Lyon 3-day Itinerary
France
Where to go and what to see in Lyon to get the most from your trip – a 3-day itinerary from destination expert and travel writer Anna Brooke.
Bucket list experience:
With Romanesque- and Byzantine-style architecture (earning it the nickname ‘upside-down elephant’), this iconic basilica was built by Pierre Bossan (1872-1874) to thank God for France’s triumph over the socialists during the infamous ‘Communes’.
Atop the Fourviere hillside, its esplanade draws crowds to its sweeping panorama over Lyon. But inside is stunning too: pink granite, blue marble, onyx, silver and gold details that culminate in majestic stained glass windows.
Walk outside to the Rosary Gardens, an oasis of sycamores, larches and roses. Like the basilica, its dedicated to the Virgin Mary who supposedly protected Lyon from the Black Death in 1643.
Look out for the six stained glass windows by George Decote, each dedicated to Mary and depicting her in heaven. The blues and greens are stunning.
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Destination Guide >Recommended itineraries by our writers that include this experience
France
Where to go and what to see in Lyon to get the most from your trip – a 3-day itinerary from destination expert and travel writer Anna Brooke.
It’s a steep climb up to the basilica, so wear good walking shoes or, for extra fun, take the funicular from Vieux Lyon – Cathedrale Saint-Jean metro.
The basilica is free to visit, but you can book tickets for guided tours of the rooftop and/or rosary garden via the website.
The basilica has several eating options, but you’ll get the best views from the Bistro Restaurant, whose terrace offers sweeping vistas over the entire city.
The basilica is open all year round, seven days a week.
The site is very popular, so if you’d like to avoid the crowds, try to arrive first thing in the morning, before 10am, at lunchtime when most people will be dining, or an hour before closing.
Each year on December 8th, when Lyon celebrates its Fete des Lumieres (Light Festival), the basilica illuminates its central Virgin Mary statue atop the bell tower – a sight to behold.
Our writer’s picks of the best places to stay near this experience, closest first
Lyon, Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes, France[0.3 miles]
Gorgeous convent converted into a calm luxurious retreat, aloof on the Fourviere hillside overlooking Lyon.
Official star rating:
Lyon, Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes, France[0.4 miles]
Uniquely stylish hotel-with-restaurant stretching across several historic houses in the centre of Vieux Lyon. Perfectly located for sightseeing.
Official star rating:
Lyon, Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes, France[0.6 miles]
High-end design hotel in a former convent, on the Fourviere hillside, offering chic eateries, including a typical bouchon, plus a spa and an outdoor pool.
Official star rating:
Lyon, Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes, France[0.6 miles]
Playful school-themed hotel in the heart of Vieux Lyon, offering city views, and a terrace bar where nightly light shows illuminate the facade.
Official star rating:
Destination guides including or relevant to this experience
Auberge-Rhone-Alpes, France
The gastronomic capital of France, if not the world, is not just a foodie hotspot. With UNESCO-protected architecture and awe-inspiring Roman ruins, its one for history lovers too..
Our writer’s recommendations of other bucket list experiences our writer says you must do in this destination, closest first
Lyon, Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes, France[0.1 miles]
The Fourviere hillside offers panoramic city views, a huge 19th-century basilica, two exceptional Roman theatres, and illuminating insights into Lyon’s Roman past.
Best for ages: 18+ | Free
Lyon, Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes, France[0.3 miles]
Nestled into the Fourviere hillside, 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.
Best for ages: 13+ | £3
Lyon, Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes, France[0.5 miles]
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.
Best for ages: 18+ | Free
Lyon, Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes, France[1 miles]
A major fine arts museum in a former abbey, housing a vast collection of world-class works from Antiquity to the 21st century.
Best for ages: 18+ | £7
Other worthwhile experiences near this experience if you have time or interest..
Lyon, Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes, France[0.4 miles]
A hugely varied night time arts festival in June and July, held in the magnificently atmospheric Fourviere Roman theatres.
Best for ages: 18+ | £30 | 2 months
Lyon, Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes, France[0.4 miles]
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.
Best for ages: 4+ | £8
Lyon, Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes, France[0.4 miles]
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.
Best for ages: 18+ | Free
Lyon, Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes, France[0.5 miles]
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.
Best for ages: 4+ | £5
Round-ups that include this experience
Multiple countries
The great civilisations of the past have left a legacy of constructions that still stand out and inspire. Built without the wonders of 20th-century technology, many are also monumental feats of engineering; others offer such grace and beauty, that they’ll literally take your breath away.