Summary
Just 2 hours away from Paris and Marseille, Lyon is one of the most popular French cities. Its real estate market is booming, and you might be considering moving there as well.
Be aware that there are a million things to consider, including the area. Whether it’s the environment, urban or tree-lined, proximity to public transport or roads, you need to ensure that the neighborhood where you want to settle checks most of the boxes. Do you want to live near the city center? Or would it be easier for you if your apartment is near a metro station? In both cases, we recommend the Terreaux.
This neighborhood, nestled in the heart of the city, is also the most lively. Do you prefer to live in a quieter neighborhood with a view of the river? La Croix Rousse is a haven of peace in the heart of Lyon, but the real estate market means that housing offers are low and at high prices. What is often forgotten is the time and effort needed to find an apartment that suits your needs and budget.
Once you have decided where you want to live, you can still choose from a few apartment rental offers in Lyon and its surroundings, as each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages.
The best neighborhoods to live in Lyon
France’s third-largest city has 9 districts, and more than 20 neighborhoods. It’s difficult to choose the one that will meet your criteria, especially if you are not yet familiar with the area. To make your life and your search easier, here are our 5 favorite neighborhoods:
La Presqu'île de Lyon - The lung of Lyon
Located in the 1st and 2nd districts, the Peninsula is a very lively neighborhood that mainly attracts students looking for modernity. The neighborhood is situated on either side of the Rhône River.
Combining calm during the week with a very lively atmosphere on the weekend, it is undoubtedly one of the most emblematic districts of the city of light. It is classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its historical Roman character. The Peninsula neighborhood is home to Rue de La République, also known as “the most beautiful street in Lyon.” This is the heart of the neighborhood. It is full of cafes, restaurants, and all kinds of shops, perfect for facilitating your daily life.
The Peninsula is also considered a shopping paradise. If you are still lacking in nature, it has numerous green spaces. You can also take a stroll along the quays that surround the neighborhood. Perfect for relaxing in the sun or having a drink with friends on a warm summer day.
Fourvière - A haven of country life
Located on the hill of the same name in the 5th district, the Fourvière neighborhood exudes calm and serenity. This neighborhood is steeped in culture, the hill was founded by the Romans. The true green lung of Lyon, the Fourvière neighborhood offers the possibility of very pleasant walks in magnificent parks and gardens. The Parc des Hauteurs is renowned for its urban approach, made up of pedestrian streets.
It also has two beautiful spaces: the peony garden, where dozens of flowers have been planted on a terrace of 1,300 m²; and the rose garden, which houses several varieties of roses and hydrangeas. Gardeners will love it!
With its unique quality of life, it is undoubtedly the oldest in Lyon. Numerous cultural places such as museums, theaters, and cultural sites are available to you, enough to please the most curious. Very well served by public transport, you will find the D metro line, multiple bus lines, and free-service bikes if you feel like it.
Garibaldi - A mix of modernity and tradition
Very close to the city center, the Garibaldi district is ideally located for students and young workers looking for affordable housing.
Transport is very accessible, giving you quick access to higher education institutions such as Lyon 3 University, your workplace, or your various points of interest and activity. Shops are also close to the neighborhood, you can enjoy a multitude of shops that will meet your expectations. If you want to go to the Part-Dieu shopping center, only a 10-minute walk is necessary.
Restaurants are not lacking either. You will have at your feet a significant gastronomic palette, leaving you spoiled for choice! The Garibaldi district is not ugly either, you can admire a mix of architectural styles ranging from modern to more traditional and typical styles. The neighborhood also has many green spaces such as the Jacob Kaplan Park, the Pierre Pelloux Square, and the Bir-Hakeim place.
Old Lyon - A journey through the history of the city
Living in the Old Lyon neighborhood, the city’s historic district, is pleasant, even though it’s one of the most expensive in Lyon. Located in the 5th district and classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999,
Old Lyon is known for its colorful alleyways and the unmistakable Place Bellecour. This architectural aspect ties in with the ubiquitous culture in the neighborhood. The historical buildings make it a true open-air masterpiece of French heritage. The majority of the buildings have retained their original appearance, between neo-Gothic and Florentine styles, giving authenticity to the neighborhood. Ideal for students looking for a rental in the heart of Lyon, you can also enjoy its offer of restaurants which abound in the neighborhood and the famous Lyonnais “Bouchons.”
The neighborhood also has a significant number of bars and restaurants and is constantly lively due to the influx of tourists. Beware of scams, though. One of the major assets of the district is its accessibility to the city center. Possible on foot or by bike, you can stroll along the banks of the Saône for a most pleasant relaxation. If you’re looking for a faster solution, Old Lyon is served by buses, metros, and trams. They all pass through this essential place, which will facilitate your daily journeys.
The slopes of the Croix-Rousse - The most sought-after neighborhood
An emblematic district of Lyon’s weavers located straddling the 1st and 4th districts, the district of the slopes of Croix-Rousse has a very diversified attractiveness. Composed of the slopes and the Plateau of Croix-Rousse, you can admire fabulous gardens with a splendid view overlooking the other districts of Lyon.
The slopes of Croix-Rousse attract many students looking for affordable shared housing and in a popular environment. The neighborhood is fortunate to have large living spaces, thus providing the possibility of a rental with volumes that will delight many.
Very famous for its village atmosphere, its squares filled with small traders and its weekly markets, you will feel at home. The slopes of Croix-Rousse is also a district where you will have the chance to discover several spots to relax or do activities like diving back into the city’s textile past with the “canuts.” The district gives access to various types of shops, including independent designer boutiques that are worth a visit.
It is a very pleasant district to live in, as long as you are not phobic about stairs.
Villeurbanne - Being in Lyon without really being there
We couldn’t finish presenting our favorite districts without mentioning Villeurbanne. Unlike the districts you’ve just discovered, Villeurbanne is a city adjoining Lyon by the Parc de la Tête d’Or. Do you like sports and particularly basketball?
Then come and settle in one of our coliving rooms! They are located in the Cusset – Bonnevay district, right next to the Astroballe, the legendary hall that hosts the renowned ASVEL team. Not bad, right?
If you are a student, you may have enrolled to follow a curriculum at the University Lyon 1 or at the Insa. Guess what, the La Doua campus, which houses these buildings, is here!
Villeurbanne is a cosmopolitan city. And it’s also a cultural city. If you like to see plays and shows, head to Le Transbordeur. Do you prefer to attend artistic exhibitions?!
Go to the city’s Institute of Contemporary Art where a crowd of exhibitions await you. You’ll see, it’s a real pleasure to be able to enjoy a varied cultural offer without having to go to Lyon.
Our available rooms in the Lyon area for coliving
Villeurbanne - Émile Zola
Room 1- 13m²room
- 91m²flat
- 5rooms
- double bed
- balcony
- wifi
Villeurbanne - Le Richard
Room 4- 11m²room
- 64m²flat
- 4rooms
- double bed
- wifi
Villeurbanne - Émile Zola
Room 2- 12m²room
- 91m²flat
- 5rooms
- double bed
- wifi
Villeurbanne - Charles Baudelaire
Room 2- 10m²room
- 148m²flat
- 5rooms
- double bed
- balcony
- wifi
Villeurbanne - George Sand
Room 2- 10m²room
- 131m²flat
- 5rooms
- double bed
- wifi
Venissieux - Le Pressensé
Room 1- 12m²room
- 83m²flat
- 4rooms
- double bed
- private bathroom
- balcony
- wifi
Why is Lyon a great place to live?
Lyon is a city where it’s pleasant to live and work. Cosmopolitan, it has numerous attractions, such as its history and culture, while being close to other countries like Belgium, Germany, or Switzerland.
Lyon is located in the eastern part of France, and it’s the third-largest city in France. Also known as “the capital of the Rhône-Alpes region,” Lyon is considered one of the most important gastronomic capitals of Europe.
From ‘Cervelle de Canut’, Lyonnaise sausage, to praline tart, there is a multitude of dishes that have made the city famous. And many culinary specialties to discover if you have an adventurous soul. The city is a human-sized metropolis, leafy, and full of charm if you love the old. It perfectly handles the mix of styles, with the Confluence district that houses a huge shopping center (also an architectural masterpiece).
The inhabitants of Lyon benefit from easy access to buses and trams that serve all points of the city, as well as trains that run along the main highways or directly into Lyon itself (Perrache station). As for activities, the Alpine ski resorts are nearby.
You can spend your weekends in a quiet place, skiing over 400 km of slopes, snowboarding, hiking, or even cycling, ending with an excellent raclette or fondue! What more could you ask for?
Discover our coliving offers in Lyon and its surroundings right here!
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Your questions about Lyon neighborhoods
The Vieux-Lyon is the best neighborhood if you like typical Lyon architecture. You will also discover all the best restaurants to taste the essence of regional gastronomy.
If you want to stay close to Lyon, we recommend that you settle in Villeurbanne or Vénissieux. These two cities, dynamic for one and more peaceful for the other, will be perfect for your new life.
We recommend without hesitation the 6th arrondissement of Lyon. Calm and chic at the same time, you can walk and go for a jog in the Parc de la Tête d’Or.
