Lyon travel guide - where to stay, what to do, and where to eat in Lyon, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France.
Top attractions
The most popular and significant attractions in Lyon.
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1
Basilique Notre-Dame de Fourvière
The white hilltop basilica above Vieux Lyon, built 1872-1896, with mosaic-covered interiors and the best free panorama of the city.
Tip: Take funicular F1 from Vieux Lyon metro station; a standard TCL ticket covers it. · Walk down through the Jardin du Rosaire for a scenic descent to Vieux Lyon. · Entry is free; the guided discovery tour costs about €8 and is worth it for the rooftop access. · Dress modestly and keep voices low, as services are held regularly. · Visit in the late afternoon for the best light over the city. · Combine with the Roman theatres, a short walk downhill.
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2
Vieux Lyon and the Traboules
The Renaissance old town on the right bank of the Saône, a UNESCO-listed district of pastel facades, narrow streets and covered passages (traboules) linking courtyards.
Tip: Arrive before 9:30AM to see the streets without tour groups · Respect residents: keep voices low in traboules and follow posted signs · Metro D to Vieux Lyon-Cathédrale Saint-Jean is the easiest access · Wear shoes with grip; cobbles are uneven and slippery when wet · Choose restaurants a street or two off Rue Saint-Jean for better value
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3
Primatiale Saint-Jean (Cathédrale Saint-Jean-Baptiste)
Lyon's Gothic cathedral (12th-15th c.) with a 14th-century astronomical clock whose automata run several times a day.
Tip: Arrive about 10-15 minutes before a clock performance to find a place near the transept. · Entry is free; donations are welcome for upkeep. · Check for services, as some areas may be closed during Mass. · Pair the visit with a walk through the traboules of Vieux Lyon. · Dress modestly and keep voices low.
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4
Lugdunum Museum and Roman Theatres of Fourvière
The Roman Great Theatre (c. 15 BC) and Odeon on Fourvière hill, with the Lugdunum museum of Roman Lyon built into the slope next to them.
Tip: Take funicular F2 to Minimes-Théâtres romains; a standard TCL ticket covers it. · The theatres are free; only the museum charges, at about €4 for adults. · The museum is closed on Mondays and on 1 January, 1 May and 25 December. · Check the Nuits de Fourvière programme for evening performances in June and July. · Wear sturdy shoes, as the stone tiers are steep and uneven.
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5
Place Bellecour
One of Europe's largest pedestrian squares at the heart of the Presqu'île, with the equestrian statue of Louis XIV and the Little Prince statue.
Tip: Collect maps and advice at the tourist office pavilion on the square · Bring a hat in summer: there is almost no shade on the gravel · Visit at sunset for the best light on Fourvière · Expect heavy crowds during the Fête des Lumières in early December · Use metro A or D to arrive directly
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6
Place des Terreaux and Hôtel de Ville
The monumental square between the Hôtel de Ville and the Palais Saint-Pierre, centred on Bartholdi's fountain of the four horses.
Tip: Come after dark to see the fountain and facades illuminated · Combine with the Musée des Beaux-Arts, which opens onto the square · Terrace prices on the square are higher than in side streets · Use metro A or C to Hôtel de Ville-Louis Pradel · Keep valuables secure in the evening crowds
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7
Musée des Beaux-Arts de Lyon
One of France's major fine-arts museums, set in a 17th-century Benedictine abbey with collections from Egyptian antiquities to Impressionism and modern art.
Tip: Visit on a weekday morning to avoid rainy-day crowds · Plan around the 12:30PM-2:00PM closure of some galleries · The museum is closed on Tuesdays and public holidays · Ticket sales stop at 5:30PM · Reduced tickets and some free admission conditions apply; carry ID
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8
Musée des Confluences
A deconstructivist 'crystal cloud' museum of natural history, anthropology and society at the tip of the Presqu'île where the Rhône and Saône meet.
Tip: Weekday mornings are the quietest time · Lyon City Card holders enter free · Tram T1 stops at the door of the museum · Late opening until 10:00PM on the first Thursday of the month · Budget extra time if adding a temporary exhibition
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9
Les Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse
The covered food market of Lyon with about 50 charcuterie, cheese, seafood and pastry stalls and counters serving oysters, quenelles and Lyon specialities.
Tip: Go on a Saturday morning or a weekday lunch to see the full range of stalls. · Expect to spend roughly €15-30 on a stand-up lunch at a counter. · Most stalls close on Sunday afternoon and Monday, so check before going. · Arrive before noon to find a seat at the popular counters. · Buy cheese, charcuterie and pralines as portable souvenirs.
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10
Parc de la Tête d'Or
Lyon's 117-hectare city park with a lake, rose garden, botanical garden with greenhouses and a free zoo.
Tip: Visit in May or June for the roses · Go on a weekday morning to avoid weekend crowds · Pedal boats, the small train and rides cost extra · Check gate closing times, which differ in summer and winter · Bring a picnic; lawns are open for relaxing
Attractions by category
Explore by your interests.
Landmarks
Basilique Notre-Dame de Fourvière
Hilltop basilica with the best free city view
Place Bellecour
Vast central square with the Louis XIV statue
Place des Terreaux and Hôtel de Ville
Bartholdi fountain and the town hall facade
Fresque des Lyonnais
Mural of about 30 famous Lyon figures
Museums_and_palaces
Musée des Beaux-Arts de Lyon
Fine arts in a former abbey
Musée des Confluences
Science and society museum at the river meeting point
Institut Lumière
Birthplace of cinema
Centre d'Histoire de la Résistance et de la Déportation
Second World War history
Musées Gadagne
History of Lyon and puppetry
Maison des Canuts
Silk-weaving heritage
MAC Lyon
Contemporary art
Musée Cinéma et Miniature
Film props and miniature scenes
Religious_sites
Primatiale Saint-Jean
Gothic cathedral with an astronomical clock
Basilique Saint-Martin d'Ainay
Romanesque abbey church
Roman_heritage
Lugdunum Museum and Roman Theatres
Great Theatre, Odeon and Gallo-Roman museum
Amphithéâtre des Trois Gaules
Roman amphitheatre on the Croix-Rousse slope
Nature_and_views
Parc de la Tête d'Or
Large city park with lake, zoo and botanical garden
Parc des Hauteurs and Jardin du Rosaire
Terraced hillside paths from Fourvière
Jardin Rosa Mir
Mosaic folk-art garden open Saturdays
Markets
Les Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse
Covered food market in Part-Dieu
Historic_districts
Vieux Lyon and the Traboules
UNESCO-listed Renaissance old town
Practical information
What you need to know before you go.
- Hours
- Municipal museums in Lyon are typically closed on Monday or Tuesday (the Beaux-Arts closes Tuesday, Lugdunum Monday); most museums close 1 January, 1 May and 25 December; confirm each site before travelling
- Fees
- Free: Vieux Lyon, Fourvière basilica, Primatiale Saint-Jean, Place Bellecour, Place des Terreaux, Parc de la Tête d'Or (including the zoo), Halles entry, Jardin Rosa Mir. Paid: Musée des Beaux-Arts €8 (about $9 USD), Musée des Confluences €12 (about $13.40 USD), Lugdunum €4 (about $4.50 USD), CHRD €6 (about $6.70 USD), Maison des Canuts rooms €3 (about $3.40 USD)
- Best Times
- April to June and September to October are mild; July and August are hot (often 30C or more); the Fête des Lumières fills the city from 5 to 8 December 2026; the Biennale d'art contemporain runs 19 September-13 December 2026
- Passes
- The Lyon City Card (visiterlyon.com) covers many museums plus public transport for 1 to 4 days; 2024 prices were €29, €39, €49 and €59 (about $32, $44, $55 and $66 USD), and it gives free entry at the Musée des Confluences, so confirm 2026 prices on the tourist office site. The Ville de Lyon Carte Musées costs €25 (about $28 USD) per the Beaux-Arts 2025-2026 price sheet
- Getting Around
- TCL runs 4 metro lines (A, B, C, D), trams T1-T7, buses and two funiculars (F1 to Fourvière, F2 to Saint-Just). A single ticket costs about €2.10 (about $2.35 USD) as of 2025, with a small 2026 increase announced; buy it in the TCL app or at metro machines and validate on every boarding. Vélo'v bike share has 24-hour access with a €4 (about $4.50 USD) day ticket per 2025 rates
- Tourist Info
- Lyon Tourist Office (Office de Tourisme de Lyon), Place Bellecour, 69002 Lyon, website visiterlyon.com
- Closures Note
- The Musée de l'Imprimerie et de la Communication Graphique has been closed since 2 June 2025 for renovation, with reopening announced for spring 2027. The Musée des Tissus et des Arts Décoratifs has been closed since April 2021 but is announced to reopen temporarily from 19 September to 13 December 2026 for the Biennale
- Rates Note
- Prices and hours were checked in October 2026 on official city and museum listings where available; items marked 'about' come from tourism listings that differ and may change. Confirm before visiting
Tips for visiting attractions
Make the most of your sightseeing time.
Group sights by area: Vieux Lyon and Fourvière (cathedral, Gadagne, basilica, Roman theatres), the Presqu'île (Bellecour, Terreaux, Beaux-Arts), Croix-Rousse (Maison des Canuts, Rosa Mir) and Confluence (Musée des Confluences)
Use funicular F1 from Vieux Lyon metro to reach the Fourvière basilica; it takes a standard TCL ticket, so no extra fare is needed
Walk down from Fourvière through the Jardin du Rosaire to Vieux Lyon rather than going up on foot
Respect residents when exploring traboules: stay quiet in the courtyards and leave if a door is closed
Check the museum closing day: the Beaux-Arts closes on Tuesday and the Lugdunum museum on Monday
Bring a hat and water in summer: Lyon regularly passes 30C and the Roman theatres have little shade
Frequently asked questions
How do I get to the Fourvière basilica?
Take metro D to Vieux Lyon-Cathédrale Saint-Jean, then funicular F1 to Fourvière (about 3 minutes, a standard TCL ticket of about €2.10, roughly $2.35 USD). The basilica entry is free. On foot, climb the Montée du Gourguillon or the Jardin du Rosaire in 20 to 30 minutes.
Is Vieux Lyon free to visit?
Yes. The streets, squares and open traboules of Vieux Lyon are free. Paid options are guided traboule tours and museums such as Gadagne and the Musée Cinéma et Miniature.
What are the best museums in Lyon?
The Musée des Beaux-Arts (€8, about $9 USD, closed Tuesday), the Musée des Confluences (€12, about $13.40 USD, closed Monday), the Institut Lumière (about €9) and the CHRD (€6) are the most visited. The Lugdunum museum and Roman theatres cover Roman Lyon.
Does the Lyon City Card pay off?
It can for 2 or more days of museums and transport. The 2024 prices were €29 to €59 for 1 to 4 days (about $32-66 USD); check the 2026 rate at visiterlyon.com and compare with the entry fees you plan to pay.