10 Best Hotels
Lyon spreads between the Rhône and Saône, with Renaissance streets below Fourvière and former silk-workers’ neighbourhoods climbing Croix-Rousse. Come for the food, from lively bouchons to inventive tasting menus, but leave time for Roman theatres, art collections and riverside walks. Vieux Lyon and the Presqu’île are useful bases for a first visit. A few days lets you explore beyond the centre, including the Lumière museum in Monplaisir and the bold architecture of Confluence.
Villa Maïa
Fourvière, France
Above the old town, Villa Maïa gives you space to retreat after a day on Lyon’s cobbled streets. Jacques Grange’s interiors use restrained colours and carefully made furniture, while Louis Benech’s gardens bring greenery to the hilltop setting. The columned indoor pool recalls the area’s Roman past. Choose between garden and city views when booking; the outlook varies by room. The nearby Roman theatres make an easy first outing.
Quiet hilltop luxury
InterContinental Lyon – Hotel Dieu
Presqu’île, France
The former Hôtel-Dieu hospital gives this riverside hotel an unusually grand setting. Historic courtyards and the lofty Le Dôme bar sit alongside Jean-Philippe Nuel’s contemporary bedrooms, so the building’s scale remains part of the experience. Epona serves Mathieu Charrois’s regional cooking, and central Lyon is close at hand. Room views differ considerably: request a Rhône-facing category if watching the river is a priority, rather than assuming every room overlooks the water.
Grand architecture beside the Rhône
Cour des Loges Lyon, A Radisson Collection Hotel
Vieux Lyon, France
Behind its entrance on rue du Bœuf, Cour des Loges unfolds through a Renaissance complex of courtyards, galleries and stairs. The renovated rooms preserve individual details such as beams, period furniture and artwork. Anthony Bonnet’s Les Loges restaurant makes the courtyard a destination in its own right, while an indoor pool and spa offer a quieter pause. Check the room layout carefully: the character of the old buildings means accommodation varies, including split-level options.
Renaissance atmosphere
Villa Florentine
Fourvière, France
Villa Florentine occupies historic buildings on the slopes above Vieux Lyon, with views that give the city a different scale. Renovated interiors favour warm wood and quiet colours, while some rooms offer terraces or mezzanine layouts. La Table de la Villa Florentine serves Henri Carlier’s seasonal cooking under a glass roof, and Le Comptoir offers another dining option. Confirm the outlook of your chosen room and allow for the uphill return from the old town.
A romantic stay above the old town
Boscolo Lyon Hôtel & Spa
Presqu’île, France
Boscolo brings Italian design to a nineteenth-century building beside the Rhône. Marble, stone and generous furnishings give the public areas a polished feel, while bedrooms range from straightforward superior rooms to larger suites. Angelo serves Italian cooking, and the spa offers a break from sightseeing. The Presqu’île location works well for shopping and walks towards Bellecour. Choose a specific Rhône-view category if the river matters to you; other rooms face different directions.
Italian style in the city centre
Fourvière Hôtel
Fourvière, France
A former convent becomes an inviting base on Fourvière hill, with a chapel reception and a cloister that remains the centre of the building. Bedrooms are contemporary and colourful, with doors celebrating figures from Lyon’s history. Les Téléphones serves meals around the colonnades, and the long heated pool rewards an afternoon spent walking. Entry-level Cellule rooms are compact, so compare categories if you prefer more space. The Roman theatres and basilica are nearby.
A former convent with space to unwind
Le Royal Lyon – MGallery
Place Bellecour, France
Le Royal occupies a domed corner building on Place Bellecour, an excellent starting point for the Presqu’île and walks across to Vieux Lyon. Bedrooms combine strong red or blue fabrics with traditional details, giving the hotel a more domestic feel than a large modern business property. The Côté Bellecour lounge is handy for a drink before dinner. Compare room sizes and views when booking: the smaller classic rooms differ from the more generous rotunda suites.
A classic central address
Hôtel de l’Abbaye
Ainay, France
In the former presbytery beside the basilica of Saint-Martin d’Ainay, Hôtel de l’Abbaye combines an old neighbourhood setting with interiors by Maison Hand. Its 21 rooms use different palettes and vintage pieces rather than a single repeated design. L’Artichaut serves market-led cooking, making dinner close to home an appealing option. Ainay suits visitors who want to walk into the central Presqu’île while returning to smaller streets and a less hurried atmosphere.
A small design hotel in a quieter neighbourhood
Académie Hôtel
Vieux Lyon, France
Académie fits just 12 rooms and suites into a restored fifteenth-century residence on rue Lainerie. Stone arches, courtyard details and old beams give the building its character, while the rooms add contemporary furniture and references to the arts and sciences. This is a good choice for exploring Vieux Lyon on foot and returning between museum visits. Rooms have different shapes and proportions, so look beyond the category name when choosing one for a longer stay.
An intimate old-town base
Hôtel Fort Saint Laurent – Handwritten Collection
Croix-Rousse slopes, France
Fort Saint Laurent turns a sixteenth-century building on the Croix-Rousse slopes into a contemporary hotel with stonework, high ceilings and exposed beams. Its 35 rooms have individual layouts, and the elevated position opens up views across Lyon. In summer, the terrace bar is a particularly pleasant place to stop before heading out. Expect slopes and stairs around this part of the city; it rewards visitors who enjoy exploring a neighbourhood beyond the main shopping streets.
City views and neighbourhood character