Lyon tourism and travel guide

Visit Lyon: highlights and tourist information

France This Way comment: Lyon has all the impressive buildings and monuments, museums, shops and restaurants that you would expect from one of the most important towns in France.

Lyon is situated in the Rhone department and Auvergne Rhône-Alpes region.

Attractions in Lyon

In Vieux Lyon there are numerous impressive townhouses of the 16th century, a cathedral, and picturesque paved streets to explore: Lyon Old Town

The Presqu'ile region of Lyon is characterised by 19th century architecture and upmarket shops: Lyon Presqu'ile

Tourist classifications for Lyon include "secteur sauvegarde", "heritage site", "aquarium" and "zoo or wildlife park". It is unusual for a town to have 4 awards, which indicates how important Lyon is as a tourist destination!

Popular places to visit nearby include Lyon Old Town at 1 km and Eveux at 18 km. For more sites to visit and local tourist attractions see the map and listings below.

Lyon, France: places to visit and attractions

Some of the places that we have visited and reviewed and can recommend when you are sightseeing close to Lyon in Auvergne Rhône-Alpes.

Note that all distances below are 'direct' and real driving distances will be greater!

Lyon Presqu'ile

less than one km (direction south-south-east)

The Presqu'ile region of Lyon is characterised by 19th century architecture and...

See Lyon Presqu'ile guide

Lyon Old Town

less than one km (direction south-south-east)

In Vieux Lyon there are numerous impressive townhouses of the 16th century,...

See Lyon Old Town guide

Eveux

at 18 km (direction west-north-west)

Eveux, in the Rhone, is visited for the La Tourette Monastery designed...

See Eveux guide

Trevoux

at 20 km (direction north-north-west), in the Ain department

The quiet town of Trevoux in Ain has several historical monuments paying...

See Trevoux guide

Anse

at 21 km (direction north-west)

The quiet town of Anse retains some Roman remains that hint at...

See Anse guide

Bagnols

at 24 km (direction west-north-west)

Bagnols village with a castle is one of the pretty villages to...

See Bagnols guide

Theize

at 26 km (direction north-west)

The quiet village of Theizé makes a pleasant detour when exploring the...

See Theize guide

Vienne (town)

at 27 km (direction south), in the Isere department

The combination of both Roman and medieval monuments in Vienne make it...

See Vienne (town) guide

Oingt

Most Beautiful Village at 28 km (direction north-west)

Completely renovated in recent years, Oingt is one of the prettiest villages...

See Oingt guide

Dombes

at 29 km (direction north-east), in the Ain department

The Dombes, with thousands of small lakes, is perfect for fishing and...

See Dombes guide

Perouges

Most Beautiful Village at 30 km (direction east-north-east), in the Ain department

The hillside walled town of perouges is among our favourite villages to...

See Perouges guide

Cremieu

at 32 km (direction east), in the Isere department

With some of the most extensive medieval ramparts in France, Cremieu also...

See Cremieu guide

Belleville

at 39 km (direction north-north-west)

Not an important tourist town, Belleville does have a couple of sites...

See Belleville guide

Pelussin

at 41 km (direction south-south-west), in the Loire department

The Chateau de Virieu and the old market hall are among the...

See Pelussin guide

... or see ALL recommended places to visit in Rhone

Map of places to visit near Lyon

Markets in and near Lyon

Market days in Lyon: weekly market: every day except Monday;

• Lyon: market every day except Monday (0km)
• Caluire-et-Cuire: market Thursday & Saturday (4km)
• Ecully: market Thursday & Saturday (5km)
• La Mulatiere: market Tuesday & Friday (5km)
• Oullins: market Tuesday & Thursday (6km)
• Saint-Fons: market Tuesday & Saturday (7km)
• Bron: market Tuesday & Saturday & Monday & Friday (7km)
• Pierre-Benite: market Wednesday & Sunday (7km)
• Rillieux-la-Pape: market Wednesday & Sunday & Friday (7km)
• Decines-Charpieu: market Tuesday & Sunday & Friday (9km)

Hotels near Lyon

More information about Lyon, Rhone-Alpes

Tourist attractions near Lyon, France

What to do at Lyon? Some places with official tourist classifications and other places of interest to visit nearby that should provide inspiration if you are visiting Lyon.

Most beautiful villages in France

(see also beautiful French villages)

• Oingt (28km)
• Perouges (30km)

Recommended detour towns (fr: plus beau détour)

• Trevoux (20km)
• Cremieu (32km)
• Saint-Symphorien-sur-Coise (33km)
• Chatillon-sur-Chalaronne (40km)
• Saint-Galmier (45km)

Regional Natural Parcs

• Pilat (46km)

Churches and religious monuments

• Eglise Saint-Jean-Baptiste (Lyon) (1km)
• Abbaye Saint Martin d'Ainey (Lyon) (2km)

Remarkable gardens

• Parc de Gerland (1km)
• Parc de la Tête d'Or (2km)
• Jardins du Château de Saint-Bernard (23km)
• Parc du château de Laye (34km)

Sites of natural beauty

• Laboratoire d’écologie des hydrosystèmes naturels et anthropisés (3km)
• Grand parc de Miribel-Jonage (9km)
• Oeillon Crest (45km)
• Perdrix Crest (48km)

Towns of Art and history

• Vienne (27km)
• Saint-Etienne (49km)

Villages in bloom 4* (fr: ville fleurie)

• Ecully (5km)
• Chaponnay (17km)
• Saint-Vulbas (36km)

Zoo and/or wildlife park

• Parc animalier de Courzieu (19km)
• Parc zoologique de Saint-Martin-la-Plaine (31km)

Geography and distances

Lyon is in the eastern-center of France - it is the prefecture (capital) of the Rhone department (general information: Lyon is 391 kilometres from Paris).

Getting here

For driving distances to Lyon from anywhere in France see driving distances and route planner.

We have 13 other places listed as being close (less than kilometres from ): Bron, Caluire-et-Cuire, Champagne-Au-Mont-d'Or, Ecully, Francheville, La Mulatiere, Oullins, Rillieux-la-Pape, Saint-Cyr-Au-Mont-d'Or, Saint-Didier-Au-Mont-d'Or, Sainte-Foy-les-Lyon, Tassin-la-Demi-Lune and Villeurbanne.

This page in French: Visiter Lyon