Stepping off the prepare in Lyon, you’re instantly smacked within the face with Huge Metropolis Power. France’s gastronomic capital a vibrant metropolis teeming with of us of all stripes striving and thriving. However Lyon’s historical past dates again to Roman instances, and there are remnants of those clashing identities, historical and trendy, working class and cosmopolitan, that outline France’s third-largest metropolis. Sandwiched between the Rhône and Saône rivers, Lyon is likely one of the solely main French cities with twin defining waterways.
There are many issues to do in Lyon: the town boasts among the greatest French delicacies on the earth, quite a lot of museums and Roman ruins, and a very good nightlife scene.
Listed here are among the prime Lyon points of interest, together with the Croix Rousse plateau, the Basilique Notre Dame de la Fourvière on Fourvière Hill in Vieux Lyon, the botanical gardens and Lyon zoo, the Musée de Beaux-Arts, and the house of the Lumière brothers.
The Greatest Issues to Do in Lyon
Dine at a bouchon
Lyon is, before everything, a meals metropolis, and some of the essential issues to do in Lyon is eat like a neighborhood. This metropolis of Michelin stars is crammed with eating places to fulfill all tastes. Make your reservations nicely upfront, as a result of the most effective locations refill shortly. Begin with dinner at a bouchon, a conventional Lyonnais restaurant that serves native delicacies at affordable costs. They are usually meat-heavy, and a few objects should not for the faint of coronary heart, so it’s possible you’ll be higher off googling your choices earlier than ordering. Andouillette, for instance, is a sausage created from pig intestines that you’ll find on a bouchon menu. However don’t be turned off—the cooks listed below are so good, you’ll hardly care what you’re consuming.
Our favourite Lyon bouchon is Le Bouchon des Filles (which gives an unimaginable prix-fixe for under €28), however you’ll be able to try our full listing of Lyon restaurant suggestions right here.
Handle: Le Bouchon des Filles, 20 Rue Sergent Blandan, 69001 Lyon
Value: €28
Time to Spend: 2 hours
Go to Les Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse
Among the finest Lyon points of interest for foodies, Les Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse is Lyon’s greatest meals market, and ought to be on the prime of your listing of issues to do in Lyon. This historic meals market in Lyon, France is called for Paul Bocuse, the legendary Lyonnais chef. Paul Bocuse was born simply outdoors the town within the village of Collonges-au-Mont-d’Or, however spent his life contributing to the repute of France’s gastronomic capital. Les Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse has stalls crammed with produce, charcuterie, cheese, bread, meat and fish, and nearly every thing you may consider. There are additionally a number of eating places inside that supply a style of Lyon at an affordable worth, making this one of many tastiest issues to do in Lyon.
Handle: 102 Cr Lafayette F, 69003 Lyon
Value: Free to enter
Time to Spend: 45 minutes
Lyon Nightlife
Lyon’s nightlife is as various as its delicacies, and there’s somewhat one thing for everybody. Bars keep open till 3 or 4am, and golf equipment till 6, so evening owls will slot in simply tremendous right here.
Fancy a celebration on a ship? Head to the financial institution of the Rhône River, the place péniche boat bars are docked, every providing a distinct kind of music. You may sit on the river financial institution terrace or on the boat to take pleasure in your drink, or head into the bowels of the barge for an underwater dance ground. Benefit from the porthole views of Lyon at evening whilst you dance to reggaeton at La Marquise, or hip hop at Le Sirius.
Step again in time at considered one of Lyon’s oldest bars, Look Bar, for one thing jazzy and intimate. Sneak upstairs and nestle right into a velvet armchair with a cocktail whilst you peer previous the chandelier and into the leather-cloaked bar beneath.
Wish to soak up some reside music? Bec de Jazz is a legendary spot within the Croix-Rousse neighborhood, whereas Trokson and Technoir on the Presqu’île cater to rockier crowds. However preserve your wits about you late at evening within the metropolis middle, and keep away from facet streets filled with rowdy partiers and affected person pickpockets.
Discover Vieux-Lyon
Wander the colourful streets of Vieux-Lyon (Previous Lyon) for an surprising architectural cityscape. Whereas the “newer” Presqu’île has a extra Parisian really feel due to its nineteenth century Haussmannian buildings, Vieux-Lyon transports you to Tuscany. Through the Renaissance, wealthy service provider households from Italy flocked to Lyon, recreating their pink, orange, and yellow-toned villas in the course of France. The neighborhood is now marked by its traboules, or hidden passageways. Some are well-known, and will be discovered on maps like this one. However when unsure in Vieux-Lyon, simply attempt strolling by means of any open door to see what secrets and techniques it’d maintain. (You may also join a strolling tour, which is able to probably meet at Place Saint Jean, and offer you some fingers on suggestions for exploring the traboules of Previous Lyon.) While you’re uninterested in wandering, forgo the touristy eating places on Place Saint Jean in favor of a style of every thing on the Meals Traboule.
Handle: Vieux-Lyon, 69005 Lyon
Value: Free
Time to Spend: 2 hours
Basilica of Notre Dame de Fourvière
Make a journey as much as Fourvière Hill, the place Lyon’s historic basilica, devoted to the Virgin Mary, is positioned in Vieux-Lyon. The Basilica of Notre Dame de Fourvière is likely one of the hottest vacationer points of interest in Lyon, as a result of you’ll be able to soak up the entire metropolis from the highest, making it a well-liked sundown vacation spot. However be warned: Fourvière Hill can get fairly crowded. The information books will direct you to take the historic funicular to the highest of the hill, however you must choose to stroll as a substitute if attainable. The journey is steep, however value it. (The funicular trip goes by means of a darkish tunnel, so the trip up isn’t precisely picturesque, and you must look ahead to some time with different vacationers earlier than cramming, sardine-like, into the automobiles.)
Handle: 8 Pl. de Fourvière, 69005 Lyon
Value: Free to enter the basilica, €3 to take the historic funicular
Time to Spend: 1 hour
Lugdunum (Gallo-Roman Museum of Lyon-Fourvière)
Lyon is a Roman metropolis, and incorporates a fabulous number of Roman ruins. Historical past nerds will take pleasure in a go to to Lugdunum, previously generally known as the Gallo-Roman Museum of Lyon-Fourvière. This UNESCO World Heritage Web site, which can also be on Fourvière Hill, additionally incorporates the Historic Theater of Fourvière, one of many iconic Lyon points of interest, which hosts the music competition, Les Nuits de Fourvière, each summer time.
Handle: 17 rue Cléberg, 69005 Lyon
Value: €4 for the museum, free to go to the theater
Time to Spend: 1 hour
La Croix rousse
When you’re in search of some extra uncommon issues to do in Lyon, spend a while in La Croix-Rousse, the historic silk working district of Lyon, for a little bit of fascinating Lyon sightseeing. Go to La Maison des Canuts (the silk employees’ museum) or try some avenue artwork. Choosing up a shawl at one of many silk retailers nonetheless discovered on this boho quartier is a superb possibility when purchasing for associates or kinfolk with excessive memento expectations.
Handle: La Maison des Canuts, 10 Rue d’Ivry, 69004 Lyon
Value: €2 to view the Maison des Canuts, €9 for the guided tour (which we’d advocate)
Time to Spend: 45 minutes
Institut Lumière
There are additionally many Lyon museums value visiting whereas embarking in your Lyon sightseeing journey. Movie buffs can reap the benefits of Lyon’s repute because the “birthplace of cinema” by visiting the Institut Lumière. This museum, housed within the Beaux Arts mansion of the Lumière Brothers, Auguste and Louis Lumière, is dedicated to the early days of movie, the invention of the cinematograph, and the technical feats that might at some point make your favourite Marvel film attainable. Even when you’re not a movie geek, you’ll get a kick out of the gathering of 50-second motion pictures from the flip of the century (although keeping track of cultural requirements of the time can be sensible).
Handle: Rue du Premier Movie, 69008 Lyon
Value: €8
Time to Spend: 45 minutes
Musée des Beaux-Arts
Lyon has a outstanding Musée des Beaux-Arts, or tremendous arts museum, positioned at Place des Terreaux. This museum inhabits a constructing that was as soon as a convent, and every artwork gallery inside incorporates artworks from all through Antiquity, all the best way as much as the Impressionists. They even have choose up to date artwork exhibitions. Even when you don’t need to go outdoors, there may be an outside sculpture backyard that’s free to the general public.
Handle: 20 Place des Terreaux, 69001 Lyon
Value: €8
Time to Spend: 1.5 hours
Parc de la Tête d’Or
Desire to be outdoors? Head to the Parc de la Tête d’Or, one of many largest city parks in Europe (and the biggest in France), with a free zoo and botanical backyard. Bask within the solar or sneak by means of a hidden underwater passage to get to the lake’s Memorial Island.
Handle: Parc de la Tête d’Or, 69006 Lyon
Value: Free
Time to Spend: 2 hours
Strive some pink pralines
When you’re carried out sunning your self or geeking out over classic movie tech, and also you’ve carried out all of the issues to do in Lyon, seize a candy snack on the best way to your prepare residence. Lyon is known for its pink pralines, which are sometimes used for praline tart or praline brioche (generally known as the Praluline). Do this native specialty at Boutique Pralus Lyon at considered one of their 5 places, together with Vieux-Lyon, La Croix Rousse, and the Presqu’île.
Handle: Numerous
Value: €10,40-16,90 for a bag of pink pralines, €12,90 for a Praluline
Time to Spend: 10 minutes
Féte des Lumières
When you’re keen to plan forward, the annual Fête des Lumières is likely one of the most well-known issues to do in Lyon. This competition, which takes place in December, started as a celebration of the Virgin Mary. Right now, it’s a celebration of the good mild installations on the earth, and the gifted artists who assemble them. The chilly winter of the town is remodeled right into a glowing wonderland, and all of Europe flocks to Lyon for this big day. However be warned that resorts ebook up quick, and attending the competition will be costly when you don’t plan far upfront.
Continuously Requested Questions – Issues to Do in Lyon
What’s Lyon well-known for?
Lyon is known for its culinary scene, the Basilica of Notre Dame de Fourvière, and the house of the Lumière brothers.
What number of days do you should go to Lyon?
Since there are lots of issues to do in Lyon, France, a minimal keep of 5 days is advisable.
Is Lyon, France value visiting?
Lyon is likely one of the crown jewels of France, and a must-visit for foodies.
What number of days is sufficient to go to Lyon?
5 days ought to provide the alternative to take pleasure in many of the enjoyable issues to do in Lyon.
Catherine Rickman is a author, skilled francophile, and host of the Expat Horror Tales podcast. She is at the moment someplace in Brooklyn with a fork in a single hand and a pen within the different, and you may observe her adventures on Instagram @catrickman.
