Make Some Time To Explore The Beautiful Land Of Lyon

Lyon is one of the beautiful cities in France. While everyone raves about Paris, the city of love, there are a few things that you need to know about Lyon, the city of history. Lyon is even recognised as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO because of the ancient ruins and fine Renaissance houses it has. Lyon does not have a world-class museum or top attractions, yet it is considered as the second-best tourist destination after Paris because of its historical buildings and some of the best things to do. But to explore the city, you have a few tourist attractions in Lyon which include old towns, cool restaurants, historical centres and many more. One can’t talk about Lyon without mentioning how delicious the food at this city is. It is even called the culinary capital of France and every gourmet will agree with this.

Tourist attractions in Lyon

There are plenty of tourist attractions in Lyon that you must try while planning a trip to this historical city. Whether you are looking for a complete city experience or an old town experience, you will find the best in Lyon. Keep reading to check out the top 10 tourist attractions in Lyon to make your trip memorable:

1. Musee des Beaux-Arts

Musee des Beaux-Arts is one of the top tourist attractions in Lyon. The name translates to ‘The fine arts museum’ and this museum is considered to be the second-best in France after Louvre. Musee des Beaux-Arts has a unique collection of artworks which include paintings and sculptures from the 17th century. Apart from the ancient collections, it also has modern-day paintings which make it stand out from many other museums. You will find here the works done by the European masters like Delacroix, Géricault and many more artists. After exploring the entire museum, you can have a coffee at the cafe in the museum to end your day on a peaceful note.

2. Presqu’ile District

Presqu’ile is a word that translates to ‘Almost Island’. The district has got its name because of the location within the river. One of the major attractions to visit here is Place des Terreaux which is located in the north of Presqu’ile. It has two prestigious structures which are Hotel de Ville and Saint Pierre Palace. Make sure to visit this place on your visit to Lyon!

3. Quartier Saint-Jean

If you are looking for an old town experience, then make sure you visit Quartier Saint-Jean. What’s so special about this place? Be it the pedestrian streets or the traditional restaurants or the shopping places, everything about Quartier Saint-Jean is beautiful in its own way. Apart from this, there are two museums. One is Musée d’Histoire de Lyon, to talk about the history and the other one is Musée des Arts de la Marionnette, to perform marionettes. You can also enjoy these puppet shows at some of the theatres like Theatre la Maison de Guignol. Make sure you enjoy some, as attending puppets shows are one of the must-do things to do in Lyon.

4. Musee de la Civilisation Gallo-Romaine

The museum displays a variety of objects which include vases, coins and statues from the ancient era. Among the unique collections it has, the highlights are the Hercules sculpture and a 100-meter floor made of mosaic which displays images of the God of oceans. About 300 metres away from the museum, you will have an archaeological site that has the ancient ruins including two Roman theatres. One is the Grand Theatre, to perform comedies and the other is Odeon Theatre, for musical performances.

5. Colline de la Croix-Rousse

Being located on high slopes, you will find many curves on your way to this place and witness the best views of Colline de la Croix-Rousse. One of the attractions that you must visit is Maison des Canuts, a museum featuring the art of creating silk. Just wandering around the streets of Colline de la Croix-Rousse will give you a beautiful experience of witnessing some architectural beauties and hidden traboules.

6. Musee des Tissus et Musee des Arts Decoratifs

Musee des Tissus et Musee des Arts Decoratifs is a museum which stands as home to two distinct museums which are Musee des Tissus and Musee des Arts Decoratifs. Both museums have their own way of talking about the pride of the city. While Musee des Tissus talks about Lyon’s silk trade, Musee des Arts Decoratifs talks about different pieces of artwork.

7. Centre d’Histoire de la Résistance et de la Déportation

During the time of World War II, Lyon was called the capital of resistance because of how it managed to defend itself against the Nazi regime. This building narrates stories about deportees, their children and everyone who survived the Second World War. Visit this place to know more about the citizens and also deportees who struggled and survived through World War II!

8. Basilique Notre-Dame de Fourviere

Standing tall at an altitude of 130 metres, Basilique Notre-Dame de Fourviere is a beautiful piece of architecture. It is a perfect blend of Gothic and Byzantine styles which would leave anyone stunned for sure. To get there, catch a funicular that takes you up the hill.

9. Primatiale Cathedrale Saint-Jean Baptiste

Primatiale Cathedrale Saint-Jean Baptiste is a beautiful cathedral that was built with great architecture. It stands as one of the top tourist attractions in Lyon especially for its stained glass windows from the 13th century. While you are there, make sure to check out the astronomical clock that was created by Nicolas Lippius.

10. Gourmet restaurants

One of the many amazing things that Lyon has to offer is filling your tummy with the best regional cuisine. Quenelles, a fish dumpling, is a must-visit dish that you should try on your trip to Lyon. Make sure to visit Les Halles de Lyon – Paul Bocuse, a marketplace of 48 shops offering various food products to tickle your tastebuds. And if you want to experience hands-on culinary training, visit L’atelier des chefs and it will be worthy of a visit.

Whether you are planning for a city break or a long weekend trip, Lyon is a perfect choice. To plan your trip, head out to the Pickyourtrail website and have a look at the France travel packages. Let us know your choices to craft an amazing itinerary for you. We will make sure you have a beautiful vacation with seamless customer support via the Pickyourtrail application.

Explore the best of Lyon with Pickyourtrail!