Your stay — Hôtel de Lyon
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The Property — Hôtel de Lyon
Hôtel de Lyon is a solid, no-nonsense 3-star in central Valence. The lobby feels like a modest 1960s provincial hotel that's been kept shipshape: polished tiles, a leather bench, and a receptionist who knows the town. It suits independent travellers who want clean, quiet rooms and a location you can walk everywhere from, without paying for frills. You won't Instagram the decor, but you'll sleep well and step straight out onto the main shopping street.
Chronicles of Valence
Valence was founded by the Romans in 121 BC as a colony for veterans, and its name comes from 'Valentia' meaning strength. The medieval city grew around the cathedral of Saint-Apollinaire, a Romanesque building begun in the 11th century. In the 16th century Valence became a Protestant stronghold during the Wars of Religion, briefly serving as a capital for the Huguenots. The 19th-century industrial boom saw the arrival of the railway and silk-weaving, which shaped today's compact city centre of wide boulevards and plane-tree squares. Now it's a relaxed regional capital known for its food market, the Maison des Têtes, and as the gateway to the Ardèche gorges.
Best Time to Visit
Full Valence guide →Best months
June and September — long, warm days (24–28°C) with lower humidity than July/August, and the summer crowds haven't peaked or have already thinned. May is also good, though a touch cooler and rainier.
Peak / festival surge
July and August are the busiest, driven by French summer holidays and the Tour de France passing nearby in late July. Hotel prices in Valence jump 20-30% in August. The biggest local event is the Festival de l'Escapade (mid-August), a pop/rock concert series in the Parc Jouvet.
Budget shoulder season
April and October give you budget-friendly rates (30–40% off peak) and mild weather (15–20°C), though expect some rain. You'll have the Saturday market almost to yourself in April.
Weather & packing
The Rhône valley funnels a brisk Mistral wind even in summer, so a light windbreaker or puffer vest is useful for evenings. Pack in layers — a T-shirt, a sweater, and something windproof. Sunscreen is non-negotiable for the strong southern sun.
Live City Briefing — Valence
- The new tram line T2 from Valence-Ville station to the city centre has replaced several bus routes since early 2026 — check current schedules as the extension to the hospital is still under construction.
- The Saturday morning market on the Place des Clercs has moved to a temporary site behind the cathedral due to ongoing plaza renovation until September.
- Cycling path V67 along the Rhône riverside has been resurfaced and widened, making it easier to pedal between the city and the Ardèche vineyards without traffic.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Hôtel de Lyon, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on floor 1, as it is served by the single lift and has easier access to the reception. Rooms on floor 2, including those in the historic wing, are stairs-only and may be less convenient. If you require an adapted room, room 102 on the ground floor is available.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid rooms on floor 4, as they are the highest floor and may be further from the lift. If you're sensitive to noise, avoid rooms facing the street, as Place de la République can be busy and noisy.
Best views
Unfortunately, there is no information available on the hotel's address, so it's unclear what views are available from the rooms.
Quietest floors
Floors 1 and 2 are likely to be the quietest, as they are served by the single lift and have fewer rooms. The historic wing on floor 2 is stairs-only, which may reduce noise disturbance.
🔊 Noise notes
Street noise from Place de la République may be a concern, especially for rooms on floors 1 and 2. The single lift may also be a source of noise, particularly for rooms on floors 1-4.
Insider tips
Arrive early for parking, as the public car park 'Parking République' has limited spaces and is a 2-minute walk away. Request the adapted room 102 on the ground floor for easy access and a quieter location.
- 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 de Lyon
Free unlimited Wi-Fi throughout (30 Mbps typical); captive portal login with room number and surname
Single lift serves floors 1–4; stairs to floor 0 (reception) and small historic wing on floor 2 is stairs-only
Digital PressReader (free, 100+ titles) via hotel tablet in lobby; no free physical newspapers delivered; property is a converted 19th-century townhouse with original staircase and wrought-iron lift cage
Check-in 15:00–22:00 (weekends until 23:00); early bag drop from 10:00 (free); late check-out until 13:00 at €25, 14:00 at €50
Free for day check-out guests; locker in luggage room accessible during reception hours (08:00–22:00)
Step-free entrance via ramp at side door (bell for assistance); no wheelchair-accessible lift (lift doors 68 cm width); adapted room available on ground floor (room 102)
No on-site parking; public car park 'Parking République' 150 m away, €12 per 24h; no EV charging on site
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: €1.50 per person per night (2025 rate; children under 18 exempt)
Deposit & card hold: First night charged as deposit for non-refundable bookings; €50 incidental hold on credit card at check-in for refundable rates
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: Médiathèque drômoise des sciences religieuses (238 m · ~3 min walk)
- Church: Église Notre-Dame (526 m · ~7 min walk)
- Synagogue: Synagogue (531 m · ~7 min walk)
- Church: Cathédrale Saint-Apollinaire (542 m · ~7 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Centre commercial Victor Hugo — 161 m · ~2 min walk
Square Charles Aznavour — 494 m · ~6 min walk
Centre du Patrimoine Arménien — 451 m · ~6 min walk
Comedy palace — 76 m · ~1 min walk
Place Lamartine — 822 m · ~10 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Crédit Mutuel — 207 m · ~3 min walk
Pharmacie de la Gare — 15 m · ~1 min walk
Franprix — 89 m · ~1 min walk
Valence-Ville — 149 m · ~2 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Euro, EUR
Use ATMs in the city centre; avoid exchange desks at Grenoble or Lyon airports and tourist bureaux for poor rates.
Cards widely accepted in shops, restaurants, and hotels; contactless and Apple Pay common, but carry cash for small markets and rural bakeries.
Service included in restaurants and taxis; rounding up the bill or leaving a couple of euros is appreciated for good service; no need to tip hotel staff beyond small change.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Espresso at a café counter, around €1.50–2.
Formule lunch (main + drink or dessert) at a brasserie or boulangerie, roughly €12–15.
Pizza or plat du jour at a casual restaurant, main course about €12–18.
Weekly markets (like Place des Clercs on Saturday) for savoury crêpes, socca, and fresh produce stalls.
Carrefour Market, Intermarché, and Lidl are common supermarkets.
High-street chains (Zara, H&M) in the Centre-Ville; also the Marché de Valence on Saturdays for second-hand clothes.
Single bus ticket €1.80 (Citéa network) or day pass €5.50; budget from Lyon airport: FlixBus or BlaBlaCar bus to Valence TGV station from €10.
Shop at the covered market (Halle de la Place) for picnic supplies; fill a reusable bottle at public fountains; rent a bike from the Libélo scheme (€1 for 30 minutes) instead of using taxis.
Good to know — Valence
Type C/E · 230V
safe
$1 ≈ €0.87 · EUR
Where to Eat
Book a table →💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Valence, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Hôtel de Lyon
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Crédit Mutuel — 207 m · ~3 min walk — pharmacy · Pharmacie de la Gare — 15 m · ~1 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Find train tickets →Valence TGV station → Valence Gare Routière (central bus station)
💡 The bus is the cheapest link from the TGV station. Validate your ticket onboard – drivers check. From Gare Routière it’s a 10-min walk to the hotel along Rue Faventines.
Valence Gare Routière → Hôtel Résidence Hévéa (stop: Faventines)
💡 From the central bus station, Tram 1 drops you at Faventines stop, 50 m from the hotel. Buy a day pass (€4.50) if you’ll make more than 3 trips. The tram runs late but not after midnight.
Paris Gare de Lyon → Valence TGV station
💡 Book on SNCF Connect at least 2 weeks ahead for the cheapest fares. The station is 10 km from city centre; catch the free navette bus (line 20) to central Valence.
Valence TGV station → Hôtel Résidence Hévéa (21 Rue Faventines)
💡 Pre-book with Taxis Valence (04 75 42 18 18) to avoid surcharges. Confirm the fixed fare to city centre – drivers sometimes quote higher for late trains.
About Valence
Wikipedia ↗
Valence (US: , French: [valɑ̃s] ; Occitan: Valença [vaˈlensɔ]) is a commune in southeastern France, the prefecture of the Drôme department and within the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. It is situated on the left bank of the Rhône, about 100 kilometres (62 mi) south of Lyon, along the railway line that...
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Hôtel de Lyon?
Request a room on floor 1, as it is served by the single lift and has easier access to the reception. Rooms on floor 2, including those in the historic wing, are stairs-only and may be less convenient. If you require an adapted room, room 102 on the ground floor is available.
Which rooms should I avoid at Hôtel de Lyon?
Avoid rooms on floor 4, as they are the highest floor and may be further from the lift. If you're sensitive to noise, avoid rooms facing the street, as Place de la République can be busy and noisy.
Is Hôtel de Lyon noisy?
Street noise from Place de la République may be a concern, especially for rooms on floors 1 and 2. The single lift may also be a source of noise, particularly for rooms on floors 1-4.
Which rooms have the best views at Hôtel de Lyon?
Unfortunately, there is no information available on the hotel's address, so it's unclear what views are available from the rooms.
What are insider tips for staying at Hôtel de Lyon?
Arrive early for parking, as the public car park 'Parking République' has limited spaces and is a 2-minute walk away. Request the adapted room 102 on the ground floor for easy access and a quieter location.
What time is check-in at Hôtel de Lyon?
Check-in at Hôtel de Lyon is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Hôtel de Lyon have Wi-Fi?
Free unlimited Wi-Fi throughout (30 Mbps typical); captive portal login with room number and surname
Is there a city or tourist tax at Hôtel de Lyon?
€1.50 per person per night (2025 rate; children under 18 exempt)
Where can I eat cheaply near Hôtel de Lyon?
Formule lunch (main + drink or dessert) at a brasserie or boulangerie, roughly €12–15.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Hôtel de Lyon?
Single bus ticket €1.80 (Citéa network) or day pass €5.50; budget from Lyon airport: FlixBus or BlaBlaCar bus to Valence TGV station from €10.
When is the best time to visit Valence?
June and September — long, warm days (24–28°C) with lower humidity than July/August, and the summer crowds haven't peaked or have already thinned. May is also good, though a touch cooler and rainier.
Top Attractions in Valence
💡 Head to the rooftop terrace for a killer view of the old town and rooftops. Free lockers for bags.
💡 Visit during a weekday morning for near silence—the cloister garden is a good spot for a quiet read. No flash photography.
💡 Go in late afternoon when the light hits the cliffs opposite, and grab a cheap drink at the kiosk near the bandstand.
💡 Start at Place des Clercs, then follow Rue de la République. The market on Saturday morning spills into the streets—browse without buying.
💡 Perfect for a budget lunch: pick up a baguette and cheese from the market, then sit on the low wall facing the Rhône.