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:
Credit Nuits de Fouvrier
Fourviere’s Roman theatres come to life on June and July evenings with a dazzling variety of events on this festival’s calendar each year. These include top-class theatre, dance and circus acts, plus many famous singers.
Bob Dylan, Björk and the Stone Roses have performed here recently, as well as many fabulous French acts. A few events are held in other venues.
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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.
The easiest way to get to Fourviere’s Roman theatres is via the funicular from near the cathedral down in Vieux Lyon.
Look up the full programme of events on the website as early as you can, as the big-name events sell out fast.
Go to the festival’s website to book tickets directly. Alternatively, tickets can be bought at the festival’s on-site restaurant, La Petite Table des Nuits. It’s open weekday lunchtimes before the festival; every day, lunch and dinner, during the festival.
Crowds are large, but it’s great seeing Roman theatres filled with people. As the Roman theatres are outdoor spaces, keep an eye on the forecast so that you can adapt according to the evening.
The festival runs annually during June and July.
Our writer’s picks of the best places to stay near this experience, closest first
Lyon, Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes, France[0.3 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.
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Lyon, Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes, France[0.6 miles]
Gorgeous convent converted into a calm luxurious retreat, aloof on the Fourviere hillside overlooking Lyon.
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Lyon, Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes, France[0.7 miles]
Uniquely stylish hotel-with-restaurant stretching across several historic houses in the centre of Vieux Lyon. Perfectly located for sightseeing.
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Lyon, Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes, France[1 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.
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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[0.2 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[0.4 miles]
The city’s iconic hilltop basilica, dedicated to the Virgin Mary, is famed for its sweeping panoramas, stained glass windows and bucolic Rosary Garden.
Best for ages: 18+ | Free
Lyon, Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes, France[0.4 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[0.7 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
Other worthwhile experiences near this experience if you have time or interest..
Lyon, Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes, France[0.6 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[0.6 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[0.8 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
Lyon, Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes, France[1.6 miles]
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.
Best for ages: 13+ | Free