Villa Florentine is the romantic choice for anyone who wants to wake up above Lyon rather than in the middle of it. The hotel occupies a centuries-old villa on the slope of Fourvière hill, in the 5th arrondissement, and is a member of the Relais and Châteaux collection with a five-star rating. Its calling card is the outdoor pool and the garden terraces, which look out over the terracotta roofs of Vieux Lyon, the Saône and, on a clear day, the city spreading towards the Rhône and beyond. The hotel spreads across two buildings and six floors, with a mix of deluxe and superior rooms, terrace rooms and several kinds of junior suite, and larger two-bedroom suites for families or groups travelling together. There is a spa with massages, facials and body treatments, a sauna and steam room, and a small gym. Les Terrasses de Lyon, the hotel restaurant, serves French fine dining at lunch and dinner with a view that is hard to beat, and there is a poolside bar in warm weather. The hotel also offers concierge service, a 24-hour front desk, air conditioning, free WiFi, an electric car charging point and valet parking for a fee.
Location and getting around
The villa stands on the Montée Saint-Barthélemy, steps from the Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière, which is about a three-minute walk, and close to the Roman theatres. Vieux-Lyon and Lyon Saint-Paul metro and funicular stations are about five minutes away on foot, so you can ride down to the old town in a couple of minutes and walk across the footbridges to the Presqu’île.
Place Bellecour is around ten minutes on foot, much of it downhill. The airport is roughly 40 minutes by car. The hill is steep, so be ready for slopes and steps with luggage and ask the hotel about a transfer when you arrive.
Rooms
Deluxe rooms and terrace rooms suit couples, while the junior suites, some with city views, mezzanines or signature layouts, give more space. If the view matters to you, ask for a city-view category when you book, since the position on the hill is the whole point of staying here. Two-bedroom suites are good for families or friends travelling together, though this is a quiet adult-oriented hotel rather than a family resort.
Who it suits
Couples on a special weekend, honeymooners, anyone who values calm, pool time and a view, and visitors who plan to spend their days exploring Fourvière and Vieux Lyon on foot. It is less convenient for anyone who wants to be in the middle of the shopping streets or who prefers an effortless walk home after a late dinner on the Presqu’île.
Good to know
Book early for the Fête des Lumières in December and for early summer weekends, when the pool terrace is at its best. Breakfast is usually charged separately unless included in your rate. Ask about parking when you reserve, as valet parking carries a fee and spaces are limited on the hill.
Why stay here
- ✓Outdoor pool with city views
- ✓Spa with sauna and steam room
- ✓Les Terrasses de Lyon restaurant
- ✓Poolside bar
- ✓Garden terraces
- ✓Gym
- ✓Concierge and 24-hour front desk
- ✓Valet parking and EV charging
Good questions
Where is Villa Florentine in Lyon?+
It is on Fourvière hill in the 5th arrondissement, about a three-minute walk from the basilica and five minutes from the Vieux-Lyon and Saint-Paul stations.
Does Villa Florentine have a pool?+
Yes, it has an outdoor pool with loungers and a poolside bar, looking out over the city, plus a spa with sauna and steam room.
Is Villa Florentine good for first-time visitors to Lyon?+
It suits couples and travellers who value views and calm. The hill is steep, so those who want to walk everywhere on the Presqu’île may prefer a central hotel.
