Basilica of Fourvière Basilique Notre-Dame de Fourvière
Take the funicular uphill or walk up if you have time. Pause at the terrace for a view over the city.
View attraction detailsLyon Travel Guide
See Lyon from Fourvière Hill, then spend the rest of the day among the lanes of Vieux Lyon and the banks of the Saône.
Before you go
When to go and how long to stay
Give Lyon two or three days. Pair the old town with Fourvière, and leave an evening for a bouchon dinner.
Entry documents
Check your short-stay visa requirement in France-Visas before booking. For a multi-country Schengen trip, track your days across the area and keep your onward itinerary and accommodation details with your passport.
Getting to the city
Rhônexpress links Lyon–Saint Exupéry Airport (LYS) to Part-Dieu. Check the location of its stop at each end if you are connecting to a train or an airport terminal.
Part-Dieu and Perrache are different mainline stations. Check the station named on both halves of a rail connection.
Getting around
Use the Metro across the city and the funicular uphill from Vieux Lyon. Much of Presqu’île and the old town can be covered on foot.
Payments and mobile data
Use euros and bring a contactless card plus a small cash backup. Download transit maps before flying and check whether your data plan covers France and any onward European stops.
Where to stay
Bellecour or Cordeliers fits a walkable stay. Part-Dieu is practical for an early train.
Things to do in Lyon
What to eat in Lyon
Lyonnaise salad Salade lyonnaise
Bitter greens, lardons and croutons topped with a poached egg. Look for it on a bouchon menu.
Photo: Kui-Doraku · CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗A day in Lyon
Start on Fourvière Hill, descend to Vieux Lyon, then find a bouchon for lunch and follow the Saône on foot.