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23 of the best things to do in Lyon, France

I’ve visited the city of Lyon in France several times now.

Most of these were when I lived in Grenoble. I’d spend a few hours here every now and again since it was so easy to get to by train, and took weekend trips with friends and when family came to visit.

Though I enjoyed my time in Grenoble, it was always nice to visit Lyon. Lyon France is far more cosmopolitan with more shopping, lots of Michelin-star restaurants in Lyon to pick between, and just a lot more going on.

If you’re planning a weekend in Lyon or a holiday in Lyon then check out this list of things to do in Lyon and add them to your Lyon itinerary.

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The top things to do in Lyon, France

1. L’Ourson Qui Boit

On the edge of Lyon’s Croix Rousse district is L’Ourson Qui Boit. Here Japanese chef Nishigaki puts his own spin on French food using plenty of locally sourced vegetables.

The menu changes regularly and you can expect fresh, light (especially for Lyon) dishes that’ll leave you feeling great.

2. L’Auberge du Pont des Collonges

Head up the Saône for about 7km and you’ll come across a triple Michelin-starred restaurant, L’Auberge du Pont des Collonges.

This is without a doubt one of the best restaurants in Lyon, France as it’s where one of the city’s most awarded chefs works: Chef Paul Bocuse.

Here he serves classics such as braised sweetbreads, roasted rack of lamb, and his signature “Soupe VGE” (a truffle soup created for French president Valéry Giscard d’Estaing in the 70s).

3. Fete des Lumieres

For four days in early December, La Fete des Lumieres comes to Lyon. Here some amazing light and sound shows take place projected onto buildings around the city.

It’s Lyon’s biggest festival and hotels book up early. If you’re keen to visit Lyon during this event, plan well in advance.

4. L’Instant

If you’re starting your day in Croix Rousse then make sure to head to L’Instant.

This cafe and boulangerie overlooks Place Marcel Bertone and offers a continental breakfast on weekdays, with brunch at the weekend.

There’s plenty of outside seating too for warmer days.

5. Lyon Confluence

Lyon’s newest neighbourhood centres around the point where the two rivers meet.

What was once an industrial wasteland has been transformed into a brand new area complete with museums and eateries making it well worth a visit, even if you’re only looking for things to do in Lyon in a day.

Les Puces du Canal lyon

6. Les Puces du Canal

France’s second-biggest flea market, Les Puces du Canal, has over 400 exhibitors. It’s a fun way to while away a Sunday morning as you browse the antiques and search for treasures!

7. Parc de la Tête d’Or

Parc de la Tete d’Or is a great place to relax after some busy days exploring everything there is to do in Lyon. It spans 117 hectares and has a lake, botanic gardens, rose gardens a zoo and a tourist train!

8. L’Instant Fromage

If you’re a cheese lover then make sure to swing by L’Instant Fromage. You can try individual portions of over 36 French cheeses from the chalkboard menu here.

If you find it too hard to pick (and who wouldn’t?), let them surprise you with an “ardoise découverte” (five kinds of cheese). You can add some charcuterie, tartines and salad to the side too.

9. La Boîte à café – café Mokxa

This cafe is a favourite with students and Croix Rousse locals. It’s a relaxing spot for a Sunday brunch, a place to pick up a pastry or grab a coffee.

10. Péristyle

During the summer, free summer concerts take place under the Opéra’s arches at Opera National de Lyon. The music includes; swing, blues, funk and jazz.

Arrive early to secure a table and grab one of the waiters to get you a drink while the music plays on.

The sets last about an hour and start at 7 pm, 8.15 pm and 10 pm.

11. Monkey Club

A trendy cocktail bar, Monkey Club, is popular with students and the newly graduated.

There are some great cocktails here as well as charcuterie and cheese platters making it one of the best things to do in Lyon at night.

12. Marché St Antoine

If you’re not sure where to eat in Lyon then a good place to start is Marché St-Antoine. Marché St-Antoine is just one of Lyon’s food markets and it’s rammed full of delicious looking produce.

If you’re staying in Lyon for a while head here in the morning and pick up some goodies for a picnic or nice dinner.

13. Smoking Dog

Love books and beer? You’ll love Smoking Dog. It’s a bookshelf-lined pub in St Paul and is a great place for bibliophiles.

14. The flower tree

things to do in lyon flower statue

The flower tree was first created in 2003 and now has a permanent home in Lyon.

It’s huge and consists of 85 individual plastic flowers, each as large as a car door, grouped together as though grown like a tree.

Some view it as an eyesore in amongst the old buildings – what about you? Either way, it’s definitely one of the top things to see in Lyon France.

15. Les Traboules

In Lyon’s old town and La Croix Rousse are Les Traboules. They’re renaissance passageways, of which about 40 remain open to the public.

They run underneath the buildings along the Saône River and are fun to explore.

The best place to start your Traboules adventure is around Quai Fulchiron Rolland and Rue des Trois Maries.

16. Le Poêlon D’or

An upmarket bouchon, Le Poêlon D’Or, is well known among local foodies who swear by it’s around andouillette and pike dumplings.

Be sure to leave room for the chocolate mousse!

Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse

17. Les Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse

Lyon’s famous indoor food market has around 60 stalls selling foodie treats. Get some St Marcellin, some meats and bread and head out for a picnic during summer.

Or join the locals on a Sunday for a leisurely brunch with plenty of shellfish and white wine in amongst the buzz at Halles Pual Bocuse.

One of the best ways to explore this market is definitely to take a guided tour of Les Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse. This way your guide can tell you stories about the stalls and show you some of the hidden gems of the market.

18. Rent a bicycle in the city

Lyon was the first city in Europe to have a bike rental service (Vélib) and there’s a great network of wide, safe cycle paths which run all over the city.

Some of the prettiest routes run along the rivers and the routes tend not to climb hills which is even better!

You can also take some fun guided cycling tours in Lyon like this Lyon 1.5 hour bike tour with a guide.

While you’re getting a workout, I actually few a bike ride (at a casual pace) as one of the more relaxing things to do in Lyon.

19. Enjoy the Vieux

Lyon’s old town must be on everyone’s list of things to do in Lyon. The winding alleyways are picturesque and there’s some great food tucked away down the cobbled streets.

Begin by exploring around Rue du Boeuf and the Place Neuve Saint-Jean then head to Rue Saint-Jean and Rue des Trois Maries.

Take your time and enjoy the views of the Saône River and the old buildings of the city.

If you want to know more about what you’re seeing, consider taking a walking tour of the city. This Lyon Old Town walking tour is customizable depending on your own interests.

20. The Cathédrale Saint-Jean Baptiste

lyon cathedral
cc. tripadvisor

The magnificent Cathedral of Saint-John is renowned for its stained glass windows and thhe 16th-century astronomical clock inside.

The Anne Marie de la Primatiale is one of the largest bells ever made and is only rung on Catholic feast days.

For a good view of the cathedral from a distance, go to the embankment near the Pont Bonaparte.

Basilique Notre Dame de Fourvière lyon

21. Head up to La Basilique Notre Dame de Fourvière

Locals call this Basilique an ‘upside down elephant’ but this 19th century white basilica dominates the Lyon skyline and is worth visiting.

You can either climb the stairs or take the funicular that runs up and down the hill.

The inside is extremely ornate and it’ll amaze you when you think back to how much work must’ve gone into them!

lyon roman ampitheatre

22. See Lyon’s Roman amphitheatre

Next door to Fourvière is a well-preserved Roman amphitheatre. You can wander it daily or go one step further by visiting Lyon during Les Nuits de Fourvière which takes place over May and June annually.

During this festival, shows take place at the amphitheatre which is incredibly cool and one of the more unique things to do in Lyon.

23. Hang out in Croix Rousse

Need a dose of hipster on your trip to Lyon? Head to Croix Rousse where you can get fuel for your flat whites and street art needs. Browse the second-hand shops and head to Crock N Roll for a croque monsieur with edge.

It’s not all about food though, Lyon also has incredible architecture and part of the city is registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

musee des beaux artes lyon france

24. Visit the Musée des Beaux-Arts

The Musée des Beaux-Arts de Lyon is housed in a beautiful 17th-century Benedictine convent in the centre of Lyon. It’s a sanctuary of European art and a must-visit in Lyon for art lovers.

When you enter the grand marble halls, you’re set to discover ancient Egyptian and modern art pieces all under one roof.

Each room is a gateway to a different era, where masterpieces by artists like Rubens and Rembrandt whisper storied pasts.

If you’re looking for things to do in Lyon France, you should definitely visit this great Lyon museum!

what to do in lyon france

Best Lyon tours & travel deals

If you’re wondering what to do in Lyon, France and are looking for something different, check out these awesome Lyon city tours and the Lyon Card which will save you a tonne of money during your trip to Lyon.

Lyon Card

If you’re looking to save money on your week end in Lyon and plan on seeing a lot of the top Lyon tourist attractions then make sure to look into getting a Lyon City Card.

With the Lyon Card, you can visit 22 museums or free things to do in Lyon, and get a load of discounts on more top attractions in Lyon!

PLUS the card gives you free public transport for the duration of your card. It’s one of the best ways to tick off all the places to visit in Lyon on your list and on a budget.

Buy a Lyon Card here. If you’re coming from the airport then this one also includes an airport transfer with the City Card.

Lyon city tours

These city tours are a fun way to explore the city by doing something different and meeting new people. They’re also great if you’re not sure exactly what to see in Lyon.

About Lyon

Lyon is France’s third-largest city and second-largest urban area in France. Because of this, it’s often referred to as France’s “second city” (after Paris).

If you’re wondering what the river in Lyon, France is then the first thing to know is that there are actually two rivers in Lyon as the city of Lyon sits at the confluence of the Rhône and the Saône Rivers.

Lyon is perhaps best known for its delicious food. In fact, I’d say it’s almost a crime to leave Lyon without having sampled some Lyonnais specialties in a bouchon (the word given to a restaurant that serves Lyonnaise cuisine)

Where is Lyon?

Lyon is in France but if you’re wondering exactly where is Lyon in France then here you go… Lyon is in eastern France in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region.

It’s 150km west of Geneva in Switzerland and 465km south of Paris.

things to do in lyon

How to get to Lyon

Getting to Lyon from the UK is very easy as it’s well served by all forms of transport.

Flights to Lyon

Flights to Lyon from London take about 1 hour 40 minutes if you fly direct to Lyon Saint Exupery. They’re also pretty cheap with a return ticket costing around £60.

Skyscanner is what I use to find cheap flights.

However, I’ve also recently signed up to Dollar Flight Club who send emails full of cheap flight deals. On average their recipients save $500 a flight which is pretty incredible!

Buses to Lyon

You can also catch a bus directly from London’s Victoria Coach Station to Lyon, Gare Perrache. Getting the bus to Lyon takes the longest out of these forms of travel.

The bus will take you almost 21 hours compared to under 2 hours flying.

Omio is a great platform for booking European and UK travel on. You can check train and bus prices and schedules and book super easily!

London to Lyon train

My favourite way to travel in France is to get the train, it’s easily the most climate-friendly and it’s fun!

However, when it comes to traveling between London and Lyon, getting the train is the most expensive. Having said that, if you’re planning on travelling with what would count as hold luggage, the prices aren’t that different from flying these days!

Whilst the train doesn’t go directly from London to Lyon it is a pleasant way to travel and is more relaxed than flying with all the hanging around in the terminal, and more comfortable than the bus. I enjoy watching the French countryside outside the window as you travel.

You can’t get the Eurostar to Lyon directly. First, you’ll get the Eurostar to Paris and then you’ll switch from Gare du Nord to Gare de Lyon in Paris and catch the train from Paris to Lyon.

Return tickets cost around £150 but you may be able to get cheaper if you’re under 27 as SNCF has discount youth tickets for those aged 12-27.

You can book trains online in advance by using TheTrainline.com which makes it super easy to plan your journey ahead of time!

Where to stay in Lyon

There are plenty of great Lyon hotels and they don’t have to be expensive either! Some of the best hotels in Lyon are also suitable for people looking for budget hotels in Lyon.

I’ve picked out some of the top-rated Lyon accommodation which includes cheap hotels in Lyon France, hotels in Lyon city centre, and a Lyon hostel if hostels are more your style.

  • Budget-friendly hostel in Lyon: MEININGER Lyon Centre Berthelot. Very central with modern, clean and affordable accommodation
  • Best budget friendly hotel in Lyon: Hôtel Vaubecour, a lovely hotel with very friendly staff in a beautiful part of Lyon
  • Mid-range: Aparthotel Adagio Lyon Patio Confluence, Great studio accommodation with everything you need for self-catering during your stay and lots of great amenities.
  • Luxury Lyon hotels: Les Suites de l’Ile Barbe, an excellent property with incredible history and character in a sublime location, with a kind owner. Something different if you don’t mind not being in central Lyon.
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Checking out on this Lyon things to do guide

If you’re looking for day trips from Lyon or more French holiday ideas check out all my Europe travel guides which include the best things to do in St Malo in Brittany, this guide to the most beautiful villages in the Dordogne, what to do in Lille, how to have a budget ski holiday in the Alps, and this ultimate guide to the Bastille in Grenoble, as well as how to do a day trip to Vizille from Grenoble.

Last Updated on January 8, 2024 by Hannah

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