Lyon is the third largest city in France. It is a city with a rich history, an authentic atmosphere, the best French cuisine and very friendly people. Discover the real France in Lyon; not in Paris, not in Nice, not in Cannes… but in Lyon! This city is chock full of incredible experiences that cost absolutely nothing.
In order to help you choose among these endless possibilities of free discoveries and entertainment, I have compiled for you a non-exhaustive list of the 14 best things to do and see in Lyon for free. I hope to be able to guide you!
Table des matières
Take a walk around the city
They say that the best way to best way to discover a city is to get lost in it. I don’t know who i don’t know who said that, but he was right, because it’s perfectly valid for Lyon! You you can also walk around with a map, and following a precise objective, no no worries!
First of all, to get an incredible panoramic view of the whole city, I suggest you climb the Fourvière hill: the view extends to the Croix-Rousse and Terreaux districts, to the Saint-Jean district, further down the hill, and to the Place Bellecour, on the right
If your heart and your feet tell you to, you can enjoy this little pleasure for free by going up the hill by the stairs, or by paying a few euros to take the very famous funicular.
Do not miss the opportunity to visit the Basilica Notre Dame de Fourvière: it is simply simply magnificent! Go and appreciate its beauty and its richly decorated interior richly decorated interior, which represents the Gothic and Byzantine styles and which was built between 1872 and 1884.
Spend the day in Vieux Lyon
This area of the city, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is steeped in history and charm
I’m not going to hide from you that it is quite touristy, but that’s not for nothing, as it has a timeless architecture and a fascinating history!
For those who are eager to get a glimpse of the time when Lyon was called Lugdunum, you also have the opportunity to visit its Gallo-Roman museum for free because every Thursday, Lyon’s museums allow visitors to enter for free
Take the opportunity to discover the history of the city, founded in 43 BC on the Fourvière hill! By the way, on this hill, I also suggest you to go and see the Gallo-Roman theater, the most visible vestige of this historical heritage, whose access is totally free. A real bargain!
Learn about the city’s Gallo-Roman past
Indeed, in many cities, sites like this would be very expensive, but in Lyon, this is not the case
This ancient Roman theater is surprisingly well preserved, even though it was built in 15 BC. As with many of the things to do on this list, you have a great view of the city
So it’s a nice place to go to admire the remains of a bygone era, or to read a book or enjoy a good snack and watch life go by.
The aqueducts, used in the past by the Romans to transport drinking water to the inhabitants of Lugdunum, are also other Roman vestiges that can still be seen today still visible today. So keep an eye out!
Marvel at Lyon’s many churches
Whether you are a believer or not, I suggest you visit the city’s sumptuous religious heritage
First on the list is, of course, the no less famous Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière: the building overlooks the city from the top of its hill, and its impressive architecture can be seen for miles around
The interior and the building are even more spectacular, with bright golden structures peeking out of the shadows, ancient Christian relics and intricate designs
The atmosphere inside is incredibly peaceful: so you can sit back and enjoy this sacred place for free
Also, don’t miss the Esplanade de Fourvière, on the left side of the Basilica, and the small garden that surrounds it.
A must-see sanctuary in Lyon is, of course, the Cathedral of Saint John, which is located just down the hill from Fourvière, in Vieux Lyon
It is a church built in the 12th century that represents the Romanesque style par excellence, with a late Gothic style facade added over the centuries.
Near Vieux Lyon, there is also the Saint-Georges church, rebuilt in 1845, and representing the neo-gothic style
To complete the non-exhaustive list of Lyon’s must-see churches, I recommend another site to visit for free: the Abbey of Saint-Martin d’Ainay, the oldest church in Lyon, built in the 11th century and representing Romanesque architecture in its purest juice!
Visit for free the secret labyrinth of the traboules
The traboules are underground passages created in the 4th century that cross the old districts of Lyon
They were used by the famous silk workers to quickly transport products from one part of the city to another without having to make long detours.
With over 400 traboules, some are now closed to the public, but many are still open and are a labyrinth to explore
They can be very extensive and difficult to find, but in Croix-Rousse you will find small signs on the walls that will point you in the right direction
I urge you to look for clues leading to them and get caught up in this urban treasure hunt game!
Visit also the stores that display the silk textiles, without necessarily making a purchase, but you can purchase, but you can still go in, at least to listen to the seller, who will tell you more the salesman, who will tell you more about the production process of this precious fabric precious fabric.
Get lost in the Parc de la Tête d’Or
While some gardens impress with their subtlety and originality, the Parc de la Tête d’Or impresses with its size and grandeur
You can literally spend the whole day strolling around, and it is probably one of the most beautiful places in Lyon to spend a sunny day!
In this 117-hectare green lung, you’ll find a botanical garden with an impressive collection of flowers, a zoo, world-renowned rose gardens and a lake where you can rent boats to paddle.
You’ll be surprised to discover things you may never have thought you could do for free! There are indoor and outdoor spaces to explore and an impressive collection of flowers to admire
So I invite you to walk through the doors of this full-fledged zoo (completely free, by the way!), which is home to diverse species such as lions, the unavoidable kings of the savannah, giraffes, monkeys, crocodiles, pelicans, flamingos, deer, and emus, just to name a few of its inhabitants.
Contemplate the modern architecture of Confluence
Lyon has a very classic, rustic feel… until you get to Confluence
Terracotta roofs, old shuttered windows and sleepy churches are replaced by huge pieces of contemporary architecture, garish colors, nightclubs and fancy galleries.
The Confluence zone, located south of the city between the Saône and the Rhône, is an industrial area in full revival
After two decades of construction, millions of euros of investment and the work of world-renowned architects, I can tell you that the caterpillar has emerged from its cocoon to metamorphose into a resplendent butterfly!
Modern architecture may not be to everyone’s taste, but it is definitely worth seeing
It’s free, so what do you have to lose? If you don’t like this recent and very avant-garde part of the city, you can still enjoy a great view of the city
There is also a modern and attractive bridge and the Confluence Museum. At the junction of Lyon’s two rivers, the Saône and the Rhône, there are banks and gardens to relax in.
Discover street art
Did you know that Lyon has an incredible street art scene? In fact, it’s home to one of the largest mural commissions in Europe and, more importantly, the largest mural in Europe!
The Wall of the Canuts took 9 months to complete, and it’s really great to see it with your own eyes: the scene depicted there has a real Lyon feel to it and is brought to life by the optical illusion
I fully suggest you to go there, because it would be a shame to miss such a masterpiece!
However, this fresco is not the only work to explore in the city, capital of trompe l’oeil
Here is another one, which I suggest you go and admire, and which is located at the Quai Saint Vincent. Covering an area of no less than 800 square meters, it represents 31 personalities from Lyon: 25 historical characters and 6 contemporary ones.
The city is well known for its frescoes, and I fear there are too many to see them all, but, for me, the best and most famous are the ones I mentioned above mentioned above.
Enjoy the green spaces
Admission to the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Lyon can be expensive, I’ll grant you that, but the gardens inside the courtyard are completely free
Oh yeah, and they’re pretty damn beautiful! The streets outside are some of the busiest in Lyon, but once you step inside, it’s a whole different world you’re in!
Tall trees block out the sun in the dusty courtyard, giving the whole place a bright green hue
Time seems to pass at a slower pace, and you can sit and watch the artists paint and the elderly residents play chess.
If you’re in the mood for a walk in the park under a starry sky, I suggest watching the sunset from the Garden of Curiosities
It’s an unassuming place, up a big hill slightly outside of downtown, but it’s definitely worth a visit!
Instead of fancy flowerbeds and gardens, you’ll find chairs and sculptures laid out randomly, in a very peaceful atmosphere
It may not look very appealing, but it’s the perfect place to get away from the crowds and enjoy your surroundings. You’ll often have the place to yourself and, in my humble opinion, it offers one of the best views in Lyon!
Discover the dark history of the Montluc prison
During my researching this list of free things to do in Lyon, i heard about an abandoned prison that we could visit at our leisure so I was quick to include it in this list, because it is seriously worth the detour!
Don’t forget, however: the prison has a very sad and dark past. Indeed, during the Second World War, it was used by the Nazi Gestapo for detention and interrogation, as well as a stopping point for prisoners before they were deported to concentration camps
More than 15,000 prisoners of war were held there, and nearly 1,000 were executed there; thousands more were also sent to other camps in Europe.
Once the Nazi regime was overthrown and World War II ended, this sordid place was transformed into a public prison until 2009
Since then, the prison opens its doors to visitors during certain hours, and is an intriguing, but emotional experience, I must say..
The prison has changed very little since the Nazi occupation, and inside the cells are sometimes photos and stories of the inmates, many of whom are entire families, who were imprisoned here and suffered at the hands of the Gestapo. A visit to be reserved for an informed public.
Enjoy the culture of gastronomy
Discover the quality of Lyon’s food products and why Lyon is the capital of gastronomy
To do this for free, I recommend visiting the markets that will show you the best quality regional products
The most famous is the Halles de Paul Bocuse. It is a covered market with more than 50 different stores and restaurants
Lunch is very expensive, so off the list of things to do in Lyon on the budget, but visiting this place is a must as you can see all the best Lyon suppliers and regional vendors
The famous Paul Bocuse himself came here to choose the best ingredients for his restaurants.
The affordable alternative to Lyon’s Place des Halles are the local markets. There are many, many small local markets
The biggest and best known are: the Saint-Antoine food market, located on the banks of the Saône near Place Bellecour, and the one on Place de la Croix Rousse.
Stroll along the river banks
Lyon is a city geographically very well situated, since two major rivers are at its heart are in its heart.
I suggest you take a walk along their banks, especially on the left bank, which has undergone remarkable development.
It is always a pleasant and refreshing moment on hot summer days, away from the hustle and bustle of the city!
You can enjoy a bike ride, an early morning run or a picnic by the river
You can stop for a drink at the boat clubs and cool restaurants that are docked there. Take in the reflection of the city in the water and the stunning architecture of the old and new bridges
If you have some time, the Rhone River runs from the Mediterranean to Germany, so you can really get adventurous by following its course!
Discover the jazz evenings at the Clef de Voûte
I’d say this is the best thing to do in Lyon, whether it’s free or not. La Clef de Voûte, a small, unpretentious jazz club, is located in the Croix-Rousse district
The club itself is in a brick basement, with a capacity of less than 100 people, so you can have a very personal and intimate experience!
The atmosphere is electric and the program is constantly changing with different styles of jazz
Jazz clubs around the world can be expensive, but this one is totally free, every night
However, I strongly encourage you to book your tickets online: don’t worry, you won’t pay a single euro for this outing, it’s just so the staff can know your identity to get a nice little name tag on one of the few tables in the room
The bar itself is pretty cheap for Lyonnais, but there’s no pressure to buy drinks or spend money: in fact, you don’t have to feel obliged to buy something to drink in order to be allowed to attend a concert.
Explore the city by night
I know what you’re thinking i know what you’re thinking, that this activity is on every list of things to do and see, but lists, but if it is, it’s for a good reason! reason!
Lyon really comes alive at night, with many of the most famous monuments lit up in a grand way for all to see
What also makes this city great is that it offers a remarkable sense of security: this means you can walk around at night and still feel relaxed.
Also, admire Lyon’s artists and their work for free. Visit the Marché de la Création, an open-air market on the banks of the Saône: it’s a very interesting place where you can meet the artists and buy their paintings, crafts and sculptures
You can also show them your appreciation for their work and feed your artistic spirit with a hunger for knowledge
Don’t forget that this market only takes place on Sunday morning, so don’t miss it!
To end your day on a high note, I invite you to take a walk around the city at night: it’s a completely new and different experience to admire 325 monuments and sites in the city decked out in their illuminations!
It’s a great opportunity to take amazing pictures. It’s romantic, it’s magical and it’s all the best Lyon has to offer, and for free!
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