26 Best things to see & do in Lyon

One of the world’s great wine regions, set in the beautiful hills west of the Saone just north of Lyon. Tour stunning vineyards and wine villages, tasting wines as you go.

The Fourviere hillside offers panoramic city views, a huge 19th-century basilica, two exceptional Roman theatres, and illuminating insights into Lyon’s Roman past.

Lyon’s fascinating Roman attraction is home to two ancient theatres and a museum filled with artefacts depicting all aspects life in the Roman town of Lugdunum.

The city’s iconic hilltop basilica, dedicated to the Virgin Mary, is famed for its sweeping panoramas, stained glass windows and bucolic Rosary Garden.

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

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 major fine arts museum in a former abbey, housing a vast collection of world-class works from Antiquity to the 21st century.

Theatrical Michelin-star dining experience paying homage to one of France’s culinary legends, chef Paul Bocuse. Pioneer of lighter, more innovative nouvelle cuisine.

Lyon’s pretty promenades along the Rhone and Saone rivers lead past iconic urban landscapes to waterfront cafes and picnics on bucolic beaches. Perfect for leisurely walks and cycle rides.

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

Unravel the history of film, and see where the first film of all time was shot – beside the Lumieres’ villa-turned-cinema museum. Also visit for evocative 19th-century photography.

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.

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.

Top suppliers fill this stunning covered food market, where gourmet ‘corners’ provide ample seating for you to sample the region’s world-class food amid the hustle and bustle.

If time allows, take a day trip to the chocolate-box town of Vienne, just south of Lyon along the Rhone river. It’s famed for its quaint streets and France’s largest Roman theatre, where big-name musicians play in annual summer music festivals.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The city bustle evaporates in this sumptuous park, home to rose and botanical gardens, and a savannah-themed animal park. Strolls or cycle its paths and in summer, go boating on the lake.

A hugely varied night time arts festival in June and July, held in the magnificently atmospheric Fourviere Roman theatres.

Amid the hilly slopes of the former silk-weavers’ quarters, this wonderful daily market (except Mondays) is the locals’ spot for filling up on gourmet treats and taking in the views.

This must-see museum is housed in the former Gestapo HQ, a symbolic setting for an audio guide tour that covers both the horrors of the Jewish genocide and the bravery of the Resistance.

The go-to spot for shopaholics, this covered passage at the foot of Croix-Rousse houses Lyon’s edgiest fashion and interior design boutiques, plus a hand full of arty pop-up stores.

This open-air street-food spot in the modern Confluences area is yet more proof that Lyon’s food hall revolution is well and truly afoot. Sidle up to a counter then tuck in to street food galore.