Top Lyon Art & Culture in 2026

Discover the rich history and unique charm of Lyon on a walking tour through the elegant Presqu’île district and the historic streets of Vieux Lyon. Known as the gastronomic capital of France and a UNESCO World Heritage city, Lyon offers visitors a fascinating blend of Roman origins, Renaissance architecture, and vibrant local culture. Your experience begins at the iconic Place Bellecour, one of the largest pedestrian squares in Europe and the symbolic heart of the city. Surrounded by elegant buildings and lively streets, this historic square provides the perfect introduction to Lyon’s past and present. From here, your guide will introduce the city’s fascinating story, from its beginnings as a Roman settlement to its development as one of Europe’s most important commercial hubs.

Discover the charm of Lyon with a local touch on this interactive city tour led by Canadian guide Ryan. Join a 2-hour tour to see Lyon's top 10 sites. Learn about Lyon's rich history from Roman times to its role in WWII, making it perfect for history buffs and casual visitors alike. Navigate the city's picturesque streets, secret traboules, and vibrant squares while also getting insider tips on local restaurants (called "bouchons" by locals). - 2-hour tour (max 18 guests) featuring 10 city highlights - Explore famous landmarks like the traboule Renaissance passages, Vieux (Old) Lyon, and Place Bellecour - Learn about Lyon's famous "bouchon" restaurants with lots of recommendations provided by your local guide(s) - Suitable for all ages and physical abilities

Lyon flies more under the tourist radar than it should—with UNESCO sites aplenty, 2,000 years of visible architecture, and some of the country’s best foodie experiences, the city’s one world-class adventure. You’ll learn about and see all the best spots on this walking tour, your local guide leading the way from the neighborhood of Croix-Rousse to the famous Vieux Lyon.

Most travelers think they’ve seen Lyon after walking through Vieux Lyon or tasting a bouchon meal. But what if I told you that the true charm of the city hides behind quiet courtyards, secret passages, and stories whispered through its cobblestone streets? Lyon reveals itself slowly and only to those who know where to look. Without a local guide, it’s easy to miss the city’s heartbeat. You might admire the Renaissance façades but overlook the hidden traboules. Lyon isn’t just about what you see, it’s about what you feel, and exploring alone means missing the warmth and rhythm of its everyday life. That’s why this Walking Tour in Lyon makes all the difference. Your local guide adapts to your curiosity, leading you through iconic sights and secret corners only locals know. Together, you’ll uncover Lyon’s beauty, history, the one most travelers never find.

Visit the streets of old Lyon by bicycle taxi and admire the historical monuments that abound. A fun alternative to being cooped up in a coach, the bike taxi offers an unobstructed view and an eco-friendly solution. Book a bike taxi for two adults and a child under six and, if you want a longer excursion, upgrade to also include the Presqu'île and the banks of the Rhône River.

Lyon’s old town is riddled with secret passageways and history. This immersive, guided walking tour begins at the Saint-Jean-Baptiste Cathedral and takes you through the traboules (covered passageways used by silk workers to transport fabrics), to present-day silk workshops, and the Museum of Cinema and Miniatures, before finishing up at the Grand Hotel Dieu, formerly the city hospital, now a luxury hotel and shopping complex.

You’re looking for a fun way to explore the city at your own pace? Then, this city-exploration game is made for you! You’ll entertain all your group with interesting questions, while still teaching them fun facts about the city. Your mission (should you choose to accept it): Jackson Wilde, the famous city-explorer, needs your help… Help him solve quizzes to gather as many points as possible. With this activity, you will be guided through the 10 following locations: Fresque des Lyonnais, Place des Terreaux, Opera, Palais de la Bourse, Jacobins Fountain, Courthouse Footbridge, Cathedral, Longue Traboule, Ancient Theatre, and Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière. Download the app on Android or iOS (or access it directly through your browser) to get access to a fun mission, multiple quizzes, as well as city guides about each monument. So, are you ready to explore Lyon?

Delve into Lyon's rich culinary and cultural heritage on this delightful pastry tour. Visit 4 renowned bakeries and pâtisseries to sample iconic treats like pink pralines brioche, all while wandering through the historic streets of Vieux Lyon, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Learn about Lyon’s silk-making history and discover hidden traboules, the city's secret passageways that tell tales of craftsmanship and resistance. This tour is perfect for food lovers and cultural enthusiasts eager for an authentic experience. - Taste a variety of local specialties at six unique bakeries - Explore the UNESCO-listed Vieux Lyon, rich in Renaissance history - Discover Lyon’s hidden traboules, once vital for silk workers - Ideal for food lovers and culture seekers in a relaxed walking pace Please note: Tastings are provided by independent local bakeries and food vendors, and Best Tours cannot guarantee the absence of allergens or be held liable for allergic reactions or dietary-related issues.

Take off from Lyon and make your way to the beautiful southern Beaujolais region. First, journey into a vaulted cellar for an introduction to wine tasting with two distinct wines and a local pastry. Then, pass by the 12th-century village, Oingt, to see its medieval monuments, and end your tour at a winemaker’s estate with more tastings.

Enjoy a private, fully personalized sightseeing ride from Lyon to the beautifully preserved medieval village of Pérouges. Travel in comfort with an English-speaking Welcome Driver who adapts the experience to your pace, allowing you to choose how long to explore and where to stop for photos. Your friendly local driver shares insights, stories, and recommendations along the scenic countryside journey while ensuring a smooth, stress-free experience. Arrive just outside Pérouges’ fortified walls and step into a charming world of cobbled streets, stone houses, and timeless architecture. Explore artisan shops, admire historic facades, or relax in the village’s peaceful central square at your leisure. With convenient door-to-door service and no need to worry about transport or parking, this private day trip offers a relaxed and seamless way to discover one of France’s most photogenic villages before returning comfortably to Lyon.

We will start by discovering the emblematic places of Poitiers, passing in front of the church of Sainte Radegonde and its mysterious princess, the place Leclerc or the Saint-Pierre Cathedral. I will then guide you through the secret streets of Poitiers where you will discover unsuspected private mansions, but also alleys full of history. This active walk will be enhanced with explanations on the exceptional urban planning of the city, but also with little-known anecdotes. Together, we will slip into the mazes of history and above all, the mystery that surrounds the walls of our beautiful city.

Is it your first time in Lyon, or are you short on time? This tour is designed for you. In just a few hours, you’ll explore the essential highlights of the city while truly understanding what makes Lyon unique. From Roman ruins to Renaissance streets, from silk workers to hidden passageways, this experience connects the dots between history, culture, and everyday life. But this is not just a list of monuments. This tour is built around storytelling—bringing the city to life through engaging explanations, local insights, and plenty of fun facts along the way. You’ll walk through traboules, discover the world of the Canuts, learn about Lyon’s gastronomy, and experience the city from a local perspective. Perfect for first-time visitors, this experience gives you both a complete overview and the confidence to explore Lyon on your own afterwards. If you want to understand Lyon—not just see it—this tour is for you.

Go one step further than tasting Lyon’s famous cuisine and learn the city’s culinary secrets from a French chef. Get hands-on in the kitchen—and at the local market—during this small-group cooking class, as you take part in every step, from selecting the fresh ingredients to plating up your 4-course homemade lunch. Create a variety of dishes, including regional specialties and an indulgent dessert.

The perfect introduction to France’s history-filled city, this hop-on hop-off tour of Lyon makes stops at several attractions. Enrich your visit with audio commentary in multiple languages as you listen to anecdotes about the city, its people, and its heritage. Your pass is valid for the whole day, so you can get down—and back on—as many times as you’d like.

Real Private Tour: This visit is 100% private – only you and your group, without strangers, rigid routes or imposed rhythms. Access to traboules normally closed to the public: Explore historic passageways in Vieux Lyon and Croix-Rousse that are often closed to independent visitors, accompanied by a certified local guide. Living history: Discover the role of silk workers, the Canuts, and the French Resistance during World War II through the places that marked Lyon’s history. Flexible route: The tour suits your interests: architecture, medieval history, local life or UNESCO heritage. Local expert guide: Tour conducted by a licensed professional guide, specializing in private and cultural experiences in Lyon. With more than 500 traboules in the city, this tour selects some of the most emblematic and least known.

This small-group e-bike tour shows you the best of Lyon and lets you cover more ground in less time than walking would. Hop on your bike and cruise past the old city center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the famous Fresque des Lyonnais (a celebrated mural), the gardens of the Musée des Confluences, the Saône river, and more. Your local guide has tales to entertain and educate you as you pedal.

Glide around Lyon’s UNESCO-listed historic center on an easy-to-use electric bike with this 2-hour guided bike tour. Cruise along the banks of the Rhône and Saône rivers, pedal around the lush Tête D’Or Park. Stop along the way to admire landmarks like Lyon Cathedral, stroll around bustling Bellecour square and discover little known monuments and local haunts.

Lyon is known for its historic neighborhoods and award-winning gastronomy—this tour covers both in a single morning. Explore the atmospheric squares and traboules (covered passageways) of Old Lyon and the Peninsula with a Local Guide. Along the way, make photo stops at Lyon’s most memorable monuments and enjoy gourmet food-tasting breaks at five local establishments. Visit foodie spots that only locals know about, and sample a variety of delicious regional specialties.

Explore Lyon's profound World War II narrative, where every street and square whispers stories of courage and resistance. The city stands as a living monument to human dignity, transforming historical trauma into a powerful testament of hope. From the secret stairways of Cour des Voraces to the silent tributes like Le Veilleur de Pierre, Lyon reveals layers of heroism hidden within its urban landscape. Walk Rue Victor-Hugo and Place Bellecour, where ordinary citizens became extraordinary resistance fighters. Visit the CHRD Lyon to delve into the raw, unfiltered stories of those who defied Nazi occupation. Saint-Nizier Church and Hôtel de Ville bear witness to Lyon's unbreakable spirit, while murals and historic sites transform urban spaces into powerful historical narratives. Each location is a chapter in a remarkable story of human resilience where art, heritage, and imagination intersect to honor those who fought for freedom against overwhelming odds.

Pedal through 2,000 years of history on this 2.5-hour guided bike tour of Lyon's Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Start at the Grand Hôtel-Dieu, a 12th-century hospital turned hotel, before catching sight of the Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière watching over the city from its hilltop. Climb into La Croix-Rousse, the steep, silk-weaving district where traboules once let workers move fabric through the rain, then stop at a mural tracing two millennia of Lyon's history. Freewheel down to Place des Terreaux and its Bartholdi Fountain, past the Palais de Justice on the Saône, and into the Cathédrale Saint-Jean-Baptiste, where a 14th-century clock still marks the hour. Cross Place Bellecour, one of Europe's largest pedestrian squares, before finishing at La Confluence, where the Rhône and Saône meet. Ride a comfortable Dutch-style bike or upgrade to an e-bike, in a small group with a local guide who knows the city's history, food and stories better than any guidebook.

Explore a unique workshop in Lyon where silk is still hand printed. This exceptional know-how has been passed down from generation to generation in respect of the Lyon tradition. During this immersive tour, discover the secrets of manufacture, from the steps of color preparation, installation of fabrics to live demonstrations of iconic Impression techniques: Impression à la frame known as "Lyonnaise", Impression à la plank and hand painting on silk velvet. This experience will allow you to appreciate the silk heritage in Lyon and the exceptional craftsmanship.

Finding your way in France’s third-largest city can be a challenge for first-time visitors to Lyon, and many of its historic landmarks and “traboules” (covered passageways) are easy to miss. This self-guided audio tour handles the navigation and provides historical context as you explore the Old Town and the Presqu'ile district. You set the pace, whether you want to whizz around the highlights or enjoy a leisurely weekend of sightseeing.

Lyon is renowned as one of France's gastronomic capitals, and there's no better place to discover its culinary scene than Les Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse. With this tour, explore the city's famous food market, named after the Michelin-starred chef, with a foodie guide. Visit the many stalls, shop for gourmet produce (own expense), and sample a variety of Lyonnaise specialties, including wine and cheese.