Things to Do in Lyon

2-hour walking tour to explore Lyon like a local. Walk through two main historical districts: Vieux (old) Lyon and la Presqu'île (the peninsula). Learn about Lyon's rich history, unique architecture, while getting lots of restaurant recommendations along the way. This is hands down the best tour if you're only in Lyon for a few days and want to see the city's main sights.  

• Explore Lyon with locals: history, gastronomy and secret passages 

We’re a father/son team team - Canadians and native English speakers - who have lived in Lyon for over 20 years. Join us to hear personal stories about living in Lyon. We also take you through secret passages (traboules) and share our favorite "bouchon" restaurant recommendations. 

• The Tour:

During your 2-hour walk, you'll see:

Starting Point: In front of Louis XIV's statue (place Bellecour Lyon's 5th disctrict)
Stop 1: Place Bellecour (Lyon's main square)
Stop 2: Bonaparte Bridge and River Saône
Stop 3: St Jean the Baptist Cathedral (built in the 12th century) and its 14th century clock
Stop(s) 4: Vieux (old) Lyon and secret Renaissance passages called "traboules" 
Stop 5: The river walk and criminal courts
Stop 6: Rue Mercière (street with Lyon's best "bouchon" restaurants and pastry shops)
Stops 7-8: Bartholdi Fountain and city hall
End Point: Place des Terreaux (Lyon's 2nd district)

• Highlights

Explore old Lyon's secret Renaissance passageways  (called "traboules")
See the city's two main squares (Bellecour and Terreaux)
Learn Lyon's rich history from its Roman origins, Renaissance silk trade, and World War II resistance fighters.
Lots of recommendations about where to shop, eat, and drink
Guides will share some typical Lyonnais expressions

📍 Practical Info:

⏰ Duration:  2 hours

🌐 Languages: English and French

📌 Meeting point: Place Bellecour (metro Bellecour), in front of the Louis XIV statue (look for your guide's red cap or beret)

👟 Total Walking Distance 3 kms (1.9 miles)

✅ Book now! Free tour but feel free to tip your guide.

 ✨ We've designed a single 2h tour that brings together Lyon's two most iconic historic districts — Vieux Lyon and Croix-Rousse — in one immersive experience. By the end, you'll have a deeper understanding of the city’s identity and plenty of personalized tips to keep exploring.

It’s the perfect tour if you’re only in Lyon for a few days and want to experience the very best of the city in one go.

🥖 Discover Lyon with Real Locals – History, Food & Hidden Corners
We’re the LyonExplorer team – a small group of locals who truly love this city. Some of us were born here, others moved here after falling in love with Lyon (and yes, the food played a big part!). We’re not actors or scripted performers – just passionate guides who enjoy meeting new people and sharing what makes Lyon special: its stories, hidden corners, favorite places to eat, and the little details you won’t find in guidebooks. Think of it more like a walk with a local friend than a traditional tour. 

🗺️ What to Expect:
In about 2h, we’ll take you through some of the most iconic and surprising parts of the city: 

• Walk through the secret traboules of Vieux Lyon
• Stroll up to Croix-Rousse for great views and a cool artistic vibe
• Hear stories about Lyon’s silk weavers, Roman origins, and quirky legends
• Spot colorful street art and peaceful courtyards you might miss on your own
• Get our local tips for restaurants, wine bars, and hidden gems
• And pick up a few fun Lyonnais expressions along the way

 
📍 Practical Info:
 

• ⏰ Duration: around 2h
• 🌐 Languages: English, French, Spanish
• 📌 Meeting point: Place des Terreaux, in front of the Bartholdi fountain
• 👟 Easy pace, relaxed vibe

 
✅ Book now – and tip whatever you feel the tour is worth.
 It’s free to join. You decide the value at the end.
 

Hi! My name is Paul, and I’d love to take you on a walk through two of my favorite neighborhoods in Lyon — Croix-Rousse and Vieux Lyon.

We’ll start in Place des Terreaux, surrounded by the majestic Hôtel de Ville and Bartholdi Fountain, before walking into Croix-Rousse, the historic heart of Lyon’s silk industry. As we wander through the old traboules, the hidden passageways, you’ll hear about the lives of the silk workers — the canuts — and how their struggles and revolts inspired thinkers like Karl Marx.

You’ll also discover how Joseph-Marie Jacquard’s invention — a loom that used punch cards — helped inspire the first ideas behind modern computing.

I’ll tell you about Jean Moulin the leader of the French Resistance, and how Leynaud, a poet and friend of Albert Camus, left his mark on the city’s wartime story. 

From the ancient Roman amphitheatre, we’ll enjoy a sweeping view over the city, and I’ll tell you the difference between a Roman theatre and an amphitheatre.

As we head down toward Vieux Lyon, we’ll stop at the Fresque des Lyonnais, where you’ll meet the city’s most famous sons and daughters — from the Lumière brothers to Paul Bocuse. 

Then we’ll slip into the old town, with its hidden courtyards and secret passageways tucked behind unmarked doors.

We’ll finish in the lively heart of Vieux Lyon — just in time for lunch, if you’d like some local recommendations!

It’s a relaxed, story-filled walk through Lyon’s layered history — from Roman stones to silk threads to the digital age.

Things you will visit:

• Place des Terreaux
• Hôtel de Ville
• Bartholdi Fountain
• Musée des Beaux-Arts
• Place des Capucins
• Many Hidden Passageways (Traboules)
• Passage Thiaffet
• Lots of Street Art
• Montée de la Grande Côte with its Old Houses
• View of the City and Countryside
• View of the Fourvière Hill with Basilica
• Ruins of the Roman Amphitheatre
• The Famous Mural 'Fresque des Lyonnais'
• Footbridge across the Saône
• Vieux Lyon
• Place St. Paul
• Hidden passageways and Courtyards in Rue Juiverie
• Rue de Gadagne with its famous Bouchons (traditional Restaurants)
• Place de Change
• Riverbanks of the Sâone with the famous Statue
• Traboule through the Hôtel du Gouvernement
• Hidden Courtyard in Rue St. Jean

Things I talk about:

• Introduction to Lyon
• Place des Terreaux with the Hôtel de Ville and Bartholdi Fountain
• Roman Origins
• Silk 
• The Jacquard Loom and the Origins of Computers
• The Croix-Rousse Neighborhood
• Lyon as Culinary Capital of France
• The French Resistance in the Hidden Passageways
• Gentrification in the Croix-Rousse
• Street Art and the Connection to the Silk Workers
• Early Union Movements
• The History of the Fourviére Church
• The Roman Theatre and Amphitheatre
• Modern Life in Lyon
• Life in the Old Tow
• Traditional Lyonnais food in the Bouchon
• The Origins of the Passageways (Traboules)
• Restaurant and Coffee Recommendations.
• Best Things to do in Lyon

Hi! My name is Paul, and I’d love to show you my city.

Join me for a walk through Vieux Lyon, where every corner has a secret and every stone has a story. Together, we’ll wander the cobbled streets, slip through hidden traboules, and uncover Lyon’s mix of beauty, darkness, and deliciousness.

Along the way, you’ll learn how Michelin stars really work, spot the modern gargoyle watching over the cathedral, and hear about the dishes you might want to avoid in a traditional bouchon (yes, some involve intestines).

I’ll tell you about the Butcher of Lyon, the Resistance, and how justice finally caught up with him in Bolivia.

But it’s not all dark — we’ll also talk about the silk merchants, the chefs like Paul Bocuse who made Lyon the gastronomic capital of France, and the city’s rebirth into one of Europe’s most vibrant cultural centers.

We’ll finish in the elegant heart of Lyon, near landmarks like the Théâtre des Célestins and the Hôtel-Dieu, where the past meets the present.

It’s a relaxed walk — full of stories, history, and a few local secrets you won’t find in any guidebook.

Things you will visit:

• Place St. Jean
• Cathedral St. Jean
• View of the Fourvière hill with Basilica
• Archeological Garden
• Many Hidden Passageways
• Jardin de la Basoche with the Miniature Museum
• La Longue Traboule (passageway)
• Rue du Boeuf
• La Tour Rose
• Rue des Trois Maries with the 2 Traboules
• Riverbanks of the Saône
• Palais de Justice
• The Footbridge over the Saône
• Quai Sant'Antoine with its Markets
• Place des Celestins with the Theatre
• The Posh 2nd Arrondissement.
• The Main Shopping Street, Rue de la République
• The Beautiful Hôtel Dieu

Welcome to Lyon! A fascinating city with a great historical and cultural heritage. On this tour, you will discover many peculiarities that will surprise you.

Our meeting point will be Place Bellecour, next to the statue of Louis XIV. After a brief introduction to the city, we will begin our tour in the center of the presqu'île; the imposing Célestins theater and its peculiar parking, the Jacobins square with its unique architecture and luxury shops. We will cross the l'Argue footbridge to reach the famous Mercière street, known for its wide gastronomic offer and bars. We will continue towards the old town of Lyon, a medieval and Renaissance neighborhood that preserves countless peculiarities and notable monuments among its streets, such as the Palace of Justice, the Roman archaeological garden, the church of Saint John the Baptist, the museums, and of course, the famous traboules, which will transport us to past times. Afterwards, we will return to the presqu'île to visit Place des Terreaux and its iconic fountain, followed by the town hall and the famous Lyon Opera. 

During the tour, I will provide you with information about restaurants, bars, cafes, and many other places of interest that this vibrant city offers its visitors. Come and discover Lyon with me in the most fun and dynamic way possible!

On this private walking tour, you'll be able to decide what you want to visit in Lyon and have an English-speaking guide exclusively for you!

☀️ NEW afternoon schedule to avoid the heat 

🚩Contact me for other schedules, I am flexible

Discover Lyon through its history, its alleyways, and its best-kept secrets. In this Free Tour, we will visit the must-see places of the historic center: the majestic Opera, the spectacular Place des Terreaux, the City Hall, the amazing Fresco of the Lyonnais, the historic Church of Saint Nizier, the monumental Place des Jacobins, the emblematic Place Bellecour, the secret and fascinating traboules, the medieval charm of Old Lyon, and the grand Cathedral of Saint John. 

We will talk about the history of Lyon from its origin as a Roman city to its importance during the Renaissance and its role in present-day France. Additionally, I will share curiosities, anecdotes, and recommendations so you can enjoy Lyon like a local. This tour has been carefully crafted to keep you engaged for 2 hours: history, humor, games, and a narrative designed to help you truly understand Lyon.  

This tour is the perfect introduction to discover the history, architecture, and secrets of the capital of French gastronomy in one unforgettable experience.

Did you know that Lyon is a city with two souls? One modern, vibrant, and full of art; and another ancient, mysterious, holding secrets within its medieval alleys. In this tour, I invite you to discover both.

We begin at the majestic Lyon Opera House, right in the Plaza de la Comédie, to delve into the cultural heart of the city. We will stroll through the Place des Terreaux, admiring the imposing Bartholdi statue and the Hotel de Ville. Along the way, you will discover the urban art that decorates Lyon, the Saint-Nizier church, the charm of the Place des Jacobins, and the refined Théâtre des Célestins.

But here the story is just beginning... Crossing the river, we enter Old Lyon, where the "traboules" (secret passageways) await us with stories of resistance and daily life. We finish at the magical Place de Saint-Jean, leaving you ready to continue exploring on your own the hills of Fourvière and the Fourvière church.

Unlike cities like Paris, Rome, or Venice—where grand monuments, wide boulevards, and large crowds steal the spotlight—the Old Town of Lyon offers a more authentic, peaceful, and deeply cultural experience.

Once the capital of Roman Gaul and an economic hub for centuries, Lyon was the most influential city in Europe during its time, thanks to its commercial power, ecclesiastical importance, and strategic location. Today, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, preserving its historical essence and a charm that makes it truly unique.

On our tour of Vieux Lyon, the Renaissance heart of the city, we’ll explore its cobbled streets, cross the traboules—secret passageways connecting courtyards and alleyways—and admire the majestic Saint-Jean Cathedral. 

Along the way, you’ll relive Lyon’s history from the Roman era through the Middle Ages and beyond. You’ll hear captivating legends, meet historical figures who shaped the city, and uncover how Lyon’s rich culture and traditions evolved over time.

Join us as we guide you through the hidden corners of Lyon, offering a truly local perspective.

🎟️ Book your tour today and get ready for an unforgettable experience!