Lyon in 3 Days: a guidebook for getting the most out of your visit

Lyon is a city with a great offer of historical sites, incredible monuments, ancient ruins, Gothic, Byzantine and Roman architecture and many secret corners to discover. In addition, there are the natural spaces, nearby villages with picturesque vineyards and beautiful panoramic views.

Among the best things to do in Lyon during your stay you will have the opportunity to visit the Place de Bellecour, the Gallo-Roman Theatre and the Basilica Notre-Dame de Fourvière. You will also visit the Museum of Cinema and Miniatures, the Traboules, Lyon Cathedral, the Rhône wine region and the beautiful Annecy, among other destinations that I will tell you about in a moment.

Day 1 in Lyon starts in the city centre, from where you will gradually make your way to discover buildings of great cultural importance such as the National Opera of Lyon, the historic La Croix Rousse district and the ruins of the Gallo-Roman Theatre and the amazing Basilica Notre-Dame de Fourvière.

Get close to the Place de Bellecour

Your day one itinerary starts at the Place de Bellecour. This is a space stretching over 300 metres, where you will enjoy a lively atmosphere, surrounded by statues, cafés, restaurants and local shops.

You will be able to see the statue of the Little Prince next to his creator Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. There is also a monument to King Louis XIV in the centre of the square and, at the western end, a gigantic Ferris wheel. The latter, ideal if you're wondering what to do in Lyon with children, of course.

This is a square that is very popular with locals and tourists on a daily basis, as it is considered the heart of the city. In fact, this place is often the selected meeting point to start the best bike tours in Lyon, guided walking tours, among other activities.

Take a stroll around the National Opera of Lyon

At the end of your tour of Place Bellecour, you will walk for about 17 minutes along Pl. Bellecour and Rue de la République to reach the National Opera of Lyon. This is a representative building of the city that you should not miss.

You will enjoy a real architectural work, built in 1831 and representative of the neoclassical style. You can take amazing photographs of this monumental building, whose façade is crowned by eight statues (muses by Guillaume Bonnet). Also of note are the preserved 19th century columns with arches and the public foyer.

View of La Croix Rousse

La Croix Rousse is the next destination on your tour. You will have to walk about 25 minutes in the direction of Mnt Saint-Sébastien and Rue de Cuire, drive 10 minutes along Mnt de la Boucle or use the local public transport.

This area of the city during the 19th century was an important textile centre. Therefore, today you will be able to observe part of this history along the labyrinth of squares and streets lined with houses, which were once weaving workshops.

In addition, you will have the opportunity to enjoy some must-see destinations in this neighbourhood. For example:

• The Mur des Canuts mural, in honour of the silk workers who revolted in 1880, due to working conditions.
• The Maison des Canuts Museum, with a series of chronological exhibits spanning five centuries of silk production in the city.
• The Boulevard de la Croix Rousse market, with fresh vegetables, fish, meat, cheese, wine and more.

You'll also find gourmet patisseries, restaurants and wine bars. It's an ideal place to discover the local gastronomy. That's why La Croix Rousse neighbourhood is often included in the destinations of the best food tours in Lyon.

Check out the Gallo-Roman Theatre

After learning about the history of the La Croix Rousse neighbourhood, and you've probably eaten and recharged your batteries, you can head to the Gallo-Roman Theatre. Just a 15-minute drive along Quai Saint-Vincent and Mnt Saint-Barthélémy from your previous destination.

When you arrive, you'll be amazed by the monumental structure of this theatre built in the 15th century BC, which seats 10,000 spectators. You can stroll around this ruins where circus games or gladiator fights were presented, and which is currently recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

Also, as a tip for your trip to Lyon, you should know that the entrance to this attraction is free and open 24 hours a day, so you should not miss the opportunity to take a look.

Be amazed by the Notre-Dame de Fourvière Basilica

Make the most of your visit to the Gallo-Roman Theatre and head to the Basilica Notre-Dame de Fourvière, about 400 metres away on foot along Rue Roger Radisson. This is the last stop on day one in Lyon and a destination that is sure to impress.

When you arrive at this site, built in 1870 on the hill of Fourvière, you will notice the presence of Byzantine and Roman style in its architecture. You can visit the interior of the basilica for free, contemplating its majesty: columns, stained glass windows, vaults, the main altar, the choir, among others.

However, if you want to discover the hidden gems of the basilica exhibited in the museum area, or climb to the roof after sunset to get a privileged view of Lyon at night, then you will have to buy a special ticket, depending on the experience you want.

The suggestion for day 2 in Lyon is very simple. Stroll through the old town and visit the Printing Museum, the Traboules Lyonnaises, the Maison Du Chamarier, the Museum of Cinema and Miniatures, take a funicular ride and visit the city's Cathedral.

Printing Museum

One of the best things to do in Lyon to learn and understand part of the city's history is to visit the Printing Museum, about a minute's walk from the city centre.

In this 15th century Renaissance building you will see an important collection of documents and objects: newspapers, stamps, advertisements, printing presses, among others. In addition, you will learn about five centuries of history, starting from the times when the city served as an important printing centre.

• Price: general admission is around €6 and reduced admission is approximately €4.
• Opening hours: Wednesday to Sunday from 10.30am to 6pm. Closed on 1 January, 1 November and 25 December.

The Traboules lyonnaises

After learning about the history of printing in Lyon, you can explore some of the traboules lyonnaises. These are passages between two streets that cross the courtyards of buildings, used to transport fabrics without having to go outside.

Among the most popular traboules close to the above destination are the Traboule de la Maison du Crible Tour Rose (13 minutes away via Rue Dubois and Pont Alphonse Juin/Pont Maréchal Juin). This is considered one of the prettiest and busiest on a daily basis.

Then, just a minute's walk down Rue Saint-Jean, you can explore La Longue Traboule. This hidden route is centuries old and stands out as the longest of the city's more than 300 traboules.

Maison Du Chamarier

To continue your tour, nothing better than to see one of Lyon's hidden gems, the Maison Du Chamarier. Located about 67 metres from the Longue Traboule along Rue Saint-Jean and Rue de la Bombarde.

This mansion , built between the 15th and 16th centuries, is a true architectural showcase of the transition from Gothic to Renaissance style.

Just push open the front door and you will enter the back courtyard, with an amazing gallery of Italian frescoes. You will also see the staircase with Gothic sculptures, which leads to the covered terraces.

Museum of Cinema and Miniature

At a distance of 48 metres from the Maison Du Chamarier, you will find the Museum of Cinema and Miniatures, with an important collection of models, figures, artefacts and much more.

You will enjoy the miniature art of the museum's founder, Dan Ohlmann, as well as the work of more than 30 international miniaturists. You will see approximately 120 hyper-realistic reproductions and at least 1000 miniaturised objects.

In addition, in the museum's rooms you will learn about a number of special effects, techniques and objects used in filming before the advent of digitisation. And you will have the opportunity to see the friendly Guizmo from "The Gremlins", the terrifying Chucky, the Batman Forever costume, etc.

• Price: Admission for adults costs approximately €13.90, children around €9.90 and reduced admission around €11.90.
• Opening hours: every day from 10:00 to 18:00.

Take a Funicular ride to the Cathedral

When you leave the Musée du Cinema et de la Miniature you will walk 230 metres along Rue Saint-Jean to the funicular station. You will board one of these cable railways, getting a different view of the city as you travel about 5 minutes to the Lyon Cathedral.

When you arrive at the site you will notice the combination of Gothic and Romanesque architectural style of the building. You will see the preserved 12th century choir and apse with its French Romanesque style. On the other hand, you will contemplate the 13th and 16th century interior naves, colourful stained glass windows, arches and columns. All of them, representative of the Gothic style.

There is also the 14th century Astronomical Clock and the Treasury Museum with a collection of religious objects.

Undoubtedly, relics of great historical and cultural importance, which make this place an obligatory destination and, therefore, this visit is not usually missing among the best tours in Lyon.

• Price: Entrance to the cathedral is free and the funicular transfer costs approximately €3.50 per person (return trip).
• Opening hours: The cathedral is open daily from 8.15am to 7.45pm. Meanwhile, the funicular operates from 5.23am to 9.48pm.

For your day three in Lyon you can opt to escape the city and explore the surrounding towns and villages. Such is the case of the French commune of Annecy, which combines beautiful urban and natural scenery. Also, the wine region of Ampuis and Tain-l'Hermitage, with important wineries and picturesque vineyards.

Option 1: Take a day trip to Annecy from Lyon

Among the best day trips from Lyon is a visit to Annecy. This is a French commune whose old town is criss-crossed by a river and a canal, giving it great scenic beauty.

To reach the so-called Venice of the Alps, you'll need to drive approximately two hours from Lyon. Upon arrival, you can explore the Alpine town on your own and soak up its magical atmosphere.

For example, some of the places to discover are as follows:

• Place Georges Volland, surrounded by colourful little houses, cafés, restaurants and a lively nightlife.
• The Château d'Annecy, a historic monument showcasing Alpine folk art, has an aquarium and temporary exhibitions.
• The Albigny beach and the Marquisats beach , which are about 4 and 6 minutes respectively from the centre of Annecy. Swimming, sunbathing and water activities are available.

Option 2: Join a guided wine tour of the Rhône-Alpes region from Lyon

If you are interested in wine tourism, then you should take advantage of your third day to join one of the best wine tours from Lyon through the Rhône-Alpes region. You'll visit a couple of wineries in the towns of Ampuis and Tain-l'Hermitage to learn about the production process of their beverages and do some tastings.

Ampuis

After meeting your guide in the city centre, you will take a drive of just over 30 minutes to the French commune of Ampuis. There, you will enjoy a privileged view of the Rhône valley and vineyard slopes.

Afterwards, you will visit La Bodega Del Château E.guigal, where you will taste up to six varieties of red wines. All this, while learning about the appearance, body and aromatic richness of each vintage.

Tain-l'Hermitage

Next, the driver-guide will take you to the village of Tain-l'Hermitage, about 50 minutes away. In this region, you will get an amazing view of the Rhône river and the vineyards.

You will also take a tour of the Maison Delas Frères; a winery whose history dates back to 1835. You will discover the history of this legendary drink while tasting six award-winning wines.

• Price: the price for this experience starts at €750 for groups of up to four people.
• Duration: the activity usually lasts approximately 10 hours.

Lyon is a French city whose cultural heritage is the result of approximately 200 years of history. It is a place with a wide range of tourist activities that you can easily enjoy in three days of your stay, following a previously planned itinerary.