What to do in Lyon
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Lyon, a unique city? Activities, gastronomy, festivals…we tell you everything
The city of Lyon in France is atypical. Its character sets it apart from other cities.
Here are some of Lyon’s most notable differences, which are undoubtedly part of its charm:
1. Gastronomy: Lyon is often considered the capital of French gastronomy. The city is famous for its traditional cuisine, including dishes such as quenelle, coq au vin, and of course, Lyonnais cuisine is also renowned for its bouchons, small restaurants typical of the region.
2. Traboules: Lyon is famous for its traboules, the passageways and inner courtyards that link the streets of the old town. These passages were traditionally used by silk workers to transport their merchandise out of the weather, but today they are a characteristic feature of Lyon’s heritage.
3. The Lyon Festival of Lights: The Festival of Lights is a major annual event in Lyon, taking place in December. During this festival, the city is illuminated by spectacular light installations, and many buildings and monuments are decorated with colorful lights.
4. History: Lyon or Lugdunum has a rich history dating back to Roman times. The city has preserved many vestiges of its past, including Roman amphitheaters, medieval churches and historic traboules.
Not to be missed: the Basilique de Fourvière, Lugdunum, Lyon’s ancient Roman theaters, the 3 Gaules amphitheater…
5. The silk industry: For centuries, Lyon was at the heart of Europe’s silk industry. The city was an important silk production center, and this heritage is still visible in some of the city’s districts and museums.
6. Its geography is very advantageous: Lyon is located in the Rhône valley, surrounded by hills and mountains. This particular geography gives it a magnificent natural setting, with the Saône and Rhône rivers running through the town. Lyon is at the crossroads of the sea and the mountains. It’s really easy to get a change of scenery. The first seaside resort is 2 hours away, and the first mountain resort 1h30.
7. Festivals and events: Lyon is the scene of numerous festivals and cultural events throughout the year, covering fields such as cinema, music, dance and the visual arts.
In short, Lyon has a rich gastronomic culture, a fascinating history, unique architecture, a picturesque geography and many cultural festivities. These elements make Lyon a dynamic and attractive city for residents and visitors alike.
Lyon offers a wide variety of activities for residents and visitors alike, whatever their preference. Here are just a few of the activities available in Lyon:
What activities are available?
Gastronomic discovery: Lyon is famous for its cuisine, so one of the must-do activities is to savor the delicious Lyonnais cuisine in a traditional bouchon or a Michelin-starred restaurant.
Cultural visits: Explore the city’s many museums, including the Musée des Beaux-Arts, Musée Gadagne, Musée des Confluences and Musée Lumière. You can also visit historic sites such as the Basilique Notre-Dame de Fourvière, Vieux Lyon and the traboules.
River walks: The Saône and Rhône rivers flow through the city, offering wonderful riverside walks and activities such as river cruises.
Hiking and outdoor activities: The hills surrounding Lyon are perfect for hiking, mountain biking and other outdoor activities. The Parc de la Tête d’Or is also a popular place to relax.
Festivals and events: Attend one of the many festivals held in Lyon throughout the year, such as the Fête des Lumières, the Nuits de Fourvière (music and theater festival), or the Lumière festival (cinema).
Shopping: Explore the shopping streets of the Presqu’île for fashion boutiques, antique stores and markets.
Nightlife: Lyon has a lively nightlife with numerous bars, clubs and concert halls. The Croix-Rousse district is famous for its atmospheric bars.
Sports events: If you’re a sports fan, you can attend soccer matches with the Olympique Lyonnais team, rugby matches with LOU Rugby, or other local sporting events.
Cooking classes: Learn to cook Lyonnais cuisine by taking part in cooking classes organized around the city.
Explore the markets: Lyon has many markets, including the Croix-Rousse food market, where you can buy fresh produce and local specialties.
Whether you’re interested in culture, gastronomy, nature or entertainment, Lyon offers a wide variety of options to suit your tastes and interests.
Need to find activities departing from Lyon?
Lyon’s surrounding area also offers a wide range of activities and excursions. Here are just a few of the things you can do in and around Lyon:
Vineyard tours: The Lyon region is surrounded by famous vineyards, particularly in the Rhone Valley. You can go on excursions to wineries to taste local wines, such as Côtes du Rhône, Beaujolais or Burgundy.
Excursions in the Alps: Lyon’s proximity to the Alps makes it an excellent base for mountain excursions. You can hike, ski, snowboard or simply enjoy the magnificent alpine scenery.
Visit the medieval town of Pérouges: Around 30 kilometers from Lyon, Pérouges is a charming, well-preserved medieval town well worth a visit. Stroll along its cobbled streets and admire its medieval architecture.
Cruise on the Rhône and Saône rivers: Explore the region from the water by embarking on a cruise on the Rhône or Saône rivers. You can opt for sightseeing cruises or wine-tasting cruises.
Visit the region’s caves: The Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region is home to many caves, including the Caves de la Balme, which offer fascinating caving experiences.
Relaxing at Lake Annecy: Just a few hours’ drive from Lyon, Lake Annecy is ideal for swimming, water sports and waterside relaxation.
Excursion to Geneva: The Swiss city of Geneva is only about two hours from Lyon by car. You can visit attractions such as the headquarters of the United Nations, the Jet d’Eau, and explore the old town.
Cheese tasting at the farm: The Rhône-Alpes region is renowned for its cheeses, notably Comté, Bleu de Gex and Tomme de Savoie. You can visit local cheese dairies to sample these delicacies.
Visiting nature parks: The region boasts a number of nature parks, including the Parc naturel régional du Pilat, where you can hike, mountain bike and enjoy the great outdoors.
Provence getaway: Provence, famous for its lavender fields, Provencal markets and picturesque villages, is just a few hours’ drive from Lyon.
Lyon is less than 1 hour from the first beach. And yes! There are several lakes and bodies of water within two hours of the city where you can cool off. You don’t necessarily have to go to the seaside to take a dip and enjoy some very pleasant beaches. Click here to find out more.
Whether you want to discover culture, nature, gastronomy or history, the area around Lyon offers many opportunities for exploration and adventure.
Lyon’s most important events.
Lyon has a very dynamic cultural scene. You’ll find a full calendar of events throughout the year. Here are some of Lyon’s notable annual events:
Fête des Lumières: The Fête des Lumières is Lyon’s most emblematic event in December. For four days, the city is illuminated by spectacular light installations and artistic projections on buildings.
Nuits de Fourvière: A summer festival combining music, dance, theater and street arts. It takes place at the ancient theater of Fourvière from June to August. The posters are always incredible and eclectic
Biennale d’Art Contemporain: Organized every two years, this contemporary art exhibition attracts artists from all over the world to showcase their work in different venues around the city.
Biennale de la danse: like the Biennale d’Art, it takes place every two years. This is the occasion for a parade through the streets. All the participating dance companies take to the catwalk in colorful costumes.
Festival Lumière: An annual film festival celebrating the history of cinema, organized by the Institut Lumière in October.
Nuits Sonores: A festival of electronic and independent music held in May, with performances all over the city.
Jazz à Vienne Festival: Although Vienne is a neighboring city, this jazz festival is one of the region’s biggest, attracting internationally renowned musicians.
Festival Quais du Polar: A festival of detective literature held in April, bringing together authors, readers and mystery lovers.
Festival de la BD de Lyon (Lyon Comics Festival): An event dedicated to comics, held every year in June.
Woodstower Festival: An alternative music festival held in the Grand Parc de Miribel-Jonage in summer.
Festival des Nuits de Croix-Rousse: A festival of theater and live performances held in September in the Croix-Rousse district.
Festival Tout l’Monde Dehors: A summer festival featuring a variety of outdoor activities, including concerts, outdoor film screenings, street performances and more.
The best music festivals in the Lyon region:
The Lyon region and surrounding area offers several renowned music festivals covering a wide range of musical genres. Here are some of the biggest music festivals in and around Lyon:
1. Les Nuits de Fourvière: Although this festival is not exclusively dedicated to music, it offers a varied musical program, ranging from classical music to rock and hip-hop. It takes place at the ancient theater of Fourvière during the summer months.
2. Les Nuits Sonores: This festival of electronic and independent music is one of Lyon’s biggest. Held every year in May, it features performances at various venues around the city.
3. Woodstower: Located in the Grand Parc de Miribel-Jonage, this festival offers an eclectic program of alternative and electronic music. It takes place in summer.
4. Ninkasi Urban Week: Organized by the Ninkasi, a well-known concert-bar chain in Lyon, this festival showcases the local and international music scene with a variety of musical genres. It takes place every year in the spring.
5. Jazz à Vienne: Although located in Vienne, near Lyon, this jazz festival is one of the biggest in the region. It hosts internationally renowned artists in the historic setting of Vienna’s antique theater.
6. Les Trans’urbaines: A hip-hop and urban culture festival held in Lyon in November. It offers dance performances, rap concerts and workshops.
7. Festival Les Invites de Villeurbanne: This music and live performance festival features well-known artists and groups, as well as emerging artists. It takes place in summer in the neighboring town of Villeurbanne.
8. Berlioz Festival: Located in La Côte-Saint-André, about an hour’s drive from Lyon, this classical music festival highlights the works of composer Hector Berlioz.
9. Festival Les Détours de Babel: A festival of contemporary and experimental music featuring innovative performances and unique musical experiences. It takes place in Grenoble, about an hour from Lyon.
10. Lyon Baroque Music Festival: For lovers of Baroque music, this festival offers concerts highlighting this specific musical period.
11. The Musilac Festival is one of the region’s most important music festivals, taking place in Aix-les-Bains, Savoie, just a few hours’ drive from Lyon. Musilac offers an eclectic program covering a wide range of musical genres, including pop, rock, electro and more. This major event attracts renowned national and international artists.
Please note that dates and artists may vary from year to year, so check the latest festival information before planning your visit.
USEFUL LINKS:
https://www.visiterlyon.com/decouvrir/sites-et-monuments/tous-les-sites-et-monuments
Here come the BOBs!
Lyon of course is much more than that! So we’re counting on you to enrich our activity content and share your discoveries. Feel free to share your ideas on our dedicated Lyon Facebook group!
BOB’s to your carpools!
