is definitely the slopes: the whole neighborhood is made of steep slopes, filled with shops and restaurants. Plus, it is the historic center of silk, which is what Lyon is famous for in the world.

Here’s my selection of the best accommodations in Croix-Rousse by travel style:

✅ Best Hotel – TRIBE Lyon Croix Rousse: This place is both tastefully decorated and comfortable, and its rooms are well-soundproofed, making it ideal for a holiday with your loved ones.

✨ Luxury Choice – Hôtel Lyon Métropole: With its exceptional indoor swimming pool and spa services, this place is the definition of luxury. It also boasts an exquisite on-site restaurant, with varied and gastronomic cuisine.

💰 Budget Pick – La Bohème – Au coeur de la Croix-Rousse: This place is pretty affordable, especially when traveling as a large group such as a family. The entire apartment is stunning with comfortable amenities. 

Best Neighborhood to Stay in Lyon for Nightlife: Presqu’Île

Just because Lyon is famous in France for its gastronomy and fascinating architecture, doesn’t mean you cannot have a great night out. And, for those of you who are heading to the French city just for that, you should stay on La Presqu’Île, the central neighborhood of Lyon.

Interestingly enough, La Presqu’Île used to be a place where Romans would stock up their goods; it has now become one of Lyon’s most popular neighborhoods. The beautiful buildings you can see there were built during the 19th century, and they are stunning witnesses of the bourgeoisie of Lyon.

But, what’s most interesting to you is the nightlife, and I can tell you that there are tons of restaurants, bars and nightclubs, as well as plenty of magnificently lit-up streets.

Here’s my selection of the best accommodations on Presqu’Île by travel style:

✅ Best Hotel – LOGE DE L’OPERA: This well-designed and cozy apartment is ideally located, and its bed is comfortable. Also, the interior is both bright and clean!

✨ Luxury Choice – InterContinental Lyon – Hotel Dieu, an IHG Hotel:  This hotel is a wonderful blend of ancient architecture and cutting-edge rooms, with a stunning interior design and an excellent restaurant.

💰 Budget Pick – Lyo Hôtel – Centre Lyon Perrache: This budget-friendly accommodation is nicely located and offers a comfy and peaceful atmosphere.

Best Location to Stay in Lyon for Foodies: Confluence

Across all of France, which is already famous throughout the world for its cuisine, Lyon is known for being the capital of food. So, for those of you who are going there to try the best of France’s cuisine and gastronomy, you should stay in Confluence, the best neighborhood when it comes to food.

On top of all of its restaurants and incredible cuisine you must try, Confluence is pretty famous for its architecture, which is… eclectic to say the least. From its colorful squared buildings to the seemingly impossible physics it can have, this place is very intriguing.

Also, because it is on the waterfront, it offers a peaceful and relaxing atmosphere!

Here’s my selection of the best accommodations in Confluence by travel style:

✅ Best Hotel – Aparthotel Adagio Lyon Patio Confluence: This is for sure the best hotel you can find in Confluence. The staff is great, the hotel is nicely designed, well-located, and spotlessly clean.

✨ Luxury Choice – Keystone Boutique Hôtel: Cozy, intimate, romantic, lovely, peaceful, … there are tons of words to describe this hotel, but all you have to remember is how luxurious and incredible it is as a whole.

💰 Budget Pick – ibis budget Lyon Centre Confluence: This hotel has all you need for a record low price. The rooms are immaculately clean, and there is even an on-site restaurant so you don’t have to spend too much outside.

Where to Stay in Lyon for One Night: Part-Dieu

Last but not least on this list is Part-Dieu, the neighborhood of the main train station of Lyon. And you can easily understand why I decided to pick it as the best place to stay for one night: the first time you arrive in the city (if it is by train), you will already be there! That’s all you need for a one-night stay.

Another great reason for you to pick this neighborhood is that it offers plenty of transportation options and that you can thus swiftly reach anywhere you’d please: perfect if you’re in a rush!

Finally, the area is quite famous in Lyon for its large mall, where you can find all you need and discover more about French shops.

Here’s my selection of the best accommodations in Part-Dieu by travel style:

✅ Best Hotel – MHL – Maison Hotel Lyon: Despite being pretty luxurious in its looks, this place is fairly affordable. It is even perfectly located for you to go anywhere you’d like!

✨ Luxury Choice – Pullman Lyon: The on-site restaurant of this hotel is nothing but exceptional, while its staff is kind and caring and its location is perfect, within easy reach of the train station.

💰 Budget Pick – Première Classe Lyon Centre Gare Part Dieu: Equipped with all the basic amenities you could ever need, it is the ideal pick for a cheap stay without having to sacrifice any of your comfort close to the train station. 

What is the best place to stay in Lyon for tourists?

The answer to this question will largely vary depending on your interests. But I would say that the best place to stay in Lyon for tourists is the Vieux Lyon quarter because it is also the best area for sightseeing and for learning more about the medieval history of the city. Also, it is simply stunning and unique!

Where not to stay in Lyon?

Although Lyon is overall a pretty safe city for tourists, you might want to avoid staying in a few areas. These are the Gerland district, the 9th arrondissement (and more specifically the Duchère), and the 8th arrondissement.

I would advise you not to stay in any of these places, especially after dark.

How long should I stay in Lyon?

Sure, Lyon has tons of interesting places to visit, and you could stay there forever if you wanted to learn more about the city.

But my advice is to stay 2 to 3 days in Lyon. While 48 hours are enough for a more intense holiday, 72 hours allow you to relax, enjoy the many green spaces of the city, and take your time. Up to you now!

Final Thoughts

That’s it! These were my 6 favorite areas to stay in Lyon for your next holiday. I hope you loved learning more about them, and most importantly that you’ve decided where you wanted to stay.

Just in case you still haven’t, let me insist: if you decide to pick the Vieux Lyon quarter and its magnificent streets and medieval monuments, you just cannot go wrong!

🔍 Read more: 

• Where to Stay in Paris
• Where to Stay in Bordeaux
• Where to Stay in Marseille
• Where to Stay in Nice
• Where to Stay in Montpellier
• Where to Stay in Provence

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