Tourist Attractions in Lyon

The most interesting and beautiful tourist sites in Lyon

Photos, reviews, descriptions, and links to maps

About Lyon

From the beginning of our era, Lyon played a leading economic and administrative role in the region. Roman emperors were born here, the first Christian churches were built and the largest fairs were held here. Thanks to this rich history, the city is home to ancient amphitheatres and 19th century Baroque mansions.

Lyon is home to many museums of particular value to the whole of France. Local cathedrals have retained the shape of the Early Middle Ages, despite the weight of centuries. The old city neighbourhoods are full of architectural surprises that enthusiastic tourists discover. A walk around Lyon is an unforgettable excursion into two thousand years of history, the delight of local cuisine and, of course, vivid impressions of the true French atmosphere.

Top-25 Tourist Attractions in Lyon

Vieux Lyon

 0/5

The historic quarter at the foot of Fourvière Hill. It was once the site of an ancient settlement of the Gauls. In Old Lyon there is a large number of sights, here are located restaurants of traditional cuisine – bouchons. The main building of the territory occurred in the period of XII-XVI centuries. Old Lyon is a set of three quarters: Saint-Georges, Saint-Jean and Saint-Paul.

La Croix-Rousse

 0/5

A place where weavers moved to live permanently in the 19th century. The name of the neighbourhood comes from the Croix-Rousse hill of the same name. As is known, Lyon from the beginning of the XIX century became the centre of the textile industry of the country, as it was here that the weaving loom was invented. The professional community of workers from the weaving mills grew rapidly and needed more living space, so the weavers settled in Croix-Rousse.

Food Traboule

 4.2/5

2206 reviews

Traboules are a unique feature of Lyon architecture. They are passageways through buildings that connect different streets. Traboules were built in different architectural formats – as covered galleries, alleyways and narrow passageways. Nowadays, these elements of the urban environment have become tourist attractions. Traboules are mainly concentrated in the historic part of Lyon.

Open time

Monday: Closed
Tuesday: 11:45 AM – 2:30 PM, 6:00 – 10:00 PM
Wednesday: 11:45 AM – 2:30 PM, 6:00 – 10:00 PM
Thursday: 11:45 AM – 2:30 PM, 6:00 – 10:00 PM
Friday: 11:45 AM – 2:30 PM, 6:00 – 11:00 PM
Saturday: 11:45 AM – 11:00 PM
Sunday: Closed

Place Bellecour

 4.4/5

23172 reviews

A picturesque square in the centre of Lyon, which has been actively built up since the 17th century. In the 19th century it was the site of Napoleon’s military parades, and today it is one of the busiest places in the city. In the central part of the square there is a monument in honour of the “sun king” Louis XIV, created by sculptor F. Lemo. The brilliant monarch is depicted as a powerful Roman emperor.

Open time

Hôtel de Ville de Lyon

 4.5/5

879 reviews

The town hall was built in the middle of the 17th century to a design by S. Maupin. The façade of the building overlooks the Place de Terreaux, which a few centuries ago was just a dirty town market. Thanks to the construction of the town hall, Terreaux was transformed and became the administrative centre of Lyon. The architecture of the town hall is predominantly Baroque and the interior is decorated with valuable works of art.

Open time

Bartholdi Fountain

 4.5/5

2742 reviews

The sculptural group of the fountain is located on Terro Square. It was designed by sculptor F. Bartholdi, the author of the famous American Statue of Liberty. The master built the fountain for the city of Bordeaux, but the city authorities decided that they did not have enough money to finance the project. As a result, the fountain was sold to Lyon. However, there is a legend that the Lyons simply stole the fountain from Bordeaux.

Open time

Monday: Open 24 hours
Tuesday: Open 24 hours
Wednesday: Open 24 hours
Thursday: Open 24 hours
Friday: Open 24 hours
Saturday: Open 24 hours
Sunday: Open 24 hours

Saint-Jean-Baptiste Cathedral

 4.6/5

12178 reviews

The main temple of the city, erected in the XII-XV centuries. For its construction materials from the ruins of ancient Roman buildings were used. The architecture of the cathedral harmoniously combines Romanesque and Gothic styles. The temple was looted during the French Revolution. It took one century for the authorities to undertake its restoration. The cathedral was restored only at the beginning of the 20th century.

Open time

Monday: Closed
Tuesday: 9:30 AM – 12:00 PM, 2:00 – 6:00 PM
Wednesday: 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM, 2:00 – 6:00 PM
Thursday: 9:30 AM – 12:00 PM, 2:00 – 6:00 PM
Friday: 9:30 AM – 12:00 PM, 2:00 – 6:00 PM
Saturday: 9:30 AM – 12:00 PM, 2:00 – 6:00 PM
Sunday: 2:00 – 6:00 PM

Basilica of Notre Dame of Fourvière

 4.8/5

29579 reviews

A church of the second half of the 19th century, located on the top of Fourvière Hill. It was built on the site of a 12th-century basilica destroyed during the Catholic-Huguenot confrontation. Notre Dame de Fourvière owes its appearance to the events of 1870, when the townspeople prayed for protection for Lyon from the Prussian troops and promised to build a temple if the heavenly powers would condescend to their requests. In the end, the enemy army never reached the city.

Open time

Monday: 7:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Tuesday: 7:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Wednesday: 7:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Thursday: 7:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Friday: 7:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Saturday: 7:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Sunday: 7:00 AM – 8:00 PM

Église Saint-Nizier de Lyon

 4.6/5

1212 reviews

The church is dedicated to St Nicetius, who lived in Lyon as early as the 6th century. The church is located in the neighbourhood of Presquille. It was built in the Early Middle Ages on the ruins of a Roman temple and has been rebuilt many times since. The last major reconstruction took place in the 16th century. The oldest room in the church is the crypt, dating back to the 6th century. It is located in the temple dungeons.

Open time

Monday: 3:00 – 5:00 PM
Tuesday: 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Wednesday: 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Thursday: 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Friday: 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Saturday: 10:00 AM – 6:30 PM
Sunday: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM, 3:30 – 8:00 PM

Saint George Church of Lyon

 4.5/5

775 reviews

The temple adorns the embankment of the Sona River. The church is built in the Gothic style. According to written evidence, it has existed since the IX century, but the modern building was erected later – in the XVI-XVII centuries. The last reconstruction was made in 1844 according to the project of P. Bossan. During the restoration and the addition of new elements, the original medieval appearance of the building was preserved as much as possible.

Open time

Museum of Fine Arts of Lyon

 4.5/5

7206 reviews

The museum is second in cultural importance after the Louvre in Paris, as it has an invaluable collection of works of art from the 15th to 20th centuries. The museum’s holdings include exhibits from Ancient Egypt, Ancient Rome and Greece. Until the XVII century the museum building housed a Benedictine monastery, which was reconstructed by order of Louis XIV. In the nineteenth century, it housed an art school.

Open time

Monday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Tuesday: Closed
Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Thursday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Friday: 10:30 AM – 6:00 PM
Saturday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Sunday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Musée Lumière

 4.5/5

1937 reviews

In Lyon, the Lumière brothers made their first experiments in the field of cinema. The museum, named in honour of the pioneers of cinema, is housed in the former Lumière family workshop. Here the brothers lived, worked and conducted experiments on transferring images to the screen. The museum’s collection includes old films, photographic plates, the first “cinematographic” equipment, as well as the very first films.

Open time

Monday: Closed
Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 6:30 PM
Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 6:30 PM
Thursday: 10:00 AM – 6:30 PM
Friday: 10:00 AM – 6:30 PM
Saturday: 10:00 AM – 6:30 PM
Sunday: 10:00 AM – 6:30 PM

Musée des Confluences

 4.5/5

20779 reviews

A modern natural history museum opened in 2015. The futuristic building, which houses the collection, was erected according to the design of an Austrian architectural firm. Confluence is not only a static exposition, the building also houses many classrooms, a bookshop, workshops and a café. The project cost 185 million euros. The building really turned out to be grandiose and looks like an alien spaceship.

Open time

Monday: Closed
Tuesday: 10:30 AM – 6:30 PM
Wednesday: 10:30 AM – 6:30 PM
Thursday: 10:30 AM – 6:30 PM
Friday: 10:30 AM – 6:30 PM
Saturday: 10:30 AM – 6:30 PM
Sunday: 10:30 AM – 6:30 PM

Musée Cinéma et Miniature

 4.7/5

11183 reviews

The museum collection is housed in an old 16th century mansion – the House of Lawyers. The building is of great historical value and is under UNESCO protection. The exposition is quite original, as it allows you to look behind the scenes of the “factory of dreams” and understand how blockbuster films are created. The museum exhibits miniatures of interiors, buildings, as well as sets that were involved in the shooting of famous films.

Open time

Monday: 10:00 AM – 6:30 PM
Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 6:30 PM
Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 6:30 PM
Thursday: 10:00 AM – 6:30 PM
Friday: 10:00 AM – 6:30 PM
Saturday: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Sunday: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM

Gallo-Roman Museum of Lyon-Fourvière

 4.6/5

5299 reviews

The museum was founded in 1975. It is located on the historic site of Fourvière Hill, where a Gallo-Roman settlement has existed since ancient times. The exhibition consists of archaeological finds from excavations in and around Lyon. By studying the local artefacts, you can get an impression of the daily life of the Gauls and Romans, what religious beliefs prevailed in that era and how people spent their free time.

Open time

Monday: Closed
Tuesday: 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Wednesday: 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Thursday: 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Friday: 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Saturday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Sunday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Théâtre Gallo Romain de Lyon-Fourvière

 4.6/5

5612 reviews

The building belongs to the Ancient Roman era, it was erected in the first century B.C. In the second century after the advent of our era, the theatre was expanded to accommodate up to 10,000 people. Mostly musical comedies were played on stage, as evidenced by the stone wall, which perfectly reflects sound waves and creates a good stereo effect. The theatre was excavated in the 19th century and since the beginning of the 20th century a number of restoration works have been carried out.

Open time

Monday: 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Tuesday: 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Wednesday: 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Thursday: 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Friday: 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Saturday: 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Sunday: 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM

Amphitheater of the Three Gauls

 4.1/5

989 reviews

The ruins of an ancient Roman amphitheatre located on the slopes of Croix-Rousse. During the period of Roman rule, the “Council of the Three Gauls” – the imperial provinces of Belgica, Lugdun Gaul and Aquitaine – met at this site. This event was always accompanied by sumptuous celebrations, games and performances, which took place in the amphitheatre. The scene was discovered as a result of excavations from the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.

Open time

Monday: Open 24 hours
Tuesday: Open 24 hours
Wednesday: Open 24 hours
Thursday: Open 24 hours
Friday: Open 24 hours
Saturday: Open 24 hours
Sunday: Open 24 hours

Hôtel-Dieu de Lyon

 4.5/5

5786 reviews

Architectural monument of the 17th century. The building was originally used as a hotel for visiting clergy, then it was converted into a hospital. It should be noted that the hospital is still functioning. The building is built in classical style and is crowned with a monumental dome. In 2011, the complex was recognised as an architectural monument and the process of removing the existing medical facilities from its boundaries began.

Open time

Monday: 7:30 AM – 1:00 AM
Tuesday: 7:30 AM – 1:00 AM
Wednesday: 7:30 AM – 1:00 AM
Thursday: 7:30 AM – 1:00 AM
Friday: 7:30 AM – 1:00 AM
Saturday: 7:30 AM – 1:00 AM
Sunday: 7:30 AM – 1:00 AM

Opéra National de Lyon

 4.5/5

3119 reviews

Lyon’s opera house, housed in a building built in 1993. The first musical theatre appeared in Lyon in the middle of the 18th century. But, as often happens, the building became dilapidated and was demolished and replaced by a more modern and spacious building. But retaining some historical elements of the 1831 facade. The modern auditorium has a seating capacity of 1,100, which is not very large for Lyon, given its population of half a million.

Open time

Achat/ Vente d'or et d'argent Espace Gold Change Lyon Bellecour

 4.8/5

214 reviews

A splendid Classicist and Baroque building that adorns the space between the central squares of Belcourt and Terreaux. The building was erected in the 19th century at the time of Lyon’s greatest economic prosperity. The grandiose façade consists of many arched windows, columns and decorative elements. The interior is skilfully decorated with sculptures and paintings by skilful artists.

Open time

Monday: 9:30 AM – 7:00 PM
Tuesday: 9:30 AM – 7:00 PM
Wednesday: 9:30 AM – 7:00 PM
Thursday: 9:30 AM – 7:00 PM
Friday: 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed

Metallic tower of Fourvière

 3.8/5

352 reviews

A metal structure erected in the late 19th century in imitation of the Eiffel Tower in Paris. Since the middle of the 20th century, the structure has been used as a TV tower. The height of the structure reaches 85.9 metres, the height above the level of the Sona River is 350 metres, which corresponds to the parameters of the Eiffel Tower. The structure was erected in opposition to the Notre Dame de Fourvière Basilica as a monument of republican architecture.

Open time

Mur des Canuts

 4.7/5

5172 reviews

A street mural decorating the façade of a building on the Croix-Rousse hill. The mural was created in 1986, but since then the image has been significantly enriched. The painting depicts the everyday life of the neighbourhood’s inhabitants, houses, stairs, people, townspeople relaxing on terraces and visiting shops. From afar, the picture seems very realistic, and it is difficult to recognise at first sight where the characters are real and where they are drawn.

Open time

Monday: Open 24 hours
Tuesday: Open 24 hours
Wednesday: Open 24 hours
Thursday: Open 24 hours
Friday: Open 24 hours
Saturday: Open 24 hours
Sunday: Open 24 hours

Fresque des Lyonnais

 4.6/5

5565 reviews

A unique fresco depicting events from the history of France. The mural was created in the 90s of the XX century. In the centre of attention are famous personalities who left a trace in the history of the country, artists and even book characters. On the mural you can see A. de Saint-Exupéry, the Lumière brothers, P. Bocuse, Emperor Claudius and other historical figures. The mural is very skilful and creates the effect of a picture that comes to life.

Open time

Monday: Open 24 hours
Tuesday: Open 24 hours
Wednesday: Open 24 hours
Thursday: Open 24 hours
Friday: Open 24 hours
Saturday: Open 24 hours
Sunday: Open 24 hours

Parc de la Tête d'Or

 4.6/5

54285 reviews

An urban park in the northern part of Lyon, considered the largest in France. It has a zoo, botanical gardens, rose gardens, spaces for cycling and sports. There are also artificial reservoirs where you can take a boat ride. The park was established in the mid-19th century on land once owned by the aristocratic Lambert family.

Open time

Monday: 6:30 AM – 8:30 PM
Tuesday: 6:30 AM – 8:30 PM
Wednesday: 6:30 AM – 8:30 PM
Thursday: 6:30 AM – 8:30 PM
Friday: 6:30 AM – 8:30 PM
Saturday: 6:30 AM – 8:30 PM
Sunday: 6:30 AM – 8:30 PM

Celebration of Light

An annual festival of lights that takes place in Lyon in December and lasts for 3 consecutive nights. The history of the festival dates back to the 17th century, when grateful citizens praised the Virgin Mary for ridding the city of the plague and lit lights on the streets in her honour. During the festival, spectators are shown fanciful light installations. During this time, about 4 million tourists from different countries and France itself come to Lyon.