Best things to do in Lyon
Lyon offers superb cultural attractions, from a raft of fine churches to half a dozen exceptional museums, although the city’s food, markets, nightlife and music might tempt you to stay just that little bit longer.
Viewpoints and panoramas
Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière: March to the top of the observation tower for a vertigo-inducing rooftop walk – if you can’t stomach that, you can take in the magnificent citywide views from the esplanade.
Confluences: Occupying the thinnest wedge of land at the confluence of the Saône and Rhône rivers, the views from here are awesome.
The best districts
La Croix-Rousse: The old silk-weavers district spreads up the steep slopes of the hill above the northern end of the Presqu’île, and today is packed with countless indie bars, restaurants, galleries and shops.
Presqu'île: This lively district between the Rhône and Saône rivers is the true heart of Lyon, packed with cafés, high-end shops and exciting nightlife.
Parks and gardens
Parc de la Tête d'Or: France’s largest urban park has much to entertain, including a botanical garden, miniature train, carousel, boat trips on the lake and even a zoo, home to more than 300 animals.
Jardin Rosa Mir: A little-known gem in the Croix-Rousse district, this delightful garden is a one-man work of art, filled with flowers, shells and mosaics.
Museums
Musée des Confluences: The gleaming centrepiece of the revamped Confluence district, Lyon’s architectural marvel houses a remarkable collection of natural, historical and scientific artefacts.
Musée des Beaux-Arts: Housed in a former Benedictine abbey, the collections of the Musée des Beaux-Arts are second in France only to those in the Louvre.
Historical monuments
Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière: A hulking, incredibly ornate wedding cake of a church, and overblown it may be, but the interior is utterly dazzling, from the marble statues and stained glass to the gold and turquoise mosaic wall panels.
Roman Theatres of Fourvière: Dug into the hillside stand the substantial remains of two ruined theatres – the larger of which was built by Augustus in 15 BC and extended in the 2nd century by Hadrian to seat 10,000 spectators.
Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse: More of a monument to food, this world-famous indoor market has been a temple of food since 1859, with goodies ranging from oysters and truffles to spiced sausages and cheeses, and much, much more.
Day trips in the area
Perouges: A lovely village of cobbled alleyways and ancient houses, this timeless village is an immaculate work of conservation.
Vienne: Vienne is run through with Roman remains, though this vast plot, across the river in St-Romain-en-Gal, offers the most intriguing insight into the daily life and domestic architecture of Roman France.
Activities for families in Lyon
Lyon is packed with terrific family-friendly activities, from trips out on the Rhone to a raft of museums that are both educational and entertaining.
Boat trips: Who doesn’t love a trip out on the water? Les Bateaux Lyonnais leaves from quai des Célestins, with boats running up the Saône to Île Barbe or down to the confluence with the Rhône.
Interactive museums: The best bet for younger kids is the Musée des Marionnettes du Monde, showcasing the many different forms of puppetry from both France and around the world, including Venetian glove puppets, Javanese rod puppets and Chinese shadow puppets.
Aquariums and zoos: The city zoo, located within the grounds of Parc de la Tête d'Or, shelters more than 300 animals, the highlight of which are those on the African Plain.
Weaving exhibitions: One of the few remaining silk-worker ateliers in Lyon is the former trimming workshop of one Madame Létourneau, now run by Soierie Vivante. A tour of the workshop includes a demonstration of the three beautiful Jacquard looms dating from 1870.
Free things to do in Lyon
There’s much that’s free to enjoy on Lyon holidays simply by wandering the streets, for example hunting down street art or seeking out Traboules, plus much else besides.
Street art: Lyon has a strong history of mural art, which introduces some colour to the city’s grimescape, while simultaneously bringing (free) art to the masses. The easiest ones to track down are the Mur des Canuts in Croix-Rousse and La Fresque des Lyonnais which honours Lyon’s most famous citizens, such as the Lumière brothers.
Track down the Traboules: All around Lyon lurk traboules, alleyways and tunnelled passages originally built to provide shelter from the weather for the silk-weaver; go seek ‘em out!
Festivals: Lyon’s big annual event, bar none, is December’s Fête des Lumières, which sees streets, parks, squares and facades of buildings transformed by installations created by local and international lighting designers, visual artists and video artists.
Nature and outdoor activities
With the Alps on its doorstep, the possibilities for outdoor fun in and around Lyon are endless - the most obvious one being first-class hiking and skiing. But the French love their bikes and the trails here are superb.
Hiking: The best hiking close to Lyon is in the Chartreuse massif, a place of spectacular landscapes, including sharp limestone peaks, mountain pastures and large areas of pine forest. For tougher, longer climbs, you’ll need to travel a little further into the Alps.
Cycling: For city cycling, Vélo’v is a pick-up and drop-off bike hire scheme with stations all over the city. After subscribing, the first 30 minutes are free, after which it’s a per-minute billing system. More challenging is the ViaRhôna cycle path, a varied route that takes you through stunning landscapes, not least some beautiful vineyards.
Adventure parks: Cityaventure is a nature leisure park located in the heart of the century-old forest of Sainte-Foy-Les-Lyon, with tree-top trails and zip lines among its many thrill-a-minute activities.