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Lyon along the Saône river

Lyon along the Saône river T.Deschamps - OT Lyon

Lyon Self-Guided Tours

Lyon city tours.

Lyon is an old city which was founded by the Romans in 43 BC. Now the France’s third largest city is famous for rich history, world-famous cuisine and impressive architecture.

Lyon is an easy city to explore on foot. Like Paris , Lyon is divided into nine arrondissements. Each one has its own identity and vibe, making exploring Lyon very diverse and fun. The Renaissance architecture of old Lyon, the heart of Lyon surrounding the Place Bellecour, the lively neighborhood around the Place des Terreaux, the Croix-Rousse with the locals shopping in little markets, the newly-developed contemporary Confluence district . . .

And of course, the food! It is not a surprise that France’s most famous chef, Paul Bocuse, was born and based here!

Staying in B&B’s is a great way to see the country and meet the people who live there in their normal environment. And, “France Just for You” provides an excellent way to have this …

Staying in B&B’s is a great way to see the country and meet the people who live there in their normal environment. And, “France Just for You” provides an excellent way to have this experience. Emilie’s knowledge and detailed planning made the trip exciting and enjoyable! We will definitely seek her out for our next trip to France.

Our Self-Guided Tours in Lyon

Discover Lyon's history and gastronomy.

Hunawihr town in fall

Hunawihr town in fall Tristan Vuano - ADT Alsace

The Best of Eastern France

This itinerary takes you to Eastern France from North to South. After spending a few days in Paris, you will enjoy the Alsace region on the German border and then drive your way south all the way to Provence. The best itinerary to discover l'Est de la France !

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How to Get to Lyon

A nice stop between burgundy & provence.

  • Lyon is perfectly located for a stop between Burgundy (2hr drive from Dijon) and Provence (2hr30 drive to Avignon).
  • If you want to drive from Paris to Lyon, it is about 4hrs30 and in this case, better to take a train.

Getting to Lyon by Train

  • Lyon is a 2hr high-speed train ride from Paris , there are several direct connections per day from downtown Paris, as well as to Paris CDG Airport.
  • There are 2 main train stations in Lyon : Lyon Part-Dieu and Lyon Perrache. You should be very careful if you connect in Lyon to do it in the same station. We handle these details for our travelers. 

The History of Lyon

It is believed that Lyon was first inhabited over 40,000 years ago. But the city we know today started with the arrival of the Romans who, wanting to conquer Gaul, saw Lyon as the ideal site. Multiple vestiges from this period remain on Fourvière Hill and in the Croix Rousse.  We can help you discover more about the history on a self-guided walking tour of Lyon's old town.

forviere hill

Fourvière Hill from the river -  ©T.Deschamps - OT Lyon

Lyon - during the Renaissance

During the Renaissance, Lyon became an important trade center. Merchants and bankers from Italy came, building beautiful houses in the “Vieux Lyon” that still exist today. Printing and silk-making became important industries. The “Canuts” silk workers created passageways for carrying the products down to the river and not get rained on. These “traboules” still exist, and were used by the French Resistance during WWII to quickly and secretly get around the city.

Lyon - during World War II

During WWII, Lyon was one of the main sites of the Resistance movement (Jean Moulin operated here), as well as a stronghold for the SS (Klaus Barbie’s headquarters were in Lyon). The Resistance and Deportation History Center is located in the buildings occupied by Barbie and is an important site serving the memory of this time.

Lyon - constantly moving

The  Lumières brothers who lived in Lyon   invented the cinema in the 1890s. Since then, the city has constantly developed with great modernity. Jean Nouvel designed the opera house in 1990, the banks of the Rhone river were refurbished in the mid-2000s, and the new Confluence district has regenerated the southern Presqu’île with contemporary architecture and sustainable development.

There is so much to discover when it comes to tours and sightseeing in Lyon. In your France Just For You guidebook , we'll recommend the most popular places to visit on Lyon city tours (based on your interests). We'll also suggest some hidden gems that other tourists don't know about.

The Food, oh the Food!

Lyon is the gastronomical capital of the top gastronomical country in the world! Tummies get ready, and let the adventure begin!

The city is surrounded by areas provided top quality products : meats from the Monts du Lyonnais and the Dombes, fish from Savoy, chicken from Bresse, wines from the Rhone valley and the Beaujolais, and tons of local cheese. All of these are on display at the numerous outside markets or at the famous Les Halles indoor market - a great place to enjoy food and wine tasting in Lyon. The markets are a must-see on a Lyon self guided walking tour.

Here are some self-drive trip ideas for gourmet travelers . 

Bouchon Lyonnais

Typical Bouchon Lyonnais brasserie restaurant -  ©OT Lyon

Some of the specialties that should not be missed (and this is only a small sample. . .), be it either in a typical bouchon restaurant or at a Michelin starred establishment:

  • Quenelles : a pike dumpling soufflé often covered in Nantua sauce made with crayfish from nearby Nantua lake, then baked in the oven
  • Saucisson brioche : a sausage made with pistachios and surrounded by a soft brioche
  • Salade lyonnaise : you will be surprised as to how delicious a simple salad can be (frisée lettuce, lardons, croutons and a poached egg)
  • For the more adventurous, the Tablier de sapeur : cooked beef tripe, marinated in white wine, then covered in breadcrumbs and fried. It is usually served with steamed potatoes and sauce gribiche, made from hard-boiled eggs, mustard and chives.
  • Cheese : creamy Saint Marcellin and St Félicien, the Cervelle des canuts (fromage blanc seasoned with herbs, shallots, olive oil and vinegar usually served as a starter), and the Arôme de Lyon (dried cow’s milk cheese that is macerated in wine for 3 weeks, with the grapes encrusting the final product)
  • Sweets : Coussin de Lyon (from Voisin chocolate shop) and the Tarte à la Praline (a cream tart covered in delicious pink pralines)

Tarte à la praline

Tarte à la Praline -  © Ji-Elle, CC BY-SA 4.0  - Wikimedia Commons

Where to stay in Lyon

As with Paris, to optimize your stay, we recommend staying in the heart of Lyon, on its “presqu’île”. We have selected boutique-hotels very central that will enable you to easily explore and make the most of your time in “the other city of lights”.

Lyon by night

Staying in the very heart of Lyon is the best way to make the most of your stay -  ©T.Deschamps - OT Lyon

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Our travelers’ reviews.

Laura and Emilie planned such a professional, authentic and fantastic trip that it has become one of my favorite vacations! Excursions, accommodations, and suggested activities were flawless -- such that the only difficult decision for us was what to select from scrumptious French cuisine. I was hesitant at first to trust an unknown online trip …

Laura and Emilie planned such a professional, authentic and fantastic trip that it has become one of my favorite vacations! Excursions, accommodations, and suggested activities were flawless -- such that the only difficult decision for us was what to select from scrumptious French cuisine. I was hesitant at first to trust an unknown online trip planner, but I'm so glad I did. Knowing France from the inside made all the difference. The specific tips about traveling in France made our first driving experience actually enjoyable! We drove out of Paris, visited Normandy, Mont St. -Michel, Loire Valley, Provence, Burgundy and Nice!

I cannot recommend France Just For You enough! We had a wonderful time as we customized a trip and experienced our French dreams come true! Thank you for the best experience!

The team at FJFY arranged everything for our 3 week trip to southern France. From car rental, train tickets, activities and wonderful accommodations they arranged it all. Stress free traveling! The spiral bound guide book and FJFY app gave us so much information on each area including activities and restaurant recommendations. The B & Bs were all …

The team at FJFY arranged everything for our 3 week trip to southern France. From car rental, train tickets, activities and wonderful accommodations they arranged it all. Stress free traveling! The spiral bound guide book and FJFY app gave us so much information on each area including activities and restaurant recommendations. The B & Bs were all lovely and run by friendly & helpful hosts. So many wonderful memories! This was our second trip using FJFY and if we are lucky enough to return to France we will definitely use them. Highly recommend!

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Free tours in Lyon

  • Tours in Lyon

Walking Tour: Discover Lyon through its Architecture Provided by Sara

Free Walking Tours in Lyon: Explore the Renaissance Splendor of the City

Do you want to enter the magnificent world of Lyon, where history comes alive in every picturesque street and majestic building? That’s a commendable ambition because this city has an array of old cathedrals, incredible streets, and cozy cafes. With our free Lyon walking tour, you can explore the city and start your journey through time and culture. So, book your tours of Lyon right away and explore the city with our friendly, professional guides!

Uncover Lyon's Hidden Gems

If you want to uncover the hidden treasures nestled within the enchanting streets of Lyon, you’ve come to the right place! Before you visit Lyon, you need to book your walking tour in Lyon on our website, and you’ll delve into the city's heart. Our professional and friendly guides love their job and will do their best to immerse you in the city's atmosphere. Their insights will transport you to eras gone by, breathing life into each stone and building that adorns this remarkable city. You’ll see Cathédrale Saint-Jean-Baptiste, Fresque des Lyonnais, Église Évangélique du Vieux Lyon, and many other hidden gems of this old French city. Ensure you book your Lyon walking tour in advance on our website!

Explore Lyon's Delights: Free Walking Tours in the Culinary Capital

The beauty of this city extends beyond its historical significance. It is also called the culinary capital of France. Our friendly guides will help you discover the culinary heart of this city. With our free walking tours in Lyon, you will visit the best cafes serving traditional food and the bustling markets where you can buy fresh produce and fantastic souvenirs. Also, culinary tours are very popular here because they are a fantastic chance to explore the city through its flavors and aromas. So, if you are a food enthusiast, this tour is exactly what you need!

Uncover Lyon's Renaissance Splendor on Free Walking Tours

Do you know that Lyon was annexed to the city of France in 1312? Today, this city is recognized as one of the UNESCO world heritage sites. The most significant part of the UNESCO world heritage sites is located in the Renaissance district, also called the Old Town. With our free Lyon walking tours, you will travel through time and culture.

Our passionate and knowledgeable guides will be your companions, unveiling the layers of history that have shaped this Renaissance gem. The Lyon Cathedral, archaeological garden, King's Treasurer's Tower, and Exchange Place won’t leave even the most exacting tourists cold! 

All the tours in Lyon begin at the meeting point; usually, it’s a convenient location, and you can easily get to it from anywhere. So, if you want to dive deeper into the atmosphere of this old French city, go to our website and book your free walking tour in Lyon right away!

Engaging Guides and Fascinating Stories of Lyon

Do you know that Lion was the capital of the Gauls during the Roman Empire? The Romans founded this city in the 1st century before Christ. As you walk around the enchanting streets and majestic architecture, you will experience the city's atmosphere and feel its vibe. You will see an array of fantastic places, take hundreds of incredible photos, and dive deeper into its history. Our guides will share lots of wonderful stories with you. Every corner, every facade, and every cobblestone whispers tales of a bygone era, allowing you to traverse the eras and soak in the evolving spirit of Lyon. 

If it’s your first trip to this old French city, we recommend booking your free walking tour, and you’ll immerse yourself in the city atmosphere and see as many fantastic sights as possible. Our guides will do their best to ensure your journey is memorable, engaging, and informative! 

Practical Information: Tour Schedules, Meeting Points, and Booking Details

Once you choose your free tour Lyon, you need to find out more about it, check its schedule and other booking details. First, our tours last 1-4 hours, depending on which one you choose, so plan your journey accordingly. Secondly, all these tours have different meeting points. Check the booking details of each free tour Lyon to make the most of every moment in this enchanting city. All our tours are available in Spanish, French, and English. If you have any additional questions for our guides, feel free to ask, They will be glad to help you explore the city and indulge in its heritage!

Book Your Free Walking Tour in Lyon Today!

Are you excited? It’s high time to counter your concerns and finally book your tours in Lyon on our website! All these tours come without a price tag, so you can fully embrace the experience. However, a tip is at your disposal if you want to express your appreciation. All our guides are professionals in their respective fields. They know this city inside out and do their best to turn your trip to Lyon into an unforgettable experience! Don’t delay - join our Lyon tours today and get ready to explore this old city!

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Free Walking Tours in Lyon

Free Tour Lyon provides free walking tours in the splendid city of Lyon, once the capital of Roman Gaul and now the culinary capital of France, and thus the world! Lyon has a long history, a picturesque old town (Vieux Lyon) and lots of culture. But it is also a very modern French city, full of life, class and food! Join us on a Free Tour of Lyon to discover the city on a walking tour with an enthusiastic and knowledgeable guide. Come with us and fall in love with Lyon!

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Explore Lyon on a Free Tour

Our free walking tours in Lyon are the perfect way to start your visit. Get to know Lyon with a local guide and learn what makes this city tick! We show you the best local restaurants, teach you about local culture and amaze you with the long history of Lyon. Free Tour Lyon loves to show you around. We love this amazing city and enjoy talking about the Bouchon, the Traboules, Food, The French Resistence and the Silk Workers. Come Join us Today!

Join Our Tour Now

Free Tour Lyon, Join Today!

On foot is the best way to discover the little streets of Vieux Lyon and Presqu'ile. On a walking tour, you can discover some of the beautiful hidden passageways and courtyards in the old city. There are so many! Also, cathedral St. Jean is well worth a visit. We will show you the impressive astronomical clock and point you to many small details in this impressive church. It is a perfect time to visit Lyon, most of the city has been restored! Come with us today!

Browse Our Tours

Fun introduction to Lyon

I love to show people around Lyon on a free tour, it's an amazing city with a lot of hidden things to discover!

Certificate of Excellence

I have more than 800 5 star ratings on TripAdvisor for a 5/5 rating. People like you love the tours!

Discover the hidden passageways

One of the amazing things about Lyon is how much is hidden from plain view. Come discover the many Traboules and hidden courtyards on my tours!

Hi, my name is Paul!

I have been a tour guide for many years and I just love the city of Lyon. It is such a nice place to live and I get to tell people everyday what I love about it. On my free tours, I love to talk about what makes Lyon special, it's history and culture.

There is so much to talk about!

Lyon has many nicknames. It was the Capital of Gaul during Roman times. People still call it La Capitale de La Résistance. And of course, it's La Capitale de la Gastronomie. So I have so much to talk about: the Bouchons, Paul Bocuse, Emperor Claudius, the Traboules, Klaus Barbie and the Résistance, Silk, Jacquard and so much more!

My Tours are Free to Book!

Book now for free, and after, if you liked the tour, you could leave a tip to thank me! I enjoy answering all the questions you might have, before, during or after the tour. Email me, call me or send me a message and I'm happy to help in any way I can.

What people are saying about Free Tour Lyon...

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Check my Current TripAdvisor Rating

Free Tour Lyon has an excellent rating on TripAdvisor. Check for yourself by clicking on the TripAdvisor logo! But make sure to book (for free) on freetourlyon.com, TripAdvisor asks money to book through them.

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The Tour Schedule

I do different tours on different days. They are both great introductions to (vieux) Lyon, but cover different areas

...

Free Tour of Vieux Lyon

Time: 10:00 am Days: Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays Meeting point: Place Saint-Jean Areas covered: Cathedral & Place St. Jean, Horloge Astronomique, Basoche, Le Long Traboule, La Tour Rose, Palais de Justice, Saône, Presqu'île, Theatre des Celestins, Rue de la Republique, Hôtel Dieu

...

Free City Tour Lyon

Time: 10:00 am Days: Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays Meeting point: Place des Terreaux Areas covered: Terreaux, Hôtel de Ville, Croix-Rousse, Village des Créateurs, Amphitheatre, Fresque des Lyonnais, Vieux Lyon, Rue Juiverie, Galerie Philibert Delorme, Hôtel du Gouvernement

Reserve your Free Walking Tour of Lyon now, click on Book Now below

My Free Tours of Lyon sell out fast sometimes, so better reserve your spot now! I'll send you a confirmation and also an email with all my tips for things to do in Lyon, where to eat and practical information.

You can also just show up , but check the schedule to see if the tour is sold out or closed.

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  • Best Lyon Food Tours

The 7 Best Lyon Food Tours in France’s Gastronomic Capital

Published 06 November 2023 by  Leyla Alyanak  — Parisian by birth, Lyonnaise by adoption, historian by passion

Lyon is known for many things - and great food is at the top of the list. If you're looking for an introduction to the city's food specialties, taking one of these 7 Lyon food tours is the best way to start. 

Walking tours are ideal to discover Lyon and lyonnaise cuisine.

My first Lyon food tour was typical: it involved walking around the Old Town, sampling everything from pralines to saucisson. But the best part was meeting the various restaurant and shop owners, who explained the "why" of dishes, and the stories behind them.

NOTE: Pages on this site may contain affiliate links, which bring in a small commission at no cost to you.

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Just want the #1 best Lyon food tour? 

Secret Food Tours Lyon with Private Food Tour Option

This tour has it all, from delicious food samples of local specialties to authentic French wine. Their local guides are filled with knowledge about Lyon’s food culture and they have over 200 five-star reviews.

Book It Now!

7 Best food tours in LYON

  • 1. Secret Food Tours Lyon with Private Tour Option
  • 2. Lyon Old Town Half-Day Walking Food Tour with Local Specialties Tasting & Lunch
  • 3. Vieux Lyon 4-Hour Food Tasting Tour
  • 4. Lyon: Food Walking Tour with a Local Guide
  • 5. Food Tour in Lyon - Do Eat Better Experience
  • 6. Lyon Vegan Food Tour
  • 7. Lyon Electric Bike Tour including Food Tasting with a Local Guide

The 7 Best Lyon Food Tours

Below you’ll find a list of the top 7 food tours to take in Lyon, and they're all highly rated, with a minimum of 4.5 out of 5 stars (most actually have 5/5).

Lyon has over 4,000 restaurants that feature French cuisine, including many local and regional specialties. Food has long been an important part of the local culture, and many of the best-loved recipes have been passed down through generations − that's how important food is here.

Most Lyon food gourmet tours traditionally involve a walk through the historic old town, where you'll visit several establishments and sample food and wine. A few other tours may take you to different parts of town, like the vegan tour that goes to Croix-Rousse or the bike tour that explores several parts of Lyon. 

Whichever you choose will be a great start to your Lyon culinary adventure − and you won't have to face the overwhelming decisions of what to try first, where, and you'll gain plenty of insight into the food culture. 

Let me add that many of the Lyon food tours are similar, varying only in length and the choice of local artisans along the way, whether charcuterie producers or praline makers. They're all highly rated and you'll do well with any of them.

Also, descriptions are accurate at the time of writing but stops and samples may change, so be sure to click through and check before you book!

tours of lyon france

1. Secret Food Tours Lyon with Private Food Tour Option

Lyon food tours - old Lyon

Indulge in the best of French cuisine including freshly baked pastries, a traditional Canut breakfast sampling, Lyonnais sweet treats, French cheeses, and a secret dish on this tasty Lyon food tour − which also, by the way, includes a tasting of French wine. 

⏳  TOUR LENGTH:  3.5 hours    ✔︎  Sample a traditional Canut (silk weaver's) breakfast ✔︎  Fresh pastries ✔︎  Hot dish in a traditional "bouchon" ✔︎  Creamy French cheeses ✔︎ Walk through the Old Town in the heart of Lyon ✔︎ French red and white wine

🍽️  BOOK YOUR SECRET FOOD TOUR HERE

This secret food tour in Lyon will explore the Old Town Neighborhood of the city. The group is limited to 12 people so it is the perfect way to experience the food culture in Lyon without a large crowd. 

You can also book this as a completely private tour for just your group. Not only does a private tour give you a more personalized experience, but it also can fit better with your schedule as you can select a start time based on your needs.

⭐️  Rating: 5 / 5  ⭐️

“Highly recommended, you get to see some of the sights of Lyon and taste your way through some true culinary delights.” -John

"Charlotte provided us with such knowledge of Lyon (and all of France) and brought us to the most amazing food stops. Would absolutely take another Secret Food tour!! - Samantha E.

See more reviews here

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2. Lyon Old Town Half-Day Walking Food Tour with Local Specialties

Lyon food tours - tasting praline brioche

This half-day food tour takes place in Lyon’s historic old town and stops  at 6 different establishments, where you'll taste 10 different local specialities, meet local food producers and learn more about Lyon’s incredible gastronomical scene. Make sure you show up for this tour hungry, because it also includes a delicious lunch.

⏳  TOUR LENGTH:  4 hours    ✔︎  10 food tastings in 6 different establishments ✔︎  Passionate and expert guides ✔︎  Small group with a maximum of 12 people ✔︎  Walk through Lyon’s Old Town and meet local producers ✔︎  Lunch included

🍷  BOOK YOUR OLD LYON TOUR HERE

This highly rated food tour is limited to a small group of 12, so you’ll get a personalized experience and be able to interact with the local guide.

The tour takes place in Lyon’s old town and includes a walking tour to learn more about the history and culture of the neighborhood.

⭐️ Rating: 5 / 5 ⭐️

“This was by far the best tour we did while in France! A perfect combination of history, seeing the city, and trying plenty of food (with generous portions)." -Maria

"Wonderful meeting the shop owners and seeing the obvious pride they have in their products!" -Nicol_W "We loved every place we stopped at and appreciated they were all locally owned and operated. The entire tour was wonderful! I highly recommend it!" -Diane_M

Click here button for tours

3. Vieux Lyon 4-Hour Food Tasting Tour

Lyon food tours

Another exploration of Vieux Lyon takes place with this 4-hour Lyon food tour, during which you'll taste 14 delicious local products. As part of your tour, you'll explore  St Jean Cathedral, along with Old Lyon's traboules, or secret passageways, once used by merchants to keep their silk cloth dry.

⏳  TOUR LENGTH:  4 hours    ✔︎  14 food tastings at 5 different places, equivalent to a typical lunch ✔︎  Expert local guide ✔︎  Walk through Lyon’s Old Town, one of Europe's largest Renaissance areas ✔︎ See the Cathedral of St. Jean and the famous passageways

🍗  BOOK YOUR OLD LYON 4-HR FOOD TOUR HERE

This tour mixes history and food tastings and gives you the chance to explore Lyon’s oldest neighborhood while tasting some delicious food. Your guide will show you 5 different places where you can enjoy local food tastings and learn more about the food culture of Lyon.

⭐️  Rating: 4.8 / 5  ⭐️

“Our tour was outstanding. Three tours in one. Historical, architectural, and, of course, culinary. Superbly well-designed and managed by Erick, who was extremely well-versed in the history and origins of food in Lyon.” - Anonymous

4. Lyon Food Walking Tour with a Local Guide

Lyon food tours - cheese display

This Old Town walking tour stops at 4 different places to meet with local artisans to learn more about French cuisine in Lyon.  This afternoon food tour allows you to sample some of the best French food, including typical dishes – an assortment of regional cheeses, local cold-cut meats, brioche, praline pie and artisanal regional ice cream, along with French wine and local beer.

⏳  TOUR LENGTH:  3 hours     ✔︎  10 food tastings at 4 different places ✔︎ Expert local guide and small group tour ✔︎  Local cold cuts with red wine ✔︎ Selection of regional cheeses with white wine ✔︎ Praline pie and chocolates ✔︎  Alcoholic beverages included

🍫  BOOK YOUR WALKING FOOD TOUR HERE

This food-tasting tour offers late afternoon starting times, which is perfect for anyone wanting to do their sightseeing in the morning, and is capped at 12 people to keep it small and intimate.

⭐️  Rating: 4.7 / 5  ⭐️

"Our guide was both knowledgeable and passionate about Lyon, its history, and its food. The food samples were VERY good. A great way to explore Vieux Lyon.” -Mitch

5. Do Eat Better Lyon Food Tour

Lyon food tours - praline tarts

Lyon is the perfect destination for foodies, and this food-tasting tour is sure to meet expectations for some delicious French cuisine. Wander through the Old Town of Lyon while making stops at 5 different places for some unique food tastings.

Try such Lyonnaise specialties as pike quenelle (dumplings) with rice, cervelle de Canut (a creamy cheese dip), praline brioche, and more while your guide explains more details about food culture in Lyon.

⏳  TOUR LENGTH: 3.5 hours    ✔︎  5 unique food tastings at 5 different locations ✔︎  Local expert guide ✔︎  Try cervelle de canut, the artisanal creamy cheese, and taste a pike quenelle ✔︎ Top it off with a praline brioche and a typical Lyon sweet, the "coussin lyonnais" ✔︎ Wine and bottled water included ✔︎ Small group tour

🍭  BOOK YOUR DO EAT BETTER TOUR HERE

This small group tour is limited to 10 or fewer participants so that you can sample the foods promptly and have a chance to ask questions. The tour visits local artisan shops, bakeries, and more in the area of Lyon’s Old Town.

⭐️  Rating: 4.5 / 5  ⭐️

“Great to be informed about the local delicacies and introduced to new things we hadn’t come across yet. Perfect sized group.” - Shannon

"We enjoyed the great local people, shops and food and Baptiste's connections across Vieux Lyon. A must experience for anyone." -Neal_E

6. Lyon Vegan Food Tour

Lyon food tour - vegan sugared fruits

This vegan food tour in Lyon is an incredible food-tasting experience for those who follow a vegan or vegetarian diet and lifestyle, and as of this writing, this is the only vegan tour in the city of Lyon. 

Not only will you get to experience some of the best vegan food in France, but you will also get to taste foods from a few of the best vegan restaurants in Lyon. Your professional guide will also be able to give you recommendations on where to eat vegan or vegetarian-friendly food during your stay in Lyon.

⏳  TOUR LENGTH:  3 hours    ✔︎  Vegan food tastings ✔︎  Local expert guide ✔︎  Explore the bohemian Croix-Rousse neighborhood of Lyon ✔︎ Perfect tour option for vegans and vegetarians

🍇  BOOK YOUR VEGAN FOOD TOUR HERE

This small-group tour features 100% vegan food tastings, but you don’t have to be vegan to enjoy it. It is also a great option for people who want to try something different from the typical food tours in Old Town, whether they are vegan or not.

The tour explores the Croix-Rousse neighborhood of Lyon, which has an artsy, bohemian feel to it. This was once home to the silk weavers and their workshops, and today, it is filled with beautiful street murals, art galleries, and eateries.

⭐️ Rating: 5 / 5 ⭐️

“Lulu is a super guide. In addition to taking us to many fine vegan restaurants and a patisserie, she showed us the Croix-Rousse on a very interesting tour.” -Fred_H

"Don’t eat ahead of time… portions are generous. Guide is super knowledgeable about vegan jam and Croix-Rousse history. All around happy with my choice!" -Naomi_B

"I am a non-vegan (and non-vegetarian) and booked this tour because my children are vegetarians. I was pleasantly surprised and pleased at how good the food was on this tour!" - Anonymous

7. Lyon Electric Bike Guided Tour With Food Tasting

Lyon food tours

Combine a food tour in Lyon with sightseeing on this electric bike tour with food tastings. A local guide will take you around the highlights of Lyon by electric bike, seeing all the interesting sites in Lyon’s UNESCO-heritage old town and along the beautiful Rhône River.

Your guide will tell you more about the history of Lyon and how it became known as the food capital of France. In addition to stopping at several historical sites, you’ll wrt stop at a local eatery to sample some of Lyon’s best foods.

⏳  TOUR LENGTH:  4 hours    ✔︎  Electric bicycle and helmet ✔︎  Option to book a 2.5-hour tour or 4-hour tour ✔︎  Local expert guide ✔︎  Explore Lyon’s Old Town pedestrian zone ✔︎ Stop at a local eatery for delicious food samples ✔︎  Glass of wine or drink of your choice ✔︎  Small group tour

🥖  BOOK YOUR ELECTRIC BIKE TOUR HERE

On this tour of Lyon, you’ll see important sites such as the Place Bellecour, Place des Terreaux, the Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière, and more. The food stop at a local restaurant will also allow you to taste some of the famous Lyon cuisine. 

This is a great option for those who want to combine food tasting with sightseeing on either a 2.5-hour or a 4-hour tour. Both tours include food tasting and sightseeing, but the 4-hour tour includes a ride up to La Croix-Rousse for incredible views of Lyon.

“The bikes were fun and the route was quite safe. It is a great orientation to everything you would want to see in Lyon. Bring a refillable water bottle!” —Mike

"Definitely need electric bike to go up steep hills – effortless via e-bike and well worth going." —Awi_K

"A fantastic tour of the overall layout of the city along with a great pit stop for wine and a snack. Do this one early on your trip so you can take full advantage of all their recommendations for food, shopping, and fun local experiences." —Spencer_R

Before you go...

In my story on Lyon as the  world capital of gastronomy,   read all about the Lyonnaise mothers, or mères lyonnaises, who contributed so much to the city's local culture as chefs during the 19th century.

Lyon is home to many regional and local food specialties, many with recipes passed down through generations.

Eating well is important here, and is one of the best things to do in Lyon .

My favorite foodie activity? Spend a few hours in  Les Halles Paul Bocuse , the city's covered market with a wide range of high-end products.

So go out, explore, and eat to your heart's content!

HEADED TO LYON?

🏙️ A Lyon City Pass covers your transportation and most attractions

🏢 Have a look at hotel availability during your stay

🙋‍♀️ Sign up for an interesting Lyon tour to learn more about the city

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As a journalist and former diplomat, I spent years living abroad and now, it’s time to rediscover my own back yard.

Passionate about history and culture, I’ve created Offbeat France to seek out my country’s mysteries and legends, less-traveled destinations, with plenty of food stops and many castles – I am French, after all!  Read more here .

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Bonjour! I’m Leyla! I was born in Paris and now live in the bucolic mountain foothills of Eastern France between Lyon and Annecy. 

I'm rediscovering my own back yard after years of living abroad in Canada, Spain and Switzerland as a journalist and a diplomat - and I'm loving every minute.

Passionate about history and culture, I’ve created Offbeat France to seek out my country’s mysteries and legends, less-traveled destinations, along with plenty of food stops and many castles - I am French, after all!

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Home » Travel Guides » France » 15 Best Things to Do in Lyon (France)

15 Best Things to Do in Lyon (France)

Lyon is one large World Heritage Site, with a big renaissance old town, Roman ruins, historic industrial districts and the regal 19th-century Presqu’île quarter. The city was founded 2,000 years ago at the confluence of the Rhône and Saône Rivers, and built its fortune on the silk trade. This industry furnished it with beautiful renaissance architecture in Vieux Lyon, where semi-hidden passageways called Traboules connect courtyards with the Saône.

You can’t talk about Lyon without mentioning the food, as the gourmets agree that Lyon is the world’s culinary capital. It’s the city of the chef, Paul Bocuse, revered as a god of French cuisine.

Lets explore the best things to do in Lyon :

1. Vieux Lyon

Vieux Lyon

You can set foot in one of the largest renaissance old quarters in Europe.

In the 15th, 16th and 17th centuries Lyon’s silk industry was thriving, and rich merchant families from across France, Flanders, Germany and Italy settled in the city.

They built sumptuous homes, in the gothic, Italian renaissance and French renaissance styles, and there are still 300 of these remaining in the districts of Saint-Jean, Saint-Georges and Saint-Paules.

During the 16th century it was estimated that there were 180,000 looms in the city, and you can see the resourceful ways this industry combined with the fabric of the city in Vieux Lyon’s characteristic traboules.

2. Traboules

Traboules

In Vieux Lyon and La Croix-Rousse Saône are an architectural feature unique to this city: Traboules are delightful renaissance passageways, some 40 of which are open to the public, running beneath buildings in the direction of the Saône River.

They gave the city’s silk workers direct access to riverbank, making it quick and easy to transport textiles, while also offering shelter from the elements.

Nearly all of these passageways are part of residential properties, so it’s a good idea to go quietly.

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

3. Fourvière Basilica

Fourvière Basilica

This magnificent church, ever visible on the Fourvière hill to west of the city is one of a series of iconic hill-top churches built in major French cities in the late-19th century.

The basilica is in the oldest part of the city, Lyon’s pilgrimage site and where several Roman sites have been discovered.

Go inside to see the extravagant interiors and the Museum of Sacred Art, and to ascend the north tower for one of Lyon’s best photo ops.

The church is the focus for the famous Fête des Lumières, which takes place at the start of December every year.

This is in praise of the Virgin Mary, to whom Fourvière is dedicated, for protecting the city from the bubonic plague in the 17th century.

4. Parc de la Tête d’Or

Parc de la Tête d'Or

A little way north of the centre is one of the largest urban parks in the country, with a zoo and France’s foremost botanical garden within its boundaries.

If you’re around in spring then the international rose garden should be one of your first ports of call in the city.

The botanical attractions are spectacular too, with more than 20,000 plant varieties and the most graceful 19th-century greenhouses you could hope to see, thick with the scent of chlorophyll.

For families with kids the park is a must-do, thank to the African Plain, with zebras, lions and giraffes, and the expansive lake for epic pedal-boating voyages in summer.

Related tour: Lyon: 3-Hour Guided E-Bike Tour with a Tasting Break

5. Presqu’île

Presqu'île

A  finger of land between the Rhône and Saône, Presqu’île was man-made by a humungous 18th-century urban engineering project, draining marshes and connecting what was once an island with dry land.

It’s where most things “happen” in the city, a district of glorious 19th-century architecture, wide plazas, shops, cultural institutions, restaurants, cafes, bars and nightclubs.

Lyon’s opera house and city hall are located here, while if you’re peckish Rue Mercière is basically one long line of superb restaurants.

If you’re here for the shopping, start at the pedestrianised Rue de la République where all the high-street brands await.

6. Musée des Beaux-Arts de Lyon

Musée des Beaux-Arts de Lyon

Housed in a former abbey from the 1600s, the Musée des Beaux-Arts is France’s largest fine art museum after the Louvre in Paris.

There are 70 rooms here, with paintings from the 1300s to the 1900s, sculpture and displays of both Egyptian and Oriental art.

You don’t need more than a passing knowledge to  be impressed by the wealth of famous French and European artists on show: Degas, van Gogh, Renoir, Cézanne, El Greco, Canaletto, Picasso, Max Ernst and Francis Bacon, and that’s just an overview.

The Antiquities department is a trove of some 600 Ancient Egyptian artefacts, including reliefs, busts, statuettes and sarcophagi, as well as monumental gates recovered from the Medamud temple.

7. Ancient Theatre of Fourvière

Ancient Theatre of Fourvière

This monument is also high on the left bank of the Saône River.

And 2,000 years after it was built it is still a performance venue during the Nuits de Fourvière drama festival every June and July.

At its peak it would have held 10,000 spectators, but only the middle and lower terraces of the cavea remain.

Where the seating has been lost though, you can see the fascinating substructure of the cavea, which continues far up the hillside.

The theatre was rediscovered in the late-19th century and restored over the next 40 years.

Artefacts found here and at the neighbouring Odeon are displayed at the Gallo-Roman museum, listed below.

8. Gallo-Roman Museum of Lyon-Fourvière

Gallo-Roman Museum of Lyon-Fourvière

If Fourvière’s extensive Roman ruins leave you thirsty for more ancient history, this modern museum is on site to give you some background.

The building deserves a mention, as it’s partly underground and has been dug from the hillside next to the roman theatre.

Futuristic, bunker-like galleries are arranged around a spiralling concrete ramp.

There’s a lot to get through at the museum, but one piece that you need to see is the Circus Games Mosaic, dating to the 2nd century and depicting a chariot race with staggering technical skill.

There’s also the Gauilish Coligny Calendar, and the Lyon Tablet, transcribing a speech made by the Roman Emperor Claudius in the 1st century.

9. Lyon Cathedral

Lyon Cathedral

The city’s fabulous cathedral is a mostly gothic construction built between the 12th and 15th centuries.

The majority of the original stained-glass windows are still here and date to the 1300s.

They had been dismantled and packed away during the Second World War to save them from bomb damage.

The most captivating are the north, south and west roses, as well as the apse’s lancet.

The astronomical clock inside is nine metres tall and was installed in the 1300s.

Under the main clock-face is an astrolabe, added in the 1600s, that can show the position of the earth, sun and moon.

Above it are automated figures that put on a little show when the chimes are rung on the hour.

10. Institut Lumière

Institut Lumière

Anybody who goes to the cinema should be excited to pay homage to the Lumière brothers, who are held as the fathers of the movie-making art.

The museum was set up by a descendant of Louis Lumière, who, working with August, helped invent the cinematograph, the first motion picture camera and projector.

They also made more than a thousand films together, shown at the world’s first cinemas.

The attraction is in Villa Lumière, a lovely art nouveau mansion built by the brothers’ father in 1899. In these elegant surrounds you can view many of their movies and check out the ingenious creations, like the cinematograph, that helped change entertainment forever.

11. Musée Gadagne

Musée Gadagne

Essentially Lyon’s city museum, this attraction is named after the sublime 16th-century renaissance palace that houses it, built by two Florentine brothers.

In 30 rooms and across four floors there are some 80,000 items, dating between medieval times and the mid-19th century.

Antique maps and sketches indicate how Lyon has changed and show some of the city’s landmarks being built.

You’ll find out about the instrumental role the silk industry played in the city’s evolution in the 1500s and 1600s with the help of artefacts and documents, and can see the lavish lifestyles afforded by those who made their fortune here.

Also part of the attraction is the Musée des Marionnettes, with 2,000 antique puppets.

12. Musée Miniature et Cinéma

Musée Miniature et Cinéma

Also In Vieux-Lyon, this museum is in the “Maison des Avocats”, a beautiful  17th-century World Heritage building five storeys in height and with a loggia.

The collection is split in two: The main attraction is some 100 “hyper-realistic” miniature scenes.

These have been made by the world’s best miniaturists, including the museum curator Dan Ohlmann, and possess such painstaking detail and craftsmanship that you’ll need minutes to see everything happening in each one.

They recreate famous locations like Maxim’s Restaurant in Paris or everyday French scenes from days gone by.

There’s also a cinema exhibition with more than 300 authentic props, artefacts and models relating to movies from the last 50 years.

13. Lyon’s Murals

Lyon's Murals

Another reason Lyon demands to be explored is for its murals.

There are around 100 large paintings on walls around the city, often in working-class neighbour and on social housing, so they can draw you to places you might not otherwise venture.

There are some vital ones to see though: In États-Unis there’s an outdoor museum with 25 murals painted mostly in the 80s recounting the career of the architect Tony Garnier, who planned this district in the 20s.

To get acquainted with Lyon’s main personalities there’s Fresque des Lyonnais, 24 historical figures and six contemporary people (two of whom have since passed) relevant to the city.

Then there’s Lyon’s original fresco: The Canuts Mural, telling the history of the Croix-Rousse neighbourhood, and updated every ten years.

14. Les Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse

Les Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse

This food market is named after one of France’s culinary giants, in France’s capital of cuisine, so you can be sure of the quality of what’s inside.

It’s a food-lover’s dream, a hand-picked assembly of the region’s  best food merchants, selling charcuterie, cheese, meat, fruit and vegetables.

There are also several proper restaurants in the complex, full of locals at lunch.

So it’s a place to do your food shopping if you’re self-catered, get a delicious Lyonnaise meal and also buy regional specialities to take home.

As with most French food markets, Les Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse is best visited in the morning, long before the stalls close down for lunch.

15. Lyonnaise Cuisine

Lyonnaise potatoes

Lyon has more restaurants per capita than any other city in the country and for centuries has been lauded for the high-quality of its produce and the prestige of its cuisine.

You can dig into traditional Lyonnaise cuisine at “bouchons”, typical restaurants , and the best of these (awarded the label, Authentique Bouchon Lyonnais) tend to be around Presqu’île.

They prepare meals that would usually have been eaten by workers in times gone by, so are filling, rich and make use of parts of the body you might not usually consider: There’s marinated deep-fried tripe, usually served with a garlic and herb sauce. Andouilette, a sausage made from tripe, or gras double, tripe cooked with onions.

Don’t worry; it’s not all tripe! Coq au vin is also a tradition here, as is Lyonnaise potatoes, which are sliced and pan-fried with onions and parsley.

15 Best Things to Do in Lyon (France):

  • Fourvière Basilica
  • Parc de la Tête d'Or
  • Musée des Beaux-Arts de Lyon
  • Ancient Theatre of Fourvière
  • Gallo-Roman Museum of Lyon-Fourvière
  • Lyon Cathedral
  • Institut Lumière
  • Musée Gadagne
  • Musée Miniature et Cinéma
  • Lyon's Murals
  • Les Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse
  • Lyonnaise Cuisine

PlanetWare.com

17 Top-Rated Attractions & Places to Visit in Lyon

Written by Lisa Alexander Updated Dec 26, 2023 We may earn a commission from affiliate links ( )

France's second-most important city after Paris is surprisingly undiscovered. Although Lyon doesn't always make it onto tourist itineraries, many cultural treasures await those who take the time to explore the city.

With a history dating back to ancient Roman times, Lyon has earned a place on the UNESCO World Heritage list . The city boasts France's oldest ancient ruins, medieval quarters, and handsome Renaissance houses.

The atmospheric neighborhoods of Vieux Lyon (Old Lyon) found along the Rhône and Saône Rivers reflect the city's rich heritage. The Quartier Saint-Jean and Colline de la Croix-Rousse districts have an enchanting character, while the Presqu'île exemplifies 19th-century elegance. These captivating historic quarters are the best places to visit in Lyon for a taste of the city's old-world charm.

The happiest of all visitors are the ones who journey here to sample the famous cuisine. The celebrated Michelin-starred Auberge du Pont de Collonges, 10 kilometers from Lyon, was helmed by legendary French chef Paul Bocuse for decades and is still a top destination for gourmands. Authentic Lyonnais gastronomy can also be enjoyed all over Lyon at bouchons , small cozy bistros that serve traditional local specialties.

Explore the city with our list of top attractions and things to do in Lyon.

See also: Where to Stay in Lyon

1. Musée des Beaux Arts

2. quartier saint-jean and quartier saint-georges (old town), 3. musée de la civilisation gallo-romaine, 4. gourmet restaurants, culinary boutiques, and cooking classes, 5. colline de la croix-rousse, 6. presqu'île district, 7. musée des tissus et des arts décoratifs, 8. centre d'histoire de la résistance et de la déportation, 9. basilique notre-dame de fourvière, 10. cathédrale saint-jean baptiste, 11. basilique - abbaye saint-martin d'ainay, 12. cultural performances, 13. parc de la tête d'or, 14. musée de l'imprimerie et de la communication graphique, 15. mural of famous people from lyon, 16. aquarium de lyon, 17. musée des confluences, where to stay in lyon for sightseeing, tips and tours: how to make the most of your visit to lyon, lyon, france - climate chart.

Sculpture at the Musée des Beaux Arts in Lyon

The impressive cultural heritage of Lyon is evidenced in this Musée des Beaux-Arts, considered the next best fine arts museum in France after the Louvre. At the Place des Terreaux near the Hôtel de Ville (Town Hall), the museum occupies the 17th-century Abbaye Royale des Dames de Saint-Pierre (Royal Abbey of the Sisters of Saint-Pierre).

This museum has one of Europe's largest collections of artwork, with an especially impressive assortment of paintings and sculptures from the 14th through the 20th centuries. The antiquities, ancient coins, and graphic arts collections are also noteworthy.

The quality of the collection is exceptional. There are many renowned works by European masters such as Delacroix, Fragonard, Géricault, Rembrandt, Rubens, Poussin, and Véronèse.

The museum displays an excellent collection of Impressionist paintings and modern art. Highlights include works by Claude Monet, Alfred Sisley, Paul Gauguin, Henri Matisse, and Pablo Picasso.

The museum's restaurant and tea salon, Les Terrasses Saint-Pierre , offers a casual dining option for lunch, snacks, coffee, and tea. During summertime, guests may dine al fresco on the terrace in the gardens.

Address: Palais Saint-Pierre, 20 Place des Terreaux, Lyon

Official site: https://www.mba-lyon.fr/en

Rooftops in Vieux Lyon (Old town)

Lyon's atmospheric Quartier Saint-Jean is the place to discover the old-world ambience of Vieux Lyon . This medieval quarter north of the cathedral is filled with narrow cobblestone lanes and quiet little courtyards.

Begin exploring around Rue du Boeuf and the Place Neuve Saint-Jean , a picturesque square filled with traditional restaurants. Then wander around the pedestrian streets of Rue Saint-Jean and Rue des Trois-Maries . There are many inviting shops, crêperies , bouchons , casual restaurants, and cafés along the way.

Continue until reaching the Hôtel de Gadagne at the Place du Petit Collège. This 16th-century mansion houses two excellent museums: The Musée d'Histoire de Lyon (History Museum) illustrates the history of the city-from antiquity through the Middle Ages and Renaissance up to the 20th century. The Musée des Arts de La Marionnette (Puppet Museum) displays marionettes from all over the world.

A short stroll away from the Gadagne museums is Théâtre Le Guignol de Lyon (2 Rue Louis Carrand), where the Compagnie M.A. marionette company performs. Attending a traditional puppet show is one of the most entertaining things to do in Lyon. Performances are in French.

Another place to watch a marionette performance is in the Quartier Saint-Georges, at the Théâtre La Maison de Guignol puppet theater (Place de la Trinité, 2 Montée du Gourguillon). Performances are in French; check the schedule in advance.

La Maison de Guignol theater is a quick walk from the Cathédrale Saint-Jean-Baptiste , and a few steps away is the Café du Soleil (2 Rue Saint-Georges), a great place to enjoy an authentic Lyonnais meal.

Also just steps away from the cathedral is La Maison du Chamarier (37 Rue Saint-Jean). This classified Historical Monument, built between the 13th century and the early 16th century, shows the evolution from Flamboyant Gothic to Renaissance architecture.

A la Marquise (37 rue Saint Jean at Rue Bombarde), a historic pâtisserie shop with a refined salon de thé (tea room), occupies the ground floor of La Maison du Chamarier. This esteemed boutique prepares classic French pastries and Lyonnaise specialties, such as tarte à la praline (praline tart) and bugnes (beignets). The pâtisserie boutique is open Wednesday through Sunday from 9am until 7:30pm; the tea room serves breakfast, lunch, and afternoon tea.

Roman Amphitheater

Lyon stands on the site of the ancient Roman city called Lugdunum, founded in 43 BC, which was the capital of Gaul. The Museum of Gallo-Roman Civilization (Museum of Archaeology) displays Gallo-Roman-era objects including vases, gravestones, mosaics, statues, coins, and ceramics.

The antiquities presented in the museum's exhibits are from onsite digs (from the city of Lugdunum) as well as nearby Roman archaeological sites of Saint-Romain-en-Gal and Vienne.

The collection is renowned for its breadth and variety. Highlights include a monumental Hercules sculpture, decorative marble work from ancient baths, and a magnificent 100-square-meter floor mosaic depicting images related to the God of Oceans.

The museum is located next to an archaeology site that boasts the oldest ancient ruins in France, including two Roman theaters. The Grand Théâtre dating back to 15 BC was where tragedies and comedies were performed. The Odéon was the theater for musical performances. There are also the foundations of a temple that was devoted to the Goddess Cybele.

Address: Museum, 17 Rue Cléberg, Lyon; Archaeological Site, 6 Rue de l'Antiquaille, Lyon

Tarte Aux Pralines at the Lyon patisserie, A La Marquise

Lyon is widely considered the capital of French gastronomy. While visiting Lyon, one should definitely indulge in the famous regional cuisine. The local cooking features hearty dishes such as steak, lamb stew, roast chicken with morels, and poached eggs in red wine sauce. The most unique culinary specialty is something known as " quenelles ," a type of dumpling (made with ground fish) in a rich cream sauce.

The best places to visit in Lyon for authentic cuisine are the " Bouchons Lyonnais ," friendly family-run bistros that offer simple yet delicious meals. Generally bouchons serve classic regional specialties.

The city has several renowned restaurants created by Paul Bocuse in addition to the Michelin two-starred Restaurant Paul Bocuse outside Lyon. In the Presqu'île district, the Brasserie Le Nord serves Lyonnais specialties in a warm, convivial setting. The Brasserie Le Sud near the Place Bellecour specializes in Mediterranean cuisine. On the Quai du Commerce, the Brasserie L'Ouest offers classic French meals and international dishes in a casual dining room.

For an elegant dining experience, the Grand Café des Négociants (1 Place Francisque Régaud) is an excellent choice in the Presqu'île district. This historic brasserie (dating to 1864) offers traditional Lyonnaise cuisine. Waiters in old-fashioned uniforms serve meals to guests seated at white-linen-covered tables in an opulent Second Empire dining room. The restaurant's name " café des négociants " ("coffee shop of traders") refers to its original purpose as a place where silk merchants and diamond vendors met. The Place Francisque Régaud is still home to many luxury retail boutiques.

Tourists will also have fun shopping for gourmet food products in Lyon. Chocoholics should make a beeline for Palomas boutique (2 Rue du Colonel Chambonnet), an acclaimed chocolatier in Lyon since 1917, and Boutique Voisin (28 Rue de la République and other locations throughput Lyon), a prestigious chocolate shop founded in 1897.

A highly recommended foodstuff shop is Giraudet (2 Rue du Colonel Chambonnet), which sells high-end culinary items; the shop also offers cooking classes. The boutique A L'Olivier (33 Cours Franklin Roosevelt) is a purveyor of the finest olive oils made in France.

Also be sure to visit Les Halles de Lyon - Paul Bocuse (102 Cours Lafayette). This covered marketplace has more than 50 different shops and restaurants that offer regional products, including charcuterie, locally made cheese, fresh bread, quenelles, truffles, fruits, vegetables, pâtisserie, and chocolate bonbons.

Colline de la Croix-Rousse

Built on the slopes of the Croix-Rousse hillside, this historic neighborhood was an important center of weaving in the early 19th-century. Because of the high gradient of the streets, there are many charming curves and staircases.

The most unique aspect of the neighborhood is its collection of traboules , covered passageways that run through courtyards, buildings (including private houses), and pedestrian staircases. In the 19th century, these special alleyways were used by silk workers to transport their fabrics. Tourists will have fun wandering around the neighborhood to discover the architectural curiosities of the winding streets and hidden traboules .

There are passageways starting at 9 Place Colbert and continuing to 14 Bis Montée Saint Sébastien; from 20 Rue Imbert Colomès to 55 Rue des Tables Claudiennes; and from 30 Rue Burdeau to 19 Rue René Leynaud (Passage Thiaffait). The traboules are open to the public, but visitors should be quiet, out of respect to the residents.

Another tourist attraction in this area is the Maison des Canuts (House of Silk Workers) at 10/12 Rue d'Ivry. This small museum is dedicated to the art of creating silk. During a visit, tourists can discover the invention of the Jacquard loom and watch hand-weaving demonstrations on traditional looms.

Place Bellecour at sunset in the Presqu'ile District

Lyon's Presqu'île district is a piece of land, sort of like an island, within the river. This neighborhood is distinguished by its beautiful architecture and monumental town squares.

The Place des Terreaux is worth visiting just to see the fountain by F.A. Bartholdi. This grandiose work of art depicts the triumphal chariot of the Garonne River. Notice the four marvelously sculpted horses that look very hardworking, they represent the four different rivers that flow into the ocean.

Lyon's Hôtel de Ville (Town Hall) is found on the east side of the square. Originally built between 1646 and 1672, the Hôtel de Ville was rebuilt (after a fire) by Jules Hardouin-Mansart in his signature Baroque style.

Another monumental edifice in this area is the Palais de la Bourse et du Commerce , on Rue de la République. Although the building has a Renaissance architectural style, it was constructed in the 19th century. Continuing south of the Palais de la Bourse, tourists will come across the Eglise Saint-Bonaventure , a former Franciscan church built in the 14th-15th centuries.

Lyon's finest square in the Presqu'île district is Place Bellecour , between the Rhône and Saône Rivers. The square's centerpiece is an equestrian statue of Louis XIV created by the Lyon-native sculptor F. Lemot. Elegant 19th-century buildings line the east and west sides of the square. From the north side of the square, there is a view of the Fourvière hill.

A few steps away from the Place Bellecour is the Hôtel-Dieu de Lyon , a splendid 17th-century building that once served as a hospital. Another lovely square, the Place Carnot , is found by way of Rue Victor-Hugo. This square features an immense monument to the Republic created in 1890.

Housed in an 18th-century mansion are two superb museums: the Fabric Museum and the Museum of Decorative Arts. The Musée des Tissus (Fabric Museum) is a unique museum that allows visitors to discover the fascinating history of Lyon's silk trade, dating back to the Renaissance period.

The collection includes rare fragments of clothing from the 13th and 14th centuries, exquisite tapestries from the 18th century, as well as more modern 19th- and 20th-century pieces. Also on display is a splendid silk dress of the Empress Josephine. Among the most precious items in the collection is a pleated tunic from Egypt's 5th Dynasty era, dating to around 2,500 BC.

The Musée des Arts Decoratifs (Museum of Decorative Arts) offers a rich collection of decorative pieces of artwork painted on faïence, paper, wood, and other materials; small religious sculptures; Japanese figurines; Italian majolica pieces; vintage dinnerware; antique furniture; and clocks.

The items are displayed in real-life settings to provide cultural context. Some of the museum's rooms feature lavish decor. Visitors feel as if they are taking a peek into a wealthy family's home of a bygone era.

Note: The museum has been closed since April 2021 for renovation work.

Address: 34 Rue de la Charité, Lyon

During the Second World War, Lyon was known as the "Capital of the Resistance" because of the strength of its struggle against the Nazi regime. The Resistance and Deportation History Centre is housed in the building that was used by the Head of the Gestapo in Lyon. This building is now dedicated to the remembrance of the victims who were held in the building's cellars.

The Centre d'Histoire de la Résistance et de la Déportation is open to the public (Tuesday through Sunday) as a museum. The History Center tells the story of the deportees, the hidden children of deportees, members of the resistance, and others who lived through the Second World War. A permanent exhibition outlines the major events of WWII and focuses on the years of occupied France.

The center also screens a documentary film about the trial of Klaus Barbie, the SS officer who was the head of the Gestapo in Lyon. The film features eyewitness accounts and extracts from the court trial of Barbie.

An audio guide helps visitors make sense of the historical information, which is presented in videos, photos, and written documents.

The center aims to honor the citizens in the resistance and pay homage to the memories of the victims of deportation. It is constantly updating its content and continually seeks out WWII eyewitnesses to share their stories.

Address: Espace Berthelot, 14 Avenue Berthelot, Lyon

Basilique Notre-Dame de Fourviere

In a majestic location on the Colline de Fourvière (the hill that overlooks Vieux Lyon), the Basilique Notre-Dame de Fourvière rises to a height of 130 meters above the Saône River. The Basilica is accessible by funiculars running up the hill.

This stunning church was built after the Franco-Prussian War (between 1872 and 1884) when the people of Lyon had vowed to create a Marian sanctuary if their city was spared. The Basilica is a blend of Gothic and Byzantine styles with a richly decorated interior.

Spend time in the sanctuary to admire the sumptuous mosaics and paintings. After touring the interior, climb the northeast tower to take in the sensational views of Lyon's cityscape and surrounding areas.

For awe-inspiring panoramas, head to the Esplanade de Fourvière , on the left side of the Basilica, which provides a sweeping outlook onto the city of Lyon. The views extend to the Croix-Rousse and the Terreaux districts, the Quartier Saint-Jean further down the hill, and the Place Bellecour on the right.

Address: Place de Fourvière, Lyon

Cathédrale Saint-Jean Baptiste

Built in the 12th-century, the magnificent Cathedral of Saint-John is renowned for its 13th- to 14th-century stained-glass windows. The large rose window dating from 1392 allows in a kaleidoscope of colorful light.

The cathedral is mainly Romanesque with a Late Gothic facade. One of the most interesting features is the astronomical clock created by Nicolas Lippius in 1598.

The cathedral also has a remarkable bell (cast in 1622) named "Anne-Marie de la Primatiale" that is one of the largest 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. This perspective allows you to see the soaring twin towers from a distance.

The cathedral is open to the public for prayer and meditation every day. Opening hours on weekdays are from 8:15am until 7:45pm and on weekends from 8am until 7pm.

Mass is celebrated Monday through Saturday at 9am, and additionally on Fridays at 7pm. On Sundays, Mass is held at 8:30am and 10:30am.

Address: Place Saint-Jean, Lyon

Basilique - Abbaye Saint-Martin d'Ainay

The oldest church in Lyon, the Basilique - Abbaye Saint-Martin d'Ainay was built in the 11th century on the site of a 4th-century Roman temple (which was later replaced by a 9th-century Carolingian church). The basilica originally belonged to a Benedictine abbey founded in the 6th century.

A wonderful example of Romanesque architecture, the church contains four classical columns, a 12th-century mosaic pavement in the choir, and 19th-century gilded paintings by the Lyon artist Hippolyte Flandrin.

Address: Place d'Ainay or 11 Rue Bourgelat, Lyon

Cultural Performances

On the Place de la Comédie, the Opéra de Lyon is an opulent 19th-century opera house with a majestic dome. The original theater was renovated by Jean Nouvel, who tripled the size of the building using modern architectural techniques. The Opéra de Lyon presents a wide variety of opera, as well as dance performances and classical music concerts.

Tourists may visit the Opéra de Lyon on guided tours Wednesdays and Saturdays at 1pm and Thursdays at 5:30pm. Guided tours are in French, and tours last for 90 minutes. Tickets for tours must be reserved in advance and may be purchased online, by phone, or at the Opéra de Lyon ticket office. Groups may organize visits Monday through Saturday (at 1pm or 3pm) by contacting the theater ahead of time.

The Théâtre des Célestins (4 Rue Charles Dullin) is a dazzling Neoclassical theater built in 1881. The exquisite Italian-style auditorium is one of the most beautiful in Europe. Guests marvel at the breathtaking ceiling painting and gilded décor while lounging in plush red velvet seats.

The Célestins Theater presents dramatic performances (in French), ranging from classical repertory to contemporary plays. Outside of performances, the theater is only open to the public for guided tours on specific days.

Parc de la Tête d'Or

The Parc de la Tête d'Or was named for a golden statue of Christ that, according to legend, was buried here by Crusaders. Nestled on the left bank of the Rhône River, this luxuriant park is a haven of tranquility in the heart of the city.

The park has a zoo , an eight-hectare botanical garden , and a rose garden with heirloom varieties. There is also a lake ( L'Embarcadère ) where families can rent boats to sail around and admire the scenery.

Highlights of the park for children are Le Grand Carrousel , a delightful merry-go-round created in 1895; the pony rides ; the " Petit Lac " ("Little Lake"), with its mini paddleboats designed for little ones; and an old-fashioned choo choo train called " La Dauphinoise " that youngsters adore.

Address: Place du Général Leclerc, Lyon

Official site: http://www.loisirs-parcdelatetedor.com/en/

Musée de l'Imprimerie (Museum of the Printing Press)

The printing press was a revolutionary technology that changed the world, and Lyon was an important center of bookmaking during the 15th to 16th centuries. The Museum of Printing and Graphic Communication offers an insightful overview of the history. Exhibits explain graphic printing techniques, as well as the cultural effect of printed books.

Address: 13 Rue de la Poulaillerie 69002 Lyon

Mural of Famous People from Lyon

At the Quai Saint Vincent, this 800-square-meter mural features 31 famous people from Lyon, with 25 historical figures and six contemporary figures. The mural was created by the Cité de la Création organization in 1994-1995. Look for Paul Bocuse in front of "Le Pot Beaujolais" restaurant.

Address: 49 Quai Saint Vincent and 2 Rue de la Martinière

Jellyfish at the Aquarium of Lyon

Opened in 2002 and renovated in 2010, the Aquarium of Lyon is dedicated to educating the public about marine ecosystems and environmental issues related to the ocean. Aquarium tanks represent various ocean zones, such as tropical and temperate waters.

Through its exhibits on coral reefs and unique marine species, the Aquarium of Lyon aims to increase public awareness about the importance of protecting biodiversity.

The Aquarium of Lyon is open Wednesday through Sunday from 10:30am until 6:30pm.

Address: 7 Rue Stéphane Déchant, La Mulatière

Official site: https://www.aquariumlyon.fr/en/

Musée des Confluences

An eye-catching ultra-modern building provides the exhibit space for this comprehensive and cutting-edge museum. The museum displays collections of natural science, natural history, archaeology, and anthropology. The natural science department includes minerals, shells, zoology, and entomology sections. The archaeology department covers paleontology and Egyptology.

Highlights of the museum's collections include the pre-Columbian archaeological objects from Peru, the artifacts from Eastern Siberia, the Chinese religious puppets, an assortment of African headdresses, and the sub-Saharan ceramics.

The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10:30am until 6:30pm. On the first Thursday of every month, the museum stays open until 10pm.

Address: 86 Quai Perrache, Lyon

Lyon's compact center is easy to navigate, with the Presqu'île quarter tidily enclosed between the converging Rhone and Saone rivers. At its center is the large Place Bellecour, with the Tourist Information Office. Behind Presqu'île, streets and stairways rise steeply to the hilltop Croix Rousse. On the right bank is the UNESCO-listed Vieux Lyon. The highly rated hotels below are handy to the main tourist attractions in or near these areas:

Luxury Hotels :

  • Convenient to shopping and restaurants, the four-star Mercure Lyon Centre Beaux-Arts is in the center of the Presqu'île district, near Place Bellecour.
  • The sumptuous guest rooms at the five-star Hotel Le Royal Lyon - MGallery Collection overlook a quiet courtyard or Place Bellecour.
  • Between the Saône River and the Musée des Beaux-Arts, the four-star Grand Hotel des Terreaux offers stylishly decorated guest rooms in a 19th-century townhouse. The hotel also has an indoor pool and provides a gourmet breakfast.

Mid-Range Hotels:

  • Near the colorful riverside cafés of Quai Saint-Antoine, the three-star Hotel des Celestins is in a happening neighborhood with many restaurants and shops.
  • Directly across the Saône River from the cathedral and near the Théâtre des Célestins, the three-star Hotel des Artistes is a family-friendly hotel with excellent amenities.
  • The three-star Hotel Bayard Bellecour occupies a graceful 19th-century mansion that is a listed historic monument, right on Place Bellecour.

Budget Hotels:

  • Near the Musée des Tissus et des Arts Décoratifs, the two-star Hotel Vaubecour offers stylish accommodations in a neighborhood of antique shops and artisan studios.
  • In the Presqu'île district near the Perrache railway station is the two-star Hotel du Simplon , which offers basic accommodations and a casual restaurant.
  • A short walk from Vieux Lyon and steps away from the Musée des Beaux-Arts, the two-star Hotel Saint-Pierre des Terreaux has small contemporary-style rooms with mini refrigerators, but no elevator.

Lyon is a big enough city that it helps to take an organized tour. This allows you to visit the top tourist attractions in an enjoyable and easy way, led by a knowledgable local guide. Soak up the town's historic ambience and admire the cultural highlights while you learn interesting stories and historical details. Below are several tours that include visits to Vieux Lyon (the Old Town) and other must-see sights:

See the City Highlights:

  • To make sure that you see all of the top sights, go on a Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour that stops at over a dozen different attractions, including museums, parks, and historic monuments.
  • For a more customized experience, take the Lyon Guided City Tour by Electric Tuk-Tuk for one or two hours of a private guided tour that takes you to Lyon's main highlights such as Place Bellecour and the Colline de Fourvière.

Explore Vieux Lyon:

  • Wander the narrow, winding streets and ancient alleyways of the Old Town and feel as if you are stepping back in time on this Storytelling Walking Tour of Old Lyon . Your guide will tell stories of the people who lived here during the Renaissance era; the tales bring the city's intriguing past to life.
  • To explore the quaint Colline de la Croix-Rousse district, take the Lyon City Tram , which includes a guided tour by mini train.

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Places to Visit by Train from Lyon . Thanks to the country's TGV (high-velocity) train system, Lyon is easily accessible to many of France's top tourist attractions . By TGV train, it takes less than two hours to arrive in Paris , while Avignon , in Provence , with its UNESCO-listed 14th-century Palais de Papes, is just over an hour away.

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Highlights of the French Alps and Jura Region : Less than 90 minutes away by car, Grenoble boasts a charming historic center, top-notch cultural attractions, and gorgeous alpine scenery. The quaint alpine village of Chamonix and the mythic Mont-Blanc mountain in the French Alps are a 2.5-hour drive away. The verdant landscape of the Parc Jura Vaudois in the Jura Region is a 2.5-hour drive away.

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Das Team hat stets unsere Wünsche uns erwartungen gänzlich erfüllt und war dabei immer freundlich und zuvorkommend. Das Essen war sehr delikat und abwechslungsreich. Auch die Ausflüge waren gut organisiert. Daher alles bestens!
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All about the Traboules, Lyon’s Hidden Gems

Article written by Elisa - Travel Writer & Local in France This article may contain compensated links. Please read disclaimer for more info.

The traboules are hidden gems of Lyon , a world apart from the hustle and bustle of the city. In Lyon, traboules are narrow passageways cut through houses and private courtyards.

The word traboule comes from the Latin “trans ambulare, ” which means “to walk through.”

Exploring the traboules is one of the best things to do in Lyon . There are around 400 of these small pathways in the city, with 40 of them open to visitors.

Traboules of Lyon

Are you planning a Lyon trip last minute?

Below are some of the best Lyon tours, hotels, and more!

  • Check out this Lyon transportation guide
  • Book your flight to Lyon (LYS)
  • Book your transer airport-city with Welcome Pickups
  • Book your train to Lyon

Top Experiences and Tours in Lyon

  • Lyon City Pass for 1 to 4 days
  • Lyon Guided Sightseeing Cruise – Admire Lyon from another perspective
  • Lyon Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour – A great way to see the capital of Auvergne
  • Lyon E-bike Guided Tour – With a local for a superb experience

Top Lyon Accommodation and Lodging

Villa Florentine  (top suggestion),  Hotel Le Lumière (budget),  MiHotel Sala  (mid-range),  Intercontinental Lyon-Hotel Dieux   (luxury),  Hotel de l’Abbaye  (luxury). Check out the full list of our favorite hotels in Lyon

Don’t forget your travel insurance!

HeyMondo  offers travelers insurance that combines medical and travel-related coverage for single trips (leisure and business trips), annual multi-trip, and extended stays (with COVID-19 coverage included).  Use this link to get a 5% off.

Best Way to Visit the Traboules in Lyon

The best way to visit the traboules of Lyon and learn about their history is with a local licensed guide. There is no Lyon traboules walking tour, but this Lyon Old District walking tour can be tailored to your interests, so you can ask to focus on the traboules (which are already included in the standard itinerary).

This Lyon highlights & secrets walking tour also visits a couple of traboules in Old Lyon.

These audio-guided walking tours cover the main highlights in Vieux-Lyon and Croix-Rousse neighborhoods and can be downloaded onto your smartphone.

  • Audio-guided walking tour of Vieux-Lyon
  • Audio-guided walking tour of Croix-Rousse

If you prefer to explore the traboules of Lyon without the help of a guide, go on reading for the best traboules Lyon has to offer.

About the Traboules of Lyon

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The traboules in Lyon are older than you may think; their origin can be traced back to the 4th century! After the fall of the Roman Empire, the aqueducts bringing water to Lyon started to fall, and the city built the first traboules to allow its inhabitants quicker access to the Old Town from the river.

In Lyon, there are many narrow passages, but not all of them are traboules. Here are the main characteristics of the traboules, Lyon’s unique attraction:

  • It is a path reserved for pedestrians, and it crosses one or more buildings
  • It connects one street to another
  • In a traboule, there’s always an inner courtyard to provide the buildings and the passage with natural light
  • There’s also a staircase that serves two or more buildings (usually through galleries)

Later in the 19th century, when Lyon became a major center for the silk trade, the traboules allowed the canuts (the name given to the silk traders in Lyon) to easily move their goods from the places of production to the markets located in the city center. Because most of the traboules were covered, they also protected the bolts of precious silk from rain, allowing goods transportation even in inclement weather.

Thanks to their usefulness in the daily life of the people of Lyon, traboules became over the years a characteristic feature of Lyon’s town planning from the Renaissance until the 19th century. Their integration into the city’s urban planning was even planned from the construction of the building.

Because of their secret nature, some of these traboules were the landmarks of the Canut Revolts , the major revolts that occurred between 1831 and 1848. They were among the first well-defined worker uprisings of the period known as the “Industrial Revolution.”

In the 20th century, during the Second World War, the traboules in Lyon were used by the resistance fighting against occupying German forces.

Best Traboules to Visit in Lyon

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The traboules are secret passages, often hidden behind magnificent Renaissance doors. Even today, only a true Lyonnais has a good knowledge about Lyon’s traboules, so you can take your traboules exploration as a kind of treasure hunt.

Today, the most beautiful traboules are located in Vieux-Lyon and the Croix-Rousse neighborhoods. Originally, there were many traboules in the Presqu’Ile too, but the major urban planning works carried out in this sector in the 19th century caused the disappearance of the weaving workshops, a large part of the old buildings… and part of the traboules.

The traboules are private passages, usually linked to the courtyard of a residential building. Since 1990, an agreement between the City Council and the residents of properties with traboules allows access to everybody from morning to evening in exchange for maintenance, restoration, and lightning. Most of the traboules open to the public are marked on the exterior façade, and they have informative panels in French and English highlighting their history and architectural features.

If you prefer to visit the traboules alone rather than with a Lyon traboules guided tour, here is the list of the most beautiful traboules Lyon has to offer. There are many traboules, so if you are only spending a weekend in Lyon , it’s better to concentrate your explorations around the traboules of Vieux-Lyon. Remember that the traboules are part of residential areas, so please respect the tranquility of its inhabitants. Enjoy!

TIP: Lyon’s Tourism Office at Place Bellecour has free maps with the traboules open for visitors . In the summer, you can find their staff hanging around Old Lyon, offering these free maps to tourists.

TRABOULES VIEUX-LYON

  • 3 Rue des Antonins to 68 Rue Saint-Jean
  • 7 Rue du Bœuf to 34 Rue Saint-Jean
  • 27 Rue du Bœuf to 54 Rue Saint-Jean
  • 31 Rue du Bœuf to 14-10 rue de la Bombarde
  • 2 Place du Gouvernement to 10 Quai Romain Rolland
  • 5 Rue Juiverie to 3 Place Saint-Paul
  • 5 Place Neuve Saint-Jean to 40 Rue Saint-Jean
  • 7 Rue Saint-Jean to 7 Quai Romain-Rolland
  • 19 Rue Saint-Jean to 2 Rue des Trois Maries
  • 27 Rue Saint-Jean to 6 Rue de Trois Maries
  • 1 Rue des Trois Maries to 14 Quai Romain Rolland
  • 9 Rue des Trois Maries to 17 Quai Romain Rolland
  • 2 Place du Petit Collège to 10 Rue Saint-Jean

TRABOULES CROIX-ROUSSE

  • 7 Rue du Bœuf to 34 rue Saint-Jean
  • 31 Rue du Bœuf to 14-10 Rue de la Bombarde

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TRABOULES PRESQU’IILE

  • 33-35-37 Rue Auguste-Comte to 21-23-25 Rue des  Remparts-d’Ainay
  • Rue des  Trois Passages to 5 place  Gailleton
  • 15 Rue  Victor-Hugo to 16 Rue Auguste Comte
  • 37 Place Bellecour Presqu’Ile to 1 Rue du Plat
  • 2 Rue Charles-Dullin to 1 Rue Gaspard-André
  • 5 Rue Confort to 3 Rue David Girin
  • 56 Rue Mercière to 26 quai Saint-Antoine (passage des imprimeurs)
  • 82 Rue Président Edouard Herriot to 45 rue de Brest
  • 1 Rue Constantine, 2 Rue d’Algérie, 3 Rue d’Oran to 1 Quai de la Pêcherie

Traboules and Bouchons in Vieux Lyon

tours of lyon france

If you are exploring the traboules IN Vieux-Lyon, chances are that you are not far from a bouchon Lyonnais . The bouchons are Lyon’s local eateries, usually popular and cheap places offering traditional food. Highly enhanced and promoted by the City Council, the bouchons have become trendy places perfect for a casual lunch or dinner in the Old Town.

Even if they have lost a bit of their popular character, the bouchons’ menu hasn’t changed, with typical dishes of the region like the tablier de sapron , quenelles (kind of dumplings), Lyonnaise salad , and canut’s brain . Everything is generally served copiously and washed down with a glass of Beaujolais or Côtes-du-Rhône.

To learn more about food in Lyon, try this  Lyon Old Town Food Tour  with a local guide, which explores the Old Town from a gourmet’s perspective, combining cultural discovery and local flavors.

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The Traboules: Lyon secret passageways

The traboules: lyon’s secret network.

Traboules in Vieux-Lyon

Typical traboule in a Renaissance building in Vieux-Lyon

What is a Traboule?

Winding their way through buildings, courtyards, and up and down staircases, Lyon’s secret covered passageways, or traboules , are an ideal way of visiting the city’s hidden and colourful past . Every traboule is different though. Each has a unique pastel colour, a particular curve or spiral staircase, vaulted ceilings or Renaissance arches.

Some have counted as many as 400 traboules in Lyon, but just over 40 are open to the public , each clearly marked with a small identifying seal. It’s the atmospheric Vieux Lyon and the arty Croix Rousse that house the lion’s share.

Half of the fun is finding them of course, but failing that, you can skip to it and go on a guided tour on Saturday morning. They say if you want to be a true Lyonnais, you have to know your traboules . So what are you waiting for?

Why do we say “traboule”?

The word ‘traboules’ is a corruption of the Latin ‘trans-ambulare’, or ‘to pass through’, dating back to the 4th century, allowing folk more direct access to the town’s fresh water source than the winding streets provided.

A wander through the history of the traboules

The first examples of traboules are thought to have been built in Lyon in the 4th century. Due to lack of water and malfunctioning aqueducts, the inhabitants of what was Lugdunum had to move to the banks of the river Saône, in the lower town, at the foot of Fourvière hill. The traboules were dreamed up to allow people to get from their homes to the river quickly.

Later on, they were taken up by the Canuts silk workers of the Croix-Rousse (1 st and 4 th districts), the beating heart of 19 th century silk trade. The passageways were used for Canuts workers to carry their heavy loads from their workshops in the Croix-Rousse to the textile merchants at the foot of the hill, as well as for workers’ meetings.

La Cour des Voraces, traboule in Lyon

Famous traboule on Croix-Rousse hill: the “Cour des Voraces”

In Vieux Lyon (5 th district), most streets run parallel to the river, making it tricky to get from one street to the next without having to make a huge detour, so courtyards with connected through a network of passages and a large number of shortcuts were created. The traboules of the Lyon’s Old Quarter thus allowed workers and craftspeople to transport clothes and other textiles more quickly through the city while remaining sheltered from the miserable weather.

A century later saw a different use entirely. During the Second World War , the traboules were used by the resistance for secret meetings, thus preventing the Nazis from occupying the whole of Lyon.

The landmark traboule

In the 1830s there were as many as 25,000 Canut silk workers in Lyon.

As further silk workshop s opened, merchants started to take advantage of the artisan class weavers by slashing their wages and benefits.

Struggling with the combination of increased competition, new technology, uncertain economic forces and the exploiting merchants, the workers decided to rebel.

Joining forces, the Canut silk workers closed workshops and marched into town, picking up weapons at the armory as they went, seeking to hold the industry hostage until a set wage was agreed to.

A traboule in Lyon Croix Rousse

Croix Rousse traboule in Lyon

However, the Canut revolts were bloodily suppressed. 10,000 Canuts were reportedly tried in Paris and faced criminal deportation, but their motto of “live free working or die fighting” inspired other workers uprisings in future years.

Believe it or not, the spirit lives on in the Croix-Rousse to this day. You just have to dig a little.

One of the landmarks of the Canut Revolts is to be found in the Croix-Rousse district. It’s called “Traboule de la cour des Voraces” and is also the oldest reinforced concrete stairwell in Lyon.

How to visit the traboules?

Guided tours.

For the Canut workshops and traboules , the meeting place is Place de la Croix-Rousse, in the 4th district of Lyon, outside the underground station Croix-Rousse. For navigating the traboules in the Croix-Rousse, follow the arrows accompanied by the lion’s head.

tours of lyon france

Follow this sign to discover the traboules

For the Vieux-Lyon traboules , the meeting place is outside the Vieux Lyon metro station. In Vieux-Lyon, these passageways are marked by a bronze shield.

  • Arrive 10 minutes early
  • Duration: 2 hours
  • Price: 12 euros
  • 8 – 18 and students: 7 euros

Reserve the Vieux Lyon traboules here or phone +33(0)4 72 77 69 69 Reserve the Croix Rousse traboules and Canut Workshop here or phone +33(0)4 72 77 69 69

The longest traboule

The longest traboule in Lyon runs between 54 Rue Saint-Jean and 27 Rue du Bœuf, and a famously picturesque traboule begins at 9 Place Colbert/14 bis montee Saint Sebastion, and features a historic six-story external staircase.

If you’re a bit of an adventurer, here are a few traboules to discover on your own:

  • 27 Rue St Jean connecting with 6 Rue des Trois Maries
  • 54 Rue St Jean with 27 Rue de Boeuf
  • 31 Rue du Boeuf with 14 Rue de la Bombarde
  • 2 Place du Gouvernement with 10 Quai Romain Rolland
  • 9 Rue des Trois Maries with 17 Quai Romain Rolland

Where are the Traboules in Lyon

Or have a look here at a map of Traboules located  in the Vieux Lyon .

Further reading about these famous landmarks in Lyon

  • Traboules on the  Atlas Obscura
  • Lyon Traboules official application

Listen to our Podcast on these secret passageways

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Breaking news, we found shockingly cheap tickets to see taylor swift in lyon, france.

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Taylor Swift poses on the red carpet.

It’s back to France for Taylor Swift .

On June 2-3, Time Magazine’s 2023 Person Of The Year will play back-to-back ‘Eras Tour’ concerts at Lyon’s Groupama Stadium with special guest Paramore.

These gigs come on the heels of Swift’s four nights at Paris’ La Defense Arena in early May.

The biggest difference between those shows and the upcoming pair in Lyon is the price.

While tickets started at $246 USD before fees for the Paris concerts, they’re much, much cheaper should you go to Groupama Stadium .

Case in point, there are tickets going for as low as $69 USD before fees on Vivid Seats for the Monday, June 3 show at the time of publication.

Not bad at all considering tix to see Tay Tay in the U.S. typically cost over $1,000 last year.

Want to catch Taylor in her post-“Tortured Poet’s Department’ era for cheap?

We’ve got everything you need to know and more about Taylor Swift’s ‘Eras Tour’ concerts at Groupama Stadium in Lyon, FR below.

All prices listed above are subject to fluctuation.

Taylor Swift Lyon tickets 2024

A complete calendar including all ‘Eras Tour’ Groupama Stadium concert dates and links to the cheapest tickets available can be found here:

(Note: The New York Post confirmed all above prices at the publication time. All prices are in US dollars, subject to fluctuation and include additional fees at checkout .)

Vivid Seats is a verified secondary market ticketing platform, and prices may be higher or lower than face value, depending on demand. 

They offer a 100% buyer guarantee that states your transaction will be safe and secure and your tickets will be delivered prior to the event.

Taylor Swift set list

Post-“Tortured Poet’s Department” release, Swift has incorporated the new album into her shows.

For a closer look, here’s what Tay Tay played at her final Paris concert at La Defense Arena, according to  Set List FM :

01.) “Miss Americana & the Heartbreak Prince” 02.) “Cruel Summer” 03.) “The Man” 04.) “You Need to Calm Down” 05.) “Lover” Fearless

06.) “Fearless” 07.) “You Belong With Me” 08.) “Love Story” Red 09.) “22” 10. )”We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” 11.) “I Knew You Were Trouble” 12.) “All Too Well” Speak Now 13.) “Enchanted” reputation

14.) “…Ready for It?” 15.) “Delicate” 16.) “Don’t Blame Me” 17.) “Look What You Made Me Do” folklore / evermore

18.) “cardigan” 19.) “betty” 20.) “champagne problems” 21.) “august” 22.) “illicit affairs” 23.) “my tears ricochet” 24.) “marjorie” 25.) “willow” 1989

26.) “Style” 27.) “Blank Space” 28.) “Shake It Off” 29.) “Wildest Dreams” 30.) “Bad Blood” THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT

31.) “Female Rage: The Musical” (contains elements of “MBOBHFT”, “WAfoLOM?”, “loml”, “So Long, London” & “BDILH”) 32.) “But Daddy I Love Him / So High School” 33.) “Who’s Afraid of Little Old Me?” 34.) “Down Bad” 35.) “Fortnight” 36.) “The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived” 37.) “I Can Do It With a Broken Heart” Surprise Songs

38.) “The Alchemy / Treacherous” 39.) “Begin Again” Midnights

40.) “Lavender Haze” 41.) “Anti‐Hero” 42.) “Midnight Rain” 43.) “Vigilante Shit” 44.) “Bejeweled” 45.) “Mastermind” 46.) “Karma”

Taylor Swift ‘Eras Tour’ news

Our team has been following the ‘Eras Tour’ closely over the past year.

Over the past few months, we spoke to a Swiftie who  shared some helpful tips  about seeing Taylor live, reported on  dropping ticket prices  and  came up with a list of all the most exciting fan trends .

Taylor Swift new music

Swift’s  “The Tortured Poets Department”  was released at midnight (and subsequently at 2 a.m.) on Friday, April 19.

While every listener will likely come away with their own favorites, we particularly enjoyed the sleek, synthy “Fortnight,” icy “So Long, London,” anthemic “I Can Do It With a Broken Heart,” a bombastic slow build of “The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived” and gorgeously arranged “Chloe or Sam or Sophia or Marcus.”

If you want to give it a spin — if you haven’t already, that is — you can find “The Tortured Poets Department”  here .

The Hayley Williams-fronted pop-punk rockers are opening for Swift from May through August this year. This may come as a bit of a surprise to some fans considering that the group mounted a successful arena tour of their own in 2023.

That tour, came on the heels of Paramore’s 2022 reunion; prior to that, the band had been on a five-year hiatus.

For fans who want to check out their latest, their 2023 album “This Is Why” can be heard  here .

Huge stars on tour in 2024

Although it will cost an arm and a leg (sometimes more!) to see Swift live this year, there are much more affordable — likely stateside — concerts you can attend this year.

Here are just five of our favorite artists you won’t want to miss live.

•  Olivia Rodrigo

•  Kacey Musgraves

•  Pink

•  Chappell Roan

•  Billie Eilish

Who else is on the road this year? Check out our list of the  50 biggest concert tours in 2024  to find out.

Why you should trust ‘Post Wanted’ by the New York Post

This article was written by Matt Levy , New York Post live events reporter. Levy stays up-to-date on all the latest tour announcements from your favorite musical artists and comedians, as well as Broadway openings, sporting events and more live shows – and finds great ticket prices online. Since he started his tenure at the Post in 2022, Levy has reviewed Bruce Springsteen and interviewed Melissa Villaseñor of SNL fame, to name a few. Please note that deals can expire, and all prices are subject to change.

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USA TODAY

'Pluie, rain': Taylor Swift sings in a downpour on Eras Tour's first night in Lyon, France

Mark the first night in Lyon, France, as a rain show for the Eras Tour .

"Pluie, rain," Taylor Swift exclaimed to the sold-out show inside Groupama Stadium as she floated onto the stage during the "Speak Now" era. ("Pluie" is French for rain.)

Gray clouds loomed over the open-roofed stadium for the first hour of Swift's first show in the city in Eastern France. The band played underneath tents on both sides of the stage. The VIP and production booths on the ground floor were in tents as well. Some audience members wore colorful ponchos.

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What was a slow-start sprinkle during "Enchanted," turned into a full downpour minutes later in the "Reputation" era. Swift and her dancers embraced the rain as she belted, "Baby, let the games begin." The bulk of the water show happened as Swift performed in her red and black bodysuit.

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During the combined "Folklore"/"Evermore" set, Swift sat at the moss-covered piano and acknowledged the appearance from Mother Nature.

"We have officially had a rain show tonight and that is set," she said before performing "Champagne Problems." "That is permanent. It doesn't matter if it doesn't rain again."

'Happy Pride Month, Lyon'

During " You Need to Calm Down ," an LGBTQ anthem for some Swifties, the singer made mention of rainbow-laden June.

"Happy Pride Month, Lyon," she said as wristwatches across the stadium lit up in rainbow colors and the audience waved their hands back and forth.

The singer-songwriter has one more show Monday night in Lyon before heading to Edinburgh, Scotland, for three shows this weekend.

Don't miss any Taylor Swift news; sign up for the  free, weekly newsletter This Swift Beat.  

Follow Taylor Swift reporter Bryan West on  Instagram ,  TikTok  and  X as @BryanWestTV .

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: 'Pluie, rain': Taylor Swift sings in a downpour on Eras Tour's first night in Lyon, France

US singer and songwriter Taylor Alison Swift, also known as Taylor Swift performs on stage at the Paris La Defense Arena as part of her The Eras Tour, in Nanterre, north-western France, on May 9, 2024. (Photo by JULIEN DE ROSA / AFP) (Photo by JULIEN DE ROSA/AFP via Getty Images) ORIG FILE ID: 2151625859

Taylor Swift breaks attendance record for female artist in Lyon, France

tours of lyon france

Taylor Swift broke an attendance record in Lyon, France, with her sold-out Eras Tour .

"This is overall my very first trip to Lyon and look at what you've done," the singer — donning a pink bejeweled jacket and bodysuit — said to the 61,000 fans packed inside the Groupama Stadium on Monday.

The night before, Swift announced the crowd had broken the venue's all-time attendance record for a female artist. Similar to in other cities where succeeding nights have broken attendance records from the night before, on Monday she exclaimed: "You broke that record."

As her hands thrust into the air and the crowd roared, gray clouds loomed over the open-roofed stadium. Rain didn't pour Monday night like it did during the "Reputation" era Sunday night.

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Temperatures hovered in the low 60s on Monday. Some fans on the floor noticeably needed water. The singer-songwriter isn't shy about pausing songs to ask guards to help Swifties. Six minutes into her 10-minute version of "All Too Well," she briefly stopped singing as the background track continued. "S'il vous plaît, please help," she said.

While strumming the guitar to "Betty" in the combined "Folklore"/"Evermore" set, Swift once again pleaded for help, "Aidez-les s'il vous plaît (help them please)."

The singer and her crew have a four-day tour break. Their next stop is Edinburgh, Scotland, where she will perform on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Don't miss any Taylor Swift news; sign up for the  free, weekly newsletter This Swift Beat.  

Follow Taylor Swift reporter Bryan West on  Instagram ,  TikTok  and  X as @BryanWestTV .

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    Tourists may visit the Opéra de Lyon on guided tours Wednesdays and Saturdays at 1pm and Thursdays at 5:30pm. Guided tours are in French, and tours last for 90 minutes. Tickets for tours must be reserved in advance and may be purchased online, by phone, or at the Opéra de Lyon ticket office. ... Average monthly precipitation totals for Lyon ...

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    Find 46 Fully Guided tours starting in Lyon with 79 reviews from past travellers. Compare and book now with TourRadar! Shop 2,500 operators. 4.5 stars on ... See the best Fully Guided trips from Lyon, France. We have 46 adventures that range from 3 days up to 15 days in length. The most popular time for tours leaving Lyon is August.

  21. 15 Best Day Trips from Lyon, France

    There are also hourly trains that take 35 minutes to reach the far side of the park. 9. Chazelles-sur-Lyon. Visiting Chazelles-sur-Lyon is a shorter day trip from Lyon. There's really only one reason to visit this town west of Lyon and that is the Atelier - Musée du Chapeau.

  22. 9 Self-Guided Walking Tours in Lyon, France + Maps

    Sightseeing Walk: Food Tour in Lyon. Sightseeing Walk: Lyon's Architectural Landmarks. Discovery Walk: Presqu'île Shopping Walk. Discovery Walk: Vieux Lyon Walk. Discovery Walk: Saone Promenade Walk. Discovery Walk: Place Bellecour Area Walk. Discovery Walk: Les Brotteaux Walk.

  23. Lyon Like a Local Customized Private Guided Tour 2024

    Lyon Premium Fitness Pass. from $24.14. Lyon, Rhône-Alpes. Lyon Private Guided Tour with a professional tour guide. 5. from $175.59. Price varies by group size. Lyon, Rhône-Alpes. 1-hour tourist walk with guide.

  24. All about the Traboules, Lyon's Hidden Gems

    The traboules are hidden gems of Lyon, a world apart from the hustle and bustle of the city.In Lyon, traboules are narrow passageways cut through houses and private courtyards. The word traboule comes from the Latin "trans ambulare," which means "to walk through.". Exploring the traboules is one of the best things to do in Lyon.There are around 400 of these small pathways in the city ...

  25. Traboules of Lyon

    In Vieux-Lyon, these passageways are marked by a bronze shield. Arrive 10 minutes early. Duration: 2 hours. Price: 12 euros. 8 - 18 and students: 7 euros. Reserve the Vieux Lyon traboules here or phone +33 (0)4 72 77 69 69. Reserve the Croix Rousse traboules and Canut Workshop here or phone +33 (0)4 72 77 69 69.

  26. France River Cruises

    France was born along its rivers. And Viking delivers you to the doorsteps of a nation's history and culture, from romantic riverside ruins and lush vineyards to glittering cities of elegance and grandeur. Here is a selection of some treasures you will experience with Viking: The elegant architecture of Paris. Historic Avignon, City of Popes.

  27. Taylor Swift Fan Proposes to Boyfriend at Eras Tour Concert

    Taylor Swift Fans Go Wild Over Photo of Boyfriend Proposing at Eras Tour: 'Instant Joy and Happiness'. The night was sparkling for one happy couple in Lyon, France! Yet another Swiftie has knelt ...

  28. Taylor Swift in Lyon France: Where to buy tickets, best prices

    It's back to France for Taylor Swift. On June 2-3, Time Magazine's 2023 Person Of The Year will play back-to-back 'Eras Tour' concerts at Lyon's Groupama Stadium with special guest Paramore.

  29. 'Pluie, rain': Taylor Swift sings in a downpour on Eras Tour's first

    Mark the first night in Lyon, France, as a rain show for the Eras Tour. "Pluie, rain," Taylor Swift exclaimed to the sold-out show inside Groupama Stadium as she floated onto the stage during the ...

  30. Taylor Swift smiles during Eras Tour secret song, Fifteen in Lyon

    On her first of two Eras Tour shows in Lyon, France on Sunday, she performed one of her "secret songs" on the piano — actually, it was a mashup of two, with Fifteen and You're On Your Own Kid.

  31. Taylor Swift breaks attendance record for female artist in Lyon, France

    0:59. Taylor Swift broke an attendance record in Lyon, France, with her sold-out Eras Tour. "This is overall my very first trip to Lyon and look at what you've done," the singer — donning a pink ...

  32. King Gizzard And The Lizard Wizard Set 2025 Euro Residency Tour

    Here are King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard's 2025 European tour dates: May 18, 19, 20: Lisbon (Coliseu do Recreios) May 23, 24, 25: Barcelona (Poble Espanyol) May 29, 30, 31: Vilnius, Lithuania ...