Day trips from Lyon: 10 ideas less than an hour away

Around Lyon you will find medieval villages, vineyards, hills to hike, a large bird park and Roman remains. Here are ten day trips from Lyon. Each one takes a day or half a day. Every fact comes from an official source, linked in the text.

  • Villages: Pérouges, Oingt and the Pierres Dorées.
  • Vineyards: Beaujolais, Coteaux du Lyonnais.
  • Nature: Île Barbe, Monts d'Or, Parc des Oiseaux.
  • History: Vienne, Saint-Romain-en-Gal, the Couvent de la Tourette.

Villages with character

Two villages listed among the Plus Beaux Villages de France (Most Beautiful Villages of France) lie about thirty kilometres from Lyon: Pérouges, in the Ain, and Oingt, in the Beaujolais. One is medieval and fortified, the other built of golden stone.

1. Pérouges, the medieval town

Pérouges overlooks the Ain plain, about thirty kilometres from Lyon. The village has kept its medieval architecture for centuries. Its fortress church is built into the ramparts. While there, try the galette de Pérouges and take a break on Place du Tilleul. Details on the Plus Beaux Villages de France page.

2. Oingt and the Pierres Dorées villages

Oingt is presented as one of the jewels of the Pays des Pierres Dorées. Its 12th-century tower houses a museum on the village's history and a terrace with a 360° view. The yellow tint of the stone comes from iron oxide. To link several villages in one day, read our article on the Pierres Dorées villages.

Vineyards and local produce

The Beaujolais, to the north, is less than an hour from Lyon and has 12 AOCs (protected designations of origin). The Coteaux du Lyonnais, to the west, start just 10 kilometres from the city. Two options for a day among vines and cellars.

3. The Beaujolais vineyards

The Beaujolais is a UNESCO Global Geopark. The Lyon tourist office recommends going with a guide or booking a tasting. Several châteaux are open to visitors, such as the Château de Pizay or the Château du Moulin-à-Vent.

4. The Coteaux du Lyonnais

This AOC lies 10 kilometres west of Lyon. The tourist office stresses how exceptionally close it is to the city: a short outing, easy to fit into half a day.

Nature on Lyon's doorstep

You do not need to go far to walk or breathe some fresh air. The Île Barbe is in Lyon itself, the Monts d'Or begin at Saint-Cyr-au-Mont-d'Or, and the Parc des Oiseaux at Villars-les-Dombes is 30 minutes from Lyon.

5. The Île Barbe

This island in the Saône, in the 9th arrondissement, was home to an abbey founded in the 5th century, the first monastery in the Lyon area. An 1827 suspension bridge links it to both banks. Part of the island is public, the rest private. Find out more in our article Île Barbe in Lyon.

6. The Monts d'Or and Mont Cindre

The Grand Lyon offers a 7.5 km loop, “L'homme et le paysage” (Man and the Landscape), starting from the Mont Cindre car park in Saint-Cyr-au-Mont-d'Or:

  • Duration: 2 hours, moderate difficulty.
  • Along the way: the Ermitage chapel, Mont Cindre (460 m), the hamlet of Mont Thou.
  • Look out for: 28 species of wild orchid recorded in the Mont d'Or.

The full route is in our guide hiking Mont Cindre and Mont Thou.

7. The Parc des Oiseaux at Villars-les-Dombes

In the Ain, 30 minutes from Lyon according to the park, 35 hectares are home to 2,000 birds from 250 species. The site describes itself as the largest leisure site in Europe devoted to birds. In 2026, it is open until 11 November. Opening hours on the Parc des Oiseaux website.

Roman history and architecture

To the south, Vienne and Saint-Romain-en-Gal hold major Roman remains, 30 minutes from Lyon. To the west, the Couvent de la Tourette, by Le Corbusier, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Both can be reached by train.

8. Vienne

The Temple of Augustus and Livia, built in the early 1st century, is one of the best-preserved Roman temples in France. The ancient theatre holds about 9,000 spectators and hosts the Jazz à Vienne festival every summer. On Saturdays, the market stretches over more than 6 km. By train, allow 15 to 30 minutes from Jean Macé or Part-Dieu, according to Visiter Lyon.

9. Saint-Romain-en-Gal

Part of ancient Vienne, this site was discovered in 1967 and covers 7 hectares. You can see the remains of a wealthy residential district of the Roman town: houses, baths, workshops. The on-site museum displays objects and mosaics.

10. L'Arbresle and the Couvent de la Tourette

L'Arbresle has kept a medieval old town. About 30 minutes' walk from the centre, the Couvent de la Tourette, designed by Le Corbusier, is UNESCO-listed and still home to Dominican friars.

  • Train from Saint-Paul or Part-Dieu.
  • Journey: 27 to 35 minutes.

Day trips from Effet Lodge

Effet Lodge is in Saint-Cyr-au-Mont-d'Or, 8 km from the centre of Lyon, at the foot of the Monts d'Or. The Mont Cindre loop starts in the same village, and the house has 4 private parking spaces for trips by car.

In the evening, in season, the heated pool and the leafy garden await your return. Choose between our guest rooms with pool and the gîte for 6 people. More outing ideas are on our page Walks around Lyon. If you are still looking for day trips from Lyon on a rainy day, the Saint-Romain-en-Gal museum is a good option.

Frequently asked questions

What day trips from Lyon can you do without a car?

Vienne (15 to 30 minutes by train from Jean Macé or Part-Dieu) and L'Arbresle (27 to 35 minutes from Saint-Paul or Part-Dieu) can be reached by train. The Île Barbe is in Lyon, in the 9th arrondissement.

Which Plus Beaux Villages de France are near Lyon?

Pérouges, in the Ain, and Oingt, in the Beaujolais. Both are about thirty kilometres from Lyon, according to the Plus Beaux Villages de France association.

Where can you hike near Lyon?

In the Monts d'Or. The Grand Lyon's “L'homme et le paysage” loop is 7.5 km long, a 2-hour walk, starting from the Mont Cindre car park in Saint-Cyr-au-Mont-d'Or.