Hotel Silky By Happyculture

“Great location, friendly and helpful staff, updated 19th century building that retains its historical charm.”

We stayed here while visiting Lyon for a Taylor Swift concert. Although we had concert tickets booked a year in advance we had a difficult time choosing where to stay, and eventually got busy with life and hired a travel agent to help. By that time this hotel was one of the few options left that ... more

We stayed here while visiting Lyon for a Taylor Swift concert. Although we had concert tickets booked a year in advance we had a difficult time choosing where to stay, and eventually got busy with life and hired a travel agent to help. By that time this hotel was one of the few options left that were located between the two rivers Rhone and Saone where we knew we wanted to stay, but we’re so happy we ended up here. The location is perfect. It’s within easy walking distance of all the food, shopping, and historical Lyon that you could want, as well as subway and bus terminals for farther excursions (public transportation in Lyon is very cheap, clean, safe, and efficient). Before visiting we had heard rumors that the French could be rude to foreigners, but the hotel staff (and everyone else in Lyon for that matter) were extremely friendly. They were very knowledgeable and helpful about the area, fluent in English, but would also politely entertain bad attempts at speaking French. The breakfast is cheap and good if you don’t want to go elsewhere. They also have free espresso/coffee and water in the lobby 24/7. The hotel is located in a 19th century building with ties to the silk trade—hence the name—and has been updated, but still retains a lot of its historical charm. Due to its age the room sizes are not uniform. We had the choice between a larger and smaller room and chose the latter on the rationale that we would essentially only sleep there. While this proved correct, in hindsight it would have been be more convenient to have the additional space for luggage, although this isn’t a deal breaker if the smaller room is the only type available. I don’t think the cost difference was significant either. We were on the the third floor and had a nice view off the balcony of the Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière up the hill. Overall we’re very pleased with our stay. Lyon is a beautiful city that blends medieval history and architecture with modern conveniences such as boutique shopping, a large variety of food options, and a subway system that rivals NYC. This hotel is the perfect place to explore it.

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