Lyon Attractions: What to Book and What to Walk Into

Most of Lyon’s big sights take no reservation at all. A handful reward booking, and a few save money only if you buy in a certain order. Here is the sort, from fully free to worth planning ahead.

Walk in, pay nothing

The Fourvière basilica, the Cathédrale Saint-Jean and the Roman theatres on the hill are free. The theatres open 07:00 to 19:00 from 1 October. The cathedral’s astronomical clock chimes at 12:00, 14:00, 15:00 and 16:00, and the crowd gathers a few minutes beforehand. The basilica hours change with the season, so check fourviere.org the day before.

Walk in, pay at the desk

These museums sell tickets on arrival, and you rarely need to queue outside school holidays:

• Musée des Confluences, 86 quai Perrache: €12 full price, €7 reduced, open Tuesday to Sunday 10:30 to 18:30. There is no cheaper evening rate. See museedesconfluences.fr for school-holiday openings.
• Lugdunum museum, 17 rue Cléberg: €4 normally, €7 while a temporary exhibition runs, and free on the first Sunday of the month. Details at lugdunum.grandlyon.com .
• Institut Lumière, 25 rue du Premier-Film: €9.50 full, €7.50 reduced, Tuesday to Sunday. Find times at institut-lumiere.org .
• Musée des Beaux-Arts, 20 place des Terreaux: €8 for the collections and €12 with exhibitions, closed Tuesday. See mba-lyon.fr .

Book ahead if you can

The Fourvière rooftop visit climbs about 345 steps through the towers and attics. Adults pay €14 and children and students €7, and slots run daily from late morning, with an evening version on some days at a higher price. Reserve at reservation.fourviere.org , because the small groups fill first on sunny weekends.

The Musée Cinéma et Miniature in Vieux Lyon is the priciest ticket here at €22.90 for adults and €17.90 for children aged 4 to 15. It is optional rather than essential, so visit only if film props and tiny dioramas are a draw. The City Card gives it a reduced rate, not free entry.

Does the City Card pay?

The card costs €29.90, €41.90, €52.90 or €63.90 online for 1 to 4 days, and €32, €44, €56 or €68 at the counter. It covers the TCL network, a Saône cruise, one guided walk and many museums. Three paid museums in a day will usually beat the single-day price, and one museum plus a funicular ride will not. Add up the entries above before you buy. The tourist office explains the card at visiterlyon.com .

Days to avoid

Monday is the one weekday when several museums close, and Tuesday takes out the Beaux-Arts. Build your calendar so that Monday leans on the free hillside sights and the Halles, which stay open.

Tip

Reserve the rooftop visit first, then fit the museums around its time. If you want more route ideas, compare the sightseeing page or search tour options on GetYourGuide .

• Lyon
• France
• Guides