A weekend in Lyon in 2 days: the itinerary

For a weekend in Lyon, keep Saturday for the UNESCO-listed historic site: Vieux Lyon, Fourvière, the traboules (covered passageways), then the Presqu'île. On Sunday, choose between the slopes of the Croix-Rousse and the Confluence, and end the day somewhere quiet, by the Saône or in the Monts d'Or.

This split follows the city's geography. The four Saturday districts all lie within the area added to the UNESCO World Heritage List on 5 December 1998: 427 hectares, or 10% of the city, according to the tourist office ONLYLYON Tourisme. You can do it all on foot, with a quick funicular or metro ride.

Saturday morning: Vieux Lyon and its traboules

Start with Vieux Lyon, France's first protected heritage district since 1964 and one of the largest Renaissance ensembles in Europe, covering 24 hectares. It brings together three districts: Saint-Paul, Saint-Jean and Saint-Georges. Allow the whole morning, on foot, on streets that are almost all cobbled.

  • Saint-Jean Cathedral: the primatial church and its astronomical clock, with the archaeological garden next door.
  • The traboules: passages that link one street to another through one or more buildings. There are about 200 in Vieux Lyon, most of them from the Renaissance.
  • Opening hours: the traboules covered by an agreement are open to the public all year round, from 7am to 7pm.

These passages run through buildings where people live. The tourist office asks visitors to keep their voices down and to wait when the passage is crowded.

Saturday lunchtime: up to Fourvière

From Vieux Lyon, there are two ways to reach the Fourvière basilica, at 287 metres above sea level: the funicular from Vieux Lyon station (metro D), or the montée du Gourguillon on foot. Allow about 30 minutes' walk for 1.4 km and 124 m of climb.

The Fourvière funicular is often full at weekends. The tourist office suggests an alternative: take the Saint-Just funicular, get off at Minimes Théâtres Romains, then walk about a kilometre. You then pass the Roman theatre, which held up to 10,000 spectators. Take care, the cobbles are slippery in the rain.

The basilica was built between 1872 and 1896 by the architect Pierre Bossan. The city does not publish its opening hours online: it refers visitors to 04 78 25 86 19. For the museums and monuments nearby, see our page on museums and monuments in Lyon.

Saturday afternoon: the Presqu'île

Head back down to the Presqu'île, the central district between the Rhône and the Saône, from the Terreaux in the north to the Confluence in the south. Here you will find place Bellecour, the largest pedestrian square in Europe, rue de la République, pedestrianised since 1975, and the Musée des Beaux-Arts on place des Terreaux.

  • Place Bellecour and the equestrian statue of Louis XIV.
  • The Grand Hôtel-Dieu, on the banks of the Rhône.
  • Place des Terreaux: the Hôtel de Ville and the garden of the Musée des Beaux-Arts, on the south side.

In the evening, the fountains and monuments are lit up. For dinner, we have gathered our favourite places on the page where to eat in Lyon and the Monts d'Or.

Sunday morning: the Croix-Rousse or the Confluence

On Sunday, two opposite moods. The Croix-Rousse tells the story of the Lyon of the canuts (silk workers) and silk, with its listed slopes and traboules. The Confluence shows contemporary Lyon, at the tip of the Presqu'île, where the Rhône and the Saône meet. Choose whichever suits you.

Option 1: the Croix-Rousse

  • Access: metro C.
  • The montée de la Grande-Côte links place des Terreaux to the plateau.
  • The Cour des Voraces: its traboule reveals a canut building and its monumental staircase.
  • The workshops: the old canut workshops have ceilings up to 4 metres high.

Option 2: the Confluence

  • The Musée des Confluences, 86 quai Perrache, tram T1, Musée des Confluences stop. Check opening times and prices on the museum's website before you go.
  • The Parc de Saône: 13 hectares of pools and 3,000 tree species.
  • La Sucrière, which hosts major exhibitions.

Sunday afternoon: back to the quiet

After two days in the city, head north up the Saône. Île Barbe, in the 9th arrondissement, is home to the first monastic settlement in the Lyon area, founded in the 5th century. Further up, the Monts d'Or offer paths and views over Lyon.

On Île Barbe, the public part has a large lawn, pétanque pitches and a playground. The other part is private. In the Monts d'Or, the tourist office describes a loop from Mont Thou to Mont Cindre starting from Saint-Cyr-au-Mont-d'Or: 8.6 km, 3 hours, 261 m of ascent, with views over Lyon and the Tour du Guetteur, the remains of a 12th-century castle.

How to get around Lyon in 2 days

For Lyon in 2 days, the TCL network is all you need: metro, tram, bus and funiculars. On tcl.fr, a single ticket costs €2.10 (zones 1 and 2, valid for 1 hour) and the 48-hour pass costs €13. The funicular is included.

  • Single ticket: €2.10, or €2.40 bought on board a bus.
  • 24-hour pass: €6.90 (zones 1 and 2).
  • 48-hour pass: €13 (zones 1 and 2).

If you plan to visit several museums, look at the Lyon City Card. According to the tourist office FAQ, it includes unlimited TCL travel in zones 1 and 2, entry to 27 museums and a guided tour. It comes in 24-, 48-, 72- and 96-hour versions, from €32 (24 hours, adult) to €68 (96 hours, adult). Prices checked in October 2026 on tcl.fr and visiterlyon.com.

Where to stay for a weekend in Lyon

To sleep somewhere quiet without losing the centre, Effet Lodge is a guest house in Saint-Cyr-au-Mont-d'Or, 8 km from the centre of Lyon. Bus 20 or 71 leaves from the Les Ormes stop, a few metres away, for Vaise station, then metro D takes you to Vieux Lyon in about 15 minutes.

  • Our guest rooms with pool: 5 air-conditioned rooms, private shower room, terrace access.
  • 15 × 4 m outdoor pool, heated from spring to September depending on the weather.
  • Homemade breakfast: pastries, fresh bread, homemade jams.
  • 4 private parking spaces, and free spaces in the street.
  • Check-in from 5pm, check-out before 11am.

On Sunday afternoon, you are already at the foot of the Monts d'Or. To compare areas, read our article on where to stay in Lyon for some peace and quiet.

FAQ

What should you see in Lyon in a weekend?

Vieux Lyon, Fourvière, the traboules and the Presqu'île on Saturday. On Sunday, the Croix-Rousse or the Confluence, then Île Barbe or the Monts d'Or. These central districts are part of the historic site listed by UNESCO in 1998.

Is the Lyon City Card worth it for a weekend in Lyon?

It is useful if you visit several museums: it includes 27 museums, TCL transport in zones 1 and 2 and a guided tour. If you mostly walk, the €13 TCL 48-hour pass is enough.

How do you get to Vieux Lyon from Saint-Cyr-au-Mont-d'Or?

Bus 20 or 71 from the Les Ormes stop to Vaise station, then metro D to Vieux Lyon. Allow about 15 minutes.