10 Mistakes People Make When Visiting Lyon
What Not to Do in Lyon on Your 1st Visit
The sorts of mistakes people make when visiting Lyon are very rarely serious. They aren’t likely to cause anything more than a little embarrassment and maybe a slight waste of money. Generally, Lyon is a very safe and tourist-friendly city, so challenges are relatively rare.
However, when you visit any new destination, there are always going to be innocent errors you could make just from not knowing better. For that reason, we have picked out the most common ones you should be aware of to help you avoid them. Don’t fret, though; even the worst require nothing more than some common sense and attention to personal security.
10 mistakes people make when visiting Lyon
- Skipping the Lyon City Card
- Visiting the traboules at peak time
- Planning to drive around the city
- Buying fake metro tickets
- Underestimating how hot the summer can be
- Giving money to fake charity workers
- Eating at a scammy restaurant
- Forgetting to book ahead for that extra-special dinner
- Sticking around Rue Ste Catherine until closing time
- Booking accommodations well outside the city center
1. Skipping the Lyon City Card
You’ll be missing out on big savings
Categoría: Económico, Parejas, Familias
Skipping the Lyon City Card might be costly, as it’s a handy way to make your visit easy and affordable. It gives you free access to 23 museums as well as unlimited access to public transportation, including the metro, streetcars, buses, and funicular railroads.
You can get passes covering between one and four days. While they naturally become more expensive for longer stays, they also become a lot more cost-effective as it gives you more time to make use of the savings they offer. They are valid for 18 months, so you can even delay your trip without wasting your money. Buy the card online and arrange to pick it up in Lyon or get it delivered to you.
Skipping the Lyon City Card
2. Visiting the traboules at peak time
They’re very small and very popular
Categoría: Historia, Foto, Exótico
Visiting the network of hidden passageways, known as the traboules, at peak times can be challenging. Though thought of as “secret” passageways, they are actually very popular with tourists. Originally constructed to allow people to quickly access the city’s main water sources from their homes, these passageways were later used by merchants to safely move valuable goods like silks. They’re even credited with helping the French Resistance move around in secret during WWII.
The large numbers of people using the compact spaces have led to a lot of annoyance for residents. It’s best to explore these unique thoroughfares in the afternoon, when the organized tours have finished. And, of course, try to keep quiet and respectful.
Visiting the traboules at peak time
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3. Planning to drive around the city
It’s not a car-friendly sort of place
Categoría: Parejas, Familias
The traffic in Lyon is so bad that most guides for people planning to drive around France will strongly recommend avoiding the city at all costs. As one of the country’s oldest and largest cities, it mostly consists of narrow, winding streets that are ill-suited to large volumes of cars.
Fortunately, there is really no reason to even consider renting a car in Lyon. Most of the main attractions are clustered around the pedestrian-friendly city center, while the public transportation network is extensive and effective. There’s even a very good bike-share system. Rather than spending time and money on getting a car, find a good map of the metro system and learn which stops are near what attractions.
Planning to drive around the city
4. Buying fake metro tickets
The vending machines have plenty of language options
Categoría: De aventura, Parejas, Familias
Navigating public transportation can be confusing, especially when it comes to the ticketing system, so stay vigilant about fake metro tickets. You might encounter some friendly folks willing to help speed up the process by selling you a ticket directly. Unfortunately, these folks are scammers.
Especially common in the Part-Dieu station as it is the nearest to the main train station, ticket touts commonly approach lost-looking tourists and attempt to sell them fake or expired tickets. If anyone does so, ignore them. The metro staff are perfectly friendly and helpful. Even the vending machines aren’t that difficult to figure out; just make sure to browse the many language options available.
Buying fake metro tickets
5. Underestimating how hot the summer can be
And failing to pack accordingly
Categoría: Parejas, Familias
When you think of Lyon, you probably don’t imagine a climate equivalent to the tropics, and it’s easy to underestimate just how hot the summer can be. Temperatures between June and August get fractionally higher here than in Nice. In fact, they’re about the same as the temperatures on the Moroccan coast.
With high temperatures come the same sorts of hazards you’d need to be aware of in tropical climates. Make sure to pack or buy sunscreen, keep hydrated, and even be prepared for mosquitos in the evenings.
Underestimating how hot the summer can be
6. Giving money to fake charity workers
Or allowing them to distract you
Categoría: Familias, Gastronomía en
Giving money to fake charity workers is an easy trap to fall into. While charity workers are common in popular tourist destinations across Europe, including major cities in France, not all are genuine. In Lyon, charity scammers are particularly common around Rue de la République, Part-Dieu station, and Gare du Lyon.
A real charity worker will never ask for money on the street; instead, they may request your email address to send a newsletter. Note that there is a chance that the fake charity scammer could be a distraction for a pickpocket, so keep an eye on your valuables if you stop to have a chat in any popular tourist spot.
Giving money to fake charity workers
7. Eating at a scammy restaurant
Or not paying close attention to what you’re paying for
Categoría: Parejas, Familias, Gastronomía en
Known as France’s food capital, Lyon unfortunately also has some scammy restaurant experiences to watch out for. Though the overwhelming majority of restaurants serve up first-class cuisine at suitable prices, there are a few places that trade on that reputation and try to scam their customers.
Fortunately, their techniques are relatively easy to spot: you may receive a large serving if you don’t specify size, find more items on your bill than ordered, encounter tourist-only menus with inflated prices, or notice key dish details hidden in French small print. To avoid overspending, either stick to top-rated restaurants or carefully scrutinize your menu and bill.
Eating at a scammy restaurant
8. Forgetting to book ahead for that extra-special dinner
You might miss out on a spectacular meal
Categoría: Parejas, Familias, Gastronomía en
Since Lyon has a great reputation for first-class food, it naturally attracts gastronomes by the planeload, so don’t forget to book ahead for that extra-special dinner. Even with as vast an array of restaurants as the city hosts, there’s an extremely good chance that the best among them will be fully booked well before the opening time on most evenings, potentially even days before.
If you want to dine on a weekend, it’s best to book at least a couple of days in advance. Weekdays tend to be less busy, but always make a reservation in advance to be safe rather than hungry.
Forgetting to book ahead for that extra-special dinner
9. Sticking around Rue Ste Catherine until closing time
Or any nightlife hub, honestly
Categoría: Parejas, Vida nocturna
Sticking around Lyon’s nightlife hub, Rue Ste Catherine, until closing time may carry certain risks, similar to any nightlife area around the world where alcohol is easily accessible.
The local police tend to have a beefed-up presence in such neighborhoods, especially around 3 am, when the bars close. However, they can ’t be everywhere at once, so a certain amount of risk is inevitable. It’s best to be aware of those risks and take what measures you deem fit to reduce them.
Sticking around Rue Ste Catherine until closing time
10. Booking accommodations well outside the city center
It’s a false economy
Categoría: Parejas, Familias
Booking accommodations well outside the city center might initially seem like a smart way to save on your vacation budget. However, this is really not worth your time and money. Not only will you spend a considerable amount of time and money getting back into the city center each day, but the outlying arrondissements are not as well policed as the inner ones. Exploring these neighborhoods can sometimes be riskier, especially in the evenings.
If you’re looking for an area that provides a bit of economy without sacrificing convenience and safety, consider Part-Dieu, on the eastern bank of the Rhône. Or, check out our neighborhood guide for more options on where to stay in Lyon.
Booking accommodations well outside the city center
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