Lyon is a metropolitan city filled with rich culture, delicious food and good wine. It doesn't take long to witness this and that's why it's visited a lot, especially by tourists hungry for French culture.
December in Lyon means cold weather and the average daily high temperature will be around 6°C (43°F).
It gets even colder at night when the temperature can be expected to drop down to around 1°C (34°F). Visitors are advised to frequently check the local weather for Lyon prior to their arrival so that they will be prepared.
December's precipitation averages out to be about 57mm or a little more than 2 inches. There are generally only 4 hours of sunshine per day and visitors should expect some form of precipitation on approximately 14 to 15 days of the month. This can vary from light rain showers to snow flurries.
Many tourists arrive specifically to witness the Fête des Lumières or Festival of Lights, a traditional celebration of thanksgiving to Mother Mary. Nearly every household in the city will celebrate by placing candles, either real or electric, in each window of their house thereby creating a stunning visual effect throughout the entire city.
The most impressive displays are at the Place des Terreaux, which plays host to a number of spectacular light shows every year and the Basilica of Fourvière which is marvellously lit up with many different colours.
Accommodation should be booked in advance to avoid running into any problems finding a decent place to stay. The Best Western Hotel du Pont Wilson on Rue Mazenod is very near to the old city of Lyon and is great value for money. Most agree that the rooms are comfortable and the price is right for the budget minded traveller. They offer suites, room service, free Wi-Fi, cable TV, in-room mini-bar, in-room safe, and the bathrooms have a bathtub as well as a shower.
