With so much to see and do in Lyon France, it’s no surprise that it is the country’s third largest city. Situated between the Rhône and Saône rivers, Lyon enjoys a privileged location with an urban heart and breathtaking scenery.
In addition to being considered the second student city in the country and having an old town classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Lyon is a city where you will discover wonders at every step you take. Want to know more?
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Things to do in Lyon France
Old Town Vieux Lyon
One of the first things to do in Lyon is undoubtedly to visit its old town. Better known as Vieux Lyon, this charming district is located along the Saône River and at the foot of the Fourviere Hill.
Also, the interior of this district is in turn subdivided into three more: the Saint-Georges district, the Saint-Paul district and the Saint-Jean district. Not only will you be impressed with its colorful streets and numerous artisan shops, but you can access from one street to another through the famous traboules, traditional inner courtyards.
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Saint-Jean Baptiste’s Cathedral in Lyon France
This cathedral is undoubtedly a must-see on your trip to Lyon. Being the most important religious temple of the city, it has a striking Gothic-Romanesque architecture.
Inside it houses an element of great historical value: the astronomical clock of the sixteenth century. You can also find, of equal historical value, the chapel of the Bourbons.
Notre-Dame de Fourvière Basilica
Located on a hill in the Fourviere district, the Basilica of Lyon is one of the most beautiful and most visited monuments in the city, and not only because of the breathtaking views it offers.
Thanks to its mixture of Gothic, Romanesque and Byzantine styles, this church is an architectural jewel. In addition, inside you will find a large number of mosaics, colorful stained glass windows, huge marble columns and different statues of religious figures, all a visual marvel!
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Roman Gaul Theater
Due to its origins as the capital of Gaul, Lyon still preserves two monuments with influences from this culture, the Roman Theater and the Odeon. Located on the Fourviere Hill, this theater was restored and is now used to host shows during the summer.
If you have the time, do not hesitate to visit the Roman Archaeological Museum, where you can see many historical pieces such as mosaics, the Claudian table or the Coligny calendar.
Traboules in Lyon France
Lyon contains a lot of secrets to discover, but definitely one of the most characteristic are the traboules. Located largely throughout the Vieux Lyon district, they are a kind of inner courtyards that connect one street to another.
Meanwhile, they’re decorated in a Renaissance style; among the most popular are the one at 16 Rue du Boeuf, the one at the Tour Rose or the one at the Hotel Bullioud. Don’t forget to visit some of them!
Cinema and Miniature’s Museum
Besides being the perfect plan to enjoy a quiet afternoon, the Cinema and Miniature Museum is one of the most curious places to see in Lyon.
Divided into two parts, inside this museum you can enjoy, on the one hand, a lot of exhibitions on the seventh art, from costumes and masks to monsters and animatronics. On the other hand, on the top floor, you will find a whole area specialized in miniatures with a lot of realism.
Lyon’s Opera
Despite having been built during the 19th century, a period during which Lyon underwent numerous urban reforms, the Opera de Lyon is outside the norms of this architectural style.
Having been remodeled in 1993, this monument stands out for its neoclassical facade, with an impressive vault of metal and glass. In addition, if you have the time, you can enjoy one of its incredible performances. A real marvel to see in Lyon.
Saone and Rhone Rivers
One of the things you can not miss on your trip to Lyon is to enjoy a nice walk along the banks of the Saône River or the Rhône River.
Along the walk along the Saône, you can enjoy the city from another perspective, while you know various historical sites. Some of them are the Church of Saint George and the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist. On the other hand, if you continue along the banks of the Rhône, you will reach the peaceful Tête d’Or Park.
Bellacour’s Square in Lyon France
If you are looking for entertainment, this square is the place to be. As one of the most important places to see and do in Lyon, the Place Bellecour is the largest pedestrian square you will find in Europe.
In the center of this square you will see some of the most important statues of the city, such as the statue of Louis XVI, or the author of The Little Prince, Antoine de Saint-Exupery. In addition, from this site you can access some of the most important streets of the city. Among them are the Rue de la Republique or Rue Victor Hugo.
Travel Tip: To organize your trip we recommend using Passporter totally free. You can be inspired by the experiences of other travelers, choose the places that interest you most, create the travel route with a geolocated map, upload all important documents such as reservations and invite your friends so that everyone can participate in the organization of the trip.
Things to do in Lyon in a weekend
A weekend getaway is the perfect way to enjoy the many things to do in Lyon, so take note of these must-see places!
Lumiere’s Institute
Located in the very house where the Lumière brothers once lived, this institution’s main objective is the promotion and preservation of French cinematographic styles.
Among its many exhibitions, the most important is undoubtedly the replica of the cinematograph invented by the Lumière brothers, the protagonist of the first film projection in history. If you are a movie fan, you can not miss this very interesting place at a super affordable price.
Visit Lyon’s Murals
One of the most entertaining things to do in Lyon is to go in search of some of the murals hidden in the city. You can find them on the facades of buildings, and their paintings are undoubtedly worth seeing.
Made by street artists, these paintings mostly represent stories that happened in the city. They depict scenes from everyday life in Lyon, and in some of them you will find famous people. Among the most acclaimed are the Mur du Cinema, the Mur des Canuts and the Mur des Lyonnais, which contains some of the most important historical figures of the city.
Guillotiere’s Bridge in Lyon France
If you are looking to take the perfect picture for your trip to Lyon, the Guillotiere Bridge is the ideal place for it. You will certainly enjoy panoramic views of the city, but the main protagonist in this image is the former hospital, now converted into the Hotel-Dieu.
In addition, near the bridge you will find some boat-restaurants where you can sit and have a drink while enjoying the views after a long walk along the river.
Things to do in Lyon on Sunday
Find the Tree of Flowers
The Tree of Flowers is a sculpture located in the Saint Antonin Poncet Square. This creation of the Korean artist Jeong Hwa Choi is very characteristic for its variety of shapes and striking colors.
Initially, this work was presented as a temporary exhibition for the Lyon Contemporary Art Festival. However, it was so acclaimed by the city’s inhabitants that it was finally preserved to this day. Undoubtedly one of the most curious elements to see in Lyon.
Walk around the Tete d’Or Park
The Tête d’Or Park is the largest park to see in Lyon. Being a city with a lot of green space, this corner is certainly a good place to take a walk and relax after a day of sightseeing.
Not only you will find inside numerous gardens, a rose greenhouse and a huge artificial lake, but also a zoo! The latter can become the ideal plan if you are traveling with children. Are you going to miss it?
Viewpoint from the Confluences Museum
The Confluences Museum is a beautiful building with architectural complexity. This glass structure has a futuristic style. You can access the viewpoint, which is located at the top, where you will find a nice cafeteria.
Also, this museum is located between the Rio Rodano and the Rio Saona, and inside it houses an enormous amount of objects belonging to different periods of our history, including meteorites, ancient armor, bones of Homo Sapiens and even dinosaur skeletons.
Visit the Flea Markets of Lyon France
One of the elements that represent the true essence of a city are its markets. On the banks of the Saône River you will find the Saint Antoine Market, where you can immerse yourself in a wide variety of aromas from different foods. Nearby is also the book mark.
Another market you can visit is Les Puces du Canal, more specialized in the sale of antiques and second-hand objects.
Things to do around Lyon
Lyon is a city that certainly has a lot to offer, but there is always time to look further afield. The surrounding area of the city offers a wealth of places to visit and activities to do so that you can make the most of the area.
Make a trip to Perouges
Just 30 kilometers from Lyon is Perouges, a picturesque medieval village that is considered one of the most beautiful villages in France.
Located on top of a hill, in this village you will not only enjoy unique views, but you can stroll through all its streets while admiring its architectural beauty. When you are thinking of stopping to rest, go to the nearest oven and try the famous Galette de Perouges, a typical sweet of the area. It’s amazing!
Taste some wine in Beaujolais
Also known worldwide for its vineyards, the Pays Beaujolais is an area composed of several localities, among them is the historic capital of Beaujolais.
Whether after a stroll through the village or along one of its beautiful nature trails, you can participate in one of the wine tastings and taste some of the best wines produced in the region, a different activity to do around Lyon!
Visit Vienne
If you are thinking of making an excursion around Lyon, the city of Vienne is an excellent choice. Of great historical and artistic value, this city is located near the Rhône River.
You can take a long walk while discovering its many monuments dating back to medieval times. And to end this visit, do not forget to climb to the top of Mount Pipet to enjoy an incredible view of the rooftops of the old town.
Itineraries for your trip to Lyon
Things to do in Lyon in 2 days
- Get to know Old Town Vieux Lyon
- Walk around Traboules
- Take a picture of Lyon’s Opera
- Walk around Saona’s River
- Go to the Confluences Museum
- make a picnic at Guillotiere’s Bridge
- Taste the wine in Beaujolais
- Visit the Flea Markets
Things to do in Lyon in 3 days
- Contemplate Saint-Jean Baptiste’s Cathedral
- Visit the Roman Gaul Theater
- Walk around Bellacour’s Square
- Find the Lyon’s Murals
- Get to know Tete d’Or Park
- Make a trip to Perouges
- Visit Lumiere’s Institute
- Take a picture of Notre-Dame de Fourviere’s Basilica
Frequents questions
Enjoy the local cuisine of Lyon in some of these restaurants:
– At Bouchon Tupin you will find numerous elaborate dishes of French and European cuisine for a super affordable price.
– Le Musee is an acclaimed French haute cuisine restaurant where you can enjoy excellent value for money.
– At Flair you can enjoy dishes of French and European origin with a superb taste and presentation.
– Takao Takano is a fine restaurant with two Michelin stars where you can enjoy fine French cuisine.
– You can take the funicular of Lyon, composed of two lines that lead to two very touristic points of the city.
– You can take the metro, which includes four lines well distributed around the city.
– You can take the tramway, which includes five lines.
– You can take the bus to go anywhere in the city or around Lyon.
– You can rent an urban bike to move freely around the city.
– A single ticket is €8.
– A reduced rate ticket costs 7 € (under 18, over 60 or students and teachers).
– A ticket for season ticket holders is €5.
– A group or family ticket is € 6,5 (minimum 7 persons).
How to plan your itinerary of the places you want to see in Lyon France?
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- Get inspired by the experiences of other travelers.
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- Organize your route on google maps having as a starting point your accommodation or any other that you indicate.
- Get the best travel option for each place.
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