Stays in Lyon

I would recommend Les Suites de l'Ile Barbe to families who want a five-star stay with real space for children. The hotel has a garden and a terrace, and a children's playground makes it suitable for all ages. Family rooms are available, WiFi is free, the front desk is open 24 hours and check-in and check-out are private. Pets are welcome, and an electric vehicle charging station is on site.

I would recommend Villa Florentine to couples and families who want a historic setting above Lyon. The hotel occupies a former convent in Old Lyon, and its air-conditioned rooms have panoramic city views, a modern en-suite bathroom and, in some, a seating area. WiFi is free, the reception is open around the clock and a spa and wellness facilities are listed. Families and pets are welcome, which is not a given at this level.

Hôtel de l'Abbaye is a four-star boutique hotel set in a historic building in Lyon, and its family rooms make it one of the easier upscale options for parents with children. Rooms are air-conditioned with city views, a real comfort in a Lyon summer. The restaurant serves French cuisine, and there is a coffee shop and lounge for slower moments. Pets are welcome and WiFi is free. I would book a family room for a city break built around food and walks.

Villa Maïa sits on Fourvière Hill with panoramic views over Lyon, and the old town is a 10-minute walk down. The heated indoor pool is the obvious draw for children, and it looks out onto a garden designed by Louis Benech. Parents can use the hot tub, steam room and fitness room. Free WiFi and valet parking remove the hassle of driving in the city. Guests rate this five-star hotel 9.2 out of 10 across 207 reviews.

Soundproofed, air-conditioned family rooms are the main reason families choose Hôtel Maison Lacassagne Lyon, where a quiet night is easier to count on in a big city. The garden and outdoor seating area give children room to play outside the bedroom. Daily housekeeping, a 24-hour front desk and a coffee shop keep things simple, parents can use the spa, and pets are accepted. A 9.1 guest score is unusually high.

I would recommend Hôtel Fort St Laurent to families and pet owners who want an elegant four-star base in Lyon. The air-conditioned, soundproofed rooms have city views, a private bathroom and a minibar. A sun terrace, a garden and a bar are open to guests, WiFi is free, and the 24-hour front desk handles early or late arrivals. Private check-in and check-out keep the formalities quick.

Lyon Hypercentre Les Cordeliers is a large apartment with five bedrooms and four bathrooms, made for big families or several families travelling together. The fully equipped kitchen allows shared meals, and air conditioning helps in Lyon's hot summers. An indoor play area keeps children busy, while the spa, sauna and steam room are a treat for parents. An electric vehicle charging station helps families arriving by electric car. Its central location puts the Presqu'île within walking distance.

I would recommend Cour des Loges to families and couples who want a five-star stay with a real wellness offer in central Lyon. The spa and wellness centre has a sauna, a fitness centre, an indoor swimming pool, a steam room and a hammam. A garden and a terrace give outdoor space, and the restaurant serves French cuisine. Families and pets are welcome, and the setting also suits a romantic weekend.

Bayard Bellecour is an authentic historic house in central Lyon, and for a family that wants character without giving up comfort I would suggest it. Rooms are air-conditioned, welcome in a Lyon summer, some come with digital tablets, and free WiFi covers the building. The daily buffet breakfast features local and homemade products, a good start before a day of sightseeing on foot. An 8.9 score over more than 2,500 reviews is excellent.

MiHotel Vieux Lyon accepts adults only, so families with children will need another address in Lyon. For adult relatives or couples, it is a practical base in the old town: each air-conditioned room has its own kitchenette, a walk-in shower and streaming services, and check-in is private rather than at a desk. The Musée Miniature et Cinéma is a three-minute walk away. An 8.8 score from 109 reviews supports the choice for independent travellers.

Fourvière Hôtel sits on Fourvière Hill above Lyon's Old Town, and its heated outdoor pool, open all year, is why I would suggest it to families. Rooms are air-conditioned and soundproofed, some with city or garden views, and the sun terrace and traditional Lyon-style boules court keep children busy between outings. Parents can use the hot tub and hammam. A restaurant and a cafe are on site. An 8.7 score over nearly 3,000 reviews is reassuring.

Carlton Hotel Lyon occupies an 1894 building on the Presqu'île, five minutes on foot from Cordeliers metro station, and I would choose it for a special family stay in Lyon. Rooms are soundproofed and air-conditioned, so children sleep well despite the central location. The buffet breakfast features local specialities, the bar serves champagne and signature cocktails for parents, and an on-site spa offers a quiet hour. Pets are welcome.

Hôtel Le Roosevelt Lyon is a four-star five minutes on foot from the nearest metro station, and I find it a practical base for families arriving by car, thanks to its secure private parking. Rooms are air-conditioned with a flat-screen TV and a desk, and WiFi is free. The hot and cold buffet breakfast offers plenty of choice for children. The front desk runs 24 hours, there is a bar for parents, and guests can use a partner gym.

Hôtel des Artistes stands on Place des Célestins in Lyon's Presqu'île, opposite the Célestins theatre, and I recommend it to families who want to see the city on foot, since most of Lyon's sights are within walking distance. The hotel has been renovated and is decorated with original works of art, which gives children something to look at. The reception is open 24 hours, the hotel follows a sustainable approach, and public parking is available nearby.

OKKO Hotels Lyon Centre offers air-conditioned accommodation with free WiFi, a Nespresso machine and a flat-screen TV in each room, and it sits right in front of the Rhône River banks. Presqu'île and Place des Terreaux are a short walk away, close to bars and restaurants. The hotel includes a spa and complimentary lounge refreshments, and pets are welcome. I find it a stylish, central base for families who like to walk along the river.

Republik Hotel is a three-star hotel on Lyon's Presqu'île, a short walk from Place Bellecour and its metro station, and I recommend it to families who want to explore the city on foot or by public transport. Rooms are air-conditioned, which matters in a Lyon summer, with free WiFi. A buffet breakfast starts the day, the 24-hour reception helps with late arrivals, and pets are accepted. Shops, restaurants and bars are right outside.

Mercure Lyon Centre - Gare Part Dieu stands in Lyon's business district, just 100 metres from Part-Dieu TGV station, so arriving by train with children takes minutes. The air-conditioned, soundproofed rooms have free WiFi, a flat-screen TV and tea and coffee facilities. A buffet breakfast is served, and the on-site restaurant, Le Vin Gourmand, offers traditional French cuisine, with a wine bar for the adults. Pets are welcome and the hotel suits families.

Bikube Coliving Hôtel is a four-star address in Lyon designed for short and longer stays, and I recommend it to families who like to prepare some of their own meals. Every recently renovated room has a kitchenette, air conditioning, a private bathroom and free WiFi. Outside the room there is a fitness centre, a sun terrace and a garden for children to stretch their legs, a restaurant with international dishes, and a spa and thalasso centre.

Aparthotel Adagio Lyon Patio Confluence offers studios with kitchenettes in the 2nd arrondissement, near Lyon-Perrache station and its metro stop, and for a family that wants to cook and move around by public transport I would rate it highly. A cold sweet and savoury buffet breakfast is served daily, there is a fitness centre and free WiFi, and pets are accepted. An 8.7 score over more than 2,600 reviews is reassuring for a longer stay.

Spark by Hilton Lyon Park Saone stands on the banks of the Saône, and for a family that prefers calm evenings by the river to the city-centre buzz I would suggest it. Rooms are air-conditioned, the restaurant and bar save a trip out after a day of sightseeing, and the terrace gives everyone some air. Families and pets are welcome, and parents can use the spa. A 24-hour front desk helps with late arrivals. An 8.6 score over nearly 3,000 reviews is reassuring.

Hotel Le Lumière plays on Lyon's place in film history with a cinema-themed décor, a fun detail for children who know the city is where the Lumière brothers made their first films. Sans Souci metro station is 450 metres away, with direct trains to the historic centre, so families can leave the car behind. Rooms are simple, with free WiFi, and the 24-hour reception can help plan outings. Breakfast is available. I would use it as an easy base for city days.

Families arriving at Lyon-Perrache can walk to this hotel with their bags, which takes the stress out of a train arrival. It sits on the Presqu'île, the peninsula between the Rhône and the Saône, so Place Bellecour and the old town across the river are within reach on foot or by metro. Rooms are air-conditioned with private bathrooms and free Wi-Fi, breakfast is served daily and the reception is open 24 hours.

Arriving in Lyon by train with children, the Hotel Azur saves a long walk: it is 150 metres from Perrache station, with metro links into the rest of the city. Rooms are served by a lift, which helps with pushchairs and suitcases, and each has an HD TV. A continental breakfast is served daily, WiFi is free, and families and pets are welcome. It is a practical base for day trips rather than a hotel to linger in.

I would pick ibis Lyon Centre for a family that wants a renovated, air-conditioned hotel with an easy rail link. It stands 450 metres from Lyon-Jean Macé train station and 1.5 km from Place Bellecour. Rooms have free WiFi, a buffet breakfast with local treats is served every day and pets are welcome. The hotel is practical and well placed for the centre, though not on its main squares.

Directly opposite Lyon-Perrache TGV station, this Mercure saves families a long walk with luggage after the train. The listed Art Nouveau building on the Presqu'île gives the stay some character, and the restaurant with a terrace and the lounge bar are handy in the evening. Rooms have a 47-inch flat-screen TV and a private bathroom, and Privilege rooms add a Nespresso machine and free minibar soft drinks. Pets are welcome, and guests rate it 8.0.

The ibis Lyon Gare Part Dieu is 200 metres from the Part Dieu shopping centre and 2 km from Tête d'Or Park, where families can spend a morning on the lawns and by the lake. Rooms are soundproofed and air-conditioned, a real help for sleep in a busy district. The buffet breakfast offers sweet and savoury choices, including fresh pastries and Madeleine cakes, and the bar and restaurant save a search for dinner. Pets are accepted.