Just in case Lyon’s gastronomic scene isn’t quite enough to satisfy your predilection for the indulgent, the city is also home to several hotels featuring sumptuous swimming pools.
The capital city in France’s Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, Lyon is perhaps best known for its world-class food and stunningly preserved Roman Amphithéâtre. And whether it’s working your way around the city’s finest restaurants or stepping back in time at the ancient theatre on Fourvière Hill, there can be no better way to rest and recuperate than by sinking into an enticing swimming pool. Here are some of the best hotels with a pool that Lyon has to offer.
Villa Florentine
Perched on a hilltop alongside the Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière, Villa Florentine has overlooked the city for centuries. Formerly a convent, today it serves as one of the area’s most lavish hotels, combining a rich heritage with all the trappings of contemporary luxury. At the heart of the property’s offerings is the heated outdoor pool, flanked by sunbeds lent shade by stylish awnings and strictly reserved for hotel guests. An elegant restaurant (open to non-guests also) with floor-to-ceiling windows serving international cuisine and a garden area with panoramic city views are also available.
25 Mnt Saint-Barthélémy / Closest Metro: Vieux Lyon / From 392 EUROS per night / www.beauvallon.com
Boscolo Hotel & Spa
Set in a historic building close to the banks of the Rhône, Boscolo Hotel & Spa brings a polished sense of grandeur to the city centre. Its standout feature is the spa, a Roman bath-inspired retreat complete with sauna, hammam and a heated indoor pool kept at 30°C. Measuring 10 metres by 4 metres, the pool offers a calming place to unwind after exploring nearby sights such as Place Bellecour, the Opéra de Lyon and the Old Town. Elsewhere, guests can enjoy luxurious rooms, some with river views, along with an Italian restaurant, bar and fitness centre.
11 Quai Jules Coutmont / Closest Metro: Cordeliers / From 264 EUROS per night / www.boscolocollection.com
Fourvière Hôtel
Located on Fourvière Hill above the Old Town of Lyon and perfectly placed for visiting the city’s ancient amphitheatre, Fourvière Hôtel combines a prime setting with some top-notch amenities. Among them is a year-round heated outdoor pool, distinctive for its long and thin shape and overlooked by verdant greenery. Elsewhere in the hotel, there’s a restaurant serving high-end cuisine overlooking the cloisters, a bar, a Lyon-style boules court, and private on-site parking.
23 Rue Roger Radisson / Closest Metro: Fourvière / From 117 EUROS per night / www.fourviere-hotel.com