Plan trips like this one. Open by request.Request access
Photo: Aldg692VX, CC BY-SA 4.0
Destinations / France

Lyon

France's food capital between two rivers

foodhistoryarchitecturecouples
Plan your trip to LyonSee the top 10
522,000Population
2.3 millionMetro area
FrenchLanguage
EURCurrency
3 daysIdeal stay
$170-280Typical day

Lyon is France's gastronomic capital, with Renaissance lanes, Roman ruins and traditional bouchons. It sits where the Rhone and Saone meet. It is easy and less touristy than Paris.

Where to start

Top 10 things to do

Tap a card to open it. Day trips are marked.

  1. Fourviere Basilica stands on a hill above Lyon, with mosaics and views. It is a symbol of the city.

    1 hourTime needed
    FreeCost
    noBook ahead

    Free.

    Tip. Take the funicular up.
    Official siteSee on the map

  2. Vieux Lyon is a Renaissance district with hidden passages called traboules. It is a UNESCO site.

    2 hoursTime needed
    FreeCost
    noBook ahead

    Free.

    Tip. Look for open traboules.
    See on the map

  3. Les Halles Paul Bocuse is a food market. It has cheeses.

    1.5 hoursTime needed
    FreeCost
    noBook ahead

    Free.

    Tip. Go for lunch.
    See on the map

  4. The Roman theaters are on Fourviere hill. They host concerts.

    1 hourTime needed
    FreeCost
    noBook ahead

    Free; museum extra.

    Tip. Free to enter.
    See on the map

  5. The Musee des Confluences is a science museum in a futuristic building. It is at the meeting of rivers.

    2 hoursTime needed
    about $10-15Cost
    noBook ahead

    Entry.

    Tip. Book online.
    Official siteSee on the map

  6. Parc de la Tete d Or is a large park with a zoo. It is free.

    2 hoursTime needed
    FreeCost
    noBook ahead

    Free.

    Tip. Go for a walk.
    See on the map

  7. Croix Rousse is a hill district of silk workers. It has views.

    2 hoursTime needed
    FreeCost
    noBook ahead

    Free.

    Tip. Walk the steps.
    See on the map

  8. The Musee des Beaux Arts is a fine arts museum. It is in an abbey.

    2 hoursTime needed
    about $10-15Cost
    noBook ahead

    Entry.

    Tip. Allow two hours.
    Official siteSee on the map

  9. Place Bellecour is a huge square. It has a statue of Louis XIV.

    30 minutesTime needed
    FreeCost
    noBook ahead

    Free.

    Tip. Good meeting point.
    See on the map

  10. Perouges is a medieval village. It is near Lyon.

    Half a dayTime needed
    FreeCost
    noBook ahead

    Free.

    Tip. About 40 minutes by car.
    See on the map
Map: OpenStreetMap contributors.
TOURSTours and tickets are shown to Hodolog members. Request access
Make it yours

Turn Lyon into your plan

Everything above is open to read. A Hodolog account lets you build the trip around it.

Plan day by dayAdd any place here to a day of your trip, with times and costs.
Bookings from emailForward flight and hotel confirmations. They land in your trip.
Weather for your datesForecast and usual weather for your exact days, in your units.
Share with your peopleInvite family or friends, split costs, keep one plan.
Request access
Hodolog is open by request for now. Each request is reviewed.
Short on time?

Ready-made itineraries

Choose how many days you have.

Lyon in three days

Add Croix Rousse and Perouges.

  1. Vieux Lyon2 hours · Free
  2. Basilica of Notre Dame de Fourviere1 hour · Free
  3. Les Halles Paul Bocuse1.5 hours · Free
  4. Roman theaters of Fourviere1 hour · Free
  5. Musee des Confluences2 hours · about $10-15
  6. Parc de la Tete d Or2 hours · Free
  7. Croix Rousse2 hours · Free
  8. Musee des Beaux Arts2 hours · about $10-15
  9. Place Bellecour30 minutes · Free
  10. PerougesHalf a day · Free
Beyond the city

Day trips

Beaujolais

Wine villages.

25 mi · Car about 45 minutes

Annecy

Alpine lake town.

87 mi · Train about 2 hours

Vienne

Roman ruins and a theatre.

22 mi · Train, about 25 minutes

Pérouges Medieval Village

One of the Most Beautiful Villages in France, featuring preserved fourteenth-century cobblestone alleys, stone ramparts, and sugar galette tarts.

22 mi · Direct TER regional train from Part-Dieu to Meximieux-Pérouges in 25 minutes, followed by a 15-minute uphill walk.

Annecy (Venice of the Alps)

Alpine canal town on turquoise Lake Annecy, featuring the medieval Palais de l'Île prison and mountain views.

87 mi · Direct TER regional train or FlixBus from Lyon Part-Dieu in about 1 hour and 45 minutes.

Plan your dates

Weather and seasons

Best: April to June and September to October. Mild weather and markets.

Busy and priceyShoulderQuiet and cheaper

Temperature

Daily high and average, by month

32°50°68°86°104°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecDaily highAverage

Rain

Typical inches per month

0.00.81.62.43.13.9JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

January

42°F
Typical daily high
Average35°F
Rain2.4 in
About8 rainy days
Sun strength1.3 kWh/m²

Quiet season. Lower prices, fewer crowds.

Climate normals: NASA POWER (public domain). For your own dates, a trip's Plan tab shows the forecast and the usual weather.

Main events

Dec

Fete des Lumieres

December 5 to 8, 2026

Free light installations across the city in the evenings.

Jun

Nuits de Fourvière

June to July

Summer performance festival in the Roman theatres.

Year

Quais du Polar

Spring

Crime fiction festival with authors and events.

Sep

Biennale de Lyon

September to December (alternating contemporary art and dance)

Major international cultural event showcasing contemporary art installations in the former Fagor-Brandt factories.

Going on specific dates? A Hodolog trip shows the forecast and the usual weather for your exact days. Request access
Know before you go

At a glance

4/5
Safety

The US State Department rates France at Level 2 (increased caution) for terrorism and unrest; Lyon is generally safe, with pickpocketing in busy areas.

5/5
Walkability

Compact and walkable.

5/5
Public transport

Metro, trams, funiculars and buses with TCL tickets.

Pick your base

Where to stay

The neighborhoods that suit most first visits.

Map: OpenStreetMap contributors. Shapes where OpenStreetMap has a boundary; dashed circles mark areas it only has a point for.
1234

1. Presqu ile

$$$

Best for: first-timers

Central.

2. Vieux Lyon

$$$

Best for: couples

Old town.

3. Croix Rousse

$$

Best for: foodies

Hill village.

4. Part-Dieu

$$

Best for: budget, rail travellers

Handy for trains and airport transfers.

Getting there and around

Main airportLyon Saint Exupery Airport (LYS), 16 mi from the center
To the centerRhonexpress tram takes about 30 minutes.
Around townWalk and use the metro and funiculars.
Ride appsUber, Bolt, Heetch
Taste it

What to eat

Quenelle

Fish dumpling.

Saucisson brioche

Sausage in brioche.

Praline tart

Pink praline pie.

Salade lyonnaise

Bitter greens with bacon and a poached egg.

Andouillette

A strong tripe sausage for adventurous eaters.

Saucisson de Lyon (Brioché)

Traditional pork sausage seasoned with garlic and wine, baked whole inside a buttery golden brioche loaf.

Tarte aux Pralines

Sweet dessert tart filled with crushed melted pink sugar-coated almonds and cream, baked into a bright pink candy filling.

Good to know

PlugsType C and E, 230 V
Tap waterSafe to drink
TippingService is included; leave small change or up to 5 to 10 percent for great service.
PaymentsCards and contactless are accepted almost everywhere.
EtiquetteGreet with bonjour when entering a shop or restaurant, and take time over meals. Lyon is proud of its food, so lunch is a serious affair.
  • The Rhonexpress tram links Lyon Saint Exupery Airport with the city.
  • Lyon is known for bouchons, traditional restaurants serving local dishes.
  • The Fete des Lumieres in December draws huge crowds; book early.
  • Many shops close on Sundays and some on Monday mornings.
  • Book bouchons early, especially on weekends.
  • Many restaurants close Sunday and Monday.
  • Museums often close on Mondays.
  • Traboules can have restricted access, so respect residents.

A short history

Romans founded Lugdunum in 43 BC as a capital of Gaul. In the Renaissance it was a silk and banking center. The Lumiere brothers invented cinema here in 1895. Its historic center was listed by UNESCO in 1998.

Found your base? Add it to a trip with Hodolog.
Request access

Researched 2026-10-12. Check official sources and recent changes before you go.

Plan Lyon