Lyon travel is enchanting no matter what time of the year you choose to embark upon it. In exploring your options for Lyon tourism, you will see that the climate and seasonality are affected by several key factors. First, there are cold fronts that come through the Rhone-Alpes region from the Alps to the east. Second, warm currents are brought to the city from the Mediterranean to the south. As a result, Lyon enjoys a largely temperate climate overall. Precipitation is somewhat unpredictable in Lyon although the winter months are generally the driest. The inland position of Lyon makes for cooler winters than in most other parts of France, while the summers are perfectly temperate with average temperatures ranging from the low to mid 70s. Choosing the best time to go to Lyon France for you will depend a lot upon what you are interested in doing when you are there.

Lyon travel is especially enjoyable in the early part of the spring when the bulk of the tourists have yet to descend upon the city. Although it can tend to be quite wet during these months, the temperatures remain consistently pleasant, and as long as you bring an umbrella and pack appropriately, you will be all good to go. People who choose to enjoy Lyon tourism during this part of the year will be able to see some of the best annual events including Suivez le Jazz (Festival of Jazz) in mid March, or perhaps the Lyon International Fair that takes place at the end of March.

The summer months are considered by many to be the best time to go to Lyon France. This may not necessarily be the case for you if you are averse to large crowds and vying for position among other travelers. Lyon, however, is not nearly as busy as many other tourist destinations like Paris in the summer. You will not feel suffocated as you walk through the many pedestrian paths and explore the enchanting capital of the Rhone-Alpes region. The advantage to traveling at this time is that there are all kinds of outdoor activities and things to do. The weather is beautiful and the city’s festivities are in full bloom. Fourviere Nights and the Lyon Reggae Festival are just two of the events you can enjoy when you visit Lyon in the summer. Or simply spend some time relaxing in one of the attractive public squares of Place Bellecour or Place des Terreaux.

Lyon Map

Lyon travel in the autumn is serene and tranquil, and a wonderful time to experience the lushness of the many green spaces and parks in the city. This is the time of year when you will be pulling your umbrella out the most, but rain is not an issue every day. Even when it does rain, you can duck into one of the bouchons for a hearty local dish and glass of Beaujolais, or enjoy one of the many cafes, pubs, or shopping districts. Lyon tourism provides a little bit of something for everyone, no matter what your areas of interest might be.

There are also people who consider the best time to go to Lyon France the winter. This is generally because of the proximity to the Alps and the many opportunities for outdoor activities in the snow including skiing. It also saves you money on accommodations to travel to a destination like this during the non-peak season travel months.