26 Best things to see & do in Lyon

Our summary of the typical foods, ingredients and flavours, cooking styles, dining scene and best foodie experiences in Lyon.

Lyon is an open-air gallery with over 100 murals depicting the city’s history, from famous Lyonnais people like Paul Bocuse to its colourful past as a silk-weaving centre.

Lyon’s four-day Fete des Lumieres celebration sees the city sparkle with installations ranging from quirky light sculptures in the street to theatrical shows projected onto the most iconic monuments.

The Beaujolais wine harvest festival (every 3rd Thursday in November) brings boozy and foodie events to cafes, restaurants and wineries all around Lyon, with some celebrations spilling into the street.

Boat tours on the Saone and Rhone rivers offer a serene, effortless way to appreciate Lyon’s glorious riverbanks and architecture.

Set along the River Saone, this is city’s most picturesque market and the place where both locals and chefs come to hand-pick their fresh ingredients.

Henri IV married Marie de Medicis in this stunning medieval cathedral, famed for its 16th-century astronomical clock and one the world’s largest 17th-century bells, rung up to 15 times a year.

Lyon’s historic and most beautiful quarter, notably filled with fine 16th-century French Renaissance mansions. An insight into how the city thrived in the Renaissance.

A must for film buffs: Artist Dan Ohlmann showcases 120 miniature scenes and hundreds of film props to reveal the way special effects are made in the world’s leading film studios.

Housed in Vieux Lyon’s grandest mansion, this small museum is actually two museums: the Museum of Lyon History, which traces the history of the city since medieval times, and the World Puppet Museum, with over 2,000 puppets collected over centuries.