Top 10 Things to Do in Lyon, France

Lyon

France's third-largest city, Lyon does not immediately spring to mind as a top destination for a European city break. We chose it because we had a free night to use in an InterContinental hotel and we were intrigued by the historic setting of Hotel Dieu on the banks of the Rhone. We also had friends who spoke highly of the capital of gastronomy in central France. Join us as we explore Lyon and discover that it has more to offer than we expected.

Lyon

Top 10 Things to Do

Here are our top 10 things to do in Lyon, followed by a note on how to get around and where to stay.

1. Get Your Bearings in Presqu'ile
2. Take a Walk Around Vieux Lyon
3. Go Inside Cathedrale Saint Jean Baptiste
4. Wander Through Some Traboules
5. Sample Lyonnaise Cuisine
6. See Fourviere
7. Explore the Roman Theatres
8. Take a Boat Trip
9. Visit the Resistance and Deportation History Center
10. Have a Drink in Le Dome

1. Get Your Bearings in Presqu'ile

Presqu'ile, roughly translated as 'almost island', was once a swampy area between the River Rhone and the River Saone. In the 18th Century, the area was drained. It became a peninsula between the rivers and was linked to other parts of Lyon. Presqu'ile is at the heart of the city. Several squares are worth a visit.

Place Bellecour

Head to Place Bellecour to find the Tourist Office, a useful source of information. The open square at the heart of Lyon is the largest pedestrian square in France. All distances in Lyon are measured from here. Several of Lyon's shopping streets start from Place Bellecour.

Place Bellecour with Fourviere in the background.

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Place des Terreaux

Roughly translated as 'site of soils', due to being built on a muddy flat, Place des Terreaux is less than half a mile north of Place Bellecour. It is home to the Hotel de Ville (City Hall) on its east side, and the Musee des Beaux-Arts (Fine Arts Museum) on its south.

Hotel de Ville on Place des Terreaux, Lyon.

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Fontaine Bartholdi

Place des Terreaux is also the site of Fontaine Bartholdi. The designer of the Statue of Liberty, Frederic Auguste Bartholdi, originally designed the fountain for the city of Bordeaux. Judged to be too expensive, it was sold to Lyon and installed in the Place des Terreaux. The lady sitting on the chariot is France and the four horses represent the four main French rivers.

Place des Jacobins

Place des Jacobins is a pretty square, located around 270 yards northeast of Place Bellecour, at the intersection of 12 streets. It too has a fountain. This one depicts four local artists. The square takes its name from a former Jacobin convent on the site which was destroyed in 1808.

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Place Antonin Poncet

Place Antonin Poncet runs from Place Bellecour in the west to the bank of the River Rhone in the east. Its rectangular form has a modern feel, having been most recently landscaped in 1990. The bell tower is the last remnant of Hopital de la Charite, in its time the second largest hospital in Lyon after Hotel-Dieu. Antonin Poncet was a doctor, who worked at Hotel Dieu.

Place des Celestins

Place des Celestins is around 240 yards north of Place Bellecour. Its name comes from the order of the Celestines who had a monastery here until 1778. The monastery was replaced by a theatre and housing on the square. Theatrical productions have taken place on this site for over 200 years. Theatre des Celestins is now the municipal theatre of Lyon.

Place des Cordeliers

Over 900 yards northeast of Place Bellecour, Place des Cordeliers takes its name from a former convent of the Cordeliers on this site. One of the most striking buildings is the Palais de la Bourse to the north. Dating from 1860, it houses the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Lyon. A statue in front of the building personifies the Rivers Rhone and Saone.

Palais de la Bourse, Lyon.

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Presqu'ile, Lyon

2. Take a Walk Around Vieux Lyon

Several bridges cross the River Saone linking Presqu'ile with Vieux Lyon to the west. Old Lyon, to give it its literal translation, occupies the sloping area between the river and Fourviere on top of the hill. With its network of narrow cobbled streets and Renaissance buildings, Vieux Lyon was the first designated national cultural site in France. The easiest way to explore the area is on foot. Along with other visitors, you will likely be entertained by musicians playing in the vibrant streets.

Cathedrale Saint Jean Baptiste is over 500 years old and worthy of a section of its own. Several museums are located in Vieux Lyon, including the Lyon History Museum (Gadagne Musee), the Puppetry Museum (Le Petit Musee de Guignol), and the Cinema Miniatures Museum (Musee Miniature et Cinema). On the banks of the River Saone, the neo-classical Palais de Justice is a striking sight with its 24 columns. The current building dates from 1847.