29 Extraordinary Things to Do in Lyon, France
Lyon is such a fascinating French city. It’s located in eastern France, in the Auvergne-Rhone-Alps region, and is often considered a gateway to beautiful Alps destinations, such as Annecy or Chamonix.
Despite being the 3rd largest city in France (after Paris and Marseille), I feel like Lyon is often overlooked as a tourist destination, especially for foreign visitors. Yet Lyon has SO MUCH to offer.
The city is shaped by it’s two rivers —the Rhône and Saône— that converge at its southern end, and its two iconic hills, Fourvière and Croix-Rousse.
The city’s history stretches all the way back to 43 BC, when it was founded on Fourvière Hill as a Roman settlement, chosen for its strategic vantage point.
By the 16th century, Lyon had become a hub of Renaissance trade, with Italian merchants leaving their mark on the colorful facades of the Old Town. Later, in the 1800s, the silk industry flourished, shaping the Croix-Rousse neighborhood into a vibrant center of craftsmanship.
There are just so many interesting things to see, do, and experience in Lyon. Suffice it to say, I really, really loved this city and thinks its definitely worth a visit.
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29 Exciting Things to Do in Lyon
Lyon City Card – The Best Way to Tour Lyon
The Lyon City Card is a fantastic value for tourists in Lyon, and I’d highly recommend it for your visit.
The card gives you free entry to museums (except two, but you’ll still get significant discounts at those), and access to experiences like a boat cruise, a walking tour, and the rooftop tour of the Fourvière Basilica. Plus, you get unlimited use of public transportation.
It also offers discounts on hop-on hop-off buses, bike tours, Segway tours, the aquarium, and concerts or shows.
I used the Lyon Card constantly during my visit to the city – it was an extremely cost-effective and convenient way to explore Lyon.
The Lyon Card can be purchased online or in person at the tourism office. Booking online is a smart move since it allows you to reserve guided tours and experiences in advance, ensuring you get the dates and times you want. Tours tend to fill up a day or two in advance, so even a little bit of planning ahead is worth it.
Neighborhoods of Lyon
The more central, historic, and “touristy” part of Lyon is divided in 4 main areas:
- Vieux Lyon (Old Town): Dating back to the Middle Ages
- Presqu’ile: Built up from the 17th century and onward
- Fourvière Hill: Built up during the Roman habitation
- Croix-Rousse: The silk workers neighborhood
These are the areas where all the interesting attractions and historic monuments are, and where you’ll be spending all your time during your visit.
To help you better understand where everything is in the city, this post is divded up by things to do in each neighborhood.
A. Things To Do in the Vieux Lyon Neighborhood
Vieux Lyon is one of the most charming and historic areas of the city, with cobblestone streets, narrow lanes, and a medieval atmosphere that feels like stepping back in time. It’s the perfect place to wander and soak up the ambiance.
There are two main streets to know here: Rue Saint Jean and Rue de Boeuf, both running parallel to the Saône River. Rue Saint Jean starts at Saint Jean Cathedral and is the busier street, packed with shops, restaurants, and bouchons—traditional Lyonnais cafés.
Rue de Boeuf is quieter than Rue Saint Jean but just as lovely, with plenty of spots to explore.
One of my favorite little details in Vieux Lyon is the statues above the streets that match their names. For example, you’ll find a statue of Saint John (Saint Jean) above Rue Saint Jean, and a bull above Rue de Boeuf.
These are the top attractions you need to visit in Vieux Lyon:
1. Cathedral Saint Jean
Cathedral Saint Jean, constructed with a blend of Romanesque and Gothic architectural styles, has been at the heart of Lyon for centuries.
The cathedral has seen its fair share of major events. Pope John XXII was crowned here, Henri IV married Marie de Medici in what turned out to be a pretty pivotal union for France, and even Napoleon and Josephine paid a visit.
Back in the Middle Ages, the bishop of Lyon, who essentially ruled the city, lived right next door and during the French Revolution, many of the statues on the cathedral were removed or even “beheaded.”
Inside, be sure to check out the astronomical clock, which dates back to the 1500s. It chimes at noon, 2 p.m., 3 p.m., and 4 p.m., and it’s a cool piece of history to see in action.
Hours: 8:15 am to 7 pm
2. Walking Tour
Lyon has such a fascinating history so I definitely recommend learning a little bit more about it when you’re in the city. I love walking tours (I’ve done them a lot around France) and highly recommend them to really understand and appreciate the location you’re visiting.
The Lyon card includes a 1 hour walking tour of Vieux Lyon, which was a perfect way to get a little bit of history, culture, and backstory of the charming Old Town neighborhood.
For example, I learned that prior to 1960, Vieux Lyon was poor, run down, and very dirty, and was going to be demolished. However, a law was passed to protect old historic areas, and now the neighborhood has been cleaned up, restored, and protected – definitely a win for all of us.
You’ll walk all around the neighborhood during the tour, plus visit a couple of different traboules. Overall, a walking tour is a great way to get an introduction to Lyon!
How to Book: The Lyon City Card includes a walking tour. Otherwise I’d recommend this incredibly highly rated small-group tour
3. Museum du Cinema and des Miniatures
Lyon is celebrated as the Birthplace of Cinema, thanks to the Lumière brothers, who invented a movie camera and projector and filmed some of the first movies ever.
The Cinema Museum honors this history with fascinating displays of sets, props, and costumes from iconic films. Movie buffs will appreciate highlights like Darth Vader’s mask, Harry Potter’s glasses, and models from Jurassic Park and Star Wars.
The museum also showcases small-scale models used in filming, including ships from Pirates of the Caribbean and the snow fortress in Inception.
Finally, the museum features intricately crafted miniature rooms and scenes (unrelated to film), all designed by a single artist. These tiny displays were captivating – everyone was clearly totally fascinated with these scenes!
While I think this museum would be interesting to just about anyone, if you’re a film buff, you’ll absolutely love the different displays.
- Hours: 10am-6:30pm Mon-Fri; 10am-7pm Sat/Sun
- Cost: €16.90 (or €5 with the Lyon card)
4. Musée Gadagne
The Gadagne Museum originally belonged to the wealthy Italian Gadagne family, and today is home to two museums: the Puppet Museum (Musée des Marrionettes) and the History of Lyon Museum (Musée d’Histoire de Lyon).
The Puppet Museum explores Lyon’s puppetry tradition, including Guignol, a beloved puppet character created by a former silk worker in the early 1800s. While the puppet shows became hugely popular, I found the exhibits a bit dull, and if puppets aren’t your thing, this one’s an easy skip.
The History of Lyon Museum was similarly underwhelming, with exhibits on the city’s industrialization, the role of its rivers, and photographs of Lyon over time that just didn’t capture my interest (despite generally enjoying historical museums).
Unless you’re especially interested in puppetry or Lyon’s history, these museums are likely skippable.
5. Traboules
Traboules are a unique feature of Medieval Lyon, with almost 400 traboules found throughout greater Lyon. They are passageways that run perpendicular to the long, uninterrupted streets of Lyon’s Old Town, providing a way to cut through buildings and connect streets in the Middle Ages.
They originally were designed to carry water or silk through the city, and give access to the river; today they are a fun way to step back in time in Vieux Lyon.
Today, a few traboules remain open to the public and are worth exploring. The Long Traboule (accessible at 54, rue St Jean and 27, rue du Boeuf) and the “Beautiful” Traboule (accessible at 6, Rue des Trois Maries or 27, Rue Saint-Jean) are two good options that give you a sense of how these passageways work.
As you visit, remember that these passageways still connect people’s homes, so it’s important to be quiet and respectful—sound carries easily in the enclosed spaces.
7. Explore Lyon’s Food Scene
Lyon is often considered the gastronomic capital of France, and for good reason. With 20 Michelin-starred restaurants and a long history of culinary excellence, Lyon has something to offer every kind of foodie.
However, the city’s most iconic dining experiences isn’t the Michelin restaurants – rather its the bouchon. A bouchon is a traditional Lyonnais restaurant known for serving hearty, comforting dishes in a warm and no-fuss atmosphere.
The tradition of bouchons dates back to the 17th century, when the Mères Lyonnaises (Mothers of Lyon) started restaurants that served hearty meals made with simple, affordable local ingredients.
Some must-try specialties include salade Lyonnaise (a perfect mix of lettuce, bacon, and a poached egg), sausages, coq-au-vin (chicken braised in wine), and quenelle de brochet (a light and fluffy pike fish dumpling).
B. Things to Do in La Presqu’ile Neighborhood
The Presqu’ile (meaning Peninsula) neighborhood originally was an actual island, as the Rhone and Saone used to meet at the foot of the Croix-Rousse hill. However the city drained the swampy areas at the base of the hill, diverted the river and connected the island to the rest of the city.
This neighborhood stretches from Place des Terreaux to Place Bellecour, and was developed and beautified in the mid-1800s (at the same time Paris was getting its extensive overhaul).
The area is very typical of 19th century France – grand stone buildings, with intricate detailing, columns, statues. Grand avenues and ornate squares showcase the wealth of the bourgeoisie – making for a beautiful area to walk around and explore.
A couple of the spots in here are just outside o thee Presqu’ile boundaries, but have been included in this section for organizational purposes. I’ll note which ones are outside the boundaries in their descriptions.
7. Place des Jacobins
Place des Jacobins is a great example of a European square just being so extra, simply because it can. Let’s take an open square that’s already picturesque with the grand buildings surrounding it and put a jaw-droppingly beautiful fountain in the center—sure, why not?!
The square was opened in 1557 and is named after the Jacobin convent, which used to stand on the square (and has since been completely destroyed).
The Jacobin monks, or friars of the Dominican Order, lived and worked in the convent. The marble fountain was added in the late 1800s and represents four famous Lyonnais men who were sculptors, architects, illustrators, and painters.
8. Place Bellecour
Place Bellecour is the largest square in Lyon and the largest pedestrian square in Europe—a truly sprawling space filled with linden trees and lined by Napoleonic-style buildings.
Two notable statues here include King Louis XIV on his horse (Louis XIV was known as the Sun King and was a powerful ruler), as well as one for Saint-Exupéry, the author of the beloved novel Le Petit Prince (The Little Prince).
9. Place des Terreaux
Yet another ornate and magnificent square, Place des Terreaux is surrounded by two important landmarks: the palace-like Museum of Fine Arts and the Hôtel de Ville (City Hall).
At the center of the square is the stunning Triomphant Chariot of the Garonne fountain. Designed by Auguste Bartholdi—the celebrated French sculptor from Colmar most famous for creating the Statue of Liberty—the statue depicts a woman representing France driving a chariot, with four horses symbolizing the tributaries of the Garonne River.
Interestingly, the fountain was originally intended for Bordeaux, where the Garonne flows. Another interesting fact: during the French Revolution, this was the location of a guillotine.
Just behind the Hôtel de Ville is the Opéra de Lyon, a striking building topped with a distinctive black dome.
10. Museum of Fine Arts
The Fine Arts Museum of Lyon is a phenomenal museum and easily one of the top two museums to visit in the city (the other being Lugdunum). I especially loved “The Chapel” — a long, narrow, arched room filled with sculptures. Perseus Rescuing Andromeda is one of the most famous pieces here.
The museum also has an excellent collection of Ancient Egyptian art and antiquities, including mummies, sarcophagi, and engraved stone tablets. Another favorite is the stunning room filled with precious coins and medallions.
Of course, the Impressionist gallery was a big highlight, with beautiful paintings by big names like Monet, Renoir, and Degas (including a famous Dancers series painting!)
The museum’s courtyard, which you pass through to reach the entrance, is a peaceful garden that is free and open to the public with symmetrical walking paths, a columned archway, and statues scattered throughout.
- Cost: €8 or free with Lyon City Card
- Hours: Wednesday-Monday 10am-6pm (closed Tuesday)
11. Stroll Along The Rivers
The Saône and Rhône Rivers flow through Lyon on either side of the Presqu’ile district, meeting up at the south end of the peninsula. The Saone separates Vieux Lyon and the Presqu’Ile, and the Rhone separates the Presqu’Ile and the eastern districts of Lyon.
Walking along these rivers is a fantastic activity when visiting the city, with charming tree-lined sidewalks, picturesque views, especially of the Fourviere Basilica, and easy access via stairs or ramps to pathways right along the water.
While both rivers are beautiful, the Saône probably has the more charming views—but honestly, both are fantastic, and if you have time, I’d recommend exploring both.
Saone has 15 km of pedestrian walkways along its left bank, and my favorite areas were between Passerelle Saint Georges and Pont de la Feuillée.
On the Rhone, I particularly liked the area between Pont Gallieni and Pont Wilson. Historic riverboats, no longer used for transport, now serve as restaurants, bars, hotels, and BnBs, adding to the riverside charm.
12. Take a Boat Cruise on the Saone
A boat cruise on the Saône is such a fun way to experience Lyon and get a different view of the city. The ride lasts about an hour, taking you up and down the river, including a loop to the Confluence where the Saône meets the Rhône on the south side of the city.
You’ll get live narration during the cruise (in both English and French), pointing out landmarks and sharing interesting details about Lyon as you go.
One of the things I really liked was seeing all the beautiful, colorful buildings lining the riverbank as we went upstream – I had no idea Lyon could be this colorful.
Pro Tips: The boat cruise is included in the Lyon City Card, or you can purchase a ticket separately. There’s a couple different cruise routes – the “Confluence” route (also known as the Cap Presqu’ile route) is by far the most popular and interesting.
13. Fresques
Lyon is known for its dozens of frescos (murals) scattered throughout the city. I went out of my way to find as many murals as I could in the four main tourist areas, and visited over a dozen of them.
But to be honest, unless you’re deeply passionate about frescos, many aren’t worth the time or effort to seek out. Many are rather small, uninspiring, or unfortunately obscured by graffiti or trees.
However, these are four frescos that I loved, are easy to get to, and are definitely worth stopping by to admire:
Bibliothèque de la Cité: A delightful, library-inspired, large scale mural. It was one of my favorites and easy to visit on the Presqu’ile.
Mur des Canuts: This mural in the Croix-Rousse neighborhhrood is a must-see – it covers an entire building, is very intricate, and is incredibly famous in Lyon (discussed more in the Croix-Rousse section).
Fresque des Lyonnais: An incredible fresco that covers two sides of a building and portrays notable figures engaged in everyday activities on a typical street in Lyon. Generally considered the masterpiece of Lyon’s frescos, its right on the river in the Presqu’ile area, is easy to stop by, and is a must-see.
Cour des Loges: This mural is right on the edge of Vieux Lyon. It’s partially covered by trees but still very cool and covers the entire side of a building. You can see it better up close!
14. Marché Saint Antoine
The Saint Antoine market is a fun, typical French open air produce market in a picturesque setting, right on the Saone riverbank (on Quai de la Celestines) and underneath the Fourvière Basilica.
Even if you’re staying in a hotel and not cooking, I always think its fun to wander through a French market, admire the goods, and pick up a little snack!
The market is open every day but Monday from 6am-1pm. Make sure to bring bring cash. You can find the exact location for the market here.
15. Parc de la Tete d’Or
Parc de la Tête d’Or is Lyon’s most beloved green space—a massive 105-hectare park with a beautiful lake at its center.
The park is full of things to do and see. Stroll through the botanical garden housed in a picturesque greenhouse, visit the free zoological park where African animals roam, or wander the stunning rose garden.
There are plenty of open lawns perfect for picnics, or you can rent a boat and paddle around the lake. For families, the park offers puppet shows, carousels, and playgrounds. It’s a really nice place to spend a sunny afternoon!
The park is outside of the Presqu’ile neighborhood but is a short metro or bus ride from many attractions.
16. Les Halles de Lyon
This fun, covered market hall is filled with a combination of traditional market stalls selling produce, cheese, meat, pastries, bread, and refrigerated products, as well as bars, restaurants, and cafes where you can grab a meal.
One spot you need to try is the Chocolat Sève pastry stand—be sure to get yourself a tarte praline, one of the desserts that Lyon is famous for.
These distinctive pink caramelized pecans (the color of roses) originated in the early 1900s and have become a culinary tradition in the city. While you can find them all over, the tartes here were absolute perfection.
This hall is just on the opposite side of the Rhone from the Presqu’ile.
17. Deportment Center Museum
This museum tells the story of Lyon during World War II, focusing on the horrors of the Gestapo leader who controlled the city, as well as the bravery of the French resistance, which had a strong presence in Lyon.
The exhibits are deeply interesting, and of course profoundly sad, and pay homage to the victims of that terrible war. It’s a meaningful stop for anyone interested in history, particularly World War II.
- Cost: €6 or free with Lyon City Card
- Hours: Wednesday to Sunday, 10am-6pm
18. Confluence Neighborhood
The southernmost tip of the Presqu’île transitions into the trendy Confluence neighborhood.
This up and coming neighborhood is known for its unique architecture and commitment to sustainability. Many of the buildings here are designed with strict environmental guidelines, resulting in some truly bold and creative designs that stand out from the rest of Lyon.
One highlight of this area is the Musée des Confluences, a science and natural history museum housed in an extraordinary building that locals jokingly compare to a spaceship straight out of Star Wars.
The museum itself covers topics ranging from anthropology to natural science, with fascinating exhibits that make it a great stop for families or anyone curious about the world.
C. Things to Do on Fourvière Hill
Fourvière Hill, once the heart of the Roman city of Lugdunum, was one of the largest Roman settlements in the region.
Founded in 43 BC, this area thrived for centuries and is home to the majority of Lyon’s Roman ruins, with a few additional ruins located in Croix-Rousse. The discovery of these ruins in the early 1900s is one of the reasons Lyon is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site today.
You can access Fourvière Hill from Vieux Lyon in several ways: by walking up streets or through the beautiful Parc des Hauteurs, or by taking the funicular.
The funicular is part of Lyon’s public transit system and accepts the same tickets and passes as the metro and buses. It runs every 5-10 minutes, and tickets can be purchased on-site if needed.
19. Fourvièrve Basilica
The Fourviere Basilica is one of the most stunning landmarks in Lyon. Perched on the edge of Fourviere Hill, it dominates the city skyline and is visible from Vieux Lyon, the Presqu’ile, and the Croix-Rousse neighborhood.
This basilica, a relatively recent addition to Lyon, looks more like a fairytale castle than a religious place of worship, with its four towers and crenellations giving it a fortress-like appearance.
Its history is equally fascinating: During the Franco-Prussian War of 1870, the bishop of Lyon prayed for the city to be spared from invasion and promised to build a basilica honoring Mary if the city remained unscathed.
After the war—and with Lyon indeed escaping unscathed—the bishop fulfilled his promise. Funds were collected from surrounding congregations, and construction began in 1872.
The exterior took 24 years to complete, while the interior took an additional 12 years, resulting in a stunning example of Neo-Byzantine architecture. Inside, every surface is adorned with mosaics, sculptures, or marble columns—nothing is painted, and nothing is left plain. My jaw literally dropped walking in – it is STUNNING.
You can also visit the underground crypt and the adjacent chapel (Chapelle Saint Thomas – Sainte Marie), which predates the basilica by centuries and was once the main structure on Fourviere Hill.
Don’t miss the panoramic terrace at the back of the cathedral, which offers incredible views over the city.
- Hours: Every day 7am to 8pm, except Sunday mornings (visits are not allowed from 7am to 12.30pm on Sunday)
- Cost: Free to visit
20. Rooftop Tour
Visiting the basilica is a fantastic experience on its own, but you can also join a small-group guided rooftop tour for an even more unique perspective. I loved this tour – it ended up being one of my favorite experiences in Lyon.
The guide shares interesting details about the history, construction, and design of the basilica, but the real highlight is climbing up one of the towers and walking through the upper levels.
Overlooking the church interior from the upper level was incredible—you get a bird’s-eye view of the arches and ceiling, and seeing the intricate details up close made the tour entirely worth it on its own.
The experience doesn’t stop there. You’ll head even higher to walk along the rooftop, visit the bell tower to see the carillon bells (and hear them ring), and climb another tower for views of the opposite side of Fourviere Hill.
The rooftop also offers unparalleled panoramic views over the city and the basilica itself, far better than those at the ground-level terrace, as there are no trees obstructing the view.
Just a couple of interesting facts I learned from this tour:
- The sculptures of angels inside the basilica share the glory of Mary’s message, while the angels outside are depicted with swords, symbolizing their role in defending the cathedral.
- The basilica was built with pilgrims in mind. Pilgrims would ascend the hill from Cathedral Saint Jean, enter the basilica through the basement, climb the staircase, and then be awestruck by the opulence of the interior.
- The basilica features 1,500 m² of mosaics, made up of an incredible 15 million individual stones.
The tour is conducted in French, and while it’s advertised as lasting an hour, mine stretched to two hours thanks to a particularly chatty guide. Even if you don’t speak French, I’d still consider doing the tour just to be able to experience the basilica in such a beautiful and unique way.
You need to sign up for the tour in advance, as it does sell out. I booked mine through the Lyon Card (the rooftop tour is free with the card), but you can just pay for the tour directly if you don’t have the card.
21. Tour Fourvière
Tour Fourvière is a replica of the third level of the Eiffel Tower, built just six years after its Parisian counterpart. While it originally housed a restaurant, today it serves as a radio tower and isn’t open to visitors, but its a distinctive sight on Fourvière Hill.
22. Lugdunum Museum
The Lugdunum Museum is all about Roman history in Lyon, and is truly one of the best museums in the city. The collection is extraordinary, featuring thousands of artifacts, sculptures, and mosaics.
I was especially impressed by the large-scale mosaics, many of which are remarkably intact and breathtakingly detailed. The sculptures and architectural fragments on display are equally fascinating and give a tangible sense of Roman craftsmanship.
This is actually a great museum to take children, as there are a lot of parts of the exhibits tailored to children or designed to be interactive.
The museum also has a very interesting design – to avoid distracting from the Roman ruins, the museum was built in low profile on the hill, with most of the levels underground.
Overall, I was incredibly impressed with the museum and think its a must-do in Lyon, both for the quality of the exhibits and the signiciance of the history behind the Roman occupation.
- Hours: Tues-Fri 11am-6pm, Sat-Sun 10am-6pm, closed Monday
- Cost: €7, or free with Lyon City Card
23. Roman Theater
Just adjacent to the Lugdunum Museum is the Roman Theater, built in 15 BC to host entertainment, specifically tragedies and comedies. This large, sprawling amphitheater could hold over 10,000 people at its height.
Some of the theater’s stones were pillaged to construct buildings in Lyon, but it was restored and partially rebuilt in the 1900s. Today, the theater is still used for events and concerts, most notably the Les Nuits de Fourvière festival that takes place every summer.
- Hours: 7am-7pm
- Cost: Free
24. Odeon
Just next door to the Roman Theater is Odeon, a smaller scale amphitheater that seats 3000 and was used for speeches, poetry recitations, and music.
Both ampthitheaters are completely open to the public – you can walk up and down and sit on the steps, and walk up on the stage.
25. Parc des Hauteurs
The Parc des Hauteurs is a large, natural greenspace on the steep hill that connections Fourviere Hill with Vieux Lyon. You can access the garden from the panoramic terrace behind the basilica, which takes you through tree-lined pathways and stairways to the neighborhood beneath.
D. Things to Do in The Croix-Rousse Neighborhood
The Croix-Rousse neighborhood has been the heart of Lyon’s silk industry for centuries and is still closely associated with silk production today.
Silk weaving came to Lyon in the 1500s when King Francis I established the trade in the city. In the early 1800s, silk workers moved to the Croix-Rousse Hill to set up their trade, building tall buildings designed to accommodate their weaving machinery.
Known for its narrow streets and steep drop to the riverbanks, Croix-Rousse is full of colorful buildings and has a laidback, village-like vibe. Like Vieux Lyon, the streets are connected by traboules—hidden passageways that once linked the homes of silk workers.
If you’re only in Lyon for one day, I would prioritize other neighborhoods over Croix-Rousse, but I think it’s a nice area to explore if you have a few days in Lyon.
26. Maison des Canuts
This small, two-room museum and silk boutique is dedicated to the history of Lyon’s silk industry. It features displays of the types of looms used by silk workers, along with various tools and instruments involved in the craft.
Fun fact: A canut is the term for a master silk weaver in Lyon, likely derived from the word canette, meaning the bobbin used in weaving.
The museum also highlights the silk workers’ revolts in the 1800s. These uprisings, though intense and generally unsuccessful in improving workers’ pay, were significant as some of the first labor movements in Europe, inspiring future workers’ rights campaigns.
Overall, while there’s not a lot to the museum, it doesn’t take much time to visit and I enjoyed learning about Lyon’s silk trade, a key part of the city’s heritage.
- Cost: €3 or free with Lyon City Card
- Hours: Tues-Fri 10am-1pm and 2pm-6pm, Saturday 10am-6pm. Closed Sunday-Monday
27. Mur des Canuts
The Mur des Canuts is an incredible trompe l’oeil (optical illusion) mural that fills an entire building wall and is dedicated to the canuts (silk workers) of Lyon. It depicts everyday life in the neighborhood—the buildings, courtyards, alleys, and stairs of typical Lyonnais silk workers—and looks incredibly lifelike.
First painted in 1986, the mural has been updated three times since then to reflect changes in the neighborhood and add more embellishments.
This is the largest painted wall in Europe and is internationally acclaimed – it’s a major attraction in Lyon.
28. Montée de la Grande Cote
This charming, colorful, pedestrian thoroughfare leads from the Presqu’Ile neighborhood up through the Croix-Rousse neighborhood. It is quite steep as it ascends the mountain (so I’d recommend walking down, not up), but is a really lovely street to stroll.
29. A Few Other Spots in Croix-Rousse
These last couple of spots I’d consider minor highlights in the Croix-Rousse neighborhood. Neither of them are huge must-visits, but if you want to explore a little bit more of the area, these are 2 stops you could make:
>>Amphitheater des Trois Gaules
This is a smaller scale Roman amphitheater built in 19 AD – its actually closed to visitors but you can see it easily from the street. It’s definitely not as impressive as the ones in Fourvière, but still notable to have Roman ruins just casually chilling in a residential neighborhood.
>>Jardin Gros Caillou
This small greenspace sits right on the edge of the Croix-Rousse hill and has views down over the city. The name means “large pebble” and there is indeed a large boulder on “display” in the middle of the park.
Map of Lyon Attractions
How Many Days Do You Need in Lyon
I’d recommend at least 3 days in Lyon to really see, do, and experience everything the city has to offer.
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