The start of the event is set for the city of Lyon’s must-see event. The Festival of Lights will take place from 7pm to 11pm on Wednesday 8th and Thursday 9th December, and then from 8pm to midnight on Friday 10th and Saturday 11th December. We had prepared a first article, giving you an overview of the solutions for coming to the City of Lights. In this second part of the article, we have prepared a few tips to help you get organised and enjoy the event.
Experience the Festival of Lights with Lyon’s public transport system (TCL)
For the event, public transport is getting involved. The “TCL en Fête” tickets are there to make it easier for you to access the events. For just €3.20, you can enjoy unlimited bus, metro and tram travel from 4pm onwards. In addition, there is an unlimited “24, 48 and 72 hour” ticket from €6, if you want to make the most of Lyon. Also note that all metro lines will be available until 2am during the 4 days of the Festival of Lights. For more details, don’t hesitate to consult this leaflet. Last but not least, on Wednesday 8 December, the TCL network is entirely free of charge from 4pm until the end of the service.
Prefer to travel on foot, to avoid the crowds
Attracting thousands of visitors, it happens very quickly that the metro stations are congested. During peak periods, it is not uncommon to wait 30 to 45 minutes to get on the metro, and that’s an understatement! So our advice is to bring a good pair of trainers! For example, it takes less than fifteen minutes to get from Perrache to Place Bellecour and about ten minutes to get to the Hôtel de Ville from Foch.
This will also allow you to enjoy the fresh air and to fully experience the magic of the Festival of Lights. Finally, you can stop more easily to drink a glass of mulled wine or enjoy a good onion soup. In addition, the city of Lyon offers 4 different walking routes, in order to optimise your itinerary. To discover them, click here or directly on the “Fête des Lumières 2021” application, available on IOS and Android.
Let Enform@Lyon guide you
Like every year, the city of Lyon is providing a mobile application. Practical, fun and free, live the Festival of Lights experience to the full of Enform@Lyon. This application, based on running, has been adapted for the Festival of Lights. Like an interactive GPS, make your travel easier with the itineraries. In fact, you can find at a glance the details of all the illuminated works, accompanied by an audio explanation. Whether you’re in sporty or leisurely mode, let yourself be guided by voice along the 8 kilometer routes. And don’t hesitate to use the application during the day too. It offers three daytime tours, allowing you to visit Lyon in 3, 2 or 1 day(s). To download the application, go to the Play Store or the App Store. Once downloaded, all you have to do is go to the special “lighted tour” loop.
Take a preview tour on Tuesday 7 December
A tip known to all the inhabitants of Lyon: take advantage of the show the day before. Indeed, on this last day of the final preparations, the show is being run in. The last tests are carried out, which allows you to have an exclusive glimpse of the Festival of Lights. And all this without the hustle and bustle!
In addition, this year, the luminous bicycle parade will also be held. Dubbed the “Véloparade des Lumières”, the Maison du Vélo and the Lyonnais of Lighty Bikes invite all cyclists to gather at 244 rue Garibaldi at 7pm. Equipped with your illuminated bike, this event aims to raise awareness of the importance of lighting on bikes, from nightfall. For more details, visit the Facebook page of the event. Another tip to avoid the crowds is to move away from the center to contemplate the works calmly. This is particularly the case in the famous Parc de la Tête d’Or, or at Lyon Airport. To consult the different installations and animations planned for this 2021 edition, it is here.
Make sure you have a survival guide
Dress warmly! So, let’s get out the hats, scarves, gloves and down jackets. And, surely, umbrellas and mackintoshes, as the weather forecast is currently rainy. Don’t forget your mask and your health pass to be able to go to the establishments of the program. If possible, pack a small snack in your bag. Effectively, at this time of year, all the restaurants and kiosks are overcrowded, even full. Finally, don’t forget to charge your phone or camera, to capture some great memories. And you never know, you might win the city of Lyon prize. For the fourth year, the City of Lyon (@villedelyon) is organizing a competition on Instagram. To participate, all you have to do is share your best artistic or unusual photos with the hashtag #JeuMesLumières2016!
Finally, keep up to date with the latest news by following the “Fête des Lumières” on social networks: Facebook / Twitter / Instagram.
Also to be discovered:
Festival of Lights : Itineraries and tips, all you need to know (1/2)
