While it is sometimes overshadowed by other major destinations, such as Paris or the French Riviera, the city of Lyon is one of France’s most interesting urban centers. The country’s third-largest city offers an excellent combination of historic sites, excellent gastronomy, first-rate hotels, and everything you’re looking for in a city perfect for a weekend city break. As 24 hours is not enough in this city, we bring you this article with the best attractions to see in 2 days in Lyon.
Although sometimes overlooked, there is no doubt that Lyon is a very interesting tourist destination, and after reading this Lyon travel itinerary, it will be clearer than ever. To make the most of your two days in Lyon, this itinerary will take you through all the great attractions of central Lyon, starting with the essential sites along the Presqu’île, up to historic Vieux Lyon and Fourvière and beyond and past World Heritage Sites, Gothic churches, art nouveau bridges, and busy shopping streets.
Lyon was founded in 43 BC by the Romans on a site occupied by the Gauls since the 7th century BC. Legend has it that its mythical founders were the Celtic king Atepomaros and the druid Momoros. The Roman city developed rapidly and became the capital of Gaul in 27 BC. At its height in the 2nd century AD, the city played an important role as the commercial and artisan center of the Roman Empire.
In the Middle Ages, Charlemagne gave Lyon part of its religious prestige. However, it was during the Renaissance (15th century) that Lyon experienced its second golden age as it became the financial capital of Europe. It also became an important cultural center. In the 19th century, the silk industry drove the city’s industrial development. During World War II, Lyon was the epicenter of opposition to French collaborationism, and Charles de Gaulle called it the “capital of the Resistance.”
After the Second World War, the city of Lyon turned its face towards modernity to become one of France’s most thriving and interesting cities.
Tips for a 2-day visit to Lyon
Although most of the things we will discuss in this weekend’s itinerary can be booked once you’re in the city, we recommend that you take the basics covered, especially if you’re traveling in high season.
1. When is the best time to visit Lyon?
The climate of Lyon is semi-continental but is influenced by the Mediterranean Sea. As with all cities in the rest of the continent, the best time to visit Lyon varies throughout the year.
In Lyon, summers are characterized by heat, rain, and storms. Maximum temperatures between June and August can reach 30°C (86°F). The heat can become suffocating. However, August is the best month to travel to Lyon to save, as hotel prices are usually lower. In contrast, September is the most expensive month of the year in the hospitality sector.
Between October and November, you can enjoy a mild and cool climate. The autumn is one of the best times to visit Lyon thanks to its pleasant temperatures of around 10°C in mid-November.
Winters in Lyon are quite cold and dry. January is the coldest month in the city, with temperatures dropping as low as 0°C. We recommend large coats, hats, and gloves if you are traveling in winter. However, it is during this season that you will find fewer tourists. We can’t talk about winter in Lyon without mentioning the Festival of Lights, the city’s biggest date. During this event, luminous scenes are projected onto the city’s most important monuments.
From March onwards, the snow gives way to warmer and milder temperatures. Spring is very pleasant, and thermometers reach 20°C as summer approaches. It is also the ideal season to visit Lyon without getting too hot (or cold).
2. How to get to and around Lyon
Obviously, travel to Lyon starts by arriving in the city. The good news is that if you are coming from Europe, you have several options to get to Lyon.
How to get to Lyon by train
If you decide to visit Lyon from any other city in France, the good news is that the city has an excellent offer of connections and trains from all points of the French geography, including Paris (1 hour and 50 minutes), Marseille (1 hour and 40 minutes) or Toulouse (4 hours). In addition, Lyon Part Deu offers international connections from Geneva (2 hours and 40 minutes) and Milan (6 hours).
How to get to Lyon by plane
Lyon Saint Exupéry Airport (LYS) is an airport located about 25 km east of Lyon;
This major airport, the fourth busiest in France, offers mainly domestic and European flights through the national carrier Air France and other major airlines. Its location between Paris to the north and the French Riviera to the south gives it a privileged location to reach most regions of France and dozens of European and international destinations.
From Europe:
Passengers can use airlines such as Air France, easyJet, and Ryanair to get to Lyon by plane from Europe. These airlines frequently fly into Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport (LYS), the region’s main airport. Major European cities that have direct flights to Lyon include London, Barcelona, Lisbon, Brussels, and Rome.
From North America:
Travelers coming from North America will have fewer direct flight options to Lyon. However, it is possible to fly with Air Canada, which offers a direct flight between Montreal and Lyon. For other destinations in North America, travelers will likely need to book a connecting flight via a European city like Amsterdam or Paris before reaching Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport.
Getting around Lyon
For moving by public transport, Lyon has the same company, TCL, which manages the entire metro, bus, and streetcar network (and uses the same tickets for all). There are four metro lines, five streetcar lines, two funicular lines, and more than 120 bus lines.
In general, public transportation operates from 5 a.m. to midnight. Each line has its timetable. You can consult all the information on the Lyon public transport website.
There are also bike rental services, cabs, and mobile applications such as Uber.
The best way to get around Lyon and see the whole city is a combination of public transport and walking. Remember to bring comfortable shoes, as much of the city is on a slope.
If you want to move around by car, keep in mind that parking in Lyon is complicated and expensive. If you arrive in the city by car, it is best to leave it in a parking lot and use public transport to get around the city.
If you have mobility problems or have little time to visit the city, another option may be the tourist bus, which allows you to discover places like Fourvière, Vieux Lyon, and Confluences in a tour of about two hours that includes an audio guide available in 8 languages. You can purchase sightseeing bus tickets here.
3. Accommodation and best area to stay in Lyon
The best area for tourists in Lyon is Presqu’île, a central administrative, commercial, and tourist area in the center of Lyon. The Presqu’île, which means “the peninsula,” occupies the long strip of land between the Rhône and Saône rivers and comprises the 1st, 2nd, and 4th arrondissements. This district, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is home to the city’s main cultural institutions, squares, train stations, shopping and nightlife areas, as well as many of the best-rated hotels in the city.
Other areas to consider include the historic center (Vieux Lyon) and the around the Part-Dieu TGV station.
Read more about the best areas to stay in Lyon, France.
4. Activities and guided tours in Lyon
For a two-day visit to Lyon, you have to organize your time very well. There are many things to see in Lyon and for a two-day visit.
If you are not sure what to do in Lyon or how to organize your time for a short visit, we recommend you visit the official Lyon Tourism website. It is available in English and has lots of information and ideas for visiting the city.
As with other major cities, the best way to explore the attractions of Lyon is with a guided tour. Fortunately, as one of France’s top tourist destinations, this city offers dozens of activities, tours, and guided visits.
That said, most activities are aimed at French-speaking tourists.
To save even more on your 2-day visit to Lyon, we also recommend buying the Lyon City Pass, which gives you unlimited access to Lyon’s public transportation (metro, bus, streetcar, and funicular) and gives you free admission to 23 museums and temporary exhibitions, guided tours, river cruises and puppet shows, plus discounted shopping and theaters. You can purchase the Lyon City Pass here.
Things to see in Lyon in 2 days: The perfect itinerary
Two days are perfect for visiting Lyon. The city has enough things to do to keep you busy and entertained. Based on our experience, we suggest spending 48 hours in Lyon.
Day One of a 48-hour visit to Lyon
To begin your visit to the Gallic city, you will probably want to start with the must-see attractions of Lyon. To do so, we’ll explore part of the Presqu’île before crossing over to the famous Renaissance area of Vieux Lyon and the Fourvière district that overlooks it.
1. Bellecour Square
To start discovering Lyon, we chose the literal epicenter of the city. All distances from Lyon are calculated from the center of this square. Considered the largest pedestrian square in Europe, a large equestrian statue of Louis XIV crowns this large public space of 6 hectares.
Depending on when you visit the city, you can also ride the famous Ferris wheel that is installed in the square and have views of Lyon from 60 meters high.
2. Rue Mercière
Rue Mercière is a paintable pedestrian street and one of the oldest streets in Lyon. It is located in the Les Cordeliers district, in the 2nd arrondissement. From north to south, it connects Place des Jacobins with Place d’Albon.
The Bellecour and Cordeliers metro stations of line A serve this street. Here you will find many bars and famous bouchons lyonnais. A bouchon is a type of restaurant serving traditional Lyonnais cuisine, such as sausages, duck pâté, or roast pork. Compared to other types of French cuisine, Lyon dishes tend to be more fatty and meat-oriented.
3. Place des Jacobins
After strolling and exploring the shopping streets of Presqu’île, lined with elegant old buildings, head to the Place des Jacobins (Jacobins Square). While it’s not necessarily the largest square, it’s certainly one of the prettiest in the city. The Place des Jacobins is surrounded by beautiful architecture and is an excellent place to soak up the atmosphere of Lyon.
4. Saône riverbank
Lyon is a city defined by its two rivers, so a stroll along at least one of its banks is a must-do activity in Lyon on a short visit.
Since we are in the Presqu’île, choosing the Saône River as a place to stroll makes sense. The banks of the Saône River are probably the most scenic walk in Lyon and one of the most pleasant places in the city. This riverside has pedestrian paths that follow the city streets and others along the river.
From here, we can access the city’s historic center through one of its bridges, such as the Passerelle du Palais de Justice or the Passerelle Saint Georges de Lyon.
5. Vieux Lyon
On the other side of the river is the city’s most visited area, Vieux Lyon.
Old Lyon is a medieval and Renaissance district located at the foot of the Fourvière hill. This ancient district is one of the few districts that has remained virtually intact since the 16th century in the city and is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
This ancient district stands out for its Renaissance architecture and its alleys. Vieux Lyon was home to the city’s wealthy merchants and bankers during its heyday. While its houses may appear modest from the street, venturing inside reveals a different story.
During a weekend visit to Lyon, I suggest you start at the district’s northern end and leisurely stroll down streets like Rue Saint-Jean and the fascinating side alleys.
Vieux Lyon is also home to several unusual but fascinating museums; first, there’s the Museum Gadagne, which houses both the Museum Historique de Lyon and the Museum of Puppets. You’ll find the Museum of Films and Miniatures a short walk away, where you can learn about movie props and special effects.
6. St. George’s Church
The neo-Gothic church of Saint-Georges that we can see today replaced the medieval church of Sainte-Eulalie in 1844. The work of Pierre Bossan and Louis Bresson, this church is one of the symbols of the historic center of Lyon.
On the facade, you can admire the relief of St. George slaying the dragon framed by St. Peter and St. John. The Virgin and Child that adorns the pediment was made by the sculptors Comparat and Cony.
7. Lyon Cathedral
One of the outstanding attractions of the historic center is undoubtedly the Cathédrale Saint-Jean-Baptiste, which is located in one of the district’s squares.
The construction of the Lyon Cathedral took 300 years, from the end of the 12th century to the end of the 15th century. Its history was marked by several important dates: the first Council of Lyon in the presence of Pope Innocent IV in 1245, the reception of the body of St. Louis in 1271, the coronation of Pope John XXII in 1316, the marriage of Marie de Medici and Henry IV in 1600 or the visit of Napoleon and Josephine in 1805.
Although it is considered a gothic cathedral, the architectural and decorative elements represent several periods: the astronomical clock was made at the end of the 16th century, the rose windows date from the 14th century, and the flamboyant gothic style chapels from the 15th and 16th centuries.
This large church becomes even more interesting during the Lyon Festival of Lights every December when its façade becomes a canvas for light displays.
Outside, to the north of the Cathedral, you can also visit a small archaeological garden where you can find remains of other historic religious buildings.
Day two of a 48-hour visit to Lyon
After the first day, in which we saw the best attractions in Lyon, we resumed the visit to this wonderful city, walking through its Roman monuments and climbing to its most famous votive church. We continue the list of things to see in Lyon in 2 days on the hill of Fourvière, the historical birthplace of Lugdunum, the capital of the Three Gauls.
8. Basilica of Our Lady of Fourvière
The Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière was built between 1872 and 1896 on the site of the ancient forum of Trajan.
The building, of neo-Byzantine style and 86 meters long and 35 meters wide, is impressive. The two octagonal towers framing the portico represent Justice (on the right) and Strength (on the left). Behind the carved columns of the portico is the bronze door crowned by several sculptures of angels, Mary, and Jesus.
The interior of the basilica is spectacularly ornate and colorful. The side walls are covered with colorful mosaics that narrate historical and religious episodes. The church consists of three naves supported by imposing monolithic columns: the three domes are richly decorated and depict scenes of the Virgin Mary.
The building has been listed in Lyon’s inventory of historical monuments since 1977 and was subsequently recognized as a World Heritage Site in 1998 under the entry “Historic Site of Lyon.”
The basilica is one of the symbols of the city of Lyon and receives more than two million tourists a year. The complex includes not only the basilica and the chapel of St. Thomas but also the Rosary Garden and the panoramic esplanade from where you can enjoy fabulous views of the city.
9. Roman Theater of Lyon
A few yards from the basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière is the archaeological site of Lugdunum, which includes the remains of the great theater of Lugdunum.
The theater was built around 15 B.C. and had a capacity for about 10,000 spectators. The first steps were dug directly into the ground while vaults supported the following rows.
Behind the stage, there was originally a 30-meter-high wall that closed the horizon. Marble slabs and columns constituted the permanent decoration of the actors. At the end of the stage, there was a pit in which the curtains were located, which, instead of descending, emerged from it thanks to a system of counterweights.
Above the theater and the neighboring Odeon, you can still see foundations of houses, stores, and a public monument built on both sides of a narrow cobblestone street. The archaeological site was used as a stone quarry after the buildings were abandoned, so most of the large stone blocks have disappeared.
10. Lugdunum (Gallo-Roman Museum of Fourvière)
After visiting the archaeological site, head to the museum to learn more about the history of Lugdunum, the capital of the Three Gauls.
The archaeological finds in the museum are presented thematically and offer a detailed description of all aspects of Roman Lugdunum life, from its political, military, religious, and civil organization to issues related to the household, craftsmanship, and the advent of Christianity.
The most remarkable piece is the Claudian Tablet. Discovered on the slopes of Croix-Rousse in 1528, the tablet includes the speech of Emperor Claudius (41-54 AD), who intervened on behalf of the Gauls to grant them the same rights enjoyed by the Romans.
11. Croix-Rousse district
La Croix-Rousse is the bohemian quarter of Lyon. You will find many small stores, art galleries, traditional restaurants, bars, a large market and a special atmosphere here.
Located on a hill above the Place des Terreaux, this neighborhood has been transformed over the years and, until recently, was a neighborhood of textile mill workers.
As in Vieux Lyon, this historic area is full of old buildings and alleys. Full of history and charm, La Croix-Rousse is a must-see in the city during a weekend visit to Lyon.
You can take the metro to Hénon station or walk up via the picturesque and colorful Lyon stairs on rue Prunelle.
12. Tête d’Or
To end this visit to Lyon, we recommend you go to the Parc de la Tête d’Or.
Inaugurated in 1857, this large green space of 117 hectares is the largest urban park in France. It is the main green area in the city and attracts sportsmen and families from Lyon.
The Tête d’Or park hosts several Lyon attractions, such as the city zoo, a botanical garden with greenhouses, and a rose garden. As expected, the park offers many attractions and activities for children and sports enthusiasts.
More ideas for a 2-day trip to Lyon
Above, we told you about our perfect travel itinerary to see Lyon on the weekend, but there are many other things to see in Lyon. Here are some ideas of other places you can visit in the capital of Gaul:
- Musée des Confluences: The Musée des Confluences is a science and anthropology center that opened in 2014. It is famous for its deconstructivist architectural design, which is said to resemble a floating glass cloud of stainless steel and glass.
- Loyasse Cemetery: The Loyasse Cemetery, created in 1807, is the oldest cemetery in Lyon. It is located in the 5th arrondissement of Lyon and offers an impressive variety of styles in addition to a very nice view of the city center.
- Les Halles Paul Bocuse: The Paul Bocuse market is a must-see institution in the city and the main showcase of Lyon’s gastronomic excellence.
- Isle Barbe: Located in the middle of the Saône, the Île Barbe is a place to visit if you like quiet walks in green corners. Here you can enjoy the remains of the church of Notre-Dame and the Auberge de l’Île, a mecca of Lyon gastronomy.
- L’Institut Lumière: If you love cinema, the Institut Lumière in Lyon is a must-see. Dedicated to the beginnings of the 7th Art, here you can learn more about the famous Lumière brothers, Louis and Auguste.
