Our most recommended things to do in Lyon

Lyon City Hop-on Hop-off Sightseeing Bus Tour

1. Lyon City Hop-on Hop-off Sightseeing Bus Tour

Choose a 1-day ticket for this Lyon hop-on hop-off sightseeing bus tour and discover the city’s landmarks and monuments. With 12 stops on the Green Line, you’ll be able to fully enjoy the sights of Lyon from an open-top double-decker bus. Hop on and hop off as many times as you like as you see the main attractions of the city, such as the Basilica of Notre Dame de Fourvière, the district of Vieux Lyon, the Halles Paul Bocuse with local products, or the Parc Tête d’Or to admire the most beautiful roses. Organize your itinerary any way you like at your own pace. The Green Line offers a 1-day ticket for the hop-on-hop-off bus. Green line stops: • Place Bellecour • Terreaux • Mur Peint • Palais de Justice • Vieux Lyon • Perrache • Musée des Confluences • Berges du Rhône • Théâtres Gallo-Romains • Fourvière • Parc des Hauteurs

Lyon: Guided Sightseeing Cruise

2. Lyon: Guided Sightseeing Cruise

Journey through more than 2,000 years of history on a river cruise of Lyon, and discover the rich heritage of the multifaceted city where ancient and contemporary treasures combine. Board the pleasure boat for an in-depth tour of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, and admire symbolic monuments from another perspective as you are carried along the Saone River for 1 hour. See the Renaissance buildings of Vieux Lyon, the focus of political and religious power in the Middle Ages. Admire the bold architecture and learn about exceptional moments that have shaped the city's destiny. Listen to an informative commentary of Lyon through the centuries from your guide. 

Lyon: Musée de l’illusion Entrance Ticket

3. Lyon: Musée de l’illusion Entrance Ticket

Explore the Museum of Illusions in Lyon with an entrance ticket. Immerse yourself into the fascinating world of illusions while engaging with the exhibits. Enjoy a visual treat of sensory illusions, holograms, puzzles, and more. You will discover the science behind illusions through various visual information. Click photographs in the rooms as you appear to be floating in mid-air, standing upside down, or shrinking in size. Take a tour of this Instagram-worthy place with your friends and family at your own pace. 

Lyon: Secret Food Tour

4. Lyon: Secret Food Tour

Explore one of Lyon's most beloved traditions, food, and find out why the city has been considered the world capital of gastronomy since 1935. Feast on a traditional breakfast, pastry, hot dish, cheese, and a secret dish that you can only discover on this tour while savoring lovely local wines. After setting off from the meeting point in Vieux Lyon, make your first stop at the most authentic delicatessen in the city to experience a traditional Lyonnaise breakfast. Next, cross the Saône River to sample a delicious local pastry. Continue your tour through the Presqu'île district, Lyon's city center, and see amazing monuments, statues, and fountains along the way. Try a traditional and authentic hot dish, which varies from tour to tour, before moving on to a local cheese tasting inside a historical monument. Finally, delight in a secret dish that your guide will only reveal to you at the end of your tour. During your food journey, you will sample some of Lyon's most traditional flavors and gain a better understanding of French culture and history, as well as how to live like a local. 

Golden Stones Beaujolais Wine Tasting Trip from Lyon

5. Golden Stones Beaujolais Wine Tasting Trip from Lyon

Escape to Lyon’s famous wine country on a half-day tour to Southern Beaujolais and enjoy the wonders of this region, in a small group. Famous for its Beaujolais Nouveau, the region offers also unique and charming little golden stone villages. Leaving from Lyon, your passionate driver and guide will take you through the hills of this wonderful region, which is often compared to Tuscany. Start the day with an introduction to wine-tasting in a beautiful and scenic setting, where you will be told all about the notion of 'Terroir'. Then, enjoy a stroll in the charming golden stones medieval village of Oingt and learn more about the history of Beaujolais. Continue in a family winery to discover more wines and learn all about the secret of French wine-making while having the traditional 'machon', the silk workers breakfast. This tour is the perfect opportunity to learn all about the Beaujolais region and it’s wines in a fun and friendly atmosphere with scenic views all along.

Lyon: Guided Evening Food Tour

6. Lyon: Guided Evening Food Tour

You’ll discover Lyon food and drinks as a local. If you’re interested in an authentic experience where all your senses are solicited, you found the right spot! Lyon is one of the most beautiful cities in France. It has a very long history that started with the Romans and it can boast a variety of influences, as it has always represented a trade hotspot between the south and the north, between Italy and France. The most famous event in Lyon is the light festival, which is famous all around the world; we also have an international food fair and gastronomy contest, every 2 years in January, but it’s a great city to visit and to live during the whole year. The people of Lyon love their food and gastronomy, from the traditional recipes to the modern influences. It has been called the "World Capital of Gastronomy" in 1935 and we will show you why! Our Food Tour will introduce you to typical Lyon food as well as regional beer, while discovering the centre of the city. You will also learn all the secret tips you could desire from your local guide!

Lyon 2.5-Hour Dinner Cruise

7. Lyon 2.5-Hour Dinner Cruise

Take a break from the city streets and board the Hermès restaurant boat for a 2.5-hour cruise. Indulge in a 3-course gourmet meal as you discover Lyon's majestic landscapes and listen to the informative commentary. You'll be served a 3-course meal with several choices from the menu. Because the local partner cooks with exclusively fresh, local, and seasonal products, the menu is constantly evolving.

Lyon: The Grand Tour by Bike

8. Lyon: The Grand Tour by Bike

Discover Lyon, a city known for the diversity of its landscapes, including the confluence of the Saône and Rhône rivers. You'll start your visit at the famous Terreaux square. You'll then ride along the banks of the Rhône to discover the superb golden head park d'or, 117 hectares in size. Here, you'll discover the secret behind this intriguing name. You'll then take mode doux tunnel that crosses the entire Croix Rousse hill, and follow the banks of the Saône to admire Vieux Lyon, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Pedal on to the Confluence district, Lyon's modern quarter, past buildings that bear witness to the city's industrial past. Ride effortlessly through Lyon on an easy-to-handle city bike. This means of transport allows you to discover most of the city's highlights in just 3 hours. Return home with your eyes full of memories: the confluence of the two rivers, Vieux Lyon, the Saône and its Italian style, Croix-Rousse hill and the history of silk, the banks of the Rhône and much more.

Lyon City Pass: Public Transport & More Than 40 Attractions

9. Lyon City Pass: Public Transport & More Than 40 Attractions

With the Lyon City Card, the gates to France's second-biggest city are open! Save time and money while discovering its secret alleyways and magnificent museums. Visit 25 museums for free with your Lyon City Card, and make the most of 48 things to do and 25 discounts which cover the whole of Lyon's cultural offerings. You'll also get complimentary access to Lyon's public transport, as well as access to bike tours, visits to the Fine Art Museum, river cruises, and much more. Have fun! Museums and temporary exhibitions : • Priority access to Musée des Confluences • Fine Arts Museum of Lyon • OL Museum (football team) • Gadagne Museums: history of Lyon and puppets of the world • Modern Art Museum (open only for temporary exhibitions) • Contemporary Art Institute (only open for exhibitions) • Museum of Lugdunum • Museum of Textile ( renovation till 2026) • Lumière Museum • Fourvière Museum of Religious Art • Printing Museum • Center for the History of the Resistance and Deportation • Little Guignol Museum • Museum of Cinema and Miniature • Tony Garnier Urban Museum • Museum of Henri Malartre’s Automobile • Gallo Roman Museum of St Roman en Gal • Ampère Museum Electricity • La Sucrière at pôle Confluence (open only for temporary exhibitions) • Doctor Mérieux Museum Marcy l’Étoile • Eccly - Espace Culturel du Christianisme à Lyon • Cultural Judaïsme Institute • Museum of firefighters of Lyon Rhône •Aircraft Museum Clément Ader Visits and activities (depending on availabilities – check for times): • Guided walking tours by the Greater Tourism Office (reservation necessary) • A visit to the roof of the basilica of Fourvière (April-November) • Cruises on the Rhône and Saône Riviers with Lyon City Boat (April-October) • House of Canuts • Silk Museum (Soierie vivante) • Mini World priority access Shows (limited number of spots, reservation advised): • Guignol Theater in Lyon • Compagnie des Zonzons (Guignol) • House of Guignol • Guignol theater Grand Hotel Dieu • Un Gone de Lyon (Guignol) • Planetarium Public transportation included: The liberty offer gives you access to Lyon’s bus, metro, funicular railway, and tramway networks. Valid for24h, 48h, 72h or 96 hours, depending on the validity of your card. Discounts with Lyon City Card: • Shows: National Opera of Lyon (except end of year shows), Célestins’theatre, Lyon’s theatre, theatre of Nouvelle Génération, Théâtre National Populaire, Maison de la danse, Comedie Odeon, Improvidence theatre. • Visits – tours: Cyclopolitains (tours by bike), guided bus tours, biked guided tours by Lyon City Bike, Lyon le Grand Tour, Fourvière France Aventures, Aquarium du Grand Lyon, Segway Tours, Léo & Go cars location service, babysitting Marypop, Coddy Games urban escape game, Restaurant boat Hermès • Option: Vélo’v (rent a bike ). • Shopping • Galeries Lafayette Part Dieu: Services privileges: personalised welcome in a private lounge, assistance from a personal shopper, tote bag offeredReservations possible on 04 72 61 44 42 12% duty-free / Free delivery in Lyon • Printemps: Welcome champagne in the private area and privileged support by a personal shopper • Confluence Leisure Center: Special offers at 32 stores and round trip with the cruise ship • Hard Rock Coffee shop: -10% purchase of 40 euros or more and Onlylyon Hard Rock pin offered • The Village: One-day VIP pass offering VIP lounge reception, skip-the-line and welcome gift with preferential rate on private transport

Lyon: Hop-On Hop-Off City Cruise

10. Lyon: Hop-On Hop-Off City Cruise

The Vaporetto is the Lyon bus boat that allows you to get around while discovering Lyon over the water! This soft, ecological and unusual means of transport will take you to the city center, to the Old Town or to Vaise or Confluence! Opt for the boat to stroll through the alleys of Old Lyon, admire the basilica of Fourvière, contemplate the slopes of the Croix-Rousse. You will be amazed by the colorful facades and you will appreciate the new district of Confluence, also ideal for shopping! 4 stations: Confluence station: opposite the Confluence shopping center Bellecour station: 11 quai des celestins 69002 lyon Station St. Paul: 16 Quai de Bondy Lyon 05 Station Vaise: 9 Quai Arloing Lyon 09 One-way ticket: €5 1-way child ticket from 5 to 12 years old: 3€ Free: - 5 years Terms and conditions : Arrive 15 minutes before boarding time Obligatory presentation of the pass No refund if the client has not used all of his trips or has missed the boat Reimbursement only in case of navigation stoppage Cancellation free of charge 24 hours before Indoor & outdoor seating Boat heated in winter Annual closing in January and February

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Lyon
Founded by the Romans, this French city combines UNESCO-listed districts, gourmet food, and lively nightlife.

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What people are saying about Lyon

Overall rating

4.5 / 5

based on 4,747 reviews

Michel was our rider and guide. Really nice person who was punctual, informative and interesting. We viewed many historical and relevant sites, given recommendations on the funicular, eating and shopping. Well worth the money

It was a “magnifique” experience, we are from Mexico. We chose the English tour but Rafael tried to speak some words in Spanish for my mom in the tour :)

We enjoyed our time with Baptiste. The food was great. The stops were very interesting. We got to taste a little of what beautiful Lyon has to offer.

This was fun and we were able to go at our own pace and enjoy the town. We saw lots of Lyon we would potentially have missed

I was positively surprised by this museum. Very interesting