19 best things to do in Lyon, France (2026 travel guide)
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Lyon was the first stop on our holiday through France (here’s our full France travel guide if you’re planning a bigger trip), which took us onwards to Marseille and then Nice.
We almost skipped Lyon entirely – we’d booked it as a stopover between Paris and the south, expecting a day would be enough. That turned out to be completely wrong. Lyon is France’s third-largest city, but it doesn’t feel like it.
The UNESCO-listed old town is one of the largest Renaissance quarters in Europe, there are Roman ruins on the hill above it, and the food scene is some of the best in France – locals call it the gastronomic capital, and after eating our way through the bouchons, we agreed.
We ended up staying three nights and could easily have stayed longer. Here’s everything we’d recommend doing – and a few things we’d do differently next time.
What are the best things to do in Lyon?
Vieux Lyon (Old Lyon)
Vieux Lyon is a World Heritage site and one of the largest Renaissance districts in Europe. It’s a maze of narrow streets, colourful buildings, and hidden courtyards.
The district is divided into three distinct sections: Saint Jean, Saint Georges, and Saint Paul, each with its own unique character. The cobblestone streets are lined with traditional bouchons, where you can taste Lyon’s specialities, such as quenelles and saucisson.
Rue Saint-Jean is the main artery – a narrow pedestrianised street lined with bakeries, souvenir shops, and the kind of tiny restaurants where you eat inches from the kitchen. At the southern end you’ll find the Cathédrale Saint-Jean-Baptiste (see entry below).
Further up the street, the Maison des Avocats is a beautiful Renaissance courtyard building that now houses the Musée International de la Miniature – we didn’t go in, but it’s full of intricate miniatures and film props from Hollywood productions.
When we were there it got pretty busy by midday, so we’d recommend going in the morning before the crowds arrive.
Why go? History, architecture, and local cuisine.
How long? 2 hours.
Cathédrale Saint-Jean-Baptiste
Right at the southern end of Rue Saint-Jean, the Cathédrale Saint-Jean-Baptiste is hard to miss – its blunt facade dominates the small square in front of it. The building is a mix of Romanesque and Gothic styles, largely because construction started in the 12th century and wasn’t finished until the 15th.
Inside, the stained glass is impressive, but the real draw is the 14th-century astronomical clock in the north transept. It’s one of the oldest in Europe and still works – it chimes at noon, 2pm, 3pm, and 4pm, with a mechanical display that tracks the date, lunar phases, and the position of the sun. We stumbled in just before 2pm and caught it by accident, which was a nice bit of luck.
Entry is free. It’s also the natural starting point for walking up towards Fourvière, since the funicular station is just around the corner.
Why go? Stunning Gothic architecture and a working 600-year-old astronomical clock.
How long? 30 minutes.
Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière
The Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière is perched on Fourvière Hill and is one of Lyon’s most iconic landmarks. It’s a stunning white basilica, dedicated to the Virgin Mary, and offers panoramic views of the city.
The basilica itself has intricate mosaics, stunning stained glass windows, and impressive towers. Entrance is free.
There’s a small tourist café nearby with decent food options, which you can eat on the benches outside or find a nice place to stop and take in the views.
It’s worth exploring the surrounding area too. The Roman Theatre is one of the best-preserved Roman sites in France and is still used today for concerts and performances during the summer.
You can also visit the nearby Musée Lugdunum (also called the Musée Gallo-Romain de Lyon-Fourvière) to learn more about Lyon’s Roman history – the collection covers everything from mosaics to everyday objects, and entrance is included with the Lyon City Card.
The walk up is steep – properly steep, especially in the heat. We walked up through the Jardin des Curiosités (a small terraced garden with one of the best views in Lyon) and took the funicular down.
There are two funicular lines from the Vieux Lyon station: one goes to Fourvière (for the basilica and the views) and the other to Saint-Just (for the Roman theatres). A return ticket costs around €3.50, or it’s included in a TCL day pass and the Lyon City Card. The system dates back to 1862 – one of the oldest in the world.
Why go? Panoramic views, old ruins, and ancient history.
How long? 2-3 hours.
Walk or cycle the riverbanks
Lyon sits at the meeting point of two rivers – the Rhône and the Saône – and both have long, flat promenades running alongside them. We walked sections of both during our visit, but in hindsight, hiring a Vélo’v bike would have been the smarter move.
Vélo’v is Lyon’s public bike-share scheme, with docking stations scattered across the city. A day pass costs €2 and covers unlimited 30-minute rides – dock the bike, grab another one when you need it. The dedicated cycle lanes run for kilometres along both rivers, and on a warm evening the Rhône banks in particular fill up with joggers, cyclists, and people sitting on the quays with a bottle of wine.
The stretch along the Rhône between Parc de la Tête d’Or and the Confluence district is probably the most scenic continuous ride you can do – about 8km one way, flat the whole way, with the city skyline on one side and the river on the other.
Why go? A different perspective on the city, good exercise, and free (almost).
How long? 1–3 hours depending on how far you go.
Place des Terreaux and the Presqu’île
The Presqu’île is the long peninsula between the two rivers and is the commercial and cultural heart of Lyon. Place des Terreaux is its centrepiece. The square is flanked by the Hôtel de Ville (city hall) on one side and the Musée des Beaux-Arts on the other, with a large Bartholdi fountain in the middle (designed by the same bloke who created the Statue of Liberty).
We walked through Place des Terreaux on our way to the Beaux-Arts and ended up stopping for a coffee. The Opéra de Lyon is just off the square – you can’t miss it, because the original 19th-century stone facade has been topped with a modern glass barrel-vault roof by architect Jean Nouvel.
From here, Rue de la République runs south towards Place Bellecour – it’s the main shopping street, lined with high-street brands, but the side streets are where you’ll find the independent shops, wine bars, and bistros. The Presqu’île is also where the nightlife concentrates if you’re looking for evening options.
Why go? Architecture, shopping, and the liveliest part of the city after dark.
How long? 1–2 hours (more if you shop or eat).
Place Bellecour
Place Bellecour ended up being our anchor point for the whole trip – not because there’s loads to see on the square itself (it’s mostly a big open space with a Louis XIV statue in the middle), but because it’s where everything connects.
We ended up crossing it multiple times a day. In the mornings there were runners and dog walkers; by the afternoon it filled with families and street performers. When we visited in September it hosted a food festival with stalls from different countries – apparently they do similar events throughout the summer. In December, the square gets an ice rink and Christmas market stalls.
From Bellecour, you’re a five-minute walk from Vieux Lyon in one direction and Rue de la République – the main shopping street – in the other. If you’re heading north along Rue de la République, you’ll reach Place des Terreaux, where you’ll find the imposing Hôtel de Ville (city hall) and the Opéra de Lyon, with its distinctive modern glass barrel-vault roof sitting on top of the original 19th-century facade. It’s worth walking past even if you’re not going in.
Why go? It’s the natural starting point – you’ll pass through it constantly.
How long? Not a destination in itself, but budget 30 minutes to orient yourself (longer if there’s an event on).
Parc de la Tête d’Or
We headed to Parc de la Tête d’Or on our second afternoon, mostly to rest our legs after a morning climbing Fourvière. It’s one of the largest urban parks in France and it felt like it – we spent a couple of hours there and still only saw about half of it.
The lake in the centre is the highlight – you can rent pedal boats, or just sit on the grass and watch everyone else do it. There’s a botanical garden, and a rose garden with hundreds of varieties that apparently peaks in May and June. We mostly just walked the shaded paths and stopped for a cold drink at one of the kiosks. There’s a zoo too, but we avoid most animal tourism.
If you’ve got the energy, hire a Vélo’v bike (Lyon’s public bike-share scheme – there are docking stations everywhere) and cycle along the banks of the Rhône. The dedicated cycle lanes run for kilometres along both rivers and is a nice way to see the city on a sunny day.
Why go? Nature, relaxation, and outdoor activities.
How long? 2-3 hours.
Musée des Beaux-Arts
The Musée des Beaux-Arts was one of the best things we did in Lyon. It’s housed in a 17th-century former abbey on Place des Terreaux, and the building alone would be worth the visit – the sculpture garden in the old cloister is a hidden courtyard where you can sit with a coffee and forget you’re in the middle of a city.
The collection spans about 5,000 years – Egyptian artefacts, Renaissance paintings, Impressionists, modern art. We spent most of our time in the Impressionist rooms (Monet, Renoir, Degas) and the sculpture halls, but you could easily spend a full day here if you wanted to cover everything.
There’s free admission with the Lyon City Card or €8 (you can pay a bit more to access the exhibitions). Its closed on Tuesdays, and we’d recommend booking online.
Why go? World-class art, historic setting, and diverse collections.
How long? 2-3 hours.
La Croix-Rousse and the traboules
La Croix-Rousse is a neighbourhood with a unique vibe, often referred to as the “village within the city”. It’s on a hill overlooking the city, and was once the centre of Lyon’s silk industry. It’s now a bohemian district known for its street art, quirky shops, and markets.
What we liked most was the traboules, which are secret passageways that connect the buildings and courtyards. They were used by silk weavers to transport their goods and later by the French Resistance during World War II. You can walk through on your own, but we followed this self-guided tour on the GPSMyCity app which took us to some great places we wouldn’t have found on our own (we use their tours a lot – great for finding out information about where you’re at).
Otherwise, just wander round the area and it’s narrow streets. You’ll find indie boutiques, neighbourhood cafés, and a daily market (the Boulevard de la Croix-Rousse market, which runs most mornings) where you can pick up cheese, charcuterie, and pastries from local producers.
The Mur des Canuts is a massive mural that depicts the daily life of the silk workers and is a great example of Lyon’s famous trompe-l’œil murals.
If the silk history interests you, visit the Maison des Canuts – a small museum and working workshop where you can see traditional silk-weaving techniques still in action. It’s a fifteen-minute walk from the Mur des Canuts.
And the Jardin Rosa Mir is a hidden garden that’s filled with colourful mosaics and plants, which is worth a look.
Why go? Bohemian vibe, street art, and local culture.
How long? 2-3 hours.
Musée des Confluences
The Musée des Confluences is a trek from the centre (we took the T1 tram to the end of the line) but it’s an amazing building, and a nice neighbourhood to explore too. It’s a massive glass and steel structure that juts out over the water where the two rivers meet, and from the outside it looks like something from a different century to the rest of Lyon.
Inside, the permanent exhibitions cover everything from the origins of the universe to human migration patterns to biodiversity. It’s heavier on natural sciences and anthropology than art (dinosaur skeletons, meteorites, and ethnographic collections). We found the “Origins” exhibition on the ground floor the most interesting, but there’s easily three hours’ worth of content across all the floors.
Entry is €12 (free with the Lyon City Card).
After the museum, the riverbanks around the Confluence district are worth a wander – the whole area has been redeveloped with modern architecture, restaurants, and a large shopping centre. It’s a completely different feel to the old town.
Why go? Futuristic architecture, diverse exhibits, and riverside views.
How long? 2-3 hours.
Eat at a Bouchon
No visit to Lyon is complete without dining at a traditional bouchon, a uniquely Lyonnaise culinary experience that you won’t find anywhere else.
Bouchons are cosy, family-run restaurants that serve hearty, home-style Lyonnaise cuisine. Dishes are rich in flavour, like quenelles de brochet (a type of fish dumpling), saucisson brioché (sausage baked in brioche), and tablier de sapeur (breaded tripe), all paired with local wines from the Côtes du Rhône.
They’re scattered across the city, especially in Vieux Lyon and around the Rue Saint-Jean. The atmosphere inside a bouchon is warm and convivial, with red-and-white chequered tablecloths, vintage decor, and often a lively crowd of locals.
Don’t expect refined dining – this is comfort food in a casual setting, and the portions are generous. Save room for a tarte aux pralines (a bright pink tart made with candied almonds – it’s everywhere in Lyon and completely addictive) or fromage blanc with cream.
Do your research if you’re a vegetarian, as the food is quite meat heavy, so you may struggle to find somewhere which caters for you (let us know if you have a recommendation!).
Tip: look for the “Authentique Bouchon Lyonnais” label on the door – it’s a certification from the local association that guarantees you’re eating at a genuine bouchon rather than a tourist-oriented imitation. There are only around 20 certified bouchons in the city.
Why go? Traditional Lyonnaise cuisine, local atmosphere, and historic setting.
How long? 1.5 – 2 hours.
Musée Gadagne
Musée Gadagne is two museums in one Renaissance building in the heart of Vieux Lyon. We went mainly for the Museum of History of Lyon on the upper floors, which traces the city from its Roman founding as Lugdunum through the silk trade years and up to the present. The displays are well done – plenty of models, maps, and objects rather than just text panels.
The puppet museum downstairs was more interesting than we expected. Lyon has a famous puppet character called Guignol (invented here in the early 1800s), and the collection includes marionettes, shadow puppets, and glove puppets from around the world. If you’ve got kids, they’ll love it; if you haven’t, it’s still worth 20 minutes.
Don’t miss the rooftop terrace – it’s tucked away and most people seem to miss it. You get a quiet, elevated view over the rooftops of Vieux Lyon with a small café. One of our favourite spots in the city.
Why go? Rich history, unique exhibits, and cultural heritage.
How long? 2-3 hours.
Fresque des Lyonnais
The Fresque des Lyonnais is one of the most impressive examples of Lyon’s famed trompe-l’œil (optical illusion) murals. Covering the entire side of a building near the Saône River, this massive fresco features 30 of Lyon’s most famous residents, both past and present. The mural includes figures like the Roman Emperor Claudius, the Lumière brothers (pioneers of cinema), and Paul Bocuse, the legendary chef who helped cement Lyon’s status as the gastronomic capital of France.
We visited after walking through La Croix-Rousse. While nice to look at, its small, so best visited as part of a longer walk or activity.
Why go? Unique street art and photo opportunities.
How long? 10 minutes.
Les Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse
We went to Les Halles on our last morning in Lyon and wished we’d gone sooner – we can see why they call Lyon the gastronomic capital of France. It’s an indoor food market named after Paul Bocuse, Lyon’s most famous chef, and the quality of everything – from the cheese counters to the oyster bars to the charcuterie stalls – is a step above what we’d found elsewhere.
It’s not cheap (it’s a gourmet market, not a street market) but it’s brilliant for picking up things to take home. We grabbed a box of praline tarts (the pink ones made with candied almonds), some saucisson, and a couple of bottles of Côtes du Rhône. Several stalls have small eating areas where you can sit down for oysters and a glass of wine – we saw people doing this at 10am and wished we’d thought of it.
Go in the morning – it gets busy by lunchtime, and some stalls start closing up in the early afternoon. It’s closed on Mondays.
Why go? Culinary delights, local specialities, and vibrant atmosphere.
How long? 1-2 hours.
Île Barbe
Île Barbe is a tiny island in the Saône that feels completely detached from the city. There’s a ruined medieval abbey, a handful of old stone houses, and an upmarket restaurant (Auberge de l’Île) – and not much else.
It’s the kind of place you go for an afternoon of doing very little, and it’s a contrast to the museum-hopping pace of the rest of the trip. You can reach it on the number 40 or 70 bus from the centre, or by river shuttle in the summer months.
Why go? A peaceful escape from the city without actually leaving it.
How long? 1–2 hours.
Take a food tour or cooking class
If you want to go deeper on Lyon’s food scene beyond eating at bouchons, a guided food tour is a solid way to do it.
Several operators run walking tours through Vieux Lyon or the Presqu’île that combine tastings at local producers with history and context – you’ll try things you wouldn’t have ordered yourself and learn why Lyon ended up with the food reputation it has.
Cooking classes are another option – a few places in the city run half-day sessions where you cook a traditional Lyonnaise meal (usually quenelles, a main, and a praline dessert) and eat it afterwards. They’re not cheap (expect €60–100 per person), but if food is a big part of why you’re visiting, it’s one of the more memorable things you can do. We were going to do this one but didn’t have time in the end.
Why go? A deeper dive into Lyon’s food culture than you’ll get on your own.
How long? 2–4 hours.
Practical information
How long should you stay in Lyon?
We’d say three days minimum. We had three nights and covered Fourvière, Vieux Lyon, Parc de la Tête d’Or, and some of the museums – but we had to rush La Croix-Rousse and couldn’t go to all the museums.
If you want to include a day trip to Beaujolais or Annecy, budget four or five days.
Where should you stay in Lyon?
We stayed near the Victor Hugo metro station. The streets around Victor Hugo have beautiful Haussmann-style buildings, a good Tuesday and Sunday market on Boulevard de la Croix-Rousse (reachable in minutes), and a handful of neighbourhood restaurants that cater to locals rather than tourists. It’s also easy to get around – the metro runs right underneath.
There’s a couple of other areas worth considering depending on what you’re after.
If you want to be close to the main attractions, consider staying in Vieux Lyon. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site and filled with narrow streets, historic buildings, and secret passageways, making it a perfect base for exploring the city’s rich history. The area around Rue Saint-Jean is particularly lively, with many cafés, restaurants, and shops.
The Presqu’île district is also a good option, and a bit more modern that Vieux Lyon. Situated between the Rhône and Saône Rivers, it’s the heart of the city and is home to major shopping streets like Rue de la République, as well as cultural landmarks like the Fine Arts Museum and the Opera House.
Staying here means you’re within walking distance of most of what you’ll want to see, and the restaurants and bars keep things lively in the evenings. We use Booking.com to find hotels in Lyon – it had the widest selection and best prices when we were looking.
Also consider staying around Victor Hugo metro station, where we stayed. The streets around Victor Hugo have beautiful Haussmann-style buildings, a good Tuesday and Sunday market on Boulevard de la Croix-Rousse (reachable in minutes), and a handful of neighbourhood restaurants that clearly cater to locals rather than tourists. It’s also easy to get around – the metro runs right underneath.
How do you get to Lyon?
Lyon is well-connected by air, rail, and road, making it easily accessible from most major cities in Europe.
The city’s main airport, Lyon-Saint Exupéry (LYS), is about 25km southeast of the centre. The Rhônexpress tram connects the airport to Lyon Part-Dieu station in around 30 minutes – a one-way ticket costs €16.30 online (book in advance; it’s a few euros more if you buy on board). It runs every 15 minutes during the day.
There’s also a cheaper but slower bus option – the C200 bus line (part of the regular TCL network) launched in late 2025 and costs a standard metro fare, though it takes longer. We compare flights on Kiwi.com – it’s good at finding budget airline routes that don’t always show up on Skyscanner.
If you’re coming by train, Lyon Part-Dieu is the main station – it’s on the Paris–Marseille TGV line, so it’s about two hours from Paris and three from Marseille.
From the UK, you can take the Eurostar to Paris Gare du Nord, walk to Gare de Lyon (or take the RER), and pick up a TGV to Lyon Part-Dieu – the whole journey is doable in around five hours. We’ve written a step-by-step guide to taking the Eurostar to Marseille which covers the Lyon route too, and there’s more on why we love taking the Eurostar if you’re weighing up train vs. plane.
The city has two main train stations, Lyon Part-Dieu and Lyon Perrache, both of which are well-connected to the metro and public transportation systems.
You can compare train prices on Omio – we find Omio is usually cheapest for cross-border routes.
When should you go to Lyon?
The best time to visit Lyon is during the spring (April to June) or autumn (September to October). During these months, the weather is pleasant, and the city is alive with outdoor events and festivals.
Summer is also a great time to visit, especially if you enjoy live music, outdoor dining, and longer days. However, it can get quite hot, and the city tends to be busier with tourists.
December has the Fête des Lumières (Festival of Lights) for four days in early December, with light installations projected onto buildings across the centre. It’s one of the biggest annual events in France and draws huge crowds, so book accommodation well in advance if you’re going then. The Christmas markets run alongside it, mostly around Place Carnot and Place des Terreaux.
Is the Lyon City Card worth it?
The Lyon City Card covers unlimited public transport (including the funicular up to Fourvière) and free entry to more than 20 museums and attractions – including the Musée des Beaux-Arts, Musée des Confluences, and Musée Gadagne. It also includes a river cruise and a guided walking tour of Vieux Lyon.
We didn’t use one on our trip, and looking back we probably should have. If you’re planning to visit even three or four museums over a couple of days, the card pays for itself fairly quickly. You can buy it online or at the tourist office on Place Bellecour. It’s available for 48, 72, or 96 hours – the 72-hour option was the one that would have made the most sense for our three-day stay.
But, always check that you’ll make the money back (and a saving). You have to hit a steady stream of attractions to make it worth it.
Day trips from Lyon
Consider extending your stay with a day trip outside Lyon. Some suggestions are:
- Beaujolais Wine Region: Just an hour north of Lyon, the Beaujolais wine region is an easy day trip if you’ve got a car. The rolling hills and small stone villages (Oingt and Beaujeu are the standouts) are gorgeous, and most vineyards welcome walk-ins for tastings. If you don’t want to drive, guided tours from Lyon run daily and typically include two or three vineyard stops with tastings included.
- Annecy: Annecy is a picturesque lakeside town just two hours from Lyon by train and is known as the Venice of the Alps. Its crystal-clear lake, pastel-coloured houses, and winding canals are the perfect spot for a leisurely stroll, boat ride, or a refreshing swim in the summer. Check train prices on Omio – booking a few days ahead is usually enough.
- Pérouges: Pérouges is a beautifully preserved medieval village about 30 minutes from Lyon Part-Dieu by train. We went for a half-day and it was enough to wander the cobblestone streets, poke around the old stone houses, and eat a galette de Pérouges (a buttery flatbread with sugar – it’s the local thing and every café sells it). It’s tiny, so don’t expect a full day’s worth of activity (unless you go for a walk in the aurrounding countryside), but it’s a lovely change of pace.
If you’re renting a car for the day, we use DiscoverCars to compare prices – it pulls in local and international providers so you can find the best deal.
Our ultimate guide to the South of France also has ideas on places to go. Lyon is well-connected to the South so it’s a perfect stop as part of a longer train-led tour of France.
Frequently asked questions
Planning a bigger France trip?
Lyon pairs brilliantly with a few days in Marseille or along the Riviera in Nice.
For the full picture, check out our ultimate guide to the south of France or browse all of our France travel guides.
If you’re thinking about taking the train from the UK, here’s our Eurostar guide and our take on why the Eurostar beats flying.
This article is now featured on GPSmyCity. To download this article for offline reading or travel directions to the attractions highlighted in this article, go to Walking Tours and Articles in Lyon on GPSmyCity.
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