A Travel Price Comparison for France Lyon vs. Beaune for Attractions, Food, Old Town, and Couples

Should you visit Lyon or Beaune?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Lyon or Beaune, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Lyon

Lyon is a beautiful, cultural, and quaint city. Travelers will also find plenty of sights and attractions here, as it's a big city that attracts lots of visitors. The famous beauty of this place is one of the main draws. It also has a unique and quaint vibe that attracts lots of visitors. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Beaune

Beaune is a cultural, historic, and culinary town. It's a very nice small town not to be missed. And you can't forget about the nightlife, food, and shopping.

Lyon and Beaune: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Lyon or Beaune?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Lyon than Beaune, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Lyon is better known for its museums, nightlife, shopping, big city activities, impressive beauty, and quaint atmosphere, while Beaune is more popular for its small town charm. Lyon is well known for its world-renowned cuisine, charming old town, and vibrant new town. Also, Lyon is famous for The Basilique Notre-Dame de Fourvière. Beaune is well known for its surrounding vineyards and world-renowned wines.

How is Lyon different from Beaune?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Beaune and Lyon. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Lyon or Beaune?

Lyon is terrific for its museums and landmarks. Also, Beaune is still popular, but not quite as popular for its historical sights.

The museums, monuments, and landmarks in Lyon are among the most recognizable in the world. There are many world class museums and historic landmarks in the city including Musée des Beaux Arts, Musée de la Civilisation Gallo-Romaine, and Basilique Notre-Dame de Fourvière.

Beaune offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. Top sights and museums around town include Hôtel-Dieu (a former hospital), Château de Savigny, and Château de la Rochepot.

Is the Food Better in Lyon or Beaune? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Picking the best cuisine and restaurants between Lyon and Beaune can be difficult as they are each world-class in their own way.

Known for it's food and restaurant scene, Lyon is always at the top of any foodie's travel list. Known as "the Gastronomic Capital of the World" this city stands above the rest when it comes to Michelin star restaurants (there are 17!), fresh ingredients, and unique local flavors. Favorite local dishes include pâté en croûte, rosette de Lyon, and saucisson brioché.

Many restaurants in Beaune have been singled out for their culinary prowess. The restaurant scene is made up of small, narrow, local bistros that serve local dishes with regional ingredients. Many of the menus are focused on wine with the dishes designed specifically to compliment the wines. This is a tourist town, and you'll find many visitors come specifically to enjoy the French cuisine.

Is Lyon or Beaune Better for Nightlife?

Lyon is a great destination for nightlife and partying. Also, Beaune is still popular, but not quite as popular for its evening party scene.

The people in Lyon know how to have a good time. The city has enough diverse neighborhoods that you'll find a scene that is great for everyone. There are dance clubs, cocktail bars, and wine bars that meet every personality and style.

If you're looking for night time activities Beaune has a few options to choose from. You'll find bars and pubs as well as many places to sip French wine and enjoy the evening.

Is Lyon or Beaune Better for its Old Town?

Lyon and Beaune both have world-class historical old towns that attract visitors.

Lyon offers visitors a world-class historical old town to explore. This impressive old town climbs from the river into Fourvière Hill. It's a Renaissance era district with beautiful buildings and plenty of character. You can spend days wandering the quaint streets and popping in the world class restaurants.

Beaune has a world-famous historical area. The old town is walled and compact. It is centered around the medieval hospital complex and it is filled with cobblestone streets and shops.

Is the Shopping Better in Lyon or Beaune?

Lyon is a great destination for its shopping opportunities. Also, Beaune is still popular, but not quite as popular for its shopping areas.

Lyon is a popular shopping destination with plenty of stores. The city has many trendy markets, pedestrian shopping areas, and character-filled boutiques. From the charming shops in old town to the chic shopping streets, there are plenty of places to splurge around town.

Beaune has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. Boutiques, wine shops, and independent vendors are fun to explore in town.

Is Lyon or Beaune Better for Families?

Lyon is a great destination for its family-friendly activities. Also, Beaune is still popular, but not quite as popular for its kid-friendly activities.

Lyon is a very kid-friendly city. The city has many kid-friendly museums including Musée des Confluences and the Cinema and Miniature Museum. There are also playgrounds, patisseries, and river cruises that you can enjoy as a family. Puppet shows are also fun, but do note that they're usually in French. While the restaurants are amazing for adults, it can be tricky to find a kid-friendly option with early opening hours that are convenient for little ones.

Beaune offers lots of family activities. The town has museums like Hospices de Beaune, Hotel-Dieu (a formal hospital), as well as vineyards that you can hike through. Many people enjoy taking a hot air balloon ride while they're in the region.

Is Lyon or Beaune Better for Couples?

Beaune is an amazing town to visit for its romantic activities. Also, Lyon is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for couples.

Beaune has so much to offer for a romantic couple's vacation. Couples will enjoy exploring vineyards, sipping French wine, and wandering through the charming old town. There are breathtaking hot air balloon rides and wonderful French restaurants that make for a romantic trip.

Lyon makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Couples can enjoy wandering the beautiful Old Town, taking a river cruise, and dining on some of the best food in France.

Is Lyon or Beaune Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Lyon is a great destination for backpackers. However, Beaune is a town with minimal options for backpackers and budget travelers.

Lyon is a great city to visit for backpackers. The city has several hostels and a number of activities that are fun for budget travelers and backpackers.

Beaune is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. It's a charming town, but it's not on many backpacker's itineraries. There are also a limited number of hostels to choose from.

Is Lyon or Beaune Better for Students?

Lyon is terrific for students. However, Beaune is not popular with students.

Lyon is a very popular place to visit for students. It is a very livable city with many fun cultural activities for students. There are many different entertainment options during the day, and during the evening there are plenty of places to hang out.

Beaune is not popular with students.

Is Lyon or Beaune Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Lyon is terrific for its public transit. Also, Beaune is still popular, but not quite as popular for times when you don't have a car.

The thorough and effecient public transit system of Lyon can take you anywhere. The city has a metro, trams, and buses, that make it easy to get around.

While Beaune offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. While you can walk around the historic center, it's possible to take a bus if you're traveling further.

Is Lyon or Beaune a more walkable city?

Beaune is an amazing town to visit for its high level of walkability. Also, Lyon is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its ease of walking around.

It is easy to get around Beaune on foot. It's a walkable town that's perfect for taking a stroll.

Lyon is a very walkable destination. The old town is particularly walkable, but the hills can make things a bit challenging. There are also a number of pedestrian streets around town.

For even more information, also check out Is Lyon Worth Visiting? and Is Beaune Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Beaune or Lyon?

How long in Lyon or Beaune?

It's fun to spend time in either Lyon or Beaune. Generally, people tend to spend more time in Lyon due to the larger number of activities and things to do. Usually, 2-5 days is a good amount of time for Lyon, and 2-4 days is enough time in Beaune.

Families should spend more time in Lyon than Beaune. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Lyon, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Beaune than Lyon. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Beaune that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Lyon than Beaune if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Lyon.

One day in Lyon or Beaune?

Lyon is a bustling city that offers something for everyone. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the destination of Beaune. Visiting the old town is also a must. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.

A weekend in Lyon or Beaune?

Lyon is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Beaune is a fun place to experience. Most people visit for the food. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. A weekend is often enough time to do most activities. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Five days in Lyon or Beaune?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Lyon. For many, it makes a great getaway for five days. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill five days here. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

You'll find museums and nightlife around the culinary destination of Beaune. This town offers something for everyone. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Lyon or Beaune?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the beautiful big city of Lyon. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

The cultural town of Beaune offers nightlife and food. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. One week is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours from Paris, The Best 2-Week Tours from Paris, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to France, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in France.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Lyon and Beaune, we can see that Beaune is more expensive. And not only is Lyon much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Lyon would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Lyon and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Beaune would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Beaune than you might in Lyon.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Lyon Expensive? and Is Beaune Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Lyon or Beaune?

Lyon has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Beaune. When comparing the sizes of Lyon and Beaune, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.

When is the best time to visit Lyon or Beaune?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Lyon or Beaune in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Lyon and Beaune. Many travelers come to Lyon for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences. Furthermore, many visitors come to Beaune in the summer for the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences.

Lyon is around the same temperature as Beaune in the summer. The daily temperature in Lyon averages around 22°C (71°F) in July, and Beaune fluctuates around 21°C (70°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Beaune this time of the year. In Lyon, it's very sunny this time of the year. Lyon usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Beaune during summer. Lyon gets 285 hours of sunny skies, while Beaune receives 266 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Lyon usually receives more rain than Beaune. Lyon gets 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Beaune receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Lyon or Beaune in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Lyon as well as Beaune. Many visitors come to Lyon in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area. Additionally, most visitors come to Beaune for the shopping scene and the small town atmosphere during these months.

In the autumn, Lyon is around the same temperature as Beaune. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Lyon in October average around 14°C (56°F), and Beaune averages at about 13°C (55°F).

In the autumn, Lyon often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Beaune. Lyon gets 127 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Beaune receives 121 hours of full sun.

Lyon usually gets more rain in October than Beaune. Lyon gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Beaune receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Lyon or Beaune in the Winter?

Both Beaune and Lyon are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Lyon for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Beaune because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

The weather in Beaune can be very cold. Lyon can be very cold during winter. In January, Lyon is generally a little warmer than Beaune. Daily temperatures in Lyon average around 4°C (39°F), and Beaune fluctuates around 3°C (38°F).

Lyon usually receives more sunshine than Beaune during winter. Lyon gets 62 hours of sunny skies, while Beaune receives 53 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Lyon usually receives less rain than Beaune. Lyon gets 55 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Beaune receives 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Lyon or Beaune in the Spring?

Both Beaune and Lyon during the spring are popular places to visit. The spring months attract visitors to Lyon because of the activities around the city and the natural beauty. Also, the small town charm are the main draw to Beaune this time of year.

Lyon is around the same temperature as Beaune in the spring. The daily temperature in Lyon averages around 11°C (53°F) in April, and Beaune fluctuates around 11°C (53°F).

In the spring, Lyon often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Beaune. Lyon gets 174 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Beaune receives 178 hours of full sun.

Lyon usually gets more rain in April than Beaune. Lyon gets 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Beaune receives 52 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Beaune and Lyon