For centuries the Grand Hôtel-Dieu was Lyon’s great hospital, a monumental building on the Rhône whose long riverside facade and dome were added in the 18th century. After the hospital moved out, the complex was restored as a district of shops, restaurants and courtyards, and the InterContinental took over the historic heart of it, opening as a five-star hotel in 2019. The entrance is on the riverbank, the corridors keep their 18th-century pillars, and many rooms look over the Rhône or the historic courtyards and French gardens. The showpiece is Le Dôme, a cocktail bar and lounge set directly beneath the restored dome, one of the most striking hotel bars in France. The Epona restaurant, led by chef Mathieu Charrois, serves breakfast and dinner with a garden area, and there is a lobby lounge, room service, a spa and a fitness centre. Room types run from guest rooms to river-view premium rooms, junior and prestige suites, a duplex suite and a presidential suite with a balcony over Le Dôme.
Location and getting around: the hotel stands on the Quai Jules Courmont on the Presqu’île, between Place Bellecour and the Cordeliers district, so the shopping streets, the Saône and the footbridges to Vieux Lyon are all within a short walk. Bellecour, on metro lines A and D, is a few minutes away, putting Fourvière, the Confluences and Part-Dieu station within easy reach, and the Guillotière bridge leads across the Rhône to the left bank and Les Halles Paul Bocuse.
Rooms: the building’s historic proportions mean rooms vary in shape, with high ceilings and a calm, contemporary design in soft tones. River-view rooms are the ones to request for the sunrise over the Rhône, while rooms over the courtyards are quieter. Suites are generous, and accessible and pet-friendly rooms are available.
Who it suits: couples on a special weekend, anyone celebrating, food lovers who want a central base, and visitors for the Fête des Lumières who want to step straight out into the action and return to calm.
Good to know: breakfast is usually charged separately unless your rate includes it. Ask about parking when you book, since the Presqu’île is busy with traffic and public garages are nearby. Book well ahead for early December, when the Fête des Lumières fills the city and rates rise. Even if you stay elsewhere, a drink at Le Dôme is worth reserving.
Why stay here
- ✓Le Dôme bar beneath the historic dome
- ✓Epona restaurant
- ✓Lobby lounge
- ✓Spa
- ✓Fitness centre
- ✓Rhône river-view rooms and suites
- ✓Room service
- ✓Accessible and pet-friendly rooms
Good questions
Where is the InterContinental Lyon - Hotel Dieu?+
It is on the Quai Jules Courmont on the Presqu’île, inside the restored Grand Hôtel-Dieu by the Rhône. Place Bellecour and its metro station are a few minutes’ walk away.
Can non-guests visit Le Dôme bar?+
Le Dôme is a cocktail bar and lounge beneath the restored dome, and it is popular with locals as well as guests. Reserve ahead for evenings and during the Fête des Lumières.
Which rooms are best at the InterContinental Lyon?+
River-view rooms over the Rhône have the best outlook, while courtyard rooms are the quietest. The presidential suite has a balcony overlooking Le Dôme.
