Huge day exploring Lyon!!

Today was our very first day exploring the gorgeous city of Lyon and what a day it turned out to be! We woke up bright and early, had some breakfast, and hit the road ready to make the most of the day.

Our first stop was the Notre Dame Basilica, perched high on the hill overlooking the city. The walk up was no joke…. countless steps and steep slopes that had us working up a sweat before the day had even really begun. But wow… the view from the top made every step worth it. Looking out over the rooftops of Lyon, the rivers glistening below, and the distant hills, it was breathtaking.

We took a moment to catch our breath and just soak it all in before heading inside the basilica itself. The interior was absolutely stunning intricate mosaics, golden details, and that hushed, sacred atmosphere that makes you instinctively whisper. Afterwards, we wandered around the grounds a bit, still in awe of both the architecture and the view.

From there, we made our way down to the Roman amphitheatre ruins nearby. We’ve seen a few ancient ruins on this trip, but this site was definitely one of the most well preserved. Sitting on the ancient stone steps, bathed in the warm sun, it was easy to imagine what life might have been like centuries ago when the amphitheatre was full of spectators.

Then came the very steep walk back down into the Old Town where we spent some time wandering the cobbled streets, ducking in and out of little shops and admiring the charming buildings.

For lunch I had found a food hall online that looked interesting, so we made our way there, only to discover it was actually a collection of high end restaurants under one roof a bit beyond our budget for a casual lunch! Instead, we grabbed something simple from a nearby supermarket and kept moving.

Our next stop was the Parc de la Tête d’Or and honestly, it blew us away. This massive park has its own free zoo inside, yes, free! We couldn’t believe it when we turned a corner and saw giraffes and zebras just casually hanging out in the middle of the park. We also spotted flamingos, pelicans, and a bunch of other animals. The park itself was gorgeous, with tree lined paths, manicured gardens, and a big peaceful pond that glistened in the afternoon sun. We found a quiet spot, sat down, and just relaxed for a while, soaking in the late day warmth.

As the afternoon wound down, we made our way back through the Old Town, picked up a postcard, and eventually headed towards the city for dinner. We had a bit of time before our reservation, so we popped into a cozy little bar for a drink before walking over to Carmelo our dinner spot for the evening.

Carmelo is an Italian restaurant with an incredibly interesting interior. It’s a converted old cinema and everywhere you look there is something new. Think Granny’s old home with trinkets and keepsakes just scattered everywhere…. It was different but very cool!! I ordered the famous truffle pasta (and it absolutely lived up to the hype!), while Jayde went for the lamb, which was tender and full of flavor. We finished with a caramelised apple and pear crumble which immediately made me think of Dad — crumble is his favourite, and Dad, you would’ve loved this one!

By the time we made it back to our accommodation, showered, and flopped into bed, my watch proudly announced we’d hit 32,000 steps. No wonder we were exhausted! But it was such a full and rewarding day a perfect mix of history, beauty, food, and sunshine.

Tomorrow, we’re off to Spain and we can’t wait to see what adventures await us next! 🇪🇸Read more