The Presqu'île (literally "almost island") is the long tongue of land between the Rhône and Saône rivers that forms Lyon's city centre. It is where 19th-century Lyon is at its grandest — broad streets lined with neoclassical facades, grand cafés, department stores, and the city's best cultural institutions. Place Bellecour, Place des Terreaux, the Opéra, the Musée des Beaux-Arts, and Les Halles Paul Bocuse are all on the Presqu'île.
The central shopping streets run north from Place Bellecour along Rue de la République. The northern half of the Presqu'île, around Place des Terreaux and the Hôtel de Ville, is the most architecturally impressive and restaurant-dense part of the city. The waterfront quays on both sides offer good walks; the Saône side is quieter and more residential.