21 Best Things to Do in Lyon: Perfect Lyon Weekend

Planning a trip to Lyon? There are so many amazing things to do in Lyon!

It’s the perfect destination whether you’re a foodie, a history buff, an art lover… or like to do a little bit of everything. It’s my second-favorite city in France, and I think you’re going to love it!

I’ve visited Lyon a half-dozen times — including two weeks last spring. (It’s a different experience in shoulder season.)

I’ve got a great mix of popular activities as well as unique things to do in Lyon (like taking a rooftop tour of the Notre Dame Basilica)!

Ready to see the best of Lyon? Lace up your shoes and let’s go!

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Best Things to do in Lyon France

1. Tour La Basilique Notre Dame de Fourvière

Atop Fourvière sits La Basilique Notre Dame de Fourvière. This gorgeous 19th-century basilica honors the Virgin Mary. 

Tip: use the funicular to easily get to the top of Fourvière Hill! 

The basilica is open daily, although you cannot tour the basilica during masses. Entrance to the gardens, the basilica, and the crypt (the Chapel of the Virgin) is free. (And there are so many free things to do in Lyon!)

The exterior may resemble a fortress, but the interior is beautifully decorated with intricate mosaics and stained glass.

If you’re not afraid of heights, take a guided rooftop tour. (I did this on my first solo trip to Lyon.)

You’ll have to climb 300+ stairs, but it’s worth it for the views!

2. Step back in time in the ancient Roman ruins

You really can’t avoid the stamp the Romans put on Lyon (or Lugdunum, its name in Roman time). 

Lyon has a UNESCO World Heritage site designation for its preservation of its history back to Roman times.

Take a journey back in time as you explore the well-preserved ruins of the ancient Roman amphitheater and the odeon.  It’s one of the top Lyon tourist attractions!

3. Visit the Lugdunum Museum

If you’re a fan of Romans and ruins, you’ll want to visit the Lugdunum Museum.

The Lugdunum Museum focuses on the history of Gallo-Roman civilization in Lyon. See mosaics, statues, and other Roman artifacts from the region.

This Roman history museum is definitely one of the best museums in Lyon. One of my favorite things about it is the huge windows that look out on the amphitheater!

If you’re traveling with kids, there are many kid-friendly exhibits here. (Location: Vieux Lyon/ Fourvière Hill. Closed Mondays)

4. Admire Cathédrale Saint-Jean-Baptiste

Close to the Saône, you will find the magnificent Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist.   This Romano-Gothic style cathedral features a huge stained-glass window and a 16^th century astronomical clock. 

(If you’ve never seen an astronomical clock, they are engineering marvels! 

In addition to the time of day, they also display information such as the positions of the sun, moon, and stars.  Some even feature automated displays that trigger at given times of day.)

The Cathédrale Saint-Jean-Baptiste is one of the focal points of Lyon’s most famous festivals, the Fête des Lumières (Festival of Lights). 

Held in early December (three days bracketing December 8^th), Lyon nights come alive with art installations including choreographed light displays projected onto the cathedral.

It’s a fabulous experience to participate in local festivals and celebrate holidays in France!

5. Soak up the sights in the Place des Terreaux

Place des Terreaux is one of Lyon’s landmark plazas. This plaza is bordered by Hôtel de Ville de Lyon (Lyon’s 17th century City Hall) on the east side, and the Fine Arts Museum on the south side.

And this plaza features the lovely Bartholdi Fountain, created by famous French sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi. He is most famous for creating the Statue of Liberty!

This gorgeous fountain is one of the best Instagram spots in Lyon!

6. Admire fine art at the Musée des Beaux-Arts

The Musée des Beaux-Arts is Lyon’s Fine Arts Museum. 

Housed in a former 17th century abbey, this is the largest Fine Arts museum in France after the Louvre.  It contains extensive collections of European paintings, antiquities, and sculptures.

There is a lovely statue-filled garden in the courtyard if you just want to take a little break from your day of sightseeing. (Location: Presqu’île. Closed Tuesdays)

7. Explore Lyon’s famous Traboules

One of Lyon’s hidden gems (literally!) are traboules, the covered passageways that lead from street to street through buildings.

Exploring traboules is one of the most romantic things to do Lyon has to offer. There are forty traboules that are open to the public that you can explore, and they’re marked with a special marker.

You can explore historic Vieux Lyon and Croix-Rousse looking for this seal on the buildings as you wander the narrow lanes. 

To make sure you don’t miss the best ones, take this guided tour of the traboules.

Traboules give you a glimpse into the buildings’ inner courtyards – all unique, and sometimes boasting impressive architectural details.

As the Lyon silk industry grew, traboules became a way to transport textiles through the city without getting them wet during rainy weather.  (The silk trade was a huge part of Lyon’s history.)

And, during WWII, Lyon traboules were used by the French resistance to host secret meetings under the noses of the Nazis. 

While you’re exploring Vieux Lyon, check out the Gare Saint-Paul, one of Lyon’s oldest train stations.

For an unforgettable experience, book a hotel in Vieux Lyon! Discover incredible Lyon 5-star hotels in the heart of Lyon’s Old Town, or on the slopes of Fourvière Hill!

8. Check out the Musée des Confluences

The Musée des Confluences is a science center and anthropology museum.  It is the modern building at the tip of Presqu’île where the two rivers meet.

This is definitely one of the most popular Lyon attractions!

It is a little bit far from most other attractions but is easy to reach by public transportation. You can even take a one-way river cruise combined with a museum ticket!

(Location: Presqu’île. Closed Mondays) 

9. See Place Bellecour

Presqu’île is the thin section of Lyon between the Rhône and Saône rivers.  Presqu’île is the literal center of the city. 

The grand pedestrian square, Place Bellecour, is ‘kilometre zero’ for the region’s roads.  Place Bellecour is anchored by a grand statue of Louis XIV, the Sun King, astride a horse. 

Place Bellecour is also home to Lyon’s Tourist Office, home to some of the most helpful and friendly TI staffers I have ever met.

They were eager to point out all the free things included with the Lyon City Card, of which we happily took advantage.

Save some wear and tear on your feet while you see Lyon’s highlights, from Place Bellecour to the Lyon Cathedral! Zip around Lyon on this guided electric bike tour!

10. Explore the Cinema and Miniatures Museum

Lyon’s Cinema and Miniatures Museum is a two-for-one experience. One half of this museum features cinematic special effects and well-known props from blockbuster movies from Alien to Titanic.

The other showcases a huge variety of incredibly realistic miniatures scenes — everything from tiny restaurant scenes to libraries to markets. (Location: Vieux Lyon. Open daily)

11. Take a Saône River Cruise

After a full day of Lyon sightseeing in Fourvière and Vieux Lyon on foot, we relaxed with a lovely Saône river cruise.

This Lyon boat tour was one of the only activities that didn’t involve a lot of walking, and our feet were grateful!

We enjoyed the peninsula river cruise of Lyon, which begins by traveling upstream.  Your boat passes Vieux Lyon and provides a nice view of the basilica and the Tour Métallique de Fourvière (Lyon’s ‘Little Eiffel Tower’).

It then turns around and follows the river downstream, all the way to the confluence of the Rhône and the Saône.  Along the way, you pass by some of the gorgeous churches in Vieux Lyon.

This cruise gives you the opportunity to admire Lyon’s centuries-spanning architecture, including the ultra-modern building of the Musée des Confluences.

12. Marvel at the Mur des Canuts and Fresque des Lyonnais murals

One of our favorite unique Lyon attractions are the incredible trompe-l’oeil murals. They cover the sides of entire multi-story buildings.  It’s one of the things that make Lyon worth visiting!

You will find these enormous murals sprinkled through the city and they are a unique, must-see attraction in Lyon.  They are so realistic that it can be a challenge to distinguish mural from real shops and real people. 

The above photo is the impressive Mur des Canuts mural, which honors Lyon’s silk workers.

Another famous Lyon mural is the Fresque des Lyonnais, which depicts thirty well known people from Lyon.

It includes Antoine de Saint Exupéry, famous aviator and author of The Little Prince. They even named the Lyon airport after him!

Here’s a short video showing the details of the ‘first floor’ of this magnificent mural. Did you recognize Chef Paul Bocuse?

In my book, seeing these murals is one of the best things to do in Lyon .

If you’re a huge fan of these frescoes, you’ll want to head east to see the Tony Garnier Urban Museum. Walk through this neighborhood to see over 20 of these magnificent murals.

13. Enjoy Lyon’s Cuisine on a food tour

Are you a foodie? In 1935, a famous food critic dubbed Lyon as the world capital of gastronomy. 

Lyon boasts twenty Michelin-starred restaurants, and also has its own special variety of local restaurant, the bouchon.

A bouchon is usually a smaller, family-run restaurant specializing in traditional Lyonnais dishes made with fresh local ingredients. These are right up our alley.

You’ll certainly want to dine at a bouchon during your stay — check out my picks for some of the best bouchons and restaurants in Vieux Lyon.

Taking a food tour in Lyon is a great way to make sure that you don’t miss out on any regional specialties.

One of Lyon’s top savory dishes is quenelles de brochet (fish dumplings in a luscious seafood-infused cream sauce).

And there are no shortage of sweets in Lyon — starting with the delicious Coussin de Lyon, a unique candy made of curacao-flavored chocolate ganache encased by teal-hued marzipan. Yum!

Be sure to try the praline rose, almonds coated with caramelized pink sugar.   You can find it in the famous tarte aux pralines, or in cookies and pastries in Lyon’s bakeries.

Lyon is also a perfect location to indulge in some wine tasting! There are many wine bars to enjoy in Lyon, and Lyon is a great starting point for day trips to local wineries.

14. See the Place des Jacobins

The Place des Jacobins is a small square dating from 1556. Its centerpiece is the gorgeous Fontaine des Jacobins, which was added to the square in 1856.

The Fontaine des Jacobins was created by Gaspard André out of white marble, and honors four famous artists of Lyon.

Even if you’re just passing by the neighborhood, take a moment to appreciate this gorgeous fountain. On the day I was visiting, a group of art students was scattered around the square, sketching the fountain from various angles!

15. Shop at the Markets of Lyon

Every French town has at least one market day where you can purchase fresh produce, cheeses, and regional specialties. Lyon boasts several markets to supply ingredients for both professional chef and home cook alike – every day of the week.

I love browsing food markets in Europe!   

Pick up a lovely loaf of bread, some cheese, anything else that strikes your fancy, and you’ve got yourself a great picnic.  Or find a great local item (honey, spices) to take back home as a souvenir of France.

Be sure to carry some money in France to make small purchases at markets, as not all vendors might accept credit cards.

Some popular food markets you can nibble your way through:

• Saint-Antoine Market:  This is the largest outdoor food market in Lyon and my favorite since it comes with views of Vieux Lyon. You’ll find everything from local produce to fresh flowers, to cheeses and even rotisserie chickens for a quick meal. (This market is biggest on Saturdays.)

• La Croix-Rousse Market:   This market features a high number of local vendors, with lots of organic produce available.  (Closed Mondays)

• Les Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse:  Feeling in the mood for something a bit fancier?  Take this private gourmet tour of Les Halles Paul Bocuse, an indoor food market famous for its gourmet offerings.

16. Visit the Musées Gadagne

The Musées Gadagne is one of the most unique museums in Lyon. 

Housed in the city’s oldest Renaissance building, this contains the Lyon History Museum and the World Puppet Museum (featuring the Guignol puppet). 

You can enter the inner courtyard and view the hillside hanging gardens for free. (Location: Vieux Lyon. Closed Tuesdays)

17. See a silk weaving demonstration at the Maison des Canuts

The silk-making industry was a huge part of Lyon’s economy. There are many museums which focus on textiles and the fabrication of silk.

Learn about the silk making process at the Maison des Canuts, or House of the Silk Workers.

You can even take a guided tour that includes a weaving demonstration on a Jacquard loom, an invention that revolutionized the silk-making process.

The gift shop has an amazing collection of silk scarves if you need an authentic souvenir from your trip!

(Location: Croix-Rousse. Closed Sundays and Mondays)

18. Learn about WWII history at the Resistance Museum

This museum is a bit more somber. The Resistance and Deportation History Center focuses on experiences during the Second World War.

One of its most interesting collections consists of several hundred first-hand video stories of resistance fighters as well as deportees. (Location: East Lyon, near the east bank of the Rhône. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays)

19. Relax in the Parc de la Tête d’Or

If you want to get yet your nature fix while visiting Lyon, be sure to head to the Parc de la Tête d’Or (Park of the Golden Head).

This free park measures over 100 hectares and is a favorite location of locals and visitors alike.

This 19th century park has seven entrances, the most famous of which is the Porte des Enfants du Rhône. This is named after the monument here which honors those born in Lyon who died in battle.

When you enter through these elaborate gates, you’ll get a view of the Lac de la Tête d’Or. In the summertime, you can boat on this man-made lake.

The park contains the Jardin Botanique de Lyon (Lyon’s botanical gardens) as well as a zoo and an impressive rose garden displaying hundreds of varieties of roses. It’s also perfect for a romantic picnic!

20. Admire the Opéra National de Lyon

The National Opera House is definitely one of the best places to see in Lyon. It’s beautiful inside and out! Attend concerts, dance performances, and of course, operas.

The Opera House also has a rooftop terrace, from which you can enjoy stunning views of the city.

You’ll find the Opera House just to the east of the Place des Terreaux and the Hôtel de Ville. It’s right by a metro stop, so I walked by this landmark many times during my visit.

21. Learn about cinematography at the Musée Lumière

The Musée Lumière is located at the birthplace of the Cinématographe, which was invented by the Lumière brothers.

(Yes, that’s right, Lyon is the birthplace of cinematography! That’s one of many fun France facts.)

Located on the site of the Lumière factory, this film museum portrays the history of animated images and also hosts movie screenings. (Location: East Lyon. Closed Mondays)

Lyon attractions maps

Many cities construct their new buildings atop the old as the centuries pass, meaning that those ancient buildings are lost to history. 

However, the city of Lyon expanded eastward over its 2,000 years, allowing the historical buildings to be preserved and garnering the honor of being a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

What to do in Lyon on a Sunday

Wondering what to do in Lyon on Sunday? You’re in luck! There are plenty of things to do in Lyon on Sundays. Some of Lyon’s best and most unique attractions are ‘open air’ and available every day.

Explore the public traboules, admire the incredible art of the trompe l’oeil murals, and see Lyon’s archaeological sites such as the Gallo-Roman Theater and the Odeon.

The Basilica of Notre-Dame and its grounds are open daily (although of course masses are held on Sundays; during the mass you cannot tour the basilica).

All of the museums listed in this post are open on both Saturdays and Sundays (check for hours):

• Musée des Beaux-Arts: Fine Arts Museum.  Location: Presqu’île. Closed Tuesdays
  
• The Musée des Confluences: Science and anthropology museum.  Location: Presqu’île. Closed Mondays.
  
• Lugdunum Museum: History of Gallo-Roman civilization. Location: Vieux Lyon/ Fourvière Hill. Closed Mondays
  
• Musées Gadagne: Combination Lyon History Museum and the World Puppet Museum. Location: Vieux Lyon. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays.
  
• Cinema and Miniatures Museum: Cinematic special effects/props and also realistic miniatures scenes. Location: Vieux Lyon. Open daily.
  
• Resistance Museum: Experience of Lyon resistance fighters and deportees during WWII. Location: East Lyon. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays.
  
• Musée Lumière: Cinematography Museum. Location: East Lyon. Closed Mondays

Now, I’m not much of a shopper. But if you are, it is important to note that many stores are closed on Sundays. The shops in Vieux Lyon have special dispensation to remain open on all Sundays.

Due to French law, the other shops are only allowed to be open on limited Sundays designated by the city. (Many of these designated days are at the end of November through December for the festive holiday season in France.)