I’m the first to admit that my attitude needed adjusting by the time I arrived in Lyon. Having left Bordeaux before the crack of dawn (which is early, in July), I believed I had set myself up for a great day in France’s third city.
Unfortunately for me, the TGV I was on had other ideas. A few minutes after I smelled a distinct electrical odor (just past the city of Angoulême, if geography is important to you), a half-hour delay turned into a two-hour one, which then became a cancellation. In the best-case scenario, I’d arrive in Lyon five hours later than the five-hour journey there should’ve taken.
I’ll never know whether my first impression of Lyon would’ve been better under normal circumstances. What I do know for sure, however, is that the sheer variety of day trips from Lyon is almost unmatched in France.
I’ll Be Honest: Lyon Left Me Cold
Now, I always planned to take at least one day trip from Lyon—it’s not like I get there, decided I didn’t love it, and headed for the exists. With this being said, I can’t lie that the circumstances of my arrival probably poisoned my first impression of the city. Indeed, when it was time to heard back to Part-Dieu Station after I woke up on my first morning in the city, I was not sad to leave it behind (even though I absolutely loved my hotel).
What’s funny is how just as Lyon was a city I loved to say goodbye to, it also felt like a comfortable place to return. Some of this, again, was my hotel (Bayard Bellecour, if you’re curious). But some of it, I think, is that when seen in the context of all the amazing destinations around it, Lyon suddenly felt a lot more welcoming (frankly, a lot more like home) than it had when its historic center was all I knew.
The Best Day Trips from Lyon
Annecy
Annecy is the first of these day trips alphabetically, but it was also the first one that came to mind when I was writing this article. And that’s strange, in a way—Annecy, while completely gorgeous, is basically just a Swiss city but in France; given the amount of time I’ve spent in Switzerland over the years, it didn’t seem unique to me, even if it was undoubtedly beautiful.
Chamonix
With this being said, Annecy gets much more impressive when you pair it with another destination, the way bread does when you spread butter on it. Thankfully, it’s on the way from Lyon to the French Alps, and in particular the town of Chamonix. Whether you admire Mont-Blanc from street-level, or ride the town’s series of cable cars up to the viewpoint of Le Brévent, its majesty is difficult to overstate.
Dijon
Dijon is a quick TGV ride (in the direction of Paris) from Lyon, but its convenience isn’t the only reason I recommend going there. Nor is the fact that yes, you can (and should) purchase all manner of mustard there. Rather, it’s a veritable receptacle of history of the Burgundy region, whether you ascend Tour Philippe le Bon for a panorama (and learn its story on a tour), or wander around on your own.
Beaune
With this being said, I probably wouldn’t recommend going from Lyon to Burgundy without doing a wine tasting. The best place to do this is in any of the number of wineries just west of the town of Beaune. Of course, the town itself is nothing to sneeze at, whether you admire the architecture of the Hospices du Beaune, or sit down for authentic bouef bourguignon.
Marseille
Last but not least is an inclusion that might be surprising. Well, in some ways. In others, Marseille makes total sense as a day trip from Lyon—it’s about as far by TGV as Dijon is, in the other direction. With this being said, Marseille is a huge (and underrated) city, and is absolutely worth an overnight stay (or three) if you have room for it in your trip to France. The thing is, many travelers don’t.
What to Do in Lyon-proper
I’ve written a separate Lyon itinerary—it might have been how you got here—but I’ll still break down the best of Lyon sightseeing below:
- Whether or not you stay on Place Bellecour like I did, sleep close enough to the Rhône River that you can walk across it and into Vieux Lyon.
- Specifically, I suggest riding the funicular up to the Notre-Dame-de-Fourvière church. While the view from here isn’t as good as you might hope or expect, it’s still a nice vantage point.
- At some point during your trip, make sure to eat at a traditional local bouchon, and also to order quenelle. You won’t regret it!
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Other FAQ About Day Trips from Lyon
Where can I go from Lyon by train?
Lyon is one of the best-positioned cities in France for day trips. You can head northward to Burgundy—take a TGV to the city of Dijon, and a local train from there southward to the winery-adjacent town of Beaune. Alternatively, head east into the French Alps, specifically to Annecy and Chamonix, ideally in that order.
Is Annecy a day trip from Lyon?
Annecy is an easy day trip from Lyon, whether you go by car or train. With this being said, I do recommend combining it with Chamonix, which is deeper into the French Alps. Annecy is fine on its own—it’s like it Switzerland came to France—but is better in combination with Chamonix.
What cities are close to Lyon?
Lyon sits within day trip distance of several cities. These include Dijon, the most important city of Burgundy, and the cities of Annecy and Chamonix in the French Alps. You can also ride a TGV train around an hour from Lyon to various cities in Provence, namely Aix-en-Provence and Marseille.
The Bottom Line
Even if you end up feeling as agnostic about the city as I did, I hope you spend longer there than logic would suggest you do: Every single one of the day trips from Lyon I’ve described in this article are worth taking. If you’ve got just one day to spare, I’d probably suggest heading to the French Alps—to Annecy, and then to Chamonix. A secondary option would be to shoot northward to Burgundy, both to the city streets of Dijon and to the vineyards of Beaune. If you have a third full day free, you could make an excursion to underrated Marseille, even if I think that city deserves an overnight stay. Need personalized help creating the perfect France itinerary? Consider hiring me as your Travel Coach!
