Cheap Tickets to Lyon

This city started life as strategic river crossing point in the Roman Empire and for the last 500 years has been a French powerhouse of industry and banking as well as being credited as cinema's birthplace. Today it's the country's third-largest city with a wealth of culture, gastronomic delights and history to take in and explore. So rich is its cultural legacy that UNESCO named it as a World Heritage Site. Dip into museums and Roman ruins before taking in a show and dancing the night away in a nightclub. Before you leave, make sure to dine in a typical Lyon Bouchon. Unique to the city, these restaurants serve hearty Lyonnaise cuisine based around meat such as roast pork or local sausages.

Things to do

Soak in the buzzing cosmopolitan vibe of Lyon at the Confluence. This was an industrial and shipping wasteland at the point where the rivers Rhône and Saône meet and has been revitalised into a hip cultural hub. Another must-see neighbourhood is Croix-Rousse or "the hill that works", the 19th-century home and workplace of the city's silk workers.

• A haven of tranquil beauty

The Musée des Beaux-Arts showcases one of the best collections of decorative arts and paintings outside of Paris. Works by Monet, Picasso and Matisse are housed in this charming museum which also boasts a tranquil cloister garden.

• Photo opportunities galore

The Basilique Notre Dame de Fourvière looks down on the city and delivers great photo opportunities from its terrace. Your visit takes in its beautiful mosaics, the tomb-filled crypt and a rooftop tour of the stone-sculpted roof.

• A museum of the brave

Showing a grimmer but fascinating side of life is the Centre d'Histoire de la Résistance et de la Déportation. The city was the World War II headquarters of the Gestapo so inevitably became the "Capital of the Resistance" movement and contains many thought-provoking exhibits.

Calendar of Events

It can seem that every night in Lyon is party night with its eclectic choice of restaurants, bars, street entertainment and nightclubs, but there is also a busy programme of festivals and annual events that range from electronic music and antiques to cuisine and theatre.

• Fête des Lumières. Celebrating the Feast of the Immaculate Conception on 8th December, this light and sound festival is spread over four days. House windows are illuminated with candles while spectacular light and sound shows are projected onto public buildings.

• The Nuits de Fourvière Festival. From June to August, the ancient Roman theatre of Fourvière plays host to open-air concerts, theatre shows and cinema. So tempting is the venue that despite its small size it attracts internationally renowned names.

• The Lyon Biennial. From September into the New Year the city plays host to festivals of dancing and contemporary art which take place on alternate years. The Dancing Biennial held on even years starts with a huge street parade for which thousands of locals dress up to take part.