Lyon Tours &
Things to Do
Discover the best Lyon tours, Vieux Lyon old town and traboules walks, world-famous bouchon food tours, the Fourvière basilica, Saône river cruises and day trips to the Beaujolais vineyards and Pérouges. Compare top-rated activities and plan your perfect Lyon itinerary.
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Explore Lyon by interest
Whatever brings you to Lyon — world-class museums, the river, or a long lunch — start with the experiences travellers love most.
Vieux Lyon
The Renaissance old town.
ExploreFood & bouchons
France’s gastronomic capital.
ExploreTraboules
Hidden silk-worker passages.
ExploreFourvière Basilica
The hilltop church and views.
ExploreBeaujolais wine
Vineyards and golden-stone villages.
ExplorePérouges & Annecy
A medieval village and Alpine lake.
ExploreRiver cruises
The Saône and Rhône waterfront.
ExploreDay trips
Wine, villages and the Alps.
ExploreTop attractions in Lyon
The landmarks that define the city — and the tickets and tours that get you in, often skipping the line.
Vieux Lyon
The Renaissance old town.
Bouchons & food
France’s gastronomic capital.
Traboules
Hidden silk-worker passages.
Fourvière Basilica
The hilltop church and views.
Beaujolais
Vineyards and golden-stone villages.
Pérouges
A medieval walled village.
Saône river
Cruises along the waterfront.
Les Halles market
The famous Paul Bocuse food hall.
Lyon in 1 day
- 1Vieux Lyon & traboules
- 2Fourvière Basilica
- 3Bouchon lunch
- 4Presqu’île & river
Lyon in 2 days
- 1Day 1: old town & Fourvière
- 2Bouchon dinner
- 3Day 2: Beaujolais wine
- 4Markets & food
Lyon in 3 days
- 1Day 1: old town & Fourvière
- 2Day 2: Beaujolais
- 3Day 3: Pérouges or Annecy
- 4Gastronomy nights
Lyon with kids
- 1Funicular & Fourvière
- 2Traboule treasure hunt
- 3Parc de la Tête d’Or
- 4Sweet treats
45 min awayBeaujolais
Vineyards and golden-stone villages.
45 min awayPérouges
A medieval walled village.
1.5 hrs awayAnnecy
The “Venice of the Alps”.
1 hr awayNorthern Rhône
Syrah vineyards and wine villages.
2 hrs awayThe Alps
Mountain scenery and Chamonix.
30 min awayVienne
A Roman town on the Rhône.
Know before you go
Short, straight answers to the questions every Lyon visitor asks before booking.
The sweet-spot months
Late spring (May–June) and early autumn (September–October) bring mild, pleasant weather — the best times to visit, with autumn ideal for wine country.
Spring (Apr–Jun)
Fresh, blossoming days perfect for the old town and river walks.
Summer (Jul–Aug)
Warm and lively with festivals and terraces, though some bouchons close in August.
Autumn (Sep–Oct)
Golden days and the grape harvest — a wonderful time for the city and Beaujolais.
Winter (Nov–Feb)
Cool and cosy, magical during the spectacular Fête des Lumières light festival in December.
Fête des Lumières
In early December, Lyon’s Festival of Lights illuminates the city with stunning installations — unforgettable but very busy.
One day
Enough for Vieux Lyon, the traboules, Fourvière and a bouchon.
Two days
Add a Beaujolais wine day trip.
Three days
The sweet spot: the city, the vineyards, and Pérouges or Annecy.
Four to five days
Add more wine country, the Alps and deeper Provence.
A week or more
Use Lyon as a base for the Rhône-Alpes region.
Travelling with kids
Mix the funicular, the traboules and the park at a gentle pace.
On foot
Vieux Lyon, the Presqu’île and the riverbanks are compact and best explored on foot.
Metro & funicular
An easy metro, trams and two funiculars up to Fourvière make getting around quick and cheap.
River boats
Sightseeing cruises run along the Saône, a scenic way to see the city from the water.
Bikes
Vélo’v shared bikes and riverside paths make cycling along the Rhône and Saône a pleasure.
Day-trip transport
Tours bundle transport for Beaujolais and Pérouges; fast trains reach Annecy and beyond.
From the airport
Lyon-Saint-Exupéry Airport links to the centre by the Rhônexpress tram in about 30 minutes.
Book food tours ahead
Popular bouchon food tours and cooking classes have limited places — book ahead, especially at weekends.
Most sights are free
Vieux Lyon, the traboules and Fourvière are free to explore; budget mainly for food, wine and museums.
Currency & tipping
France uses the euro; service is included, though rounding up for good service is appreciated.
Lyon City Card
The Lyon City Card covers transport, museums and a river cruise — good value for a busy itinerary.
Eat in a bouchon
For the real Lyon experience, dine in a traditional, certified bouchon — hearty, convivial and authentic.
Mind August closures
Some bouchons and shops close for part of August, so check ahead if visiting then.
Bouchon food tours
Popular food tours and cooking classes fill up — book ahead.
Beaujolais wine trips
Wine day trips have limited places — reserve early.
Traboule tours
Guided traboule and old-town tours fill up — book ahead.
Pérouges & Annecy trips
Day trips fill up at weekends — reserve early.
Fête des Lumières
December’s light festival fills hotels months ahead — plan early.
Autumn weekends
Harvest season weekends are busy — book ahead.
Old town & traboule tours
Around €20–40 for a guided Vieux Lyon and traboules walk.
Food & bouchon tours
Roughly €60–95 for a guided food tour with several tastings.
Beaujolais wine trips
About €60–100 for a half- or full-day wine day trip with tastings.
Village day trips
Around €55–90 for a Pérouges or Annecy day trip.
Cooking classes
Roughly €90–140 for a market and cooking class with a chef.
How to save
Walk the free old town and Fourvière, use the Lyon City Card, and take trains for day trips.
Lyon through the seasons
What's best, how busy it gets, and one booking tip for each time of year.
- Best for
- Fresh, blossoming days for the old town.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- A lovely, comfortable time to explore.
- Best for
- Warm, lively days with terraces and festivals.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Note some bouchons close in August.
- Best for
- Golden days and the grape harvest.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Ideal for Beaujolais wine country.
- Best for
- Cosy days and the Fête des Lumières.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Book early for December’s light festival.