Things to do in Lyon for self travelers
Enjoy self-guided audio tours with included attraction tickets in one appAll self-guided activities
This self-guided audio walking tour explores the medieval heart of Lyon through the streets, squares, and secret traboules of Vieux Lyon. It will especially appeal to first-time visitors who enjoy history, architecture, local food culture, and the thrill of discovering places tucked just out of sight. The route begins at Cathédrale Saint-Jean-Baptiste, one of Lyon’s great Gothic landmarks, then leads along Rue Saint-Jean and into the district’s most atmospheric corners. Along the way, you will pass Renaissance facades, hidden courtyards, public artworks, and several of the old passageways that make this neighborhood so distinctive, including La Longue Traboule and other classic traboules du Vieux Lyon. From there, the walk continues past traditional bouchon-style restaurants such as Chez Grand-Mère and Aux Trois Maries, then reaches Place du Change, once a center of trade and city life. The tour finishes near the Escalier Basilique de Fourvière and LyonExplorer in the upper part of the old quarter. The most memorable moments include stepping through concealed corridors, standing before the cathedral’s remarkable medieval setting, admiring the character of Vieux Lyon’s stone streets, and feeling the blend of sacred history, everyday life, and culinary tradition that gives this part of Lyon its lasting charm.
Le Hameau Duboeuf is Europe's first wine park, boasting over 3,000 objects related to everyone's favorite fermented grape drink! Explore a spectacular collection spanning more than 2,000 years of winemaking history. Fly over the lush countryside of Beaujolais and the Mâconnais in the 4D cinema, get putting on the mini-golf course, play a game of giant chess, and put the kids on the little train in the garden, all while you indulge in some wine tastings. It's a di-_wine_ time for everyone!
The Aquarium of Lyon is home to tropical species, four kinds of sharks, and fish from the Americas, Europe, and Africa. Keep an eye out for the colorful yellow-masked angelfish, the polka-dotted panther grouper, and prickly porcupinefish. The shark pit is the highlight of any visit. You'll have the chance to see Australian baby sharks along with several other shark species. Plus, all the usual aquarium suspects are there too like clownfish, seahorses, and jellyfish.
Have you ever dreamt about going back in time? Now you have a chance to do it in Lyon! Discover the most splendid historical spots of old Lyon. First, you will see the Cathedral of Saint-Jean, which was started as a Norman or Romanesque-style building and finished in Gothic style. Do you like taking photos? You will have a chance to do it in front of the most photographed facade of the Vieux Lyon — the Lawyers House, which is also one of the top 10 most instagrammable places in the entire city! You will also visit the Place du government, not just one of the most beautiful places in Lyon but a house of a very important Lyonnais family, the Neuville de Villeroy, who ruled the city for a long time. Your trip will continue at the Place du Change — one of the busiest squares with famous restaurants and silk shops (don't forget that Lyon is the city of silk!). Of course, you will see a fascinating Maison du Chamarier, a unique example of a transition between the Gothic and the early premises of Renaissance architecture. During the tour, you will wander through a maze of cobblestoned alleyways and hidden passages called "les traboules" which communicate from one house to another through courtyards without using the streets. They date back to the Renaissance and remind the Roman patio. Already interested? Get ready for your journey in time!
This self-guided audio walking tour introduces Lyon through its grand squares, sacred landmarks, Roman remains, and hidden passageways. It is ideal for first-time visitors who want a clear route and a vivid sense of the city’s layered history, from ancient Lugdunum to the elegant heart of modern Lyon. Your walk begins at Place Bellecour, one of Europe’s largest open pedestrian squares, where the wide paving, the equestrian statue of Louis XIV, and the view toward Fourvière set the scene. From there, the route climbs to the Basilica of Notre Dame of Fourvière, with its pale stone, four corner towers, and sweeping panorama over red roofs and rivers. You then continue to the Ancient Theatre of Fourvière, where curved rows of Roman stone still trace the shape of public life nearly 2,000 years ago. The tour descends into Vieux Lyon for the Gothic and Romanesque Cathedral of Saint-Jean-Baptiste, the secret corridors of La Longue Traboule, and the cobbled streets of one of France’s largest Renaissance districts. It ends at Place des Terreaux and the Bartholdi Fountain, where bronze horses, splashing water, City Hall, and the grand façade of the Museum of Fine Arts create a dramatic finale. Along the way, the most memorable moments include standing above the city from Fourvière, stepping through hidden traboules, and watching Lyon’s past unfold in stone, stained glass, and water.
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About Lyon
The must-see attractions in Lyon for a first visit are:
The best tours to do in Lyon with kids are:
The best indoor tours in Lyon for rainy days are:
Insider tips for visiting Lyon
Travel Communications is a local guide who has been publishing tours since 2022 for your discovery of hidden gems and local specialities of Lyon on their personal guide page (view profile). Explore their expert tips planning trip to Lyon.
When I’m in Lyon with my partner, I always recommend an evening wander through Vieux Lyon and up to Fourvière just before sunset. It’s one of my favorite things to do in Lyon because you get quiet cobbled lanes, hidden traboules, and then that wide view over Lyon as the city lights come on. Afterward, I like slipping back down to the Saône for a riverside drink around Saint-Paul, where locals linger later than visitors expect. If you’re comparing tours in Lyon or planning attractions in Lyon, this gives you a more intimate answer to what to see in Lyon than the usual rushed stops.
When I visit Lyon, I mostly use the TCL network; it’s the easiest way to move between Presqu’île, Vieux Lyon, and Croix-Rousse without wasting time. In any travel guide Lyon section, I always tell people to combine the metro with walking, because Lyon is compact and many of the best things to do in Lyon are tucked into streets cars can’t reach. The funicular from Vieux Lyon up to Fourvière saves your legs and gives a classic local touch. If you plan to visit Lyon for more than a day, I recommend a 24- or 48-hour pass and avoiding driving in central Lyon, where parking is a headache.
When I want a break from central Lyon, I head just beyond Lyon to the Monts d’Or for easy vineyard-and-village walks with views back over the city. For me, the best attractions in Lyon also include what’s nearby: Pérouges for medieval lanes in the early morning, or the northern Beaujolais villages where I can linger over a long lunch without the city pace. If you’re browsing tours in Lyon, I’d still suggest mixing in a half-day by train to Vienne for Roman ruins and a quieter Rhône riverside. It’s a more local answer to what to see in Lyon than staying only in Presqu’île.
When I visit Lyon for food, I usually split my time between Les Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse, the Presqu’île side streets around rue Mercière, and the slopes of Croix-Rousse. If you visit Lyon expecting only classic bouchons, Croix-Rousse is where I’d send you for more interesting small kitchens, natural wine bars, and a livelier local crowd after 8 pm. In any travel guide Lyon tip, I’d also add the Saint-Jean area early in the day, before it gets busy, for traditional specialties. For me, eating well is one of the essential things to do in Lyon, but the smartest move is to balance old-school Lyon with newer spots uphill.
On my first day in Lyon, I’d keep it simple: start in Vieux Lyon early, when the traboules and Renaissance courtyards still feel local, then take the funicular to Fourvière for the full city view. After that, I like crossing down into Presqu’île for lunch and ending in Croix-Rousse, where Lyon feels less polished and more lived-in. For first-timers, these are the core things to do in Lyon because they show the city’s layers in one day. If you’re weighing tours in Lyon or sorting out what to see in Lyon, focus on attractions in Lyon that connect by foot rather than trying to cover everything.
When I’m showing friends Lyon, I usually start with Vieux Lyon for its traboules and morning calm, then move to Presqu’île for cafés, passageways, and that classic Lyon rhythm between the Rhône and Saône. For me, the most rewarding attractions in Lyon are in Croix-Rousse, where silk-workers’ history, stairways, and small food spots make the neighborhood feel less staged. I also like Confluence at the end of the peninsula for a very different side of Lyon, especially around sunset by the water. If you’re sorting out tours in Lyon or deciding what to see in Lyon, these areas give you the clearest sense of the city’s contrasts.
If I could time a trip to Lyon around one event, I’d choose the Fête des Lumières in December, but I’d stay near central Lyon and walk early in the evening before the biggest crowds build. When I visit Lyon in May or June, I also love Nuits Sonores, which brings a more local, creative energy into unusual venues. In any travel guide Lyon advice, I mention the Biennale de la Danse or Biennale d’Art Contemporain too, because they show a different side of Lyon beyond food. If you visit Lyon during these festivals, they easily become some of the most memorable things to do in Lyon.