Things to do in Lyon: top sights and where to go
Lyon's headline sights are the Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière on the hill above the city, Renaissance Vieux-Lyon with its traboules and Saint-Jean Cathedral, the Roman theatres of Lugdunum, Place Bellecour and the Parc de la Tête d'Or with its lake and free zoo. Nearby lie Roman Vienne on the Rhône and medieval Pérouges. From Lyon–Saint-Exupéry Airport, the Rhônexpress tram reaches Part-Dieu station in about 30 minutes.
Sights
Lyon itineraries
Lyon travel guide
What to know before you go: neighbourhoods and where to stay, the airport and transport, weather by month, bouchons and Lyon cooking, costs and day trips.
Lyon on your own: the essentials
- Entry
- Schengen rules; ETIAS for visa-free visitors when it starts
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - How long
- 2 days, +1 day for Vienne or Pérouges
- Best time
- April–June, September–October and early December
- Money
- Euro; contactless almost everywhere
- Airport
- Lyon–Saint-Exupéry (LYS), 25 km from the centre
- Transport
- Metro, tram, funiculars
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Lyon City Card
- Museums and transport on one card
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - City tax
- Charged per person per night by your hotel
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Festival of Lights
- Early December; book rooms early
- Time zone
- CET (UTC+1), CEST (UTC+2) in summer
officiali
Confirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Key facts
Sourcei
UNESCO World Heritage List, no. 872Sourcei
Wikipedia, LugdunumSourcei
Wikipedia, Vieux LyonSourcei
Wikipedia, Basilica of Notre-Dame de FourvièreThings to do in Lyon
Lyon's top things to do are Fourvière Basilica on the hill, Renaissance Vieux-Lyon with its traboules and Saint-Jean Cathedral, the Roman theatres of Lugdunum, Place Bellecour and the Parc de la Tête d'Or. Every place rated by YesGo is in the list above.
| Vieux-Lyon | Vieux-Lyon, Saint-Jean Cathedral | ½ day |
|---|---|---|
| Fourvière hill | Fourvière Basilica, Lugdunum | ½ day |
| Presqu'île | Place Bellecour, Place des Terreaux | 2–3 hours |
| Left bank | Parc de la Tête d'Or | 2–3 hours |
| South on the Rhône | Vienne | ½ day |
| North-east | Pérouges | ½ day |
Rather not plan it yourself? The list above has ready-made 1–2 day and family itineraries.
Lyon itinerary: 1 or 2 days
With one day in Lyon, explore Vieux-Lyon's traboules and Saint-Jean Cathedral, take the funicular up Fourvière hill to the Roman theatres and the basilica, and spend the evening on Place Bellecour and the quays. With two days, add the Parc de la Tête d'Or or a trip to Roman Vienne; with three, medieval Pérouges.
- Day 1 — Vieux-Lyon, Saint-Jean Cathedral, Lugdunum, Fourvière Basilica.
- Day 2 — Place Bellecour, Parc de la Tête d'Or.
- Day 3 — Vienne or Pérouges.
Where to stay in Lyon
The handiest base is the Presqu'île between Place Bellecour and Place des Terreaux: Vieux-Lyon and the quays are a walk away and the metro runs to the stations. Vieux-Lyon is atmospheric but loud at night; Part-Dieu is convenient for arrivals and departures; Croix-Rousse hill is quiet with views.
| Presqu'île, Bellecour | First visit, central | Pricier |
|---|---|---|
| Vieux-Lyon | Atmosphere, bouchons | Loud at night |
| Part-Dieu | Trains, the airport | Business district |
| Croix-Rousse | Quiet, views, market | Hills |
| Confluence | New hotels, museum | Further from the old town |
| Brotteaux | Near the Tête d'Or | Residential |
Lyon airport to the city centre
Lyon–Saint-Exupéry Airport (LYS) is 25 km east of the city. From Lyon airport to the city centre, the Rhônexpress tram to Part-Dieu station is easiest, about 30 minutes, then the metro to Bellecour or Vieux-Lyon. A taxi takes 30–45 minutes depending on traffic.
| Rhônexpress | Airport — Part-Dieu | ≈ 30 min |
|---|---|---|
| Taxi | Airport — centre | ≈ 30–45 min |
| Metro | Part-Dieu — Bellecour | ≈ 10 min |
| TER train | Lyon — Vienne | ≈ 20–30 min |
| TER train | Lyon — Meximieux-Pérouges | ≈ 30–40 min |
| TGV train | Lyon — Paris | ≈ 2 h |
Lyon weather by month
Lyon's weather is temperate with hot summers: winter days are around 8 °C with frosty nights, and summer reaches 28–29 °C. Rain falls evenly through the year, more in spring and autumn. The best time to visit Lyon is April–June and September–October, and in early December the city transforms for the Festival of Lights.
°CiLong-term averages, °C: day and night air, sea water near the shore, rain — rainy days a month. Any given year can be warmer or cooler. Tap a month for details below. | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day | 8° | 10° | 14° | 18° | 22° | 26° | 29° | 28° | 24° | 18° | 12° | 8° |
| Night | 1° | 1° | 4° | 7° | 11° | 15° | 17° | 17° | 13° | 10° | 5° | 2° |
| Rain | 8 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 9 |
Warm — 20 °C and above by dayBest time to go: May–July and October–November
- day ≈ 8°
- night ≈ 1°
- rain 8 days
Cold, few tourists.
- day ≈ 10°
- night ≈ 1°
- rain 7 days
Chilly, occasional snow.
- day ≈ 14°
- night ≈ 4°
- rain 8 days
Spring, gardens in bloom.
- day ≈ 18°
- night ≈ 7°
- rain 9 days
Warm, good for walking.
- day ≈ 22°
- night ≈ 11°
- rain 10 days
A great month, roses in flower.
- day ≈ 26°
- night ≈ 15°
- rain 7 days
Warm, Nuits de Fourvière.
- day ≈ 29°
- night ≈ 17°
- rain 6 days
Hot, concerts in the theatres.
- day ≈ 28°
- night ≈ 17°
- rain 7 days
Hot, many locals away.
- day ≈ 24°
- night ≈ 13°
- rain 7 days
Late-summer sweet spot.
- day ≈ 18°
- night ≈ 10°
- rain 9 days
Golden autumn.
- day ≈ 12°
- night ≈ 5°
- rain 9 days
Cool and wet.
- day ≈ 8°
- night ≈ 2°
- rain 9 days
Festival of Lights.
The Festival of Lights takes place in early December around the 8th: light shows on the basilica, cathedral and squares, and candles in the windows.
Day trips from Lyon
Day trips from Lyon are easy: Roman Vienne is 20–30 minutes by train down the Rhône, and medieval Pérouges 30–40 minutes by train plus a 15-minute walk. By car you can reach the Beaujolais vineyards and Lake Annecy in the Alps.
- Vienne — a Roman temple, theatre and circus pyramid.
- Pérouges — a medieval village and sugar galette.
- Lugdunum — Roman theatres right in the city.
- Parc de la Tête d'Or — a lake and zoo for a break.
What to eat in Lyon
Lyon is called France's gastronomic capital. Try the local cooking in a bouchon, a small restaurant with checked tablecloths: sausages, pike quenelles, Lyonnaise salad, cervelle de canut herb cheese, and bright pink praline tart for dessert, with Beaujolais and Rhône Valley wines.
- Quenelles — pike soufflé in crayfish sauce.
- Lyonnaise salad — bacon, croutons and a poached egg.
- Saucisson — Lyon sausage, including with pistachios.
- Cervelle de canut — fresh cheese with herbs and garlic.
- Praline tart — a vivid pink sweet tart.
- Saint-Marcellin — a soft local cheese.
Lyon attraction prices
Free in Lyon: Fourvière Basilica, Saint-Jean Cathedral, Vieux-Lyon and its traboules, the Roman theatres, Place Bellecour and the Parc de la Tête d'Or with its zoo. You pay for museums such as Lugdunum, Fine Arts, Confluences and Gadagne; the Lyon City Card covers museums and transport.
| Lugdunum | 45 | 1 h 45 min | Theatres free; museum ticket |
|---|
Free — 7 places: Fourvière Basilica, Place Bellecour, Saint-Jean Cathedral, Vieux-Lyon, Parc de la Tête d'Or, Vienne, Pérouges.
Tips
- Take funiculars up the hills.
- Book a bouchon for dinner.
- For the Festival of Lights, book rooms months ahead.
FAQ
What are the top things to do in Lyon?
Fourvière Basilica, Vieux-Lyon and its traboules, Saint-Jean Cathedral, the Roman theatres and Place Bellecour.
How many days do you need in Lyon?
2 days, plus a day for Vienne or Pérouges.
How do I get from Lyon airport to the city centre?
By Rhônexpress tram to Part-Dieu in 30 minutes, then the metro.
What is the weather like in Lyon in May?
About 22 °C by day and 11 °C at night; showers are possible.
When is the Festival of Lights?
In early December, with 8 December the main day.
Where is the best area to stay in Lyon?
On the Presqu'île near Bellecour or in Vieux-Lyon.
What food is Lyon known for?
Quenelles, Lyonnaise salad, sausages, cervelle de canut and praline tart.
What are the best day trips from Lyon?
Roman Vienne or medieval Pérouges.
Do I need a visa for Lyon?
It depends on your passport; France follows Schengen rules.
What are traboules?
Passages through buildings and courtyards in Vieux-Lyon and Croix-Rousse.
Sources and fact-check
- UNESCO World Heritage List, no. 872: Historic Site of Lyon
- Wikipedia, Lyon; Lyon-Bron climate normals 1991–2020
- Lyon–Saint-Exupéry airport, Rhônexpress and TCL websites