French city guides: top 10 reasons to visit Lyon
Our favourite spot in south-east France —the charming city of Lyon. Discover our top Lyon favourites: food, drink, museums & other fun places, compiled by local Jessica Rushton & updated in 2025.
At MyFrenchLife™, we love nothing more than to live as locals in the city of our choosing. There’s something magical about discovering a city as more than just a tourist or visitor, and a great local guide can make a huge difference!
So, if you love travelling as a local like us, then it makes sense to consider staying in the home of locals – imagine trading lives with a famille française even for a few weeks… And that’s the reason we love house-sitting. It allows us to discover new places from an entirely different perspective.
Once you’ve sorted out one half of the equation, the only thing left to do is find that local city guide…
One of our favourite spots in south-east France is definitely the charming city of Lyon. So, here are our top ten Lyon favourites: food, drink, museums, and other fun things to do, compiled by local experts in the know. The true insider guide!
Did your favourites make the list? Read on to find out…
1. Vieux-Lyon
Wander the streets of Vieux-Lyon by day or night – the cobblestone streets and old buildings are always delightful. The streets are lined by boutiques, cafés, and more than a few traditional bouchons (stay tuned for number ten on this list).
Getting there: Metro Vieux Lyon (Line D), 69005 Lyon
2. La Basilique de Nôtre Dame de Fourvière
Take the funiculaire up to the Basilique de Nôtre Dame de Fourvière for both the church and the view. The ceilings inside the basilica are particularly magnificent, while the view overlooking the city and all the way out to the Alps is similarly breathtaking.
Address: 8 Place de Fourvière, 69005 Lyon
Phone: +33 4 78 25 13 01
Website: fourviere.org
3. Coffee at Galerie Masurel (formerly Slika) and Café Mokxa
Although Café Mokxa might be the more popular spot for great coffee in Lyon, Galerie Masurel (formerly Galerie Slika) might make the better coffee. Started by a local Frenchman, it’s a gallery-cum-café space – great for working, relaxing, or catching up with friends. It’s such a well-kept secret that even le Petit Paumé hadn’t caught on when we first wrote this...
Galerie Masurel
Address: 25 Rue Auguste Comte, 69002 Lyon
Phone: +33 4 78 62 92 90
Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 11am-1pm & 2pm-7pm
Website: galerie-masurel.com
Café Mokxa has expanded beautifully and now has other locations at Grand Hôtel-Dieu and across Lyon.
Café Mokxa Grand Hôtel-Dieu
Address: 5 Rue Bellecordière, Grand Hôtel-Dieu, 69002 Lyon
Phone: +33 4 69 84 68 50
Website: cafemokxa.com
4. Afternoon tea at Le Kitchen Café or La Bicycletterie
Following in the trend of pairing bicycles and coffee (who knew the two were such soulmates?), La Bicycletterie is a few steps away from the bustling Place des Terreaux, and they make tasty coffee and afternoon treats. Our advice: don’t miss the salted caramel blondie with a café Americano.
La Bicycletterie
Address: 16 Rue Romarin, 69001 Lyon
Phone: +33 4 37 92 04 96
Hours: Tue-Fri 8:30am-7pm; Sat 9:30am-7pm; Closed Sun-Mon
Website: la-bicycletterie.com
Meanwhile, across the river is Le Kitchen Café – a lovely salon de thé with upmarket dessert choices for afternoon tea! This gem has earned a Michelin Bib Gourmand and continues to thrive with its Swedish-inspired bistronomy and legendary cakes.
Le Kitchen Café
Address: 34 Rue Chevreul, 69007 Lyon
Hours: Mon, Thu-Fri 8am-6:30pm; Sat-Sun 8:30am-6:30pm; Closed Tue-Wed
5. Musée des Beaux Arts
Even if you don’t end up going inside the Musée des Beaux Arts, it’s a must-visit for the beautiful courtyard and building alone. We could while away many summer afternoons with a book in the enclosed courtyard. But, we do recommend you go inside too: the collection spans 70 rooms and countless eras, from antiquity to contemporary. And with the Place des Terreaux and Bartholdi Fountain just outside, it’s well worth a stroll by…
Address: 20 Place des Terreaux, 69001 Lyon
Phone: +33 4 72 10 17 40
Website: mba-lyon.fr
6. Le Parc de la Tête d’Or
This beautiful park in Lyon’s north-east has green fields, a Guignol theatre, a tranquil lake and even a zoo. Take a picnic or just go for a wander – and if you feel so inclined, visit the Musée d’Art Contemporain at the edge of the park while you’re there.
Address: Place Général Leclerc, 69006 Lyon
Hours: 6:30am-10:30pm (April-Oct); 6:30am-8:30pm (Nov-March)
Admission: Free
7. Quirky eats at Crock ‘n’ Roll
In the trend of turning a very specific cuisine into a new food craze, Crock ‘n’ Roll has given the humble croque monsieur a complete makeover. With creative fillings between fresh country bread slices, it’s become a Lyon institution. Try their signature creations or build your own!
The Crock ‘n’ Roll - Vieux Lyon
Address: 6 Rue Octavio Mey, 69005 Lyon
Also at: Hôtel de Ville location in Lyon 1er
8. Cycling along the Rhône
Hire a bicycle from one of 340 Vélo’V bike stations around Lyon, and take it for a whirl! Our favourite spot for a ride? Definitely along the Rhône River down to the Lyon Confluence.
Website: velov.grandlyon.com
9. Literature in Lyon
Lyon has a thriving literary scene! Don’t miss Librairie le Père Pénard – described as a ‘Tardis’ of books where French classics sit at tiny prices. It’s one of those magical independent bookshops that makes you lose track of time.
Librairie le Père Pénard
Address: 8 Rue Émile Zola, 69002 Lyon
10. Leave room for a hearty dinner at a Bouchon Lyonnais
As MyFrenchLife™ correspondent Jess Gregory explains, the guidebooks aren’t wrong on this one: dinner at a Bouchon is a must-do when in Lyon. Her advice for navigating le bouchon like a local: remember that the translation for offal is ‘abats’ (especially if you’re not a fan).
A list of the best bouchons can be found in Lyon’s ultimate foodie guide, Le Petit Paumé, while Jess has also written more on the history of Les Bouchon Lyonnais, and what to expect in a typical restaurant on MyFrenchLife™.
We’re dying to go back to Lyon after listing all these amazing places…
Have you visited Lyon? What are your favourite spots? Share your recommendations in the comments below!
Image credits:
Image credits:
1. Lyon, via Wikipedia.
2. Lyon by Net Circlion. B, via Flickr.
3. La Bicycletterie, by Camille B. via Yelp.
4. Le Parc de la Tête d’Or, via Wikipédia.
5. Les Berges du Rhône, via Wikipédia.
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