If you're wondering how to visit Lyon without wasting time, the answer is simple: on foot, by bike, or with a Lyon City Card, which makes everything easier. In just one weekend in Lyon, you can discover the legendary neighborhoods, explore the hidden traboules (covered passageways), sample local specialties, and admire the giant murals that are the pride of the city's inhabitants.

Spending two days in Lyon means treating yourself to a weekend full of pleasant surprises.

The advantage of a 2-day stay in Lyon is that everything is doable without stress. The city is compact, lively, and very well organized. Old Lyon is small and entirely pedestrianized, while the other districts are accessible in 20 to 30 minutes on foot.

How to visit Lyon?

The city has implemented many measures to facilitate access to this large city. We chose to use bicycles. The city rents bikes for only €4 per day. We downloaded the Vélo'v app and found out where the nearest bikes are parked and how many are available.

You can enjoy unlimited bike rentals to explore the city. The bike paths are wide and very pleasant along the riverbanks. The city is hilly, and you can even opt for electric green bikes for an extra €1 per ride.

Transport is also extremely simple: metro, tram, waterbus… a 24-hour pass at €7.50 is enough to do everything.

Practical information for your weekend in Lyon

Lyon City Card : This card, published by the tourist office, is a true all-access pass in Lyon, valid for 1 to 4 days (from €27). It grants free access to 23 museums and their temporary exhibitions, and also includes a free guided tour, a cruise on the Saône, public transport… and discounts on certain activities in the city.

Where to stay in Lyon?

The best areas are Presqu'île, Vieux Lyon, or Confluence. You'll be close to everything without wasting time on transport.

We stayed at the Chromatics Hotel on the Presqu'île. I loved the rooms and the incredible breakfast. Definitely one of the best brunches in Lyon . Arriving in the lobby in the morning, you can already smell the delicious aroma of pastries. The breakfast room is beautifully decorated, and the hotel has an outdoor area for the summer. The Californian vibe and the generous brunch won me over. The only slight drawback is that it's not super central, but it's not too bad if you're out for the day.

What to taste in Lyon during your 2-day visit?

If you're wondering what to try in Lyon during your stay, get ready: the city is a temple of good food and you'll quickly understand why it's called the capital of gastronomy.

It's impossible to miss the famous quenelle , this soft and airy dish, often served with a creamy Nantua sauce. I also have a weakness for sausage in brioche , a simple but incredibly comforting specialty: imagine a warm sausage wrapped in golden brioche… you really have to try it.

And then there's the Lyonnais' sweet star: the pink praline brioche . Crispy on the outside, meltingly soft on the inside, and studded with crunchy pralines that caramelize slightly during baking. It's the perfect treat after exploring the traboules (covered passageways) or climbing Fourvière.

We tasted two brioches in two pastry shops: the best one is from the Palais bakery .

In this comprehensive guide, I share my personal experience of two days in Lyon , including my mistakes (like wearing ankle boots on the cobblestones of Saint-Jean—bad idea!), my favorite spots, and my mini road book to help you plan your own stress-free weekend in Lyon. If you'd like to supplement this guide with other travel ideas, I've also written an article about my family trips that might inspire you.

2 days in Lyon: ideal timing to discover the city

Whenever I'm asked if two days in Lyon are enough to really enjoy the city, I answer yes, but only if you focus on the essentials. Lyon is a perfect compromise: big enough to be amazed, but compact enough that you can visit it without rushing around .

If you are planning a weekend in Lyon as a couple, with family or with friends, the itinerary I am going to suggest works in all cases.

Visiting Lyon in 1 day is possible

You can see the main sights of the city in one day , but it's still a rushed experience. If you have no other option, visit Fourvière Hill and Old Lyon in the morning, and after lunch, head to the city's three major painted murals (their names are listed further down in the article).

What to do during your weekend in Lyon: our 10 must-sees:

Wondering what to do in Lyon in a short amount of time? Here are 10 must-sees:

- The Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière

- The Gallo-Roman theatre and its museum

- Old Lyon (Saint-Jean and Saint-Georges)

- The secret passageways (including the Governor's passageway!)

- The Pink Tower

- The painted walls (Fresque des Lyonnais, Library, Mur des Canuts)

- The Croix-Rousse district

- The banks of the Saône

- Try the praline brioche

- The Lyon traffic jams

A complete city guide for a successful 2-day trip to Lyon

I'm now going to reveal our full itinerary: two perfect days for a first weekend in Lyon , with the best spots , secret passages and my little personal anecdotes .

Day 1: Fourvière, ruins and Old Lyon

We started this 2-day stay in Lyon with the famous Fourvière hill.

The Fourvière style is perplexing: a blend of Romanesque and Byzantine architecture, as intended by its architect. Some 19th-century Lyonnais found it too kitschy or too heavy! Today, it is one of the city's most beloved monuments.

People from Lyon often say: "In Lyon, the hill that prays (Fourvière) faces the hill that works (La Croix-Rousse)."

As soon as you arrive at Notre-Dame Basilica , you feel tiny. The white façade, the golden mosaics, and especially the gilded statue of Mary watching over it from the top… it's breathtaking. But the interior, well… I was completely captivated. The turquoise-blue hues, the immense frescoes, the delicate gilding: it's impossible not to look up at every step. You feel like you're entering an almost magical setting, and you almost forget the religious aspect.

As we left, we took a few minutes to admire the view from the hill. Lyon unfolds before you , the ochre rooftops, the rivers intersecting… a truly breathtaking moment. I thought it had a touch of Paris about it, with its Île de la Cité.

Then it's off to the Gallo-Roman ruins , just below. This 2,000-year-old theater once held up to 10,000 people. Even today, it's used for concerts. I find it magical to imagine all the events that took place here. Along the way, there are information panels that really help you picture the place as it was back then.

Next, we took the path to the Rosary Gardens . It's a magnificent walk, but be careful: it's a steep descent…

After this short walk through the city , we arrive in the famous Old Lyon , and that's where the magic happens . We arrive directly in the heart of the city with cobblestones in every street.

We settled into a traditional Lyonnais bistro called " Le Vieux Lyon " in the Saint-Jean district. I have to admit: I was worried it might be a tourist trap. But the place we chose was perfect. Warm atmosphere, generous portions, and everything was homemade.

Old Lyon is mainly composed of two districts:

- Saint-Georges: calmer, more authentic, almost intimate.

- Saint-Jean: more lively, more crowded, but so charming. The old arcades recall Lyon's flourishing commercial past. The narrow, vertically aligned windows evoke the old textile workshops. Saint-Jean, now a tourist destination, was nevertheless unsanitary in the 1960s. There was even talk of demolishing it to build a highway off-ramp. When you see its beauty now, it's incredible to imagine that.

Traboules: these secret passageways are typical of the city of Lyon

We started with the most well-known one: the one between Rue Saint-Jean and Rue du Bœuf. Then we discovered the famous Governor's passageway, long and orange, connecting 27 Rue Saint-Jean to 6 Rue des Trois-Maries. Impressive!

Finally, you can't miss the Pink Tower at 16 rue du Bœuf. Back then, the taller your tower, the richer you were. Needless to say, the owner of this one liked to show it off!

We finished with a final traboule at 8 rue Juiverie , small but very pretty.

2 days in Lyon

Day 2: Croix-Rousse and iconic painted walls

For our second day in Lyon , we headed to Croix-Rousse. This neighborhood definitely has a soul: creative, a bit bohemian, and very lively. I love this blend of village atmosphere and artistic influences.

One of Lyon's unique features is its monumental murals . These painted walls are a true signature of Lyon . Created by the Cité Création collective since the 1980s, they tell the story of Lyon's history , heritage, and inhabitants.

Their goal: to beautify the neighborhoods, make art accessible to all, and enhance the city's identity.

We saw the frescoes in this order:

The City Library is one of those murals that stops you in your tracks. Imagine an entire facade transformed into a giant bookshelf where each book is several meters high. The titles pay homage to Lyon authors, iconic works, and local culture. You really get the feeling that the volumes could open by themselves. There's a bar right across the street that makes you want to have a coffee and admire it for a while.

- The Fresco of the People of Lyon: it's a bit of a star among the painted walls . A gigantic fresco where more than thirty prominent figures from Lyon (from Antiquity to the present day) look down at you from their painted balconies as if they still lived there. You'll find the Lumière brothers, Paul Bocuse, and Saint-Exupéry among them.

One unusual detail: during a recent restoration in 2024, one of the figures simply disappeared from the wall. Gone, vanished, no longer there. The people of Lyon still talk about it with amusement, as a wink to history that continues to unfold. This figure was located in the stairwell at the bottom, in the middle of the fresco, and it was Abbé Pierre.

- The Canuts Wall: this one is the king of trompe-l'œil. Immense, dizzying, so realistic that you really get the impression the stairs are actually going up and down. The windows seem open, the inhabitants come and go, the facades change color with the daylight. Facing it, you stand there, mouth agape, trying to spot the hidden details : a cat in a corner of a window, laundry drying, a child playing. Everything is painted, but everything seems alive. It's one of the most impressive murals in the city , and clearly a must-see in the Croix-Rousse district. I read that this mural is regularly maintained, and to keep the characters alive, they are made to grow up; the young children become teenagers, the adults get wrinkles, and so on...

Walking through these streets, you realize how much Lyon relies on urban art. And it works: it gives character, it surprises, it tells a story.

FAQ

How long does it take to visit Lyon?

You can see the must-sees in one day, but it will be rushed. I think two days in Lyon is ideal. For a more cultural or culinary experience, three days is perfect.

Where to stay for a weekend in Lyon?

The best areas are Presqu'île, Vieux Lyon, or Confluence. You'll be close to everything without wasting time on transport.

Can you visit Lyon with children?

Yes, it's even perfect: funicular, waterbus, giant murals, Tête d'Or park… they like a lot of activities.

Are the traboules free?

Yes, all those accessible to the public are free. Some are private but open during the day.

Is the Lyon City Card worth it?

For a 2-day stay in Lyon , it is often cost-effective: transport + museums + activities included.