Lyon Walking Tours by Time Available
Lyon Walking Tours by Time Available
Lyon is easy to walk, but the routes differ enormously in time and effort. Rather than chasing exact distances, think in blocks of time: an hour, a morning, a half day. Timings below are rough, and stops for coffee are extra.
About one hour: the Presqu’île
Start at Place Bellecour and head north along rue de la République or rue Mercière, the old restaurant street. Pass the church of Saint-Nizier and finish at Place des Terreaux, where the Bartholdi fountain stands in front of the town hall. The Opéra de Lyon, with its glass roof by Jean Nouvel, is just behind. The ground is flat and the route is easy with children.
About two hours: Vieux Lyon and its traboules
Begin at Place Saint-Jean in front of the cathedral, then follow rue Saint-Jean north. The Longue Traboule connects number 54 with rue du Boeuf. Traboules are residents’ courtyards, open to the public roughly 07:00 to 19:00. Talk in whispers, go in small groups and never stop to eat inside. The museum of Gadagne’s courtyard is another worthwhile stop along the way.
About two and a half hours: Croix-Rousse
Take metro line C to Croix-Rousse and see the Mur des Canuts, a huge painted wall. The Maison des Canuts at 10-12 rue d’Ivry runs guided weaving visits for about €10, and it closes on Sunday and Monday. Then go down through the Cour des Voraces at 9 place Colbert and the stepped lanes to Place des Terreaux. This is the hardest of the routes, with many stairs.
About two hours: the two rivers
Start at Perrache station and follow the Saône south along the landscaped riverbank. You pass the Orange Cube and the Confluence marina, and finish at the Musée des Confluences garden where the rivers meet. You can also cover this route by bike.
Guided options
Guided walks are thin on the ground in official sources. One verified option is the Maison des Canuts visit that combines the museum with a Croix-Rousse traboule walk, at about €18 per the tourist office listing. The Lyon City Card includes one guided walk. Read the details on visiterlyon.com and browse tours on GetYourGuide .
What to carry
Wear shoes with grip, because wet cobbles are slick. Bring water in summer, and a layer in winter, since the hills catch the wind. Pickpockets operate at Bellecour and Vieux Lyon’s busiest street, so keep a phone in an inner pocket. In the evening, walk the main avenues around La Guillotière and avoid lingering on Place Gabriel Péri.
Getting between routes
A single TCL ticket costs €2.10 and a 24 hour pass €7.10. The funicular to Fourvière takes a standard ticket, and you should validate every time you board. Find the network at tcl.fr .
If you want a full route that also covers museums, try the sightseeing page .
Tip: start the Croix-Rousse route before 10:30 on a Tuesday to Saturday, so the weaving workshop is open when you arrive.