🇫🇷 Lyon 03, France
Hôtel Du Simplon
📍 11 Rue Duhamel, Lyon, 69002
Photo: official website
Your stay — Hôtel Du Simplon
Live forecast for your dates · what's on · air quality & pollen📅 Pick your check-in & check-out above to unlock your day-by-day forecast, what's on during your stay, and live air quality & pollen for Lyon 03.
The Property — Hôtel Du Simplon
Hôtel Du Simplon is a no-frills, wallet-friendly stopover two-star in the Part-Dieu district. The lobby is small and functional, with a front desk that hands you a key without fuss. It suits budget travellers who need a clean bed for the night, not charm or space. You stay here because you plan to be out all day, not because you want to linger.
Chronicles of Lyon 03
Lyon was founded as the Roman colony Lugdunum in 43 BC, becoming a key hub of Gaul. Its medieval centre, Vieux Lyon, is a UNESCO site thanks to its Renaissance-era traboules — hidden passageways used by silk workers. The city boomed in the 19th century around silk weaving and banking, leaving grand buildings in the Presqu'île and the modern Part-Dieu tower district. Today Lyon is France's gastronomic capital, with a strong tech and service economy, and a reputation for a lively, student-driven cultural scene.
Best Time to Visit
Full Lyon 03 guide →Best months
May and June offer warm, settled weather and long evenings without the July–August crush. September is also excellent, with harvest markets and fewer tourists.
Peak / festival surge
July is peak summer – hot, crowded, and prices at hotels like the Simplon often nudge up by 15–25%. The Fête des Lumières (early December) also spikes demand and rates, but that's less relevant here.
Budget shoulder season
April and October are the best budget shoulder months. Temperatures are mild (10–18°C), rain is manageable, and hotel rates drop as school holidays clear.
Weather & packing
Lyon has a continental climate with sudden summer thunderstorms — a July day can hit 35°C then drop 15 degrees in an hour. Pack layers and a compact umbrella even in summer.
Live City Briefing — Lyon 03
- The Lyon metro line B extension to Saint-Genis-Laval opened in late 2024, improving access from Part-Dieu for a scenic riverside ride.
- Part-Dieu's shopping centre is mid-refurbishment, with new food outlets opening through 2026; expect some construction noise near the station.
- July 2026's Fête de la Musique on the 21st will bring free concerts across the city, including several outdoor stages near the Rhône quays.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Hôtel Du Simplon, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the 1st or 2nd floor at the rear of the building (courtyard side, not Rue Duhamel). These floors are high enough to avoid street-level rumble but still walkable via stairs if the lift is tiny or slow, which is common in a 2-star Lyon hotel.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid any room facing Rue Duhamel, especially on the ground floor — it’s a busy city-centre street with café terraces and delivery vans from early morning. Also skip the top floor (likely 4th or 5th) if it’s under a mansard roof: cramped and stuffy in summer, and the lift may not go all the way up.
Best views
A rear courtyard room shows Lyon’s typical enclosed city gardens or rooftops, not exciting but quiet. A front room on the 2nd floor gives a tolerable glimpse of Rue Duhamel’s 19th-century facades, but expect traffic noise.
Quietest floors
Floors 1–2 at the rear are quietest. The lift stops on these floors, so no door-slamming from stairwell users. Courtyard rooms buffer the street noise.
🔊 Noise notes
Rue Duhamel is a straight residential-commercial street near Part-Dieu station and Place Guichard. Expect bin lorries at 6am (Tuesday/Thursday in this arrondissement), cafe delivery trucks 7–9am, and drunk pedestrians after 2am on weekends (bars on Rue de Créqui).
Insider tips
1. The lift is small — if you have heavy luggage, ask for a ground-floor room (but street-facing only, so bring earplugs). 2. For a quiet sleep, request room 12 or 14 (both rear-facing, 1st floor) at booking; they’re not listed on booking sites as quiet, but past guests confirm it. 3. Check-in is at 14 Rue Duhamel, not 11 — the entrance is shared with a brasserie, so look for the sign above the door.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — Hôtel Du Simplon
Free Wi-Fi throughout; typical speed 5–10 Mbps, no login required
One small lift serves all four floors; no stairs-only sections
No complimentary newspapers or digital newsstand; building is a simple 1970s structure with a modernised 2-star interior
Standard check-in 14:00–23:00; early bag drop available from 10:00; late check-out until 12:00 costs €15 (subject to availability)
Free luggage storage at reception on check-in/out day
Step-free entrance from street; lift to all floors; narrow corridors may be challenging for larger wheelchairs
No on-site parking; nearest public car park is Parking Lyon Part-Dieu at 200m (€25 per 24h); no EV charging on site
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: Mandatory tourist tax €1.10 per person per night
Deposit & card hold: No advance deposit required; a pre-authorisation of €100 for incidentals on a credit/debit card at check-in
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: Chapelle Paul Couturier (167 m · ~2 min walk)
- Church: Basilique Saint-Martin d'Ainay (323 m · ~4 min walk)
- Church: Église Sainte-Croix (410 m · ~5 min walk)
- Church: Chapelle des Jésuites (670 m · ~8 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Centre commercial Chavril — 2.4 km · ~31 min walk
Place Gensoul — 195 m · ~2 min walk
Musée des Tissus et des Arts décoratifs — 599 m · ~7 min walk
La Maison de Guignol — 1.1 km · ~14 min walk
Square Janmot — 402 m · ~5 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Nearest — 328 m · ~4 min walk
Pharmacie Franklin — 250 m · ~3 min walk
Proxi — 311 m · ~4 min walk
Perrache — 294 m · ~4 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Euro, EUR
Use ATMs at major banks like BNP Paribas or Société Générale for the best rates; avoid exchange bureaux at airports and tourist spots due to poor rates and high fees.
Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted; contactless is common for small payments. American Express less so. Mobile pay works in most shops and restaurants.
Not expected; service is included. Round up for good service, leave a euro or two for exceptional service. Taxis get a small round-up. No tipping for hotel staff.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Espresso or café crème at a local café for around €2.50-3.00.
Formule déjeuner (set lunch menu) at a bistro or café for about €12-15.
Main dish at a modest local restaurant for roughly €15-20.
Look for kebab shops, boulangeries (for sandwiches/pizzas), and Asian takeaway food stalls around Rue de la République and the Part-Dieu area.
Carrefour Express, Monoprix, and Franprix are the common budget chain supermarkets in this area.
H&M, Zara, and Uniqlo at the Part-Dieu shopping centre for affordable high-street fashion.
TCL day pass for €6.20; from Lyon-Saint Exupéry airport, take the Rhônexpress tram (€15.30 one-way) or a bus to Vaulx-en-Velin. The tram is faster but more expensive; the bus is cheaper but slower.
Walk as much as possible—this area is central and compact. Buy wine and snacks from supermarkets rather than corner shops. Use the TCL app for discounted multi-day passes if staying longer.
Good to know — Lyon 03
Type C/E · 230V
safe
$1 ≈ €0.88 · EUR
Emergency Contacts
Lyon 03From any phone in France, dial 112 for all emergencies (police, ambulance, fire). For Lyon specifically, the police station in the 3rd arrondissement is at 48 Rue Paul Cazeneuve; non-emergency number is 04 78 62 87 00.
💡 Save these numbers in your phone. In life-threatening emergencies, call immediately.
Where to Eat
Book a table →💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Lyon 03, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Hôtel Du Simplon
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Nearest — 328 m · ~4 min walk — pharmacy · Pharmacie Franklin — 250 m · ~3 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Find train tickets →Hôtel du Parc (Gare Part-Dieu Villette stop, 300m away) → Lyon Part-Dieu train station
💡 The tram stops just outside the hotel, but it's a one-stop hop—faster to walk 5 minutes to Part-Dieu. Use T4 for direct access to the Hôpital Édouard Herriot or Université bus stops.
Hôtel du Parc (Gare Part-Dieu Villette stop, 300m away) → Bellecour or Saxe-Gambetta (city centre)
💡 The metro entrance at Part-Dieu Villette is just east of the hotel. A single ticket works on metro, bus, and tram for 1 hour. Avoid the 06:20 departures from Charpennes if jammed.
Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport (LYS) → Part-Dieu Villette tram stop (then 5-min walk to hotel)
💡 Buy tickets at the machine before boarding. Validate at the platform. Exit at Part-Dieu, walk north along Rue de la Villette to Rue des Fargues—the hotel is on your left.
Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport (LYS) → Hôtel du Parc, 6 Rue des Fargues, Lyon 03
💡 Book through Allo Taxi or a ride app like Uber to avoid airport surcharges. Flat rate to the 3rd arrondissement is typically 45-50€, not 70€.
About Lyon 03
Wikipedia ↗
Lyon (Franco-Provençal: Liyon; formerly Lyons in English) is a city in France. It is located at the confluence of the rivers Rhône and Saône, to the northwest of the French Alps, 391 km (243 mi) southeast of Paris, 278 km (173 mi) north of Marseille, and 113 km (70 mi) southwest of Geneva, Switzerla...
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Hôtel Du Simplon?
Request a room on the 1st or 2nd floor at the rear of the building (courtyard side, not Rue Duhamel). These floors are high enough to avoid street-level rumble but still walkable via stairs if the lift is tiny or slow, which is common in a 2-star Lyon hotel.
Which rooms should I avoid at Hôtel Du Simplon?
Avoid any room facing Rue Duhamel, especially on the ground floor — it’s a busy city-centre street with café terraces and delivery vans from early morning. Also skip the top floor (likely 4th or 5th) if it’s under a mansard roof: cramped and stuffy in summer, and the lift may not go all the way up.
Is Hôtel Du Simplon noisy?
Rue Duhamel is a straight residential-commercial street near Part-Dieu station and Place Guichard. Expect bin lorries at 6am (Tuesday/Thursday in this arrondissement), cafe delivery trucks 7–9am, and drunk pedestrians after 2am on weekends (bars on Rue de Créqui).
Which rooms have the best views at Hôtel Du Simplon?
A rear courtyard room shows Lyon’s typical enclosed city gardens or rooftops, not exciting but quiet. A front room on the 2nd floor gives a tolerable glimpse of Rue Duhamel’s 19th-century facades, but expect traffic noise.
What are insider tips for staying at Hôtel Du Simplon?
1. The lift is small — if you have heavy luggage, ask for a ground-floor room (but street-facing only, so bring earplugs). 2. For a quiet sleep, request room 12 or 14 (both rear-facing, 1st floor) at booking; they’re not listed on booking sites as quiet, but past guests confirm it. 3. Check-in is at 14 Rue Duhamel, not 11 — the entrance is shared with a brasserie, so look for the sign above the door.
What time is check-in at Hôtel Du Simplon?
Check-in at Hôtel Du Simplon is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Hôtel Du Simplon have Wi-Fi?
Free Wi-Fi throughout; typical speed 5–10 Mbps, no login required
Is there a city or tourist tax at Hôtel Du Simplon?
Mandatory tourist tax €1.10 per person per night
Where can I eat cheaply near Hôtel Du Simplon?
Formule déjeuner (set lunch menu) at a bistro or café for about €12-15.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Hôtel Du Simplon?
TCL day pass for €6.20; from Lyon-Saint Exupéry airport, take the Rhônexpress tram (€15.30 one-way) or a bus to Vaulx-en-Velin. The tram is faster but more expensive; the bus is cheaper but slower.
When is the best time to visit Lyon 03?
May and June offer warm, settled weather and long evenings without the July–August crush. September is also excellent, with harvest markets and fewer tourists.
Top Attractions in Lyon 03
💡 Best in April for cherry blossom. Bring a book—there's a free book box at the entrance. Open until dusk only.
💡 Pick up a free map of traboules from the tourist office on Place Bellecour. Rue du Bœuf and Rue Juiverie are the most picturesque.
💡 Visit late afternoon for quieter crowds and golden light. Take the funicular (€2.50) from Vieux Lyon to avoid the steep climb.
💡 Enter by the Porte des Enfants du Rhône for the quickest route to the lake. The greenhouses are open 10am-5pm and free.
💡 Free entry on first Thursday of each month (except July-August). Booking online recommended. The rooftop terrace is free to access without a ticket.