Éco-Hôtels à Lyon, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Séjours durables in France's gastronomic capital — best price guaranteed, 1 tonne de CO₂ éliminée par réservation.
Pourquoi Séjourner à Lyon
Lyon is France's third-largest city and its undisputed gastronomic capital — a place where Roman history, Renaissance architecture, and cutting-edge cuisine converge on the banks of two majestic rivers. Nestled at the confluence of the Rhône and the Saône, Lyon has been a crossroads of European trade, culture, and ideas for over two millennia, and today it offers the eco-conscious traveller one of France's most rewarding urban experiences.
The city's UNESCO World Heritage-listed Vieux Lyon (Old Town) is one of the largest and best-preserved Renaissance quarters in Europe. Its narrow cobbled streets, pastel-coloured façades, and secret traboules — hidden covered passageways once used by silk merchants to transport their precious wares — give the district an almost cinematic quality. Over 300 traboules still weave through the buildings of Vieux Lyon and the Croix-Rousse hill, offering fascinating self-guided walks that reveal a city within a city.
Lyon's silk-weaving heritage, centred on the Croix-Rousse hill, shaped the city's character for centuries. The canuts (silk workers) built a proud, independent culture here, and their giant looms once filled the tall-ceilinged apartments you can still visit today. The Maison des Canuts museum and the Mur des Canuts mural keep this remarkable industrial and artistic legacy alive.
Above the old town, the Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière rises like a marble fortress. Built in the late 19th century, this hilltop basilica offers sweeping panoramic views of Lyon and, on clear days, the distant Alps — including Mont Blanc. The adjacent Roman amphitheatre, the Théâtre Gallo-Romain, dates from 15 BC and still hosts summer concerts during the Nuits de Fourvière festival, giving visitors the unforgettable experience of live performance in a 2,000-year-old venue.
Food is quite simply Lyon's religion. The legacy of legendary chef Paul Bocuse — who held three Michelin stars for over 50 years — runs through every bouchon, brasserie, and market stall in the city. Traditional Lyonnais cuisine is hearty and honest: salads piled high with lardons, poached eggs and croutons; quenelles (delicate fish or meat dumplings) in rich Nantua sauce; andouillette sausages; and the celebrated tarte aux pralines roses — a vivid pink confection made with local pink praline almonds. The covered market, Les Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse, is a temple of French gastronomy where 57 artisan producers showcase the region's finest.
Lyon is also a leader in sustainable urbanism. The Confluence neighbourhood, where the two rivers meet, has been transformed from an industrial wasteland into one of Europe's most ambitious eco-districts — a living laboratory of green architecture, solar-powered buildings, and car-free streets. The city's Vélo'v bike-share scheme, extensive tram network, and pedestrianised city centre make low-impact exploration natural and joyful. The Parc de la Tête d'Or, France's largest urban park, offers 117 hectares of gardens, lakes, and even a free zoo within the city limits.
Each December, Lyon becomes a city of light for the Fête des Lumières, a four-night festival where artists from around the world transform the city's buildings and public spaces into breathtaking illuminated installations. The tradition dates to 1852, when the people of Lyon placed candles in their windows to honour the Virgin Mary — today it draws millions of visitors and stands as one of Europe's most magical winter events.
Que Faire à Lyon
1. Basilique Notre-Dame de Fourvière
Iconic hilltop basilica with Romanesque-Byzantine architecture and spectacular city-to-Alps panoramas. The interior mosaics and crypt are breathtaking.
2. Vieux Lyon & Traboules
Wander Renaissance streets and duck through 300+ hidden passageways used by 16th-century silk merchants. The longest is the Traboule de la Cour des Voraces.
3. Parc de la Tête d'Or
France's largest urban park — 117 hectares with botanical gardens, rose garden, boating lake, and a free zoo home to 400 animals.
4. Musée des Confluences
Striking deconstructivist science and anthropology museum at the river confluence. Explores the origins of life, civilisations, and our shared future.
5. Théâtre Gallo-Romain
Roman amphitheatre from 15 BC, still hosting concerts. The adjacent Odeon and Lugdunum Museum complete this extraordinary archaeological site.
6. Place Bellecour
One of Europe's largest pedestrian squares, anchored by a statue of Louis XIV. The red-earth expanse connects Presqu'île shopping streets.
7. Les Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse
The city's legendary covered food market. Sample Saint-Marcellin cheese, rosette de Lyon sausage, and pralines roses from 57 artisan stalls.
8. Musée des Beaux-Arts
Housed in a former 17th-century Benedictine abbey, France's second-largest fine arts collection after the Louvre. Superb antiquities and Impressionists.
9. Croix-Rousse
The silk-workers' hill, with its distinctive tall-windowed workshops, vibrant daily market, and bohemian village atmosphere overlooking the city.
Où Séjourner
Presqu'île
The city's elegant central peninsula between the Rhône and Saône — grand 19th-century boulevards, luxury shopping, and the best concentration of hotels.
Vieux Lyon
Medieval and Renaissance charm in the old town. Narrow streets, traditional bouchons, and immediate access to the traboules. Atmospheric and walkable.
Part-Dieu
Lyon's modern business district, centred on the TGV station. Accueil to major conference hotels and excellent public transport links to all parts of the city.
Confluence
Lyon's sustainable-development showcase. Contemporary eco-hotels in a car-minimal quarter at the river junction, adjacent to the Musée des Confluences.
Featured Éco-Hôtels à Lyon
Best Randonnées in Lyon
Vieux Lyon Traboules Walk
Start at Rue Saint-Jean and wind through 300+ hidden Renaissance passageways. Follow the brass plaques marking public traboules. The Cour des Voraces on the Croix-Rousse is the most famous. ~2 hours, flat.
Fourvière Hill to Presqu'île
Climb the Jardin du Rosaire gardens to the basilica, then descend through the Roman amphitheatre and cross the Saône into the Presqu'île. Unbeatable panoramic views across Lyon. ~3 hours, moderate ascent.
Rhône Riverside Walk
Follow the Berges du Rhône from Parc de la Tête d'Or south to the Confluence. 5km of landscaped paths, pop-up bars in summer, and the city's best sunset views reflected on the water. Flat, easy, 1–2 hours.
Nearby Cities
Questions Fréquentes
Why book hôtels écologiques in Lyon through IMPT?
IMPT guarantees the best price on eco-certified hotels in Lyon — with access to 8M+ hotels worldwide at the same price as Booking.com. Each booking removes 1 tonne of CO₂ and earns you 5% cashback in IMPT tokens — plus a 5 € de crédit gratuit on your first booking. Your impact is tracked transparently in your IMPT wallet, helping you build your personal carbon-offset portfolio while you travel.
Which neighbourhoods in Lyon are best for eco-conscious travellers?
Vieux Lyon and the Presqu'île offer walkable historic centres with excellent public transport links — the metro, tram, and Vélo'v bike-share all operate here. The Confluence district is Lyon's showcase for sustainable urban redevelopment, featuring eco-designed buildings, car-free zones, and the innovative Musée des Confluences. The Croix-Rousse hill offers a village-like atmosphere connected by a funicular railway.
How does IMPT offset my hotel stay in Lyon?
IMPT partners with verified carbon-removal projects worldwide, carefully vetted for additionality and permanence. Each booking funds the removal of 1 tonne of CO₂ — roughly equivalent to 3 months of the average European's carbon footprint or a return flight from London to Lyon. Removal certificates are issued to your IMPT digital wallet, providing full transparency on your impact.
What is the average price of an eco hotel in Lyon?
Eco-conscious hotels in Lyon range from approximately €85 per night for sustainable three-star options like the MOB Hôtel in Confluence, to €125–210 for mid-range elegance, and €260+ for luxury eco-certified five-star establishments such as Villa Florentine and Boscolo Lyon. IMPT guarantees you the best available rate on every booking.
When is the best time to visit Lyon for sustainable travel?
Spring (April to June) and autumn (September to October) offer mild temperatures ideal for exploring Lyon on foot or by bike. The city's Vélo'v bike-share scheme operates year-round, and Lyon's extensive tram network makes low-carbon transit effortless. December brings the magical Fête des Lumières — book well in advance if visiting during this extraordinary festival of light and community.
