# 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.

Web page: https://yesgo.io/france/lyon

## Ready itineraries

- [One day in Lyon: the route](https://yesgo.io/france/lyon/in-1-day.md): Vieux-Lyon's traboules and Renaissance courtyards, a cathedral with an astronomical clock, Roman theatres on the slope and the white basilica above two rivers.
- [Lyon in 2 days: day by day](https://yesgo.io/france/lyon/in-2-days.md): Vieux-Lyon's traboules, the cathedral, Roman theatres and the hilltop basilica, then vast Place Bellecour and the Tête d'Or park: lake, zoo, glasshouses.
- [Lyon with kids: a day plan](https://yesgo.io/france/lyon/with-kids.md): A free zoo with giraffes and boats on the lake in the Tête d'Or park, the Little Prince on a vast square and a funicular ride up to the basilica above the city.

## All 8 places with the YesGo score

- [Fourvière Basilica](https://yesgo.io/france/lyon/fourviere-basilica.md): YesGo score 45/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Free. The Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière is a gleaming white church with four towers on Fourvière hill, Lyon's great landmark. It was built…
- [Lugdunum](https://yesgo.io/france/lyon/lugdunum.md): YesGo score 45/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 45 min · Theatres free; museum ticket. Lugdunum is the Roman city that grew into Lyon. Founded in 43 BC on Fourvière hill, it became capital of a vast Gallic province and the…
- [Place Bellecour](https://yesgo.io/france/lyon/place-bellecour.md): YesGo score 45/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 40 min · Free. Place Bellecour is Lyon's main square, in the middle of the Presqu'île peninsula between the Saône and Rhône. At 312 by 200 metres it's…
- [Saint-Jean Cathedral](https://yesgo.io/france/lyon/lyon-cathedral.md): YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 40 min · Free. Saint-Jean-Baptiste Cathedral is Lyon's cathedral, on Place Saint-Jean in Vieux-Lyon at the foot of Fourvière hill. It took nearly three…
- [Vieux-Lyon](https://yesgo.io/france/lyon/vieux-lyon.md): YesGo score 39/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h 30 min · Free. Vieux-Lyon is one of Europe's largest Renaissance districts, a narrow strip between the Saône and Fourvière hill. Its 15th- and…
- [Parc de la Tête d'Or](https://yesgo.io/france/lyon/parc-de-la-tete-dor.md): YesGo score 36/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h 30 min · Free. The Parc de la Tête d'Or is Lyon's largest city park, 117 hectares of green by the Rhône. It has a lake with boats and the Swan Island, a…
- [Vienne](https://yesgo.io/france/lyon/vienne.md): YesGo score 28/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 3 h 30 min · Free. Vienne is a small town on the Rhône 35 kilometres south of Lyon, once one of the largest cities of Roman Gaul. It keeps the Temple of…
- [Pérouges](https://yesgo.io/france/lyon/perouges.md): YesGo score 25/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h 30 min · Free. Pérouges is a tiny medieval weavers' town on a hill 30 kilometres north-east of Lyon, one of the 'Most Beautiful Villages of France'…

## 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.

## Trip essentials

- How long: 2 days, +1 day for Vienne or Pérouges
- Best time: April–June, September–October and early December
- Entry: Schengen rules; ETIAS for visa-free visitors when it starts
- Money: Euro; contactless almost everywhere
- Airport: Lyon–Saint-Exupéry (LYS), 25 km from the centre
- Transport: Metro, tram, funiculars
- Lyon City Card: Museums and transport on one card
- City tax: Charged per person per night by your hotel
- Festival of Lights: Early December; book rooms early
- Time zone: CET (UTC+1), CEST (UTC+2) in summer

## Key facts

- **1998** — Lyon's historic centre joined the UNESCO list (source: UNESCO World Heritage List, no. 872)
- **43 BC** — Roman Lugdunum founded (source: Wikipedia, Lugdunum)
- **24 ha** — area of Renaissance Vieux-Lyon (source: Wikipedia, Vieux Lyon)
- **2 million** — visitors a year to Fourvière Basilica (source: Wikipedia, Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière)

## Things 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.

| Area | What to see | Time |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **Vieux-Lyon** | [Vieux-Lyon](https://yesgo.io/france/lyon/vieux-lyon), [Saint-Jean Cathedral](https://yesgo.io/france/lyon/lyon-cathedral) | ½ day |
| **Fourvière hill** | [Fourvière Basilica](https://yesgo.io/france/lyon/fourviere-basilica), [Lugdunum](https://yesgo.io/france/lyon/lugdunum) | ½ day |
| **Presqu'île** | [Place Bellecour](https://yesgo.io/france/lyon/place-bellecour), Place des Terreaux | 2–3 hours |
| **Left bank** | [Parc de la Tête d'Or](https://yesgo.io/france/lyon/parc-de-la-tete-dor) | 2–3 hours |
| **South on the Rhône** | [Vienne](https://yesgo.io/france/lyon/vienne) | ½ day |
| **North-east** | [Pérouges](https://yesgo.io/france/lyon/perouges) | 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.

| Area | Best for | Bear in mind |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **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.

| How | From — to | Time |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **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.

- **January in Lyon**: day ≈ 8°C, night ≈ 1°C, rainy days: 8. Cold, few tourists.
- **February in Lyon**: day ≈ 10°C, night ≈ 1°C, rainy days: 7. Chilly, occasional snow.
- **March in Lyon**: day ≈ 14°C, night ≈ 4°C, rainy days: 8. Spring, gardens in bloom.
- **April in Lyon**: day ≈ 18°C, night ≈ 7°C, rainy days: 9. Warm, good for walking.
- **May in Lyon** (best time): day ≈ 22°C, night ≈ 11°C, rainy days: 10. A great month, roses in flower.
- **June in Lyon** (best time): day ≈ 26°C, night ≈ 15°C, rainy days: 7. Warm, Nuits de Fourvière.
- **July in Lyon** (best time): day ≈ 29°C, night ≈ 17°C, rainy days: 6. Hot, concerts in the theatres.
- **August in Lyon**: day ≈ 28°C, night ≈ 17°C, rainy days: 7. Hot, many locals away.
- **September in Lyon**: day ≈ 24°C, night ≈ 13°C, rainy days: 7. Late-summer sweet spot.
- **October in Lyon** (best time): day ≈ 18°C, night ≈ 10°C, rainy days: 9. Golden autumn.
- **November in Lyon** (best time): day ≈ 12°C, night ≈ 5°C, rainy days: 9. Cool and wet.
- **December in Lyon**: day ≈ 8°C, night ≈ 2°C, rainy days: 9. 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.

- [Fourvière Basilica](https://yesgo.io/france/lyon/fourviere-basilica) — Free
- [Lugdunum](https://yesgo.io/france/lyon/lugdunum) — Theatres free; museum ticket
- [Place Bellecour](https://yesgo.io/france/lyon/place-bellecour) — Free
- [Saint-Jean Cathedral](https://yesgo.io/france/lyon/lyon-cathedral) — Free
- [Vieux-Lyon](https://yesgo.io/france/lyon/vieux-lyon) — Free
- [Parc de la Tête d'Or](https://yesgo.io/france/lyon/parc-de-la-tete-dor) — Free
- [Vienne](https://yesgo.io/france/lyon/vienne) — Free
- [Pérouges](https://yesgo.io/france/lyon/perouges) — Free

## Tips

- Take funiculars up the hills.
- Book a bouchon for dinner.
- For the Festival of Lights, book rooms months ahead.

## Questions

### 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

- 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

Facts checked: 12.11.2026

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