Cidade Turismo
France
Lyon

Auvérnia-Ródano-Alpes · France

Lyon

Third largest city in France, between the Ródano and the Saona rivers: historic center listed by UNESCO, bouchons, traboules and the Festa das Luzes in December.

Leste

In the photo: Basilique Notre-Dame de Fourvière · Lyon

Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.

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Get to know the place

A region to enjoy
at your own pace.

Lyon is in eastern France, at the meeting of two rivers, the Ródano (Rhône) and the Saona (Saône). It is the country's third-largest city by population and the capital of the Auvérnia-Ródano-Alpes region.

The city began as Lugdunum, founded by the Romans in 43 BC, and preserves layers of more than two thousand years side by side. The Roman theaters atop Fourvière, the Renaissance quarter of Vieux Lyon, the classical Presqu'île between the two rivers and the slopes of the Croix-Rousse, neighborhood of the old silk weavers, make up the historic site inscribed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1998.

Lyon is famed as the capital of French gastronomy. The most Lyonnais way to eat is in a bouchon, the city's typical restaurant, with hearty dishes like quenelles and salade lyonnaise. The covered market named after chef Paul Bocuse brings together cheeses, charcuterie and sweets from the region.

Two words help explain the city. Traboule is the pedestrian passage that cuts through building courtyards and links one street to another, common in the Vieux Lyon and the Croix-Rousse. Fête des Lumières is the Festa das Luzes, which fills the center for four nights around December 8, with projections on façades and candles in the windows.

This destination brings together 1 city: Lyon.

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One destination, many paths

The cities on this trip

Start with one city or combine several in your itinerary.

Where Lyon is
Lyon

Contornos: © IGN, ADMIN EXPRESS, Licence Ouverte 2.0. Adaptação do Cidade Turismo.

How to get there: Lyon

✈ Aéroport Lyon-Saint-Exupéry (LYS), in Colombier-Saugnieu · 25 km to Lyon

Confirm before you buy. The airport is Lyon-Saint-Exupéry (LYS), linked to the center by the Rhônexpress express tram. From Paris, the TGV takes about 2 hours to Lyon-Part-Dieu and Lyon-Perrache stations.

The local experience

Things to do in Lyon

Vieux Lyon
Lyon · Auvérnia-Ródano-Alpes · Historic neighborhood

Vieux Lyon

Medieval and Renaissance district on the banks of the Saona, at the foot of Fourvière, with cobbled streets, traboules and the Cathédrale Saint-Jean.

Cathédrale Saint-Jean-Baptiste
Lyon · Auvérnia-Ródano-Alpes · Cathedral

Cathédrale Saint-Jean-Baptiste

Primate of the Gauls, Lyon's cathedral blends Romanesque and Gothic styles and houses a medieval astronomical clock.

Basilique Notre-Dame de Fourvière
Lyon · Auvérnia-Ródano-Alpes · Church

Basilique Notre-Dame de Fourvière

19th-century basilica atop the hill of Fourvière, with an interior covered in mosaics and a viewpoint overlooking the whole city.

Lugdunum – Musée & Théâtres romains
Lyon · Auvérnia-Ródano-Alpes · Historical site

Lugdunum – Musée & Théâtres romains

The open-air theaters of ancient Lugdunum and, alongside them, a museum carved into the hill with mosaics and the Tábua de Cláudio.

See 12 more places in Lyon
Croix-Rousse
Lyon · Auvérnia-Ródano-Alpes · Neighborhood

Croix-Rousse

The "hill that works", neighborhood of the former silk weavers, with slopes, traboules, a street market and the large Mur des Canuts.

Maison des Canuts
Lyon · Auvérnia-Ródano-Alpes · Museum

Maison des Canuts

Small Lyonnaise silk museum in the Croix-Rousse, with a weaving demonstration on a Jacquard loom.

Place Bellecour
Lyon · Auvérnia-Ródano-Alpes · Square

Place Bellecour

Large square of Lyon and the city's point zero, with an equestrian statue of Louis XIV and views towards Fourvière.

Place des Terreaux
Lyon · Auvérnia-Ródano-Alpes · Square

Place des Terreaux

Square in the north of the Presqu'île with the 17th-century Hôtel de Ville, the Bartholdi fountain and the Musée des Beaux-Arts.

Musée des Beaux-Arts de Lyon
Lyon · Auvérnia-Ródano-Alpes · Museum

Musée des Beaux-Arts de Lyon

One of the largest art museums in France, in a former abbey on the Place des Terreaux, with works from Antiquity to modern art.

Musée des Confluences
Lyon · Auvérnia-Ródano-Alpes · Museum

Musée des Confluences

Museum of science and societies in a futuristic glass-and-steel building at the tip where the Ródano and the Saona meet.

Parc de la Tête d'Or
Lyon · Auvérnia-Ródano-Alpes · Park

Parc de la Tête d'Or

Urban park of 117 hectares with a lake, greenhouses, rose garden, botanical garden and a zoo with free admission.

Les Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse
Lyon · Auvérnia-Ródano-Alpes · Market

Les Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse

Covered market with about 60 stalls selling cheeses, charcuterie, sweets and restaurant counters, named in honor of Paul Bocuse.

Musée Lumière
Lyon · Auvérnia-Ródano-Alpes · Museum

Musée Lumière

Museum in the Lumière family house, next to the place where the brothers filmed the first movie in the history of cinema, in 1895.

Musée Miniature et Cinéma
Lyon · Auvérnia-Ródano-Alpes · Museum

Musée Miniature et Cinéma

Private museum in Vieux Lyon with miniature sets and original special effects props and objects from well-known films.

Fresque des Lyonnais
Lyon · Auvérnia-Ródano-Alpes · Monument

Fresque des Lyonnais

An 800 m² trompe-l'œil mural featuring famous Lyon figures in the windows of a building on the banks of the Saona.

Pérouges
Lyon · Auvérnia-Ródano-Alpes · Medieval village

Pérouges

A walled medieval village on top of a hill, about 35 km from Lyon, with stone streets, weavers' houses and the lime-tree square.

Before you go

Practical information

A little planning leaves more time to enjoy the journey.

When to go

Spring (April to June) and early autumn (September and October) usually have mild temperatures for walking. The European summer, from June to August, is hot and features nighttime shows in the Roman theaters. In winter, from December to February, it's cold and the days are short, but that's when the Festa das Luzes takes place, around December 8.

The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.

How many days to stay

One day is enough for the Vieux Lyon, the Fourvière hill and the Presqu'île. With two days you can add the Croix-Rousse, the Paul Bocuse market and the Parc de la Tête d'Or. Three or four days allow for museums at a relaxed pace, such as the Musée des Confluences and the Musée Lumière, and a trip to the medieval village of Pérouges.

Which city to stay in

The Presqu'île, between Place Bellecour and Place des Terreaux, is the most practical base: it's close to the metro, restaurants and the two rivers. The Vieux Lyon, on the Saona bank, has cobbled streets and Renaissance buildings, with climbs and stairs. The area around Part-Dieu station serves those arriving and departing by train or using the Rhônexpress. The Croix-Rousse has a neighborhood feel, with a street market and bistros. Near Perrache station and in the Confluence district there are newer options.

Respect the place

Take your trash with you, follow the signs and support local businesses. In natural areas, follow the visiting guidelines.

Get your questions answered

Frequently asked questions about Lyon

How many days to spend in Lyon?

Two days allow seeing the essentials without rushing: Vieux Lyon, Fourvière, Presqu'île, Croix-Rousse and the Paul Bocuse market. With three or four days you can include the larger museums and a trip to the medieval village of Pérouges, about 35 km away.

Do you need a car in Lyon?

No. Lyon has a metro, trams, buses and two funiculars that climb the Fourvière hill, and the center is easy to explore on foot. A car only makes sense for trips outside the city, like Pérouges, which also has regional train access.

Can you do a day trip to Lyon from Paris?

You can, because the TGV takes about 2 hours each way, but the day is packed. With an early departure you can see Vieux Lyon, Fourvière and the Presqu'île. To try bouchons at a leisurely pace and see the city at night, it's worth staying at least one night.

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