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Last Updated: 15 March 2024

As France’s second-largest metropolitan area, Lyon boasts a rich architectural and cultural heritage. For a long time, I have been dreaming of visiting Lyon. I made it on two occasions. And I have to say that what I saw and discovered really impressed me. Lyon is an attractive and fascinating city. And there’s so much to see you might need a bit of help planning your visit. Particularly if this is your first time in Lyon! To this aim, here’s a suggestion of my top 10 things to see in Lyon.

 

 

What are the Top 10 things to see in Lyon?

In this article, I have listed 10 sites which alone are enough to justify a trip to Lyon. In doing so, I have collected info based on my own visits. There are so many things to see in Lyon that this list is by no means exhaustive!

View of Lyon - Photo by @tmiladinov via Twenty20
General view of Lyon – Photo by @tmiladinov via Twenty20

 

Where to stay in Lyon?

You can choose from a great range of accommodation in Lyon, from hotels to B&B and campings! My recommendation is to book your accommodation near the city centre. Although it’s a more pricey option, you’ll save time on transportation and can access most of the 10 things to see within walking distance.

Also, when possible, don’t wait until the last minute to book as finding hotel rooms can be a problem, especially on weekdays.

To book your accommodation in Lyon, click on this affiliate link which will redirect you to our partner booking.com… or use the interactive map below:



Booking.com

Let’s start the visit by the picturesque old town of Lyon…

 

1. Vieux-Lyon (Old Town)

This is my favourite part of Lyon.

Lyon old town © French Moments
The Vieux-Lyon, the old town © French Moments

 

The historic centre of the French city underwent a vast programme of restoration in the 1960s. The most visited part of the district stretches from the churches of Saint-Jean to Saint-Paul, via the cathedral Saint-Jean-Baptiste.

Lyon Old Town © French Moments
In the old town of Lyon © French Moments

 

Colourful façades and secret passageways

Red, orange or yellow façades dating from the Renaissance era line paved and car-free streets.

Lyon Old Town © French Moments
The Renaissance façades in the Lyon Old Town © French Moments
Rue Saint-Jean, Lyon Old Town © French Moments
Rue Saint-Jean in Lyon Old Town © French Moments
Lyon Old Town © French Moments
The old façades of Rue du Bœuf in Lyon old town © French Moments

 

You’ll find winding and secret narrow lanes connecting one street with another called “traboules”.

Lyon Old Town © French Moments
The inner courtyard of La Tour Rose in Lyon old town © French Moments
Lyon Old Town © French Moments
A traboule in the Vieux-Lyon © French Moments
Lyon Old Town © French Moments
In a Traboule in Lyon Old Town © French Moments
Lyon Old Town © French Moments
An inner courtyard, Lyon Old Town © French Moments

 

2. St. Jean Cathedral

The Gothic cathedral is the largest church in Lyon.

Saint-Jean cathedral, Lyon © French Moments
The Gothic façade of St Jean cathedral © French Moments

 

Construction started in 1180 on the site of a former church from the 6th century. The cathedral was completed in 1476 however the towers were left unfinished.

Saint-Jean cathedral, Lyon © French Moments
The transept’s tower, Lyon cathedral © French Moments

 

The façade that opens onto place Saint-Jean and the nave are of Gothic design whereas the choir and apse are Romanesque.

Lyon Cathedral is also famous for its astronomical clock. Since 1379, it has struck every day. The automated figures spring into action at 12 noon, 2 pm, 3 pm and 4 pm.

Saint-Jean cathedral, Lyon © French Moments
The astronomical clock of Lyon Cathedral © French moments

 

3. Place des Terreaux and the City-Hall

The square is located in the Presqu’île. This is a sort of a peninsula. Like a tongue of land between the Saône and Rhône rivers.

 

Place des Terreaux is one of Lyon’s must-see squares.

There, you can see a gigantic fountain designed by sculptor Auguste Bartholdi in 1894.

Place des Terreaux, Lyon © French Moments
The fountain by Bartholdi, Place des Terreaux, Lyon © French Moments

 

Place des Terreaux is bordered by the monumental City Hall of Lyon, dating back to the 17th century.

Place des Terreaux, Lyon © French Moments
Place des Terreaux and the City-Hall of Lyon © French Moments

 

Facing the fountain is the Palais Saint-Pierre, a former Benedictine abbey which now houses the Lyon Fine-Arts museum. Many consider it France’s second-largest museum of the kind after the Louvre in Paris.

Place des Terreaux, Lyon © French Moments
The Fine Arts Museum of Lyon © French Moments

 

Behind the City Hall is the Opera House, easily recognisable by the huge glass roof designed by Jean Nouvel in 1993.

Lyon Opera House © French Moments
The Lyon Opera House © French Moments

 

The shopping street of Rue de la République will lead you towards the Hôtel-Dieu.

 

4. Cité Internationale de la Gastronomie

The Hôtel-Dieu de Notre-Dame-de-la-Piété was a hospital during the Middle-Ages. The first buildings date from the 12th century. The monumental façade opening onto the Rhône, it was built by Soufflot in the 18th century.

Hôtel-Dieu, Lyon © French Moments
The Hôtel-Dieu from the Left Bank of the Rhône © French Moments

 

Since October 2019 the historical complex has housed the International Gastronomy Centre. The world’s only cultural centre devoted to fine food!

The centre occupies the oldest parts of the Hôtel-Dieu. The Cité de la Gastronomie’s theme is food as nutrition and a guarantor of good health (after all, we’re in a former hospital!)

More info about the International Gastronomy Centre in Lyon (official website)

 

5. The Banks of the River Saône River

The River Saône separates two historical districts of Lyon: the Vieux-Lyon and the Presqu’île. The banks of the river provide picturesque walks.

River Saône, Lyon © French Moments
The River Saône and the Old Town of Lyon © French Moments

 

The Saint-Georges footbridge gives a charming view of the Old Lyon and the church of Saint-Georges, and the Fourvière hill as a backdrop.

Things to see in Lyon © French Moments
On the St Georges footbridge in Lyon © French Moments

 

You’ll see many colourful houses fronts with their lines of windows.

Things to see in Lyon © French Moments
The old houses of Lyon seen from the Saône river © French Moments
River Saône, Lyon © French Moments
The River Saône and the Old Town of Lyon © French Moments
Things to see in Lyon - South of France © French Moments
The cathedral and the Fourvière Hill from Pont Bonaparte, Lyon © French Moments

 

Take a cruise!

Before the advent of the railway, the Saône was a busy navigable waterway in the 18th and 19th centuries. Today the traffic includes many river boats offering cruises to the Ile Barbe, a small island occupied by a Romanesque church.

Things to see in Lyon © French Moments
The Saône in Lyon © French Moments
Things to see in Lyon © French Moments
Pierre and Rachel on a cruise in Lyon! © French Moments
Things to see in Lyon © French Moments
Ile Barbe, Lyon © French Moments
Things to see in Lyon © French Moments
The Romanesque bell tower in the Ile Barbe, Lyon © French Moments

 

The banks of the river Rhône are also of interest. A pleasant walk along the river links the Parc de la Tête d’Or to the Parc de Gerland.

Things to see in Lyon © French Moments
The banks of the River Rhône in Lyon © French Moments

 

Get the Lyon City Card!
Place des Terreaux, Lyon © French Moments
Bus crossing Place des Terreaux, Lyon © French Moments

 

Before introducing the next 5 things to see in Lyon, let me pause a little bit and tell you about the Lyon City Card.

It’s kind of a city passport that will give you unlimited access to public transport and free entrance into 23 museums (and their temporary exhibitions).

You also get free river cruises, guided walking tours, visits and activities, as well as huge reductions on the city’s best leisure activities, shopping, and more!

Get your Lyon City Card!

What’s included:

  • Free access to all public transport in Lyon (bus, metro, tram and funicular, except on 1 May) as well as park-and-ride facilities
  • Access to 23 museums, including temporary exhibitions, and numerous discovery activities
  • Guided walking tour
  • River cruise
  • Discounts for numerous other shows and activities (Guignol puppet show, etc.)
  • Self-guided tour

Click here to discover the entire list of attractions/activities included in the Lyon City Card.

All righty, now let’s continue our exploration of Lyon! 🙂

 

6. Fourvière Hill and the Basilica

Fourvière Hill is a district worth visiting at least for two sites: the Roman remains and the Fourvière Basilica.

Arguably Lyon’s most emblematic churches is the Basilique de Fourvière (Fourvière Basilica). The sanctuary’s foundation stone was laid in 1872. Architect Pierre Bossan was inspired by both Romanesque and Byzantine architecture.

Fourvière Basilica, Lyon © French Moments
The front of Fourvière Basilica © French Moments

 

The basilica dominates the whole city and offers extending views of the Alps and Mont Blanc. At the same time, the church can be seen from various places in Lyon. 

Fourvière Basilica © French Moments
The Fourvière Basilica seen from the Vieux-Lyon © French Moments

 

7. The Roman remains at Fourvière

The antiquities testify to the Roman occupation of Lyon. This is where Lucius Munatius Plancus, governor of the Three Gauls (Belgian Gaul, Celtic Gaul, and Aquitaine), laid the foundation of a colony: Lugdunum.

The city became one of the largest in Gaul, with an estimated population of between 50,000 and 200,000 in the 2nd century AD.

Things to see in Lyon © French Moments
Things to see in Lyon: the Roman Theatre of Lyon © French Moments

 

The Roman remains consist of two ruined theatres built into the hillside. The larger seated 10,000 spectators under Emperor Hadrian.

 

8. The Croix-Rousse district

La Croix-Rousse is the name of a hill and a district of Lyon. It comprises the “pentes” (slopes that lead down to the Terreaux neighbourhood) and the plateau atop the hill. 

Croix-Rousse, Lyon © French Moments
The hill of Croix-Rousse seen from the Fourvière Hill © French Moments

 

Its name means ‘the red cross’. It comes from a reddish-brown stone cross that was placed there in the 16th century.

The neighbourhood is closely linked to the history of the silk industry in Lyon. This is seen in the architecture of the buildings with large vaulted ceilings.

Croix-Rousse, Lyon © French Moments
An October Fair at the Croix-Rousse, Lyon © French Moments

Today, La Croix-Rousse has its own atmosphere, although the district has become very trendy (and pricey to live in).

 

9. Parc de la Tête d’Or

The Parc de la Tête d’or is one of the best public parks in Lyon and one of the largest, covering 117 hectares. It features a lake, four rose gardens, huge greenhouses, a botanical garden, a velodrome, a miniature train and rides for children, and a zoo.

Jardin Botanique Lyon © Simlaurent licence [CC BY-SA 3.0] from Wikimedia Commons
Jardin Botanique of the Parc de la Tête d’Or, Lyon © Simlaurent licence [CC BY-SA 3.0] from Wikimedia Commons

It is a popular destination for the people of Lyon, particularly for joggers and cyclists.

Don’t miss the monumental and elegant gilded wrought-iron gate (Porte des enfants du Rhône) from 1901.

The railing of the Parc de la Tête d'Or © Mahé Petit Garçon Curieux - licence [CC BY-SA 3.0] from Wikimedia Commons
The railing of the Parc de la Tête d’Or © Mahé Petit Garçon Curieux – licence [CC BY-SA 3.0] from Wikimedia Commons

 

10. Musée des Confluences

The Musée des Confluences is one of the latest great contemporary museums in France. It is definitely one of the most interesting things to see in Lyon.

It sits at the southern tip of the Presqu’île, at one of the most spectacular sites in France: the confluence of the Rhône and Saône rivers.

Musée des Confluences © Romainbehar - licence [CC BY-SA 3.0] from Wikimedia Commons
Musée des Confluences © Romainbehar – licence [CC BY-SA 3.0] from Wikimedia Commons

The deconstructivist building has been designed into two distinct blocks:

  • the crystal – the main entrance (bright, transparent and clear)
  • the cloud – the core of the edifice (the flowing shape of the steel-clad section evokes a spaceship)

The Confluence museum was designed by the Austrian firm Coop Himmelb(l)au and inaugurated on 20 December 2014.

 

A collection of 2 million pieces!

The Museum possesses over two million pieces collected from the 16th and today. It is therefore referred to as “the 21st Century’s Cabinet of Curiosities”.

The permanent exhibition covers 3,000 m2. It is divided into four major sections:

  • Origins: Stories of the World stages a scientific and symbolic outlook on the origins of the universe.
  • Species: the Web of Life contemplates the relationship between Homo sapiens —as an animal— and the complex biodiversity in which the species evolves.
  • Societies: the Human Theatre observes the evolution of social structures, cultures, and knowledge.
  • Eternities: Visions of the Afterlife focuses on the perception of death in different cultures.

(Source: https://www.france.fr/en/lyon/article/musee-confluences-lyon)

>> Get your fast-track online ticket here <<

What’s included with this ticket:

  • Fast-track access to Musée des Confluences
  • Access to the permanent and temporary exhibitions
  • Free lockers

 

More places to see around Lyon

There are many other places to see in Lyon and in the surroundings. Here’s a list of more sightseeing ideas you might be interested in:

  • the beautiful countryside of the Monts du Lyonnais around Saint-Martin-en-Haut, Yzeron, Vaugneray and L’Arbresle.
  • the limestone hills of the Monts-d’Or: the Paul Bocuse restaurant in Collonges, the château of Rochetaillée-sur-Sâone, the château and gardens of Ombreval in Neuville…
  • The wine region of Beaujolais with its picturesque hills and valleys.
  • The historical centre of Villefranche-sur-Sâone, including the Gothic church.
  • The historic little town of Crémieu
  • Pérouges, one of France’s most beautiful villages
  • The Dombes region. The multitude of rainwater pools dates back to the 15th century.
  • The historic town of Vienne and its impressive Roman remains.

Discover on the blog a list of the 30 best places to see around Lyon!

Around Lyon - Oingt © Mfrays - licence [CC BY-SA 4.0] from Wikimedia Commons
Around Lyon – Oingt © Mfrays – licence [CC BY-SA 4.0] from Wikimedia Commons
The Vieux Pérouges hostellerie © Chabe01 - licence [CC BY-SA 4.0] from Wikimedia Commons
The Vieux Pérouges hostellerie © Chabe01 – licence [CC BY-SA 4.0] from Wikimedia Commons
Around Lyon - Saint-Laurent-de-Vaux © David M. - licence [CC BY 3.0] from Wikimedia Commons
The Monts du Lyonnais at Saint-Laurent-de-Vaux © David M. – licence [CC BY 3.0] from Wikimedia Commons

Vienne by Julien Bertrand (Public Domain)
The town of Vienne by Julien Bertrand (Public Domain)

 

Things to do in Lyon

Looking for special and unique things to do in Lyon? Here are a few ideas:

For more activities and things to do in Lyon, check out the following offers:

 

 

Pin the top 10 things to see in Lyon for later!

Top 10 Things to See in Lyon © French Moments

 

Gems of Paris by French Moments
About the author

Pierre is a French/Australian who is passionate about France and its culture. He grew up in France and Germany and has also lived in Australia and England. He has a background teaching French, Economics and Current Affairs, and holds a Master of Translating and Interpreting English-French with the degree of Master of International Relations, and a degree of Economics and Management. Pierre is the author of Discovery Courses and books about France.

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  1. Thanks Pierre. Myself and three others are planning a trip to Europe in 2020 and I have kept a number of your newsletters fort reference. I am particularly interested in visiting Nancy, Annercy and Lyon so your stuff about those places is great.

    Regards.

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