Food destinations within easy reach of Lyon. worth the train, the rental car or the early start.

Worth the trip

Beaujolais Wine Villages ★ 4.7

30 to 55 min by car or train north of LyonTrain from Part-Dieu to Romanèche-Thorins (45 min) or drive the D17 route des Crus from Villefranche-sur-Saone

Famous for: Gamay Cru tastings at village domaines: Morgon, Fleurie, Moulin-a-Vent

The Beaujolais Cru villages lie 30 to 55 minutes north of Lyon, where ten AOC Crus produce Gamay wines of genuine depth. Booking recommended.

Beaujolais Wine Villages

Vienne and the Cote Rotie ★ 4.5

20 min by TER south of LyonTER from Lyon Part-Dieu or Lyon-Perrache to Vienne (20 min, frequent daily service)

Famous for: Roman theatre lunch, Cote Rotie syrah tastings on the steep granite hillsides

Vienne is 20 minutes south of Lyon by TER and combines France's finest Roman theatre with Cote Rotie, the steep Rhone Valley appellation where syrah grown.

Vienne and the Cote Rotie

Perouges (Medieval Village) ★ 4.4

37 min by car or 40 min by train then bus east of LyonTrain from Part-Dieu to Meximieux-Perouges then 20 min walk or taxi to the village gate

Famous for: Galette de Perouges (caramelised brioche) and Bleu de Bresse cheese

Perouges is a walled medieval hilltop village 40 minutes east of Lyon where the Galette de Perouges, a flat caramelised brioche sold from a window counter.

Perouges (Medieval Village)

Bourg-en-Bresse (Bresse Chicken AOC) ★ 4.4

55 min by TGV or 1 hr by car northeast of LyonTGV from Part-Dieu to Bourg-en-Bresse (55 min) or A42 autoroute by car

Famous for: Poulet de Bresse AOC with Dombes cream sauce at the source

Bourg-en-Bresse is the capital of the Bresse chicken AOC, 55 minutes from Lyon, where the blue-legged birds with their blue-white-red colouring have held.

Bourg-en-Bresse (Bresse Chicken AOC)

Macon (Southern Burgundy) ★ 4.3

1 hr by TGV or 75 min by car north of LyonTGV from Part-Dieu to Macon-Loche (1 hr) or A6 autoroute by car

Famous for: Macon-Villages Chardonnay and Pouilly-Fuisse tastings; lunch at a Saone quay brasserie

Macon is the southern gateway to Burgundy, 65 km north of Lyon, where the Macon-Villages and Pouilly-Fuisse appellations produce crisp Chardonnay.

Macon (Southern Burgundy)

Annecy (Alpine Lake Bistros) ★ 4.5

2 hours by car or 2h15 by train east of LyonTrain from Part-Dieu to Annecy (2h15) or A41 motorway by car

Famous for: Lac d'Annecy fera (perch), tartiflette, raclette and Savoy white wines

Annecy on the alpine lake east of Lyon runs lakeside bistros pouring Savoy white wines and serving the lake's signature fera (perch) alongside tartiflette.

Annecy (Alpine Lake Bistros)

Ile Barbe (Saone island stop) ★ 4.0

20 minutes by tram/bus north of central LyonBus 31 from Hotel de Ville to Ile Barbe, or 20 minutes by bicycle along the Saone path

Famous for: Jocteur bakery and a riverside walk along the Saone

Ile Barbe in the 9e is the Saone island just north of central Lyon, home to Philippe-Marc Jocteur's flagship bakery and a riverside park; the dining options.

Ile Barbe (Saone island stop)

Saint-Etienne (Forez gastronomy) ★ 4.0

50 minutes by train south of LyonTrain from Part-Dieu to Saint-Etienne Chateaucreux (50 min)

Famous for: Andouille de Saint-Etienne, Forez cheeses, the design biennale food programme

Saint-Etienne, 50 minutes south of Lyon, runs a working bistro scene around the Place du Peuple and the Saturday Marche de Bergson, with Forez cheeses.

Saint-Etienne (Forez gastronomy)
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