A Roman city founded more than two millennia ago, Lyon is best savoured nose to tail, past to future, literally and figuratively. Ranked #21 for Restaurants, it’s also #8 for Health. (Perhaps the #11 Walkability and #9 Biking rankings help.) Lyon may be old but it’s innovative: the PATLY project seeks to take the gastronomic capital from 4.6% to 15% food autonomy and provide access to healthy food for all by 2030. And the Voies Lyonnaises public transport cycling network is rolling toward a 354-kilometre mesh by 2030, with major links from the city centre to the suburbs and regional destinations. At the merging of the Rhône and Saône rivers, La Confluence, the 150-hectare masterplanned remake of the city’s industrial presqu’île, will create a community of some 17,000 residents and 25,000 employees by 2030, showcasing multi-generational, multi-priced housing, a climate‑ready public realm and the landmark Musée des Confluences. Twenty minutes away in Décines, the 20-hectare OL Vallée sports and leisure district keeps adding economic clout and reasons to linger. There’s everything from City Surf Park to the 59,000-seat Groupama arena, home to both a Ligue 1 men’s team and the OL Lyonnes, the world’s best women’s football club – a prize in a universe of ascendant women’s sports.