Skyscanner has revealed the cheapest destination that travellers can fly to in 2026, and top of the chart is a city with an average return price over the year of £105. There are even deals from £44 return available for those visiting in February.
Lyon, set in the southeast of France in the picturesque Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, is often overlooked as a city break destination. However, it’s a haven for foodies, and has unofficially been dubbed the ‘food capital of the world’ due to having more restaurants per head than any other city in France. It’s home to many iconic eateries, including 18 that hold one or more Michelin stars.
At the heart of its food culture are its bouchons, cosy, typically inexpensive restaurants which serve hearty Lyonnaise cuisine such as sausages, coq au vin, and duck pate. They usually have a warm, inviting atmosphere, with traditional interiors and relaxed service, and many offer prix fixe menus.
If you’re looking for fine dining, there are several two-Michelin-starred restaurants across the city, perhaps the most famous being Restaurant Paul Bocuse. Named for the celebrity chef who was dubbed ‘the pope of gastronomy’, this colourful restaurant’s exterior can be spotted along the banks of the Saône, just to the north of Lyon’s city centre. Inside, it’s a more traditional affair, with crisp white tablecloths and chandeliers, although the kitchen occasionally spills into the dining room, offering live demonstrations of how its modern French cuisine is prepared.
Le Neuvième Art is another stylish eatery with two-Michelin stars. Specialising in haute cuisine, this bright, modern restaurant serves beautifully presented dishes, with a focus on a green colour palette.
However, it’s not just restaurants that make Lyon an incredible city break destination. This walkable city is full of history, from Roman ruins to medieval streets. The neighbourhood of Viex Lyon (Old Lyon) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site thanks to its stunning Renaissance architecture, cobbled streets, and hidden courtyards. Look out for Traboules, hidden covered passageways that were originally built for easy access for silk workers, but later used by the French Resistance in WWII.
One of the city’s most striking buildings is the Basilica of Notre Dame of Fourvière. By Lyon standards, it’s fairly new, and was built in the late-19th century taking inspiration from byzantine, gothic and romanesque styles. This ornate building has an exterior covered in carved stone, and an interior with high painted ceilings and stained glass that make it a popular spot for tourists to photograph.
Even more modern is the Musée des Confluences, where steel and glass created an angular building meant to resemble a ‘crystal cloud’. This science centre and anthropology museum opened in 2014, and has a huge range of exhibits from insects to dinosaur bones, as well as plenty of interactive things to spark children’s imagination.
Those looking for flights to Lyon can find the cheapest dates on Skyscanner. The flight comparison site also offers a new Cheapest Destination Planner, which allows you to enter the dates you’re interested in and get a list of the top ten least expensive places to go to.
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