Best things to do in Lyon, including free and rainy-day options

Pick by weather and by how much walking you want. Times are on-site, not including travel between stops.

Vieux Lyon is the Renaissance quarter on the right bank of the Saône, a UNESCO area of courtyards and covered passages called traboules. Some are open to the public in daylight, others only on a guided walk; look for the discreet plaques and close the door behind you. This is the single best free hour in the city, and it works in light rain because much of it is under arches.

Above it, Fourvière hill holds the basilica, the metal tower and two Roman theatres that still host summer performances. You can ride the funicular from Vieux Lyon or walk up in about 25 minutes; the view over the city is the reward. The theatres and the basilica exterior cost nothing.

Croix-Rousse is the old silk-weaver district, with high ceilings built for looms and a village feel. The Mur des Canuts is a large painted wall on Boulevard des Canuts, free and quick to see; from there, walk down the slopes through stairways and traboules toward the centre. On a clear day this is the best half-day in Lyon.

For green space, Parc de la Tête d'Or has a lake, a free botanical garden and a small zoo. It is flat, shaded and easy with children. Les Halles Paul Bocuse is the covered food market in Part-Dieu; browsing is free, and it is a sensible stop before or after the train station.

The two museums that carry a wet day are Musée des Confluences, the glass building at the river confluence, and the Musée des Beaux-Arts on Place des Terreaux. Both need two hours or more. The Confluence district around the first is a modern architecture walk in its own right.

If you have a third day, the standard add-ons are Pérouges, a medieval village reachable by train and a short walk, and the Beaujolais vineyards by car or organised tour. Both are day trips, not half-days.

Lyon is a mid-priced French city: the sights themselves are cheap, and the money goes on food. Most of the list above is free, and the paid museums sit in a narrow band.

Transport is the other line. A single ticket on the TCL metro, tram and bus network is about €2, and a day pass about €6 (2026 estimate). Buy and validate before boarding; inspectors do fine passengers. A Lyon City Card bundles transport and museum entry, so it only pays off if you will visit three or more paid museums in a day.