A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Nagano vs. Lyon for Attractions, Food, Old Town, and Nightlife

Should you visit Nagano or Lyon?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Nagano and Lyon can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Nagano

Nagano is a alpine, scenic, and historic city. It's a large city, so you'll find plenty of things to do around town. The beauty of this spot is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and skiing.

Lyon

Lyon is a historic, beautiful, and cultural city. Travelers will also find plenty of sights and attractions here, as it's a big city that attracts lots of visitors. Many visitors also come because of it's amazing beauty. It also has a unique and quaint vibe that attracts lots of visitors. Visitors also love the museums, nightlife, and food.

Nagano and Lyon: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Nagano or Lyon?

Both Lyon and Nagano have plenty of things to do for travelers. Both provide a wide variety of sights and activities for tourists. Nagano is better known for its skiing, resorts, and hiking, while Lyon is more popular for its museums, food, historical sights, shopping, big city activities, impressive beauty, and quaint atmosphere. Nagano is well known for its historic temples, beautiful mountain setting, and being the host of the 1998 Winter Olympic Games. Lyon is well known for its world-renowned cuisine, charming old town, and vibrant new town.

How is Nagano different from Lyon?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Is Nagano or Lyon Better for Skiing?

Nagano is a well-known place for snow skiing. However, Lyon is not a skiing destination.

People head to Nagano specifically to take advantage of the area's skiing and winter sports. The city hosted the 1998 Winter Olympics and many of the skiing events were held at ski resorts in the area. In the Nagano Prefecture you'll find several ski resorts with some of the most popular being the Hakuba ski areas, Shiga Kogen, Nozawa Onsen, and Myoko Kogen.

Lyon is not a skiing destination.

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

Lyon is terrific for its historical sights. Also, Nagano is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its sights and museums.

The museums and tourist attractions in Lyon are world-renowned. 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.

Visitors can fill many days exploring the museums and attractions around Nagano. The area is filled with history and there are many places to explore. Matsumoto Castle, the Matsumoto City Museum of Art, Zenko-ji Temple, and Togakushi Shrine are just some of the highlights.

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

Lyon is terrific for its local flavors and cuisine. Also, Nagano is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its local cuisine and restaurants.

Many restaurants in Lyon have been singled out for their culinary prowess. 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.

Dining out in Nagano is an experience not to be missed. You'll find many of Japan's culinary favorites here like ramen, udon, sushi, and sashimi. There are also regional dishes and some comfort food like Tonkatsu and Oyaki Dumplings.

Is Nagano or Lyon Better for Nightlife?

If the nightlife is your priority, you'll find high quality options in both Nagano and Lyon.

The nightlife in Nagano has something for everybody. The nightlife scene is varied, from local and intimate venues, to wild and crazy clubs. You'll find all styles and activities such that whatever you're looking for, the city likely won't disappoint.

Lyon offers plenty to do in the evening. 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.

Is Nagano or Lyon Better for Resorts?

Nagano is a nice place to visit for its resorts. However, Lyon is not a resort destination.

With a selection of resorts, Nagano makes a nice vacation spot. You'll find wonderful mountain resorts throughout the entire prefecture.

Lyon is not a resort destination.

Is Nagano or Lyon Better for its Old Town?

Lyon is terrific for its old town. Also, Nagano is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its historic old town charm.

Lyon has a unique history which comes to life in its historic area. 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.

Nagano offers a nice historic old town area. Throughout the prefecture there is a lot of history and charming towns. If you're willing to get out of Nagano City, you can enjoy an area filled with tradition and culture. In particular, Tsumago-juku was the first preserved old town in Japan.

Is Nagano or Lyon Better for Hiking?

Nagano is a well-known place for the nearby hiking options. However, Lyon is not a hiking destination.

Nagano is a popular spot for hiking. The surrounding area is filled with stunning scenery, natural beauty, and beautiful hikes. You'll find shrines and temples, historic villages, nice views, and peaceful walks throughout the region. One of the most unique walks is along the highest road in Japan, the Norikura Echo Line. The route is at 8,800 feet and is lined with ten meter high snow walls. It's open from from late April to the end of June every year.

Lyon is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Nagano or Lyon?

Lyon is a great city for its shopping opportunities. Also, Nagano is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its shopping areas.

Lyon is well-known for its shopping. 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.

Many visitors go to Nagano to go shopping. There are a number of shopping streets that are fun to explore including the historic street of Naka-mise. This street is lined with tea shops, cafes, traditional stores, and more. While there aren't a huge number of shopping centers around town, Midori Nagano is one of the biggest.

Is Nagano or Lyon Better for Families?

Both Nagano and Lyon are high quality to visit with kids.

Because of its large number of kid-friendly activities, Nagano is very family-friendly. Chibikko Ninja Village is a great place for kids with climbing walls, indoor playgrounds, and more. There are also a number of sports facilities around town, and you can keep the sport theme going with a visit to the Nagano Olympic Museum. Animal lovers will enjoy a visit to the Nagano Chausuyama Zoo and for little kids, the Nagano City Joyama Zoo is nice.

Lyon is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. 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.

Is Nagano or Lyon Better for Couples?

Lyon is a great city for its romantic activities. Also, Nagano is not as popular, but is still a nice city for couples.

Lyon is a great city if you're traveling as a couple. Couples can enjoy wandering the beautiful Old Town, taking a river cruise, and dining on some of the best food in France.

Nagano is a good city for couples to visit. The city has a lot of history and beauty, making it a romantic destination for couples. There are also outdoor activities as well as a number of sports that you can enjoy.

Is Nagano or Lyon Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Lyon is a great city for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Nagano is not as popular, but is still a nice city for backpackers.

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

Plenty of backpackers visit Nagano. There are several good hostels in the area, as well as some great activities for young travelers, backpackers, and sports enthusiasts.

Is Nagano or Lyon Better for Students?

Lyon is terrific for its student-friendly activities. Also, Nagano is not as popular, but is still a nice city for students.

Lyon is a very popular city 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.

Nagano is a good city to visit for students. It's relative affordability combined with its close proximity to Tokyo and laid back populations make this a nice place to study.

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

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

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.

Nagano has a few public transit options. The main station in town is Nagano Station. There's a bus and train system through the area, including buses that run to Zenkoji Temple. There's also a bus that goes to the Togakushi area and takes about an hour. However, renting a car will give you more freedom and efficiency. .

Is Nagano or Lyon a more walkable city?

Lyon is a great city for its high level of walkability. Also, Nagano is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its ease of walking around.

Lyon is a very walkable city. 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.

Nagano is a somewhat walkable city. Parts of the city are walkable and there are hiking trails around the Togakushi area, where you'll find many shrines and other attractions.

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

Should I spend more time in Lyon or Nagano?

How long in Nagano or Lyon?

In either Nagano or Lyon, you'll find plenty of activities to fill your time. Most visitors tend to spend more time in Lyon than Nagano because of the overall number of sights and activities. Usually, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Nagano, and 2-5 days is enough time in Lyon.

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Lyon than Nagano 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 Nagano or Lyon?

Visitors enjoy the skiing and nightlife when visiting the destination of Nagano. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One day is usually enough time to experience most activities.

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.

A weekend in Nagano or Lyon?

Nagano is a fun place to experience. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. Hikers are also drawn to this area. 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.

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.

Five days in Nagano or Lyon?

You'll find food and shopping around the traditional destination of Nagano. This city offers something for everyone. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

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.

A week in Nagano or Lyon?

The alpine city of Nagano offers shopping and museums. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. 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.

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the cultural 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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Japan, The Best 2-Week Tours in Japan, The Best 10-Day Tours from Paris, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Paris.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Nagano and Lyon, we can see that Lyon is more expensive. And not only is Nagano much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Nagano is in Asia and Lyon is in Europe, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Nagano would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Nagano 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 Lyon would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Lyon than you might in Nagano.

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

Which is Bigger, Nagano or Lyon?

Lyon has a larger population, and is about 31% larger than the population of Nagano. When comparing the sizes of Nagano and Lyon, 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 Nagano or Lyon?

Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Nagano or Lyon in the Summer?

Both Lyon and Nagano during the summer are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Nagano for the hiking, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Lyon because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.

Nagano is a little warmer than Lyon in the summer. The daily temperature in Nagano averages around 25°C (77°F) in July, and Lyon fluctuates around 22°C (71°F).

In Lyon, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the summer, Nagano often gets less sunshine than Lyon. Nagano gets 136 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Lyon receives 285 hours of full sun.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Nagano. Nagano usually gets more rain in July than Lyon. Nagano gets 222 mm (8.8 in) of rain, while Lyon receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Nagano or Lyon in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Nagano and Lyon. The autumn months attract visitors to Nagano because of the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area. Also, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Lyon this time of year.

In the autumn, Nagano is a little warmer than Lyon. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Nagano in October average around 16°C (60°F), and Lyon averages at about 14°C (56°F).

Nagano usually receives more sunshine than Lyon during autumn. Nagano gets 167 hours of sunny skies, while Lyon receives 127 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Nagano gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Nagano usually receives more rain than Lyon. Nagano gets 227 mm (9 in) of rain, while Lyon receives 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Nagano or Lyon in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Nagano as well as Lyon. The skiing, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Nagano this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Lyon for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Lyon. It's quite cold in Nagano in the winter. In January, Nagano is generally much colder than Lyon. Daily temperatures in Nagano average around 2°C (36°F), and Lyon fluctuates around 4°C (39°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Nagano this time of the year. In the winter, Nagano often gets more sunshine than Lyon. Nagano gets 212 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Lyon receives 62 hours of full sun.

Nagano receives a lot of rain in the winter. Nagano usually gets more rain in January than Lyon. Nagano gets 446 mm (17.5 in) of rain, while Lyon receives 55 mm (2.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Nagano or Lyon in the Spring?

Both Lyon and Nagano are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Nagano for the activities around the city and the natural beauty. Also, many visitors come to Lyon in the spring for the activities around the city and the natural beauty.

Nagano is around the same temperature as Lyon in the spring. The daily temperature in Nagano averages around 11°C (52°F) in April, and Lyon fluctuates around 11°C (53°F).

Nagano usually receives more sunshine than Lyon during spring. Nagano gets 191 hours of sunny skies, while Lyon receives 174 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Nagano usually receives more rain than Lyon. Nagano gets 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Lyon receives 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Lyon and Nagano