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If you’re planning to run the Beaujolais International Half or Full Marathon, this is the place for you. I’ve created this guide to help runners have the most fulfilling vacation experience, while also seeing the amazing sights of the Lyon region.
I’ve broken this guide into two sections. One for Villefranche-sur-Saône, the city the race is in, and one for Lyon, the city I would recommend spending most of your trip in.
Where to Stay in Villefranche-sur-Saône
Due to the small size of the city, there are only two hotels that I would recommend staying at, and they both fill up quickly with runners. Make sure to book your reservation far in advance. If you can’t get a hotel in Villefranche-sur-Saône, it’s very doable to base yourself in Lyon for the entire trip and take the train to and from the race.
Hôtel Mercure Villefranche-en-Beaujolais
This simple hotel has a great location between the starting line and the train. I stayed here when I raced in 2023, and while it was great, it does have one of the weirdest bathroom setups I have ever found in my travels.
Best Western Plus Hotel Plaisance
This classic chain offers clean rooms and easy access to both the course and the train. There is parking available for an additional fee if you plan to rent a car to better explore the region.
Where to Eat in Villefranche-sur-Saône
Brasserie du Théâtre
$$ | 4.2/5 | This simple french bistro offers a wide variety of local dishes and wines. It’s a perfect spot to start testing the Beaujolais Nouveau before you race.
Restaurant Le Tipaza Villefranche sur saône 69 Rhône
$$ | 4.6/5 | One of the highest rated restaurants in Villefranche-sur-Saône, this Northern African spot offers a wide variety of healthy and delicious options.
Pasta Bianca
$$ | 4.6/5 | I found this Italian spot by accident the night before my race when I decided that even for a wine marathon, I should carbo load. My pasta was delicious.
Restaurant Chez Claudette
$$ | 4.4/5 | This restaurant offers a small menu with a mix of traditional options and daily specials. I wasn’t able to eat here when I traveled for the race, but it always was full and had delicious looking meals on the table.
What to Do in Villefranche-sur-Saône
Winery Tours
If you are planning a few days in Villefranche-sur-Saône you can book yourself for a winery tour at one of the local vineyards.
Explore the Downtown
While Villefranche-sur-Saône is quite small, it still has an adorable main street that offers cute shops, delicious bakeries, and a nice church.
Join the Beaujolais Nouveau Festivities
If you are renting a car, I recommend leaving Villefranche-sur-Saône and traveling to Beaujeu, the original home of the Beaujolais Wine. This town will have a festival from November 20th to 24th celebrating the launch of the new wine.
Where to Stay in Lyon
Hôtel Taggât
If you are looking for a simple option in Lyon this is a great choice. It’s right between the trains to Villefranche and the main sections of the city which makes it perfect for this race weekend. They also offer smaller rooms for solo travelers, so you can save money while keeping your privacy.
Radisson Blu Hotel, Lyon
This hotel is perfect if you don’t plan on spending any nights in Villefranche. The hotel is right next to the train station so you can easily get to and from the city.
Hôtel des Artistes
If you are interested in a lower price option, close to the tourist sights, and still clean, this is your option. It is further from the train station to Villefranche, but there is public transportation that will get you there in 20 minutes. This hotel also offers cheaper rooms for people traveling alone, and for people who are okay in a room with no windows to the street.
Boscolo Lyon Hotel & Spa
If you are interested in a luxury hotel experience around your race, this is a perfect choice. With views of the Rhône River and a central location, it’s perfect if you want to pamper yourself.
Where to Eat in Lyon
Le F2
$$ | 4.4/5 | A classic french bistro that is noted for its excellent cocktails. This is a perfect stop for a post-race celebration. The location is also conveniently located in the center of Lyon.
Restaurant Le Parloir
$$ | 4.5/5 | A classic bistro with a small but excellent menu. Located near the Pont Lafayette, this restaurant also offers outdoor seating on their terrace.
Café du Rhône
$$ | 4.5/5 | French food in an old world atmosphere. The location is right on the river which is perfect for people looking to stay near the main sights but avoid a tourist trap.
Terra d’italia
$$ | 4.6/5 | The perfect spot to start your carbo loading, this Italian restaurant is right in the center of Lyon.
L’Entrecôte
$$ | 4.1/5 | This famous French restaurant offers exactly one dish – steak frites. The steak is delicious and the frites are unlimited. While there are more locations across France, I was able to get in here on a Sunday night without waiting in line which makes it a great option if you want to experience this famous spot.
What to Do in Lyon
Basilica of Notre Dame of Fourvière
At the top of the hill overlooking the city, you will find the Basilica. This large church is on the newer side for churches in Europe, but still pulls out all the stops for design.
Roman Theater
Down the street from the Basilica is the Roman Theater. These ruins are free to explore the outdoor portion. They also have a museum that you can pay to enter if you are interested in learning more about the Romans in this region.
I recommend visiting both of these on the same day and taking one of the inclined metros up the hill. There are several options departing from Vieux Lyon station.
Cathédrale Saint-Jean-Baptiste
If you are looking for something free to do, take a moment to explore the Cathedral located in the old city. This cathedral has a famous astronomical clock, and also offers a nice place to take a seat and look at gorgeous architecture and stained glass.
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Visit the Confluence
This one may only be for my fellow nerds, but have you ever wanted to see what it looks like when two rivers meet? I know I have. Which is why I walked all the way to the end of the peninsula in Lyon to watch the meeting of the rivers Rhône and Saône. There is also a popular museum and free bathrooms available at the confluence.
Find All the Murals and Mosaics
If you are interested in public art, I recommend viewing the many murals around Lyon. The city has so many great ones and you can make a nice morning stroll around seeing all of them. Some of the most famous include the Fresque des Lyonnais and La bibliothèque de la Cité (pictured on the cover of this guide). Lyon is also home to the street artist Ememem who creates small mosaic designs on the pavement across the city. There is no official map of all the pieces they have created, but Ememem’s mosaics offer a splash of color wherever they are found.
Musée Cinéma et Miniature
This museum is a great stop for people who are interested in movies, with lots of unique pieces of memorabilia from famous films. Lyon is considered the birthplace of Cinema, since this is where the Lumiere brothers were living when they invented the movie camera and film projector, filmed the first movie, and released the first cinema piece for public viewing.
Parc de la Tête d’Or
This massive park has so many unique sections. I spent an entire morning here just wandering around. First there is a lovely pond and trails to walk on. There is also a greenhouse that is filled with beautiful plants. You will also see an area separated from visitors where a bunch of wild deer live. If you keep walking you will stumble upon a group of giraffes. This park is home to a free zoo. Now, I had no clue about this and was shocked to find giraffes on my morning stroll, but I will say the zoo was a bit depressing when I walked through. But it may be less depressing on warmer days where the glass isn’t fogging up.
Visit the Traboules:
Did you know that Lyon is filled with over 400 secret passages? Known as traboules, these were designed to offer quick access to the rivers rather than taking the winding roads. Today only 40 are open to the public, but even then I doubt you will see them all. If you want to do it solo, I will share three of the most famous below, but if you can’t find them there are also guided tours available.
During silk worker uprisings in the 1800’s these were used as safe hiding places for the workers seeking fair wages. They were also used during World War Two for groups seeking to resist the German invasion. The traboules are credited as the reason that Germany was never able to fully conquer Lyon.
Traboule de la Cour des Voraces
Location: 14 Montée Saint-Sébastien
This traboule was prominently used during uprisings of silk workers in the 1800’s. The workers would hide in this area to avoid being caught while protesting the unfair working conditions and pay. The entrance I suggested here has a sign in the front that says the name of this traboule.
The Longest Traboule
Location: 54 Rue Saint-Jean and 27 Rue du Boeuf
Located in the old section, this traboule is the longest in Lyon and also very difficult to find. The entrance looks just like any other door, but when you enter you will find yourself transported back in time.
Place des Terreaux
Location: Corner of Place des Terreaux and Sainte-Marie-des-Terreaux
If you want to explore and wander around several connected traboules, this is your best option. Start in the plaza, and you will end in the Traboule de la Cour des Voraces. To find the entrance for this one, look for blue tiles with lions and arrows on them.
Free Bathrooms in Lyon
While Visit Lyon has a full list of every single free bathroom in Lyon, there are only three of these bathrooms that are both free and staffed to ensure cleanliness. The first is outside the Vieux Lyon Metro station in the old city, and the second is outside of the Visit Lyon tourism center in Place Bellecour. The last set of free toilets is in the Confluence Shopping Center if you decide to walk down that way.
If you choose to tackle this amazingly fun race, you won’t have any regrets. Just make sure that you plan ahead and account for a slight hangover with your sight seeing.
