Everything you need to know about Lyon, France

Why did you choose to go to Lyon, France?

When deciding to study abroad in France, admittedly Lyon wasn't my first choice. I, like many others, was enamoured by the Parisian lifestyle and would have loved to have spent a year living there. However, budget wise, I knew it would be more economical to study somewhere else, so I turned to Lyon. I really liked how you still get the city feel in Lyon but without all the tourists. I felt like I really got to experience French culture.

What is the student lifestyle like?

There is no shortage of places to go out in Lyon. From Vieux-Lyon to Hôtel de Ville, there are tons of bars and clubs to choose from. If you like nature, then the Parc de la Tête D'or is for you. For shopping, you're lucky as Part Dieu, the biggest shopping centre in Europe, is in Lyon! I found it to be a great student city as there is always something do to there.

Would you recommend the city to other students?

Absolutely! There are four main universities in Lyon so it is definitely a student town! There are many great restaurants, shops, museums and bars to keep you occupied plus there are student discounts and happy hours in the bars to take advantage of!

The transport is very good too, with the city being serviced by a metro, trams, trains and buses as well as an airport. The only downside is the cost of living can be quite pricey, so budgeting is key!

Is it difficult to find accommodation in Lyon?

Personally, I found it pretty difficult to find accommodation, as did many of my friends. There is student accommodation called CROUS which is very affordable, however we only found out about it after the deadline to apply for it so start your search early!

I lived in a studio apartment which was quite expensive, however it was very central and I had no problem while I lived there.

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What is the food like?

Lyon is known as the gastronomical capital of the world so I had high expectations when I moved there. Being vegetarian, I found it challenging to find healthy meat-free options sometimes but overall the food was great! Make sure to go to the boulangeries to taste their pastries and the "bouchons" (restaurants) which serve traditional lyonnais food.

If you're there during Christmas, make sure to see the Christmas markets in Perrache which have lots of different varieties of food and traditional Lyonnais cuisine also.

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Is it good to eat out in Lyon? Can you tell us your favourite spots?

There are lots of Italian restaurants which serve great pizza and aperol spritz. Another favourite is Rue Merciere which has all kinds of little restaurants and cafés to try out. Yaafa in Hotel de Ville does great falafels and L'Epicérie is a nice little restaurant in Rue de la Monnaie that serves amazing tartines!

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What places would you recommend visiting in Lyon?

Lyon is very picturesque wherever you go but definitely go to Bellecour, Parc de la Tete d'Or, Vieux Lyon, Hotel de Ville, Fourviere, Cordeliers and Croix-Rousse.

There are many museums to check out also such as, le Musée des Beaux-Arts and le Musée des Confluence. Quais du Rhône is a nice spot to go have a drink with friends when the weather is good.

Early December, the Festival of Lights is a must-see aswell!

Is the nightlife good in Lyon? Where is good to go?

There is always something happening in Lyon. There are many Erasmus parties in places like Loft and Le Petit Salon, other clubs are Maison Mère and Le Sucre which are good too. Vieux Lyon and Hotel de Ville are full of really nice bars too!

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What advice would you give to future students heading to Lyon?

Start looking for your accommodation as soon as you can and build your budget as it can be quite expensive to live there! Enjoy and make sure to visit the surrounding towns like Annecy and Grenoble.