We had a wonderful time staying at Emma’s apartment in Lyon. It is in the perfect part of Vieux Lyon, close to the action of Rue de St. Jean, but in a quieter section with fewer visitors. We really enjoyed the courtyard patio and its amazing view of the city. A glass of wine on the patio was the perfect way to end our days exploring Lyon. Getting to the apartment was truly an experience. The apartment is settled about two-thirds of the way up a traboule that connects the lower street (Montee du Gourguillon) and the upper street (Montee du Chemin Neuf). To reach the apartment from the lower entrance (a beautiful oversized red door on the quaintest of Lyon’s streets), you travel through a series of spiral staircases connected by courtyards. We loved this unique entry and the extra effort of the stairs (nearly 150 of them) was completely worth it! You can enter the apartment from the upper street which has fewer stairs (easier when coming in with luggage), but the entry from the lower street was one of my favorite parts of staying at Emma’s apartment.

The apartment is full of character and is well stocked with everything that you need. The tile floors and exposed beams provide the old charm that we wanted while staying in France.

The owner has children, so there were a few games and toys to keep our kids entertained in off-hours (including gymnastic rings to hang from in the courtyard patio, their favorite). There were also a couple of small foot scooters to ride around on. Emma provided excellent recommendations and answered any questions we had very quickly.

One thing to note, this is someone’s home (not set up just to be a rental). If you are expecting a professional scrub down before you arrive or towels laid out for you, this is not the place for you. However, it is like staying at an old friend’s, and you can certainly find everything you need and feel at home while you stay.

Other important notes. This home does NOT include any air conditioning. Fans are provided and can be moved between rooms when you need them. We visited in July when it was very hot, and nights were hot as well. If you need air conditioning and are traveling in the summer, this isn't the place for you.

Also, there are two toilets, both of which are upstairs on the main level. The bedrooms are downstairs, so if you need the bathroom in the middle of the night you have to walk upstairs.

Outside of those two caveats, this is a wonderful place to stay with authentic charm and character you will remember. We truly enjoyed staying here and would definitely recommend it to anyone planning to visit Lyon!