Say bonjour to... LYON BONJOUR FRANCE: EMBARK ON A CULINARY ADVENTURE WITH A TRIP TO LYON
The third-largest city in France, Lyon is the perfect summer destination, whether you’re craving culture and outdoor adventure or great cuisine and a vibrant nightlife. As part of the Auvergnerhône-alpes region, it’s ideal for a city break or as a jumping off point to explore the French Alps – or even nip over the border for a day-trip to Switzerland.
At around eight hours drive from the ferry port at Cherbourg, you may
want to break up the journey with a visit to Paris, or perhaps a night or two in the Loire Valley if you’re taking the scenic route.
Once in Lyon, the first thing to do is get your hands on a Lyon City Card. An initiative from the Lyon Tourist Office, this invaluable card gives you free or discounted access to many of the city’s top museums and attractions, unlimited use of public transport and discounts in shops around the city.
If you’re interested in history, Lyon has plenty to offer, with an intriguing past stretching back to Ancient Rome, when it was the capital of the Gauls. To this day, Lyon is the seat of an archbishopric whose holder bears the title of Primate of the Gauls.
If you want to get up close and personal with the past, there are Roman ruins on the hillside near the Fourvière Basilica, where you can explore the Odeon of Lyon, the Ancient Theatre of Fourvière and then visit the nearby Gallo-roman museum, Lugdunum.
As Lyon is situated at the confluence of the rivers Rhône and Saône, there are plenty of boat tours available, providing a different perspective on the city, whether you take a short trip on the Vaporetto or a longer cruise
around Lyon’s historic districts.
Lyon is known as the Gastronomic Capital of the World, with at least 20 Michelin-starred restaurants in the city, and it’s also one of the cheapest places to enjoy a Michelin-starred dinner in Europe. Even if you’re not in the market for haute cuisine, you’ll definitely want to explore some of Les Bouchons Lyonnais – cozy bistros offering authentic local specialities like cevelle de canut cheese, la quenelle dumplings and Andouillette sausage.
While you’re visiting Lyon, it would be a shame not to explore the surrounding areas. A great way to spend a day is a guided bus tour around the Rhône’s wine-making regions, including Beaujolais, Burgundy and the Rhône Valley (definitely leave the car behind for this one). Or if you fancy something a bit more active, you could try packing everyone up and heading for a day or two at Lake Annecy, near the Swiss border, where you can sunbathe, swim or even paraglide against the backdrop of the French Alps. No matter how you choose to spend your break, getting there is easy with Stena Line. You can pack everything you need into your car and take it all with you – pack in your family, pack in your friends, pack in your pets or pack in enough luggage for an adventure in France this summer!
Stena Line offers a fantastic on board experience, with bars, restaurants, kids play zones, cabins, Pure Nordic Spa treatments and pet friendly travel – your holiday begins the moment you step on board!
With six weekly sailings from Rosslare to Cherbourg, Stena Line has the most sailings to France from Ireland. Enabling you to roll off the ferry, in your car, in Northern France and travel on to wherever you want to go.
Kids go FREE when you book with Stena Line before 30th September 2024!