Comparison · Bordeaux vs Lyon · France
Bordeaux vs Lyon
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Mariette, Public domain
Quick answer
Choose Bordeaux for Wine and Place de la Bourse; choose Lyon for Gastronomy and Bouchons. Lyon is generally less expensive, and the two are about 436 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 436 km
- Less expensive
- Lyon
- Best time for Bordeaux
- May–June and September–October
- Best time for Lyon
- April–June and September–October
Side by side
| Bordeaux | Lyon | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | France | France |
| Known for | Wine, Place de la Bourse and Miroir d'Eau | Gastronomy, Bouchons and Vieux Lyon |
| Best time to visit | May–June and September–October | April–June and September–October |
| Ideal stay | 4 days | 3 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $170–$280 | $150–$250 |
| Cost level | Moderately priced | Moderately priced |
| Warmest month | July, 27°C (81°F) | July, 28°C (82°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 10°C (50°F) | January, 7°C (45°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 10 | 10 |
| Day trips in our guide | 6 | 6 |
| Beaches | — | — |
| Airports | BOD | LYS |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Bordeaux for…
Wine and Place de la Bourse. Bordeaux curves along a crescent bend of the Garonne known as the Port of the Moon, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2007 lined with pale 18th-century limestone façades. The compact centre runs from Place de la Bourse and its Miroir d'Eau to the Grand…
Choose Lyon for…
Gastronomy and Bouchons. Lyon sits where the Saône meets the Rhône, with a UNESCO-listed historic centre that runs from the Roman theatres on Fourvière hill through the Renaissance lanes of Vieux Lyon to the silk-weavers' slopes of the Croix-Rousse. It is best known for food…
Top sights compared
| # | Bordeaux | Lyon |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Place de la Bourse and Miroir d'Eau | Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière |
| 2 | La Cité du Vin | Vieux Lyon and the traboules |
| 3 | Cathédrale Saint-André and Tour Pey-Berland | Roman theatres of Fourvière and Lugdunum museum |
| 4 | Grand Théâtre de Bordeaux | Saint-Jean Cathedral |
| 5 | Esplanade des Quinconces | Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse |
Food compared
| Bordeaux | Lyon |
|---|---|
| Canelé | Pike quenelles |
| Entrecôte à la bordelaise | Sausage in brioche |
| Arcachon oysters | Lyonnaise salad |
| Lamprey Bordeaux-style | Silk worker's brain |
Which is cheaper?
Lyon is usually the less expensive of the two: a mid-range day costs about $150–$250 per person there, against $170–$280 in Bordeaux (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Lyon on a budget.
Can you visit both?
Yes. Bordeaux and Lyon are about 436 km apart, so they combine well in one trip: allow 4 days in Bordeaux and 3 in Lyon.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Bordeaux or Lyon cheaper?
Lyon is usually less expensive: about $150–$250 a day mid-range against $170–$280 (estimates).
+Is Bordeaux or Lyon better for a first trip?
Pick Bordeaux for Wine and Place de la Bourse, or Lyon for Gastronomy and Bouchons.
+How far is Bordeaux from Lyon?
About 436 km in a straight line.