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Things to do in Lyon

Founded by the Romans, this French city combines UNESCO-listed districts, gourmet food, and lively nightlife.

Our most recommended things to do in Lyon

Lyon: Guided Sightseeing Cruise

1. Lyon: Guided Sightseeing Cruise

Journey through more than 2,000 years of history on a river cruise of Lyon, and discover the rich heritage of the multifaceted city where ancient and contemporary treasures combine. Board the pleasure boat for an in-depth tour of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, and admire symbolic monuments from another perspective as you are carried along the Saone River for 1 hour. See the Renaissance buildings of Vieux Lyon, the focus of political and religious power in the Middle Ages. Admire the bold architecture and learn about exceptional moments that have shaped the city's destiny. Listen to an informative commentary of Lyon through the centuries from your guide. 

Lyon City Hop-on Hop-off Sightseeing Bus Tour

2. Lyon City Hop-on Hop-off Sightseeing Bus Tour

Choose a 1-day ticket for this Lyon hop-on hop-off sightseeing bus tour and discover the city’s landmarks and monuments. With 12 stops on the Green Line, you’ll be able to fully enjoy the sights of Lyon from an open-top double-decker bus. Hop on and hop off as many times as you like as you see the main attractions of the city, such as the Basilica of Notre Dame de Fourvière, the district of Vieux Lyon, the Halles Paul Bocuse with local products, or the Parc Tête d’Or to admire the most beautiful roses. Organize your itinerary any way you like at your own pace. The Green Line offers a 1-day ticket for the hop-on-hop-off bus. Green line stops: • Place Bellecour • Terreaux • Mur Peint • Palais de Justice • Vieux Lyon • Perrache • Musée des Confluences • Berges du Rhône • Théâtres Gallo-Romains • Fourvière • Parc des Hauteurs

Golden Stones Beaujolais Wine Tasting Trip from Lyon

3. Golden Stones Beaujolais Wine Tasting Trip from Lyon

Escape to Lyon’s famous wine country on a half-day tour to Southern Beaujolais and enjoy the wonders of this region, in a small group. Famous for its Beaujolais Nouveau, the region offers also unique and charming little golden stone villages. Leaving from Lyon, your passionate driver and guide will take you through the hills of this wonderful region, which is often compared to Tuscany. Start the day with an introduction to wine-tasting in a beautiful and scenic setting, where you will be told all about the notion of 'Terroir'. Then, enjoy a stroll in the charming golden stones medieval village of Oingt and learn more about the history of Beaujolais. Continue in a family winery to discover more wines and learn all about the secret of French wine-making while having the traditional 'machon', the silk workers breakfast. This tour is the perfect opportunity to learn all about the Beaujolais region and it’s wines in a fun and friendly atmosphere with scenic views all along.

Vieux Lyon 4-Hour Food Tasting Tour

4. Vieux Lyon 4-Hour Food Tasting Tour

Sample delicious food on a 4-hour tour of Vieux Lyon with a local guide, and discover some of the highlights of the city's oldest district along the way. Learn more about the secret traboules (passageways) used by the silk merchants and weavers in former times.   Meet local food heroes at 5 different tasting stops and hear all about their produce. Sample about 14 different dishes and ingredients to tantalize your taste buds and awaken your senses. The samples you'll taste will be equivalent to a typical lunch. As you taste your way through the town, explore the medieval streets and see the Cathedral of St. Jean and the famous passageways. Your local guide will show you the highlights of the city and the most authentic spots to grab a bite to eat.

Lyon City Pass: Public Transport & More Than 40 Attractions

5. Lyon City Pass: Public Transport & More Than 40 Attractions

With the Lyon City Card, the gates to France's second-biggest city are open! Save time and money while discovering its secret alleyways and magnificent museums. Visit 23 museums for free with your Lyon City Card, and make the most of 48 things to do and 25 discounts which cover the whole of Lyon's cultural offerings. You'll also get complimentary access to Lyon's public transport, as well as access to bike tours, visits to the Fine Art Museum, river cruises, and much more. Have fun! Museums and temporary exhibitions : • Priority access to Musée des Confluences • Fine Arts Museum of Lyon • OL Museum (football team) • Gadagne Museums: history of Lyon and puppets of the world • Modern Art Museum (open only for temporary exhibitions) • Contemporary Art Institute (only open for exhibitions) • Museum of Gallo Roman Civilization • Museum of Textile ( renovation till 2026) • Lumière Museum • Fourvière Museum of Religious Art • Printing Museum • Center for the History of the Resistance and Deportation • Little Guignol Museum • Museum of Cinema and Miniature • Tony Garnier Urban Museum • Museum of Henri Malartre’s Automobile • Gallo Roman Museum of St Roman en Gal • Ampère Museum • Electricity Museum • La Sucrière at pôle Confluence (open only for temporary exhibitions) • Doctor Mérieux Museum Marcy l’Étoile • Eccly - Espace Culturel du Christianisme à Lyon • Cultural Judaïsme Institute Visits and activities (depending on availabilities – check for times): • Guided walking tours by the Greater Tourism Office (reservation necessary) • A visit to the roof of the basilica of Fourvière (April-November) • Cruises on the Rhône and Saône Riviers with Lyon City Boat (April-October) • House of Canuts • Silk Museum (Soierie vivante) • Mini World priority access • Lyon City tram reduction Shows (limited number of spots, reservation advised): • Guignol Theater in Lyon • Compagnie des Zonzons (Guignol) • House of Guignol • Guignol theater Grand Hotel Dieu • Un Gone de Lyon (Guignol) • Planetarium Public transportation included: The liberty offer gives you access to Lyon’s bus, metro, funicular railway, and tramway networks. Valid for24h, 48h, 72h or 96 hours, depending on the validity of your card. Discounts with Lyon City Card: • Shows: National Opera of Lyon (except end of year shows), Célestins’theatre, Lyon’s theatre, theatre of Nouvelle Génération, Théâtre National Populaire, Maison de la danse, Comedie Odeon, Improvidence theatre. • Visits – tours: Cyclopolitains (tours by bike), guided bus tours, biked guided tours by Lyon City Bike, Lyon le Grand Tour, Fourvière France Aventures, Aquarium du Grand Lyon, Segway Tours, Léo & Go cars location service, Lyon Tuk Tour, Lyon City Tram, babysitting Marypop, Coddy Games urban escape game, Restaurant boat Hermès • Option: Vélo’v (rent a bike ). • Shopping • Galeries Lafayette Part Dieu: Services privileges: shopping bag and accompaniment by a personal shopper on appointment, 3 macaroons offered with purchase of 40 euros or more. • Printemps: Welcome champagne in the private area and privileged support by a personal shopper • Confluence Leisure Center: Special offers at 32 stores and round trip with the cruise ship • Hard Rock Coffee shop: -10% purchase of 40 euros or more and Onlylyon Hard Rock pin offered • The Village: One-day VIP pass offering VIP lounge reception, photo shooting, skip-the-line and welcome gift with preferential rate on private transport

Lyon 2.5-Hour Lunch Cruise

6. Lyon 2.5-Hour Lunch Cruise

Take a break from the city streets and board the Hermès restaurant boat for a 2.5-hour cruise. Indulge in a 3-course gourmet meal as you discover Lyon's majestic landscapes and listen to the informative commentary. You'll be served a 3-course meal with several choices from the menu: Choice of Starters • Thin burgundy poultry tart, mustard and parmesan cream, lettuce, capers and croutons • Grilled stuffed squid, olives, minuza salad and red chard, vegetable pickles, and lemon dressing Choice of Main Courses • Duck from the Dombes area, morel sauce, and vegetables of the season • Rolled dab fillet, Nantua sauce, stuffed conchiglioni with ricotta and tetragon Choice of Desserts • Praline tart, Valrhona’s chocolate soufflé, and tonka bean ice cream • Exotic fruits tiramisu • Pistachio and passion fruit dessert, fruits of the season • Chef's special dessert

Lyon 2.5-Hour Dinner Cruise

7. Lyon 2.5-Hour Dinner Cruise

Take a break from the city streets and board the Hermès restaurant boat for a 2.5-hour cruise. Indulge in a 3-course gourmet meal as you discover Lyon's majestic landscapes and listen to the informative commentary. You'll be served a 3-course meal with several choices from the menu. Because the local partner cooks with exclusively fresh, local, and seasonal products, the menu is constantly evolving.

Beaujolais: Half-Day Wine Tour

8. Beaujolais: Half-Day Wine Tour

Begin this half-day devoted to wine and the vintages of Beaujolais by an introduction to wine-making with a tour at the beautiful Château de Pizay to discover the culture of wine-making. Increase your knowledge of wine and understand the general notion of “terroir” in order to fully comprehend the treasures of this wine-making heritage. Get the chance to obtain your first amateur wine expert diploma! End the visit at the wine shop which presents all the estate’s wines. You will be able to taste twelve wines from the estate, both reds, and whites. Take the wine route and continue the itinerary through the vineyards. Admire the variety of landscapes that constitute the treasures of this region. Your guide will explain to you why this region produces so many famous wines. Then, go and meet a wine-maker who will present his estate and wine production. Another opportunity to taste five high-quality wines will again allow you to test what you learned about wine in the morning.

Lyon Customized Private Walking Tour with a Local Guide

9. Lyon Customized Private Walking Tour with a Local Guide

Explore Lyon with a friendly local who is passionate about the city and eager to share all the information that will help you make the most of your trip. Get to know Lyon through the eyes of a local guide on a 2 to 6-hour private tour. Meet your guide at your accommodation and head out on the tour to get familiar with the neighborhood. Learn about the best places to eat and buy groceries, the easiest ways to get around and the top things to see and do. During the walking tour there will be the option of taking public transportation or a taxi to get around the city. Please inform the tour operator if you’d like a private car included in the tour.

Lyon: 1 or 2-Hour Pedicab Tour

10. Lyon: 1 or 2-Hour Pedicab Tour

Once you are comfortably seated in the electric pedicab, begin a tour of Lyon with a local guide who is passionate about their city. Learn about the history of Lyon from Roman times to the Renaissance and discover Lyon from another angle, in the heart of the historic district. Discover Vieux Lyon, which is the largest Renaissance district of the city. Explore mysterious alleyways used to transport silk and see the former homes of wealthy Italian traders. See the beautiful Saint-Jean Cathedral, the seat of the Archbishop of Lyon. On an extended 2-hour tour, visit the area of Presqu'île, which is at the heart of the city. See the town hall, the Lyon fresco, Lyon National Opera, Celestine Theater, Place des Terreaux, and Bellecour. Continue along the banks of the Rhône, with a panoramic view of the hills of Fourviere and Croix-Rousse.

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Frequently asked questions about Lyon

Other Sightseeing Options in Lyon

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What people are saying about Lyon

Overall rating

4.5 / 5

based on 4,747 reviews

Joseph was very knowledgeable about the city and provided so much detail about the architecture, layout of the city, best places to eat, and a few hidden gems. It was a great way to learn the city and the rich history in Lyon.

Michel was our rider and guide. Really nice person who was punctual, informative and interesting. We viewed many historical and relevant sites, given recommendations on the funicular, eating and shopping. Well worth the money

It was a “magnifique” experience, we are from Mexico. We chose the English tour but Rafael tried to speak some words in Spanish for my mom in the tour :)

We enjoyed our time with Baptiste. The food was great. The stops were very interesting. We got to taste a little of what beautiful Lyon has to offer.

This was fun and we were able to go at our own pace and enjoy the town. We saw lots of Lyon we would potentially have missed