Preface: Welcome to one of my Short City Adventures. These are shorter not due to any lack of affection for the featured locations, but because the visits were either brief, offering just a glimpse of the city, or because the cities only have a handful of attractions. Join me and discover whether these cities might interest you.
Many travelers talk about Lyon’s charm, its reputation as France’s gastronomic capital, and its UNESCO-listed old town. But what happens when you visit at 8 AM during a brief layover? Let me share my somewhat unconventional Lyon experience.
An 8 AM Transit Adventure
With a little less than two hours during my transit, I made the questionable decision to sprint into Lyon’s old town rather than enjoying a peaceful tea at the station.
At 8 AM, Lyon was still rubbing sleep from its eyes. Shops were firmly shuttered, restaurants hadn’t even considered starting their day, and the streets were largely empty except for locals hurrying to work. The old town, which I’m sure comes alive later in the day, felt like walking through a movie set before the actors arrive.
The Architecture: Honestly? Meh.
The Architecture: Honestly? Meh.I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I wasn’t particularly impressed by the architecture I encountered during my early morning sprint. Perhaps the UNESCO committee visited at a more flattering hour, or maybe they saw parts I missed, but the buildings I passed seemed… ordinary? Not ugly, just not remarkable enough to justify the mad dash from the station.
The Hill Climb: Questionable Life Choices
For reasons that seemed logical at the time (they weren’t), I decided to climb up a hill to a viewing platform. Nothing says “good use of limited transit time” like unnecessary cardio.
The view from the top? Let’s just say Lyon didn’t suddenly transform into an Alpine panorama. The city sprawled below, looking very much like… well, a city. Not the ugly type, but certainly not the “stop and catch your breath” type either (though I was catching my breath, but that was more due to the hill).
School Days on the Hillside
One genuinely interesting observation: I noticed schools built directly on the hillsides, with students trudging up and down to start their day. At 8 AM, these students were just beginning their school day, which made me chuckle.
In China, my school days started at 7 AM or earlier, so I felt a twinge of envy watching these French students with their “late” start. Though I must admit, my school journey never involved a daily mountain climb, so perhaps it all evens out in the end.
The Verdict
Would I recommend a two-hour speed-run of Lyon at 8 AM? Probably not. The city likely has much more to offer when it’s actually awake. Most of the restaurants that make it a “gastronomic capital” were closed, the famous markets weren’t operating, and the historically significant areas needed more time to explore properly.
If you find yourself with a similar layover, consider these alternatives:
- Enjoy a leisurely French breakfast at the station
- Visit later in the day when the city has had its coffee
- Plan for at least half a day to properly explore
That said, there’s something uniquely satisfying about knowing I technically “visited” Lyon, even if all I really saw was its morning yawn. Sometimes travel is less about the destination and more about the story you get to tell afterward – like how I misjudged the appeal of an early morning hill climb in a city that wasn’t expecting me.
Perhaps I’ll give Lyon another chance someday, preferably after 10 AM and with no pending train connections. Until then, it remains in my memory as “that city where French students have it easy, climbing hills at the luxuriously late hour of 8 AM.”
Lyon: An Early Morning Glimpse of France's Third Largest City
Preface: Welcome to one of my Short City Adventures. These are shorter not due to any lack of affection for the featured locations, but because the visits were either brief, offering just a glimpse of the city, or because the cities only have a handful of attractions. Join me and discover whether these cities might interest you.
Many travelers talk about Lyon’s charm, its reputation as France’s gastronomic capital, and its UNESCO-listed old town. But what happens when you visit at 8 AM during a brief layover? Let me share my somewhat unconventional Lyon experience.
An 8 AM Transit Adventure
With a little less than two hours during my transit, I made the questionable decision to sprint into Lyon’s old town rather than enjoying a peaceful tea at the station.
At 8 AM, Lyon was still rubbing sleep from its eyes. Shops were firmly shuttered, restaurants hadn’t even considered starting their day, and the streets were largely empty except for locals hurrying to work. The old town, which I’m sure comes alive later in the day, felt like walking through a movie set before the actors arrive.
The Architecture: Honestly? Meh.
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I wasn’t particularly impressed by the architecture I encountered during my early morning sprint. Perhaps the UNESCO committee visited at a more flattering hour, or maybe they saw parts I missed, but the buildings I passed seemed… ordinary? Not ugly, just not remarkable enough to justify the mad dash from the station.
The Hill Climb: Questionable Life Choices
For reasons that seemed logical at the time (they weren’t), I decided to climb up a hill to a viewing platform. Nothing says “good use of limited transit time” like unnecessary cardio.
The view from the top? Let’s just say Lyon didn’t suddenly transform into an Alpine panorama. The city sprawled below, looking very much like… well, a city. Not the ugly type, but certainly not the “stop and catch your breath” type either (though I was catching my breath, but that was more due to the hill).
School Days on the Hillside
One genuinely interesting observation: I noticed schools built directly on the hillsides, with students trudging up and down to start their day. At 8 AM, these students were just beginning their school day, which made me chuckle.
In China, my school days started at 7 AM or earlier, so I felt a twinge of envy watching these French students with their “late” start. Though I must admit, my school journey never involved a daily mountain climb, so perhaps it all evens out in the end.
The Verdict
Would I recommend a two-hour speed-run of Lyon at 8 AM? Probably not. The city likely has much more to offer when it’s actually awake. Most of the restaurants that make it a “gastronomic capital” were closed, the famous markets weren’t operating, and the historically significant areas needed more time to explore properly.
If you find yourself with a similar layover, consider these alternatives:
- Enjoy a leisurely French breakfast at the station
- Visit later in the day when the city has had its coffee
- Plan for at least half a day to properly explore
That said, there’s something uniquely satisfying about knowing I technically “visited” Lyon, even if all I really saw was its morning yawn. Sometimes travel is less about the destination and more about the story you get to tell afterward – like how I misjudged the appeal of an early morning hill climb in a city that wasn’t expecting me.
Perhaps I’ll give Lyon another chance someday, preferably after 10 AM and with no pending train connections. Until then, it remains in my memory as “that city where French students have it easy, climbing hills at the luxuriously late hour of 8 AM.”