Lyon in 2 days: day by day
The essentials in 10 seconds
- Entry
- 5 of 6 free; paid: Lugdunum
- Duration
- 2 days, 9:30 to 16:42 each day
- Start and finish
- Lugdunum → Parc de la Tête d'Or
- On foot
- ≈ 17 min in total
- Transport
- 1 ride, ≈ 24 min
- Lunch
- around 12:21
- With kids
- fine: short walks
- Best time
- Spring and autumn; roses bloom in May–June.
Day-by-day plan
Times include walking and lunch. Drag a stop by ≡, remove it with the cross or add one nearby — the plan updates.
Day 1 · Lyon09:30–16:42 · 4 places · 7 h 10 min
Lugdunum
· 1 h 45 min · Theatres free; museum ticket
- 6 min on foot
Fourvière Basilica
· 1 h · Free
- Lunch · 1 h
- 7 min on foot
Saint-Jean Cathedral
· 40 min · Free
- 4 min on foot
Vieux-Lyon
· 2 h 30 min · Free
Day 2 · Lyon09:30–13:04 · 2 places · 3 h 30 min
Place Bellecour
· 40 min · Free
- 24 min · transport or taxi
Parc de la Tête d'Or
· 2 h 30 min · Free
Add nearby
Places near the plan — Yes puts one into the day and the times update.
What the route costs
5 of 6 are free; 1 charge entry — prices below, check them on site.
| 1 | Lugdunum | 45 | 1 h 45 min | Theatres free; museum ticket |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Fourvière Basilica | 45 | 1 h | Free |
| 3 | Saint-Jean Cathedral | 44 | 40 min | Free |
| 4 | Vieux-Lyon | 39 | 2 h 30 min | Free |
| 5 | Place Bellecour | 45 | 40 min | Free |
| 6 | Parc de la Tête d'Or | 36 | 2 h 30 min | Free |
| Total | 9 h 10 min | 5 of 6 free |
Tips for each stop
Day 1
- 1
Lugdunum. Roman theatres on the Fourvière slope and a museum of mosaics and the Lyon Tablet. Theatres free, museum by ticket.
- 2
Fourvière Basilica. The white basilica of mosaics on the hill and the city's best viewpoint. Free; funicular up.
- 3
Saint-Jean Cathedral. Saint-Jean Cathedral of 1180–1476, with its astronomical clock and the Bourbon chapel. Free.
- 4
Vieux-Lyon. The Renaissance quarter by the Saône: traboules through courtyards, spiral stairs, bouchons. UNESCO-listed. Free.
Day 2
- 5
Place Bellecour. A vast pedestrian square with Louis XIV on horseback, the Little Prince and the tourist office. Free.
- 6
Parc de la Tête d'Or. A 117-hectare park by the Rhône: a boating lake, a free zoo, glasshouses and a rose garden.
Who this route is for
- A weekend in Lyon
- Couples and friends
- Anyone who loves walking
- Vienne and Pérouges are separate trips
- Museums are optional
Spring and autumn; roses bloom in May–June.
Lyon itinerary for 2 days
Day one follows the one-day itinerary: Vieux-Lyon and Fourvière hill. Day two goes from Place Bellecour by metro A to Masséna, or on foot along the Rhône quays in about 40 minutes, to the Parc de la Tête d'Or.
In the park, walk round the lake and look into the zoo and the great glasshouses. In the evening, head back to Place des Terreaux and the town hall.
Remove any stop with ✕ or reorder it with ≡, and add another nearby: the timings update.
Day two: Bellecour and the Tête d'Or
In the morning, Place Bellecour: the statue of Louis XIV, the Little Prince and the tourist office, where you can pick up a Lyon City Card. Then shop-lined Rue de la République and the bridges over the Rhône.
In the afternoon, the Parc de la Tête d'Or: boats on the lake, giraffes on the African plain and the rose garden. Bring a picnic rug.
More to see
With a third day, visit Roman Vienne on the Rhône or medieval Pérouges with its sugar galette.
How to do it right
- A two-day Lyon City Card.
- Metro A to the park.
- Bring a picnic rug.
- France uses the euro. Cards and contactless are accepted almost everywhere. Metro, tram and funicular tickets come from machines or the TCL app; the Lyon City Card includes transport and museums.
Questions
What should I see in Lyon in 2 days?
Vieux-Lyon, Fourvière and the Roman theatres, then Bellecour and the Parc de la Tête d'Or.
How do I get to the Parc de la Tête d'Or?
Metro A to Masséna, or on foot along the Rhône quays.
Is the Lyon City Card worth it?
Yes, if you plan museums and plenty of public transport.
Where should I go on day three?
Vienne or Pérouges.
How do I pay in Lyon?
France uses the euro. Cards and contactless are accepted almost everywhere. Metro, tram and funicular tickets come from machines or the TCL app; the Lyon City Card includes transport and museums.
Sources and fact-check
- Prices, opening hours and time on site come from each place's page, with its own sources and check date
- UNESCO: Historic Site of Lyon (no. 872)
