Lyon is the beating heart of French football right now, with Olympique Lyonnais following their UEFA Champions League win against Juventus by hosting AS Saint-Etienne in the derby this Sunday and then facing Paris Saint-Germain in the Coupe de France semi-finals. So if you're heading to this fine city on the banks of the Rhône to catch one of these games, or thinking of visiting in the future to take in a match at the Groupama Stadium, Ligue1.com has some tips for you.

WHERE TO STAY

OL moved away from the relatively central Stade Municipal de Gerland to their stunning Groupama Stadium in January 2016. The 59,000-seat venue is, like many modern stadia, situated a considerable distance out of the centre, in the eastern suburb of Décines-Charpieu. In fact it is midway between Saint-Exupéry airport and the city centre, but even if you are flying in, it would be crazy not to base yourself in the centre of Lyon itself.

You could stay close to the main railway station, Part-Dieu, from where the tram T3 takes you to the Groupama Stadium in around 25 minutes. There are plenty of good options in the third arrondissement, between Part-Dieu and the River Rhône. Alternatively, head to the city's heart, the Presqu'île. From here you can catch metro line A which connects with the tram for access to the stadium.

We all have different tastes, but if you want a tip for a place to stay then you could try the Maison Nô, a stone's throw from the Hôtel de Ville metro stop. Here you can enjoy breakfast or a drink on the top-floor terrace, with stunning views across to the Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière, which looks over the city.

WHAT TO SEE

With kick-off in the derby not until 9pm on Sunday, if you arrive by Saturday morning you essentially have the whole weekend to check out the sites, of which there are plenty.

A tour of the city on foot should take in the central Place Bellecour, on the Presqu'île, with its statue of Louis XIV in the middle and its views up to Fourvière. From here you can head west, across the River Saône, and into Vieux Lyon, the old city, which is dominated by the Cathedral. Take the funicular railway up to Fourvière for sweeping views east across the city and beyond, towards the Alps.

Any visitor should also take in the distinctive character of the Croix-Rousse district, on the hill above the Presqu'île and which once housed many of the workshops of the silk industry that was so synonymous with the city and is notable, amongst other things, for its traboules, passageways used by silk-workers to transport their products.

Beyond here, back across the Rhône, is the majestic Parc de la Tête d'or, perfect for a stroll in pleasant weather (the climate varies a lot, and Lyon can be both very hot in summer and very cold in winter). The banks of the Rhône, filled with pedestrians and cyclists, also make for a fantastic place to stroll, and if you're feeling really energetic you could carry on all the way down to the modern Confluence district, where the Saône runs into the Rhône.

Here you can find the architecturally stunning Musée des Confluences, which has temporary exhibitions as well as permanent science and anthropology collections. If you want more museums, then what about the Musée Lumière in the Monplaisir neighbourhood, which pays tribute to cinema pioneers the Lumière brothers and their most famous invention, the Cinematograph. For something a little more sombre but also of huge historical importance, there is also the Centre for the History of the Resistance and the Deportation, detailing the story of the French Resistance and the awful fate of the Jews in World War II.

After all that, you are surely ready for some football, although if you're in town for the derby and are also keen on catching some other sport, you could catch the local basketball side, ASVEL, in action against Monaco earlier in the day. ASVEL are the most successful side in the history of France's domestic league and, handily, play home games at the Astroballe in Villeurbanne, on the way to the Groupama Stadium.

WHERE TO EAT

France is renowned worldwide for its cuisine, but Lyon has a particularly excellent reputation within France itself. You may recall the recent banner unveiled by OL fans to protest against the decision to take away a Michelin star from late chef Paul Bocuse, a Lyonnais. "Nobody will take any of your stars away from the hearts of the Lyonnais", said the banner.

So what better place to start your culinary tour of the city than with a trip to the Halles de Lyon - Paul Bocuse, which opened in 1971 and is a mixture of market stalls and restaurants. It is on Cours Lafayette in the third arrondissement, not far from Part-Dieu station.

Any visitor should also make sure they eat in a bouchon lyonnais, a traditional local restaurant. A favourite of this writer is Le Bouchon des Filles in the first arrondissement, a short walk from the Hôtel de Ville on the slopes heading up towards the Croix-Rousse. Here you can get traditional dishes like quenelle, pot-au-feu or try the pistachio sausages with steamed potatoes. Make sure you wash it down with a glass of côtes-du-rhône.

Nearby is Sapnà, a bistro serving its own street-food inspired dishes with Japanese and other Asian flavours. Or if you're in the Croix-Rousse and want some simple, traditional but well done French food, then you could try La Famille, close to the main neighbourhood square and metro station.

Otherwise, if you have a craving for Italian food, head to Pizzeria Napoli, where the walls are covered in football and other sports-related memorabilia. Look out for the picture of Bafétimbi Gomis with the owners, and see which other former Lyon players you can spot on those walls.

And if none of those suggestions are up your street, then why not head to one of the many Ninkasi brewery/restaurants around the city. This is a popular local chain and there is one handily situated close to Part-Dieu so you can fill up before heading to the ground.

THE MATCH

The Groupama Stadium is mightily impressive and the atmosphere is fantastic for a big game when the ground is full. At the time of publishing, derby ticket were still on sale via the club's online ticket platform, billetterie.ol.fr, from 35 euros ($38). Make sure you stop off at the impressive club boutique before the game for a souvenir, and if you get there early enough you can visit the OL Museum as well. Alternatively, if you want more of the delicious local cuisine, you could book to have dinner before the game at the Brasserie Bocuse inside the ground.

And at the end of it all you'll get to enjoy a top-class game of football. Enjoy the match!