The concept is simple. Take the largest city of a European country, cross it off your list and visit the second biggest. This little excercise can take you through the charming traboules of Lyon, the cozy tascas of Porto and the vast Alsters of Hamburg.
This technique is a great way to see a country on a deeper level, not just the thin veneer designed for tourists. Overall, I am a huge supporter of “second city” travel, but I think there is an even better method I’ll discuss later on.
Lyon, the underrated launching point of French Adventure
Lyon, a city with all the grandeur of Paris but with hardly an American in sight.
While on a wine trip in Burgundy, we flew through the city of Lyon in the Rhône-Alpes region of France. We didn’t know what to expect, but, feeling optimistic, we booked 2 nights in the city and were pleasantly surprised.
This is the 2nd largest Urban area in France and it has a food scene that can even rival Paris. It straddles both the Rhône and the Saône rivers with grand bridges that seamlessly connect the old town with the heart of the city.
From here, you can launch into the French Alps or into Burgundy to explore one of the most famous wine regions in France.
