Where to live in Lyon

The old Lyon is the historic part of the city, with its Renaissance buildings that have been preserved for centuries. It is one of the most charming sectors in Lyon. It is home to many cultural landmarks such as the cathedral, the Temple du Change or the Musée Gadagne. If you want to live in a place rich in history, look no further.

Although the accommodation is expensive, it is a lovely place for a weekend stroll. With its old colourful streets, its numerous bars and restaurants (with the famous and traditional “bouchons”), it is one of the most dynamic districts. Thanks to its central location in the transport network, it is easy to get from the Vieux Lyon to the rest of the city.

If you decide to live in Lyon, the Part-Dieu may also be an interesting choice. With its modern skyscrapers, it couldn’t be more different from the Vieux Lyon. It is also a dynamic area, but in a completely different way.

First of all, it is home to the station of the same name, with its high speed trains (called TGV in France) that connect Lyon to many major cities in France. It is a great place to live for those who travel for leisure, but above all for work.

Indeed, the Part-Dieu is the central business district of Lyon. If you want to be close to economic activities, this is the place to be. But it is far from being just a place to work. On the contrary, it is a lively place, with many shops, restaurants, sports facilities, parks and many projects for the development of new housing over the next few years. It is also home to the city’s largest shopping centre and the Museum of Contemporary Art.

This sector is the peninsula that lies between the Saône and Rhône rivers and is the current centre of the city. It is at the heart of the public transport network. Many buildings date from the 18th and 19th centuries and you will find historic buildings such as the Opéra national de Lyon, the Hôtel-Dieu (one of the largest in the Presqu’Île), the Place Bellecour, etc. In this beautiful setting, you can enjoy the Fine Arts Museum and the vibrant local life. With its many shops, restaurants and bars.

To the south of this sector, you will find the Confluence, a stark contrast to what we have just mentioned. It is known for its contemporary architecture, especially the museum. It is a place designed to work and live. If you are looking for the most modern district in Lyon, this is the place to be.

Just north of the Presqu’Île, the Croix-Rousse is famous for its slopes lined with 19th-century buildings that once housed silk workers. Residents will tell you that living there is a bit like living in a small town. On higher ground, you can enjoy incredible views of Lyon. There are also many small parks (such as the Parc de la Cerisaie) and you are close to the Parc de la Tête d’Or (Golden Head Park), the largest in the city, with its 117 hectares and its lake.

In spring and summer, many events take place in this area, making it particularly lively. This is the place for art lovers. There are many galleries, small theatres (called “café-théâtre”) and street art. And, of course, this sector wouldn’t be complete without its many bars and restaurants.

A little way from the banks of the Rhône is Monplaisir. For most of the 20th century it was an industrial village. It changed in the 80’s, when the subway was introduced and it developed with more apartment buildings. But it has kept its village atmosphere to this day! On the place Ambroise Courtois, multiple times a week, you will find the local market, with its fresh quality products. The Frères Lumière avenue is lined with many small shops and restaurants.

If you love cinema, you will be delighted to know that the Lumière brothers, pioneers of cinema, worked here. Today they are celebrated by the Institut Lumière, in the Lumière brothers’ villa, with its museum. And every year you can enjoy the Lumière Film Festival!

Of course, don’t forget to take a look around Lyon itself. The city is at the heart of a metropolitan area made up of 59 towns and cities of all sizes, from large urban centres with more than 100,000 inhabitants to small rural towns with barely more than a thousand inhabitants. So there’s plenty to choose from, as long as you don’t mind living a little outside the city.

Lyon is surrounded by other cities, the largest of which is Villeurbanne with over 150,000 inhabitants. It is close to Lyon (the city centre is a dozen minutes away by public transport) and accommodation is cheaper. However, Villeurbanne is also very urbanised and if you want to get away from the city, you will have to look elsewhere.

If you go a little further, you will find many charming villages where you can enjoy a quiet life, close to nature, in a calm street. Where can you go? From the Monts d’Or in the north, a hilly sector with many villages (such as Saint-Didier-au-Mont-d’Or), to the more densely populated and easily accessible east (with Meyzieu or Chassieu), not forgetting the west and south, there are many towns to choose from.

As you can see, Lyon and its surroundings offer a wide range of districts to choose from. When you come to the city, you will discover one of the best places to live in France. From its highly dynamic economy to its lively streets, there is something for everyone!