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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: Musée de l’illusion Entrance Ticket

2. Lyon: Musée de l’illusion Entrance Ticket

Explore the Museum of Illusions in Lyon with an entrance ticket. Immerse yourself into the fascinating world of illusions while engaging with the exhibits. Enjoy a visual treat of sensory illusions, holograms, puzzles, and more. You will discover the science behind illusions through various visual information. Click photographs in the rooms as you appear to be floating in mid-air, standing upside down, or shrinking in size. Take a tour of this Instagram-worthy place with your friends and family at your own pace. 

Lyon: Hop-On Hop-Off City Cruise

3. Lyon: Hop-On Hop-Off City Cruise

The Vaporetto is the Lyon bus boat that allows you to get around while discovering Lyon over the water! This soft, ecological and unusual means of transport will take you to the city center, to the Old Town or to Vaise or Confluence! Opt for the boat to stroll through the alleys of Old Lyon, admire the basilica of Fourvière, contemplate the slopes of the Croix-Rousse. You will be amazed by the colorful facades and you will appreciate the new district of Confluence, also ideal for shopping! 4 stations: Confluence station: opposite the Confluence shopping center Bellecour station: 11 quai des celestins 69002 lyon Station St. Paul: 16 Quai de Bondy Lyon 05 Station Vaise: 9 Quai Arloing Lyon 09 One-way ticket: €5 1-way child ticket from 5 to 12 years old: 3€ Free: - 5 years Terms and conditions : Arrive 15 minutes before boarding time Obligatory presentation of the pass No refund if the client has not used all of his trips or has missed the boat Reimbursement only in case of navigation stoppage Cancellation free of charge 24 hours before Indoor & outdoor seating Boat heated in winter Annual closing in January and February

Lyon City Pass: Public Transport & More Than 40 Attractions

4. 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 25 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 Lugdunum • 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 • Tony Garnier Urban Museum • Museum of Henri Malartre’s Automobile • Gallo Roman Museum of St Roman en Gal • Ampère Museum Electricity • 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 • Museum of firefighters of Lyon Rhône •Aircraft Museum Clément Ader 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 Shows (limited number of spots, reservation advised): • Guignol Theater in Lyon • Compagnie des Zonzons (Guignol) • House of Guignol • 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, Aquarium du Grand Lyon, Segway Tours, Coddy Games urban escape game, Restaurant boat Hermès • Option: Vélo’v (rent a bike ). • Shopping

Lyon 2.5-Hour Dinner Cruise

5. 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.

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

Golden Stones Beaujolais Wine Tasting Trip from Lyon

7. 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.

Lyon: 2-Hour Electric Bike Tour with a Local Guide

8. Lyon: 2-Hour Electric Bike Tour with a Local Guide

This tour will allow you to discover the city in just 2-hours. See the highlights of Lyon, such as the Saône River, the Banks of Rhône, Bellecour Square, the Park of the Golden Head (Parc de la tête d'or) and many other surprising places. Join your group near the Palais de Justice in central Lyon to begin the tour. Get outfitted with an electric bike — equipped for comfortable, effortless riding, letting you pedal, cruise, or a combination of both — and set off through the UNESCO World Heritage-listed city. Steeped in centuries of history and considered the culinary capital of France, Lyon's vibrant mix of monuments, museums, squares, restaurants, bars, shops, and markets are a delight to explore — especially by bike.  Your exact route may vary depending on the day, but your experienced guide will know all the nooks and crannies where Lyon's true magic lies. Ride through the Croix Rousse tunnel, lined with colored lights and music, and keep your eye out for Lyon Cathedral. Listen as your guide shares stories of Lyon's rich history and points out famous attractions and off-the-beaten-path spots only locals know.  Continue along the banks of the Rhône River, recently renovated for cyclists. Spill out onto Place Bellecour, a famous plaza crowned by a statue of notorious King Louis XIV, and spin past the picturesque boating lake in Tête d'Or Park. Arrive back at the start point to conclude your tour.

Vieux Lyon 4-Hour Food Tasting Tour

9. 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: Secret Food Tour

10. Lyon: Secret Food Tour

Explore one of Lyon's most beloved traditions, food, and find out why the city has been considered the world capital of gastronomy since 1935. Feast on a traditional breakfast, pastry, hot dish, cheese, and a secret dish that you can only discover on this tour while savoring lovely local wines. After meeting by the steps of the protestant Temple of the Change you will start with some savoury food of the type that was served to the Canut (the silk workers of Lyon) giving energy and of course a glass of wine. Then we will be exploring the old paved streets of the Vieux Lyon area, learning the secret of the Traboules, and we'll stop in one of the most exclusive sweet shops of the city to sample a delicious local pastry. After crossing the Saône River, we'll then explore the Presqu'île district, discovering amazing monuments, statues, and fountains along the way. You'll love the seasonal traditional hot dish at our next stop. We'll discover our local cheeses as we stop at a historic monument. As with all our tours, there's our delicious Secret Dish. *Please note: the itinerary and menu is subject to change, based on the locations' availability, weather, and other circumstances.

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Frequently asked questions about Lyon

What are the best day trips and excursions from Lyon?

The best day trips and excursions from Lyon are:

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Other Sightseeing Options in Lyon

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What people are saying about Lyon

Overall rating

4.5
(4,747 reviews)

Amazing tour guide! Yannick provides you with insights to the lovely city and history, that you would never expect. Great knowledge - could answer all our questions, great sense of humor and just with great enthusiasm Yannick is telling so lively the story of the city, that one believes one is right in the middle of the Renaissance time, seeing the history. We spent two hours that felt like 15 minutes. We could have listen to him for many hours more!

Overall the dinner cruise was better than expected. We had a nice table for two, our waiter for the evening was welcoming and friendly and the three course meal was delicious and not rushed in the slightest. We enjoyed cruising two rivers, the Soane and the Rhone and loved looking at the sights in Lyon which were all lit up at night. I would recommend this cruise for anyone visiting this lovely city.

Yannick was our guide. He was the absolute Best! So knowledgeable about Lyon, it's food and it's history. Everything we tasted and drank was delicious. Well worth every penny. And of course, it is always so cool to meet rhe other people doing the tour with us. We highly recommend this tour with Yann. He was with a trainee guide, Jean, who was really friendly too.

Absolutely delightful, our guide Yannik was extremely knowledgeable, a very pleasant person too. Learned a lot, fascinating tour. The best way to discover Lyon. Money well spent.

Amazing Tour with Chloé, gorgeous food - I totally recommend it!