Timeline
07:17
Walk up to Gratte-Ciel in Villeurbanne to find a quiet spot with a view toward the west.
08:17
Watch the sun rise at 08:17. The golden light begins around 16:34, but for sunrise, the key moment is the first rays hitting the cityscape toward the WSW.
09:02
Head down to Nardone for ice cream. It opens at 09:00, which fits the timeline perfectly after sunrise. Be prepared to queue on sunny weekends, but the wait is worth it for the original flavors.
09:32
End your morning at Gratte-Ciel, reflecting on the view of Lyon from the industrial edge of Villeurbanne.
Local tip
The walk from Gratte-Ciel to Nardone is about 47 minutes on foot. Check the route if you are not familiar with the area.
Check before you go
- Nardone is open daily from 09:00 in summer and Wed-Sun from 10:00 in winter. On 15 January, it opens at 10:00, so you may need to wait until then or choose a different spot if you arrive earlier.
- If you arrive before 10:00 in winter, consider grabbing a coffee at a nearby open bakery instead of Nardone.
Built from places in the Wikivoyage guide to Lyon (CC BY-SA 4.0), with open map data from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).