Things to do in

Rhone-Alpes

Visit the site of the first Winter Olympics! In Chamonix you’ll experience majestic scenery on a drive through the Arve Valley and from the 12,605-foot viewing platform on Europe’s highest mountain. This full-day tour begins in Geneva with a drive across the French border through the glacier-fed Arve Valley. At Chamonix you’ll marvel at the splendid backdrop of the massive peaks of the Aiguilles Rouges. You’ll take the cable car up to Aiguille du Midi, which was the world’s highest cable car ride when it was launched in 1955. Enjoy breathtaking panoramas of this Alpine wonderland, with views into France, Switzerland, and Italy. Lunch will be at your leisure. You will also have the chance to ride the astonishing Montenvers rack railway to the Mer de Glace glacier. The journey on this electric train covers 3 miles of beautiful mountainous scenery before arriving at the longest glacier in France. You're free to spend the day as you please. Wander by foot to discover the town’s many delights, such as Parc Loisir, Musée Alpin, Lac Gaillands or Atelier Les Racines. Chamonix is the world capital for outdoor activites: mountaineering, alpinism, hiking, climbing, mountain biking, paragliding, trail running, and skiing.

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 : • 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 • Lumière Museum • Fourvière Museum of Religious Art • Printing Museum • Center for the History of the Resistance and Deportation • Little Guignol Museum • Museum of Automation • 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 • Priority access to Musée des Confluences 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 • Lyon City tram reduction Shows (limited number of spots, reservation advised): • Guignol Theater in Lyon • Compagnie des Zonzons (Guignol) • House of Guignol • Un Gone de Lyon (Guignol) • Planetarium • Improvidence • Comédie Odeon Public transportation included: The liberty offer gives you access to Lyon’s bus, metro, funicular railway, and tramway networks. Valid for 1, 2, 3 or 4 days, 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. • 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, Lyon Hockey Club Les Lions - Ice Hockey, Lyon Tuk Tour, Lyon City Tram. • Option: Vélo’v (rent a bike offered by public transportation company). • Restaurant boat Hermès 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

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 Children's Menu • Drink included • Mixed charcuterie • Chicken with cream, potatoes and seasonal vegetables • Cottage cheese • Chocolate tartelette

Discover the spectacular architecture and fascinating exhibits this cutting-edge museum. Experience the world of the natural and the human at Lyon's showpiece waterfront attraction. Delve into a museum which situates itself at the confluence of knowledge, science and culture. Admire the striking design resembling a floating crystal cloud of stainless steel and glass, and step inside the iconic building. Explore science and anthropology through fascinating exhibits on origins, species, societies and eternities. Learn the story of human life and civilizations in the permanent collection. Enjoy inclusive entry also into the temporary exhibits. Feast your eyes on treasures like the massive dinosaur skeleton, as well as Egyptian mummies and fossils. Examine ethnographic artifacts and cutting edge exhibits alike in this Lyon essential.

Feast your eyes on dramatic landscapes as you travel by coach through the scenic Arve Valley to Chamonix. Chamonix’s position at the foot of Europe’s highest peak, Mont-Blanc, makes it one of the most popular mountain villages in the area. On this full-day trip from Geneva, you’ll have access to Aiguille du Midi, a rocky 3,842-meter peak close to Mont Blanc. Take a ride up on the most famous cable car in the world, (please note this cable car is currently under maintenance, your tour will feature an alternative cable car or activity). This high mountain site, equipped for your comfort and safety, offers a 360-degree panorama taking in the majestic Mont-Blanc as well as the whole of its massif. In addition, you’ll also enjoy panoramic views of the Chamonix Valley and the major peaks of the French, Swiss, and Italian Alps. The Aiguille du Midi comprises the Piton Nord, the Piton Central with the Mont-Blanc gallery, and the Mont-Blanc terrace with its unforgettable view of Mont-Blanc. Take a charming little red train from Chamonix to the Montenvers site and the world famous Mer de Glace glacier. The Montenvers site is surrounded by the magnificent summits of les Drus, les Grandes Jorasses, and les Grands Charmoz. Learn about the largest French glacier and nature in the Alpine environment at exhibits here.

Lyon is a particularly historically rich city and you will discover the magnificent district of Old Lyon through its streets, churches, and traboules (passageways). Your guide will tell you curiosities and about secrets places.  Begin your journey in Bellecour Square. You will see Old Lyon's most famous monuments of Fourvière, Saint-Jean Cathedral, and Pink Tower. Visit the most beautiful spots on the peninsula including Bellecour, Terreaux, Jacobins, and Célestins. Explore the famous painted walls.  Your guide will also reveal some secret locations. Head to a Renaissance district, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Discover Guignol House and the best panoramic views in the city in Saint Georges District. Journey through some of the 500 traboules in Lyon to the best traditional bouchon cuisine restaurants.

Meet your guide in Lyon's central Presqu’île district (French for "Peninsula") and get a 15-minute briefing and training session on your Segway. Once you feel comfortable and confident on the 2-wheel personal transporter, head off to explore the streets with ease. See the sights of one of the most beautiful cities in France, starting with a ride along the banks of the Rhône River. Experience a beautiful area for pedestrians and bike riders, with gardens stretching for 5 kilometers. Then, go downtown to visit the Opera House and the famous Bartholdi Fountain. Cross to the Saône River to reach Lyon's downtown area, where landmarks include the medieval and Renaissance district of Vieux-Lyon. End with a ride through the large Place Bellecour, and admire the grandiose monuments such as the equestrian statue of Louis XIV. Along the way, your guide will talk about the history of Lyon and take photos of you on your Segway to keep as a souvenir. Benefit from the expertise and local knowledge of a guide who will tell you what to see and what to do later in the day before saying goodbye.

How does it feel to be at the foot of the highest mountain in Europe? Find out, with reliable transport from Geneva to Chamonix Mont Blanc. Board a bus and enjoy the 75-minute drive by motor-coach through the picturesque Arve Valley to the typical Alpine village at the foot of the remarkable and majestic Mont-Blanc. Enjoy your day as you stroll in the little streets full of charms of Chamonix. Enter in a local shop to discover the local flavors as Mountain Honey, cheese or charcuterie. Try a fondue or a raclette in once of the numerous restaurants of this well-known ski resort. Discover where the first Olympic Games of winter started in 1924. Situated at the border between France and Italy, this town is famous for its tunnel under the mountain, which joins the 2 countries. Enjoy the activities available in this little town before you head back to Geneva. If you choose the cable car option you can enjoy the ride up to the Aiguille du Midi and be amazed by the view. In the afternoon, take advantage of the mountain train and discover the Ice Sea. If you choose the all inclusive option you will have lunch in a nice brasserie in Chamonix.

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.

Experience the charm and beauty of the alpine town of Annecy from a different perspective on a 1.5-hour guided tour by Segway. Get a short training session on the easy-to-use personal transporters to ensure you feel confident before you set off. Make your way down to the crystal clear waters of Lake Annecy, surrounded by the mountains of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. Be seduced by the various gardens bordering the lake, and hear the story of the town as you take souvenir pictures of the scenic landscapes and historic buildings. Admire the magnificent hotel of the Imperial Palace where Charlie Chaplin, Winston Churchill and the singer Edith Piaf were all guests. Enter the medieval Old Town and discover its amazing network of canals and tiny streets. End at the Thiou River which, at just 3.5 kilometers long, is one of the smallest rivers in France.