What to see, where to stay and the best time to visit Lyon, France.
Photo: Baptiste_lheurette / Pixabay
Lyon is a French city of about 519,127 people. It is not the capital and not on the coast, so you come for the city itself. Walk the old streets of Vieux Lyon, see the Roman theatres and the basilica on Fourvière hill, visit the museums and eat at Les Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse. First-timers usually stay in Presqu'île or Vieux Lyon. The best months to go are May, June, September and October.
We have no fixed figure for Lyon. Add up what you want to see. Vieux Lyon and Croix-Rousse take half a day each. Lugdunum and the big museums take 2–3 hours each, and the basilica 1–2 hours. Plan your stay around that list.
Vieux Lyon
A large Renaissance quarter of narrow streets on the west bank of the Saône, part of Lyon's UNESCO World Heritage site. Look for the traboules, covered passageways that cut through buildings and courtyards. Some are open to the public. Go early in the day, as the main streets get crowded.
Fourvière
A large white basilica on the hill above Old Lyon, with a richly decorated interior of mosaics and marble. The terrace beside it gives the best view over the city. You can walk up steep paths or take the funicular from Vieux Lyon.
Fourvière
The remains of two Roman theatres from the city of Lugdunum, the Roman name for Lyon, sit on the slope of Fourvière hill. The museum built into the hillside next to them shows mosaics, inscriptions and everyday objects from Roman Gaul. It pairs well with a visit to the basilica nearby.
Vieux Lyon
A Gothic cathedral at the southern end of Old Lyon, known for its stained glass and its astronomical clock. It is a short visit and easy to combine with the old town and the funicular up Fourvière.
Presqu'île
One of France's largest fine art museums outside Paris, housed in a former abbey on Place des Terreaux. The collection runs from ancient Egypt to modern painting. The quiet cloister garden is a good place to rest.
Confluence
A science and anthropology museum in a striking modern building where the Rhône and Saône rivers meet. Exhibits cover natural history, world cultures and the story of life on Earth. It works well for families and on rainy days.
Tête d'Or
Lyon's largest city park, with a lake, rose gardens, large greenhouses and a small zoo. Locals come here to walk, run and picnic. It is a good break from museums and old streets.
Croix-Rousse
The hill where Lyon's silk workers, the canuts, once lived and worked in tall buildings with high ceilings for their looms. You can explore its traboules, steep stairways and the large painted wall called the Mur des Canuts. It feels more local and less touristy than Old Lyon.
Part-Dieu
An indoor food market named after the famous Lyon chef. Stalls sell cheese, charcuterie, pastries, oysters and other local produce, and several counters serve food on the spot. Go hungry and come at lunchtime to eat there.
Presqu'île
One of the largest open squares in Europe, with an equestrian statue of Louis XIV in the middle. It is the central meeting point of the city and a starting point for walks across the Presqu'île to Old Lyon. There is little shade, so it can be very hot in summer.
Average weather and our month score, from 10 years of climate data.
| Month | High / low | Rain days | Sunshine | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7°C / 1°C | 13 days (67 mm) | 4.7 h/day | 1.5/10 |
| February | 10°C / 1°C | 9 days (45 mm) | 6.8 h/day | 3.9/10 |
| March | 13°C / 4°C | 12 days (70 mm) | 8.7 h/day | 5.3/10 |
| April | 17°C / 6°C | 10 days (64 mm) | 10.1 h/day | 7.3/10 |
| Best month: May | 20°C / 11°C | 12 days (97 mm) | 10.8 h/day | 7.5/10 |
| Best month: June | 26°C / 15°C | 11 days (87 mm) | 12.5 h/day | 7.7/10 |
| July | 29°C / 17°C | 8 days (59 mm) | 13.0 h/day | 7.3/10 |
| August | 28°C / 17°C | 7 days (61 mm) | 11.9 h/day | 7.5/10 |
| Best month: September | 23°C / 13°C | 8 days (73 mm) | 10.1 h/day | 8.5/10 |
| Best month: October | 18°C / 10°C | 9 days (102 mm) | 7.5 h/day | 8.0/10 |
| November | 11°C / 5°C | 11 days (81 mm) | 5.8 h/day | 3.8/10 |
| December | 8°C / 2°C | 12 days (75 mm) | 4.8 h/day | 1.7/10 |
Avoid. This is the coldest month, with highs of 7°C, lows near 1°C and about 13 rain days. There are only 4.7 hours of sun. Score 1.5.
Avoid. It is still cold, with highs of 10°C and lows near 1°C. It is drier, though, with about 9 rain days. Score 3.9.
OK. Highs reach 13°C, but expect about 12 rain days and cool evenings around 4°C. Score 5.3.
Good. Mild highs of 17°C, 10 rain days and about 10 hours of sun. A solid time for walking the city. Score 7.3.
Best. Warm highs of 20°C, but also 97 mm of rain over about 12 rain days. Pack a rain jacket. Score 7.5.
Best. Highs near 26°C, the second-longest sunshine at 12.5 hours, and about 11 rain days. Score 7.7.
Good. This is the hottest month, with highs of 28.5°C and only 7.5 rain days. Hot afternoons can be tiring. Score 7.3.
Best. Hot highs of 28°C and the fewest rain days, about 7. Nights stay warm at around 17°C. Score 7.5.
The top month, with a score of 8.5. Highs of 23°C, only 7.5 rain days and about 10 hours of sun.
Best. Pleasant highs of 18°C and about 9 rain days. But it has the most rain of the year, at 102 mm. Score 8.
Avoid. Highs drop to 11°C, sunshine falls to about 6 hours and rain comes on about 11 days. Score 3.8.
Avoid. Cold and grey, with highs of 8°C, lows of 2°C, about 12 rain days and only 4.8 hours of sun. Score 1.7.
Climate averages 2015–2024 · Best time to visit France →
The best areas to base yourself and who each one suits.
Good for first-timers, shopping, dining
The central strip of land between the Rhône and Saône rivers, with grand squares, shopping streets and many restaurants. Most sights are a walk or short metro ride away, so it is the easiest base for a first visit. Main streets and squares can be crowded and noisy, especially on weekends.
Good for first-timers, history lovers, couples
The old town on the west bank of the Saône, with narrow cobbled lanes, Renaissance buildings and traditional bouchon restaurants. Staying here puts you close to the funicular up to Fourvière hill. The lanes fill with day visitors, and some streets stay loud late at night near the bars.
Good for repeat visitors, food lovers, slower pace
The old silk-weavers' district on a hill north of the Presqu'île, with a village feel, a local food market and hidden passageways called traboules. It feels more residential and relaxed than the centre. The slopes and stairs are steep, which can be tiring with luggage or for people with limited mobility.
Good for families, quiet, park lovers
An elegant, calm residential area on the east bank of the Rhône, close to the large Parc de la Tête d'Or. Streets are quiet at night and well connected by metro. It has less nightlife and fewer sights on the doorstep than the historic centre.
Good for business travellers, short stays, rail arrivals
A modern business district around Lyon's main train station, with a large shopping centre and good tram and metro links, including to the airport. It is practical if you arrive late or leave early by train. The area is mostly office blocks and feels less attractive, especially in the evening.
Good for modern design fans, families
A redeveloped district at the southern tip of the Presqu'île where the two rivers meet, with contemporary architecture, riverside paths and the Musée des Confluences. It is newer, cleaner and calmer than the old centre. It is further from the historic sights and can feel quiet and a little empty after shops close.
Soft, oval dumplings made with pike fish, flour, eggs and butter. They are baked until puffed and usually served in a creamy crayfish sauce (sauce Nantua) in the city's traditional bouchon restaurants.
A salad of bitter frisée leaves with fried bacon pieces, croutons, a poached egg and a sharp vinaigrette. Locals often eat it as a starter in bouchons.
Fresh soft cheese mixed with herbs, shallots, oil and vinegar. The name refers to Lyon's old silk workers. It is served as a starter or spread on bread.
A large, dry-cured pork sausage. Locals slice it thinly and eat it with bread at the start of a meal or with an evening drink.
A coarse sausage made from pork intestines, often grilled and served with mustard sauce. It has a strong smell and taste, so it is not for everyone. Try it only if you like offal.
A tart filled with bright pink sugar-coated almonds melted with cream. Bakeries all over the city sell it, whole or by the slice.
September is the best month to visit Lyon, with a score of 8.5. Days reach about 23.4°C, nights drop to 13.3°C and there are only 7.5 rain days. October (score 8), June (7.7) and May (7.5) are also good choices. October is cooler at 17.9°C, while June is warmer at 25.8°C.
Yes, August is one of the best months for Lyon, with a score of 7.5. It has the fewest rain days of the year, at 7.2, and about 11.9 hours of sun. Be ready for heat, though. Highs average 28.1°C, and July is slightly hotter at 28.5°C. If you dislike hot city streets, choose September instead.
Winter is not a good time for Lyon, so avoid it if you can. December scores 1.7 and January 1.5, the lowest of the year. January highs are only 6.8°C, with 13.3 rain days and about 4.7 hours of sun. November (3.8) and February (3.9) are also rated as months to avoid.
October has the most rain in Lyon, with 102 mm. However, that rain falls on only 9.3 days, so there are still many dry days. May is also wet, with 97 mm over 12.4 days. January has the most rain days, at 13.3, but less total rain, at 67 mm.
You need more than one day to see Lyon's main sights. Old Lyon and Croix-Rousse take half a day each, so these two alone fill a full day. Lugdunum, the Musée des Confluences, the Musée des Beaux-Arts and Parc de la Tête d'Or each take 2–3 hours. On top of that, the Basilica of Fourvière and Les Halles need 1–2 hours each.
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