18 of the best things to do in Lyon with kids
More famous for its food than its family appeal, Lyon is one of France’s most underrated cities for a holiday with children – and you won’t be short of things to do in Lyon with kids.
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France’s third-largest city sits at the meeting point of the Rhône and Saône rivers, with a Unesco-listed old town, one of Europe’s biggest urban parks, Roman history and some impressive museums on top of that well-deserved foodie reputation.
Quieter and more compact than Paris, it’s easy to explore on foot as well as by bike, boat and the city’s sprawling public transport network for a family city break with a difference. Here’s my pick of the best things to do in Lyon with kids.
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Where to stay in Lyon with kids
The city breaks down into a series of distinct areas, so you’ll be travelling between the various quarters throughout your stay – and as one of our guides pointed out, the further east you go, the more modern it tends to be.
The key areas are split into the following: Vieux Lyon (or Old Lyon), with its medieval cobbled streets, sitting in the shadow of the Fourvière hill – hilltop Fourvière is actually the oldest part of the city, and you’ll find most of the Roman ruins here, as well as the imposing 19th century basilica.
The opposite hill is La Croix-Rousse district. Along with its own Roman remains, for a long time this area was home to Lyon’s silk weavers whose huge looms dictated the design of the buildings – today, the weaving industry is a thing of the past, but there’s street art galore.
The Presqu’île is the city centre, home to elegant boulevards, key buildings like the town hall and imposing squares, all set on the peninsula of land between the Rhône river and the Saône. The southern tip was once the docks but has been regenerated in recent decades, becoming the modern Confluence district where the two rivers meet.
On the eastern bank, you’ll find Les Halles, the city’s food market, and Part-Dieu station, while further north is the Parc de la Tête d’Or, the huge park which is home to Lyon’s small zoo, botanical gardens plus a man-made lake (along with the headquarters of Interpol and a big conference centre).
I stayed in Vieux Lyon, which I loved, and which made a great base as well as being part of the Lyon Unesco World Heritage Site – it’s easy to get across the bridge to the Presqu’île, or up the hill to Fourvière, and public transport connects you to Confluence and Part-Dieu as well as elsewhere. Alternatively, the Presqu’île is quite literally in the heart of things and similarly well connected.
Walking tour of Lyon
Lyon is large enough that you won’t find a walking tour that visits all the attractions on foot, but it’s easy to explore different areas and discover the highlights in a bit more detail on one of the many Lyon walking tours.
This Lyon Essentials tour does a good job of fitting in a lot of the key sights, or the Lyon City Highlights tour covers Vieux Lyon and part of the Presqu’île, with the option to see Fourvière too.
For more of a focus on the Old Town and its traboules, the historic passageways and stairways which weave through the buildings, this Old Town walking tour is a bit longer and better for older kids, but covers Fourvière too and you get a traditional pastry along the way.
With younger kids, check out this special family tour of Lyon’s Old Town, which can be adapted to different ages.
Or make exploring a game with this self-guided treasure hunt, with its Belle Epoque theme taking you back around 125 years to solve puzzles as you wander Lyon’s streets, as well as an Urban Escape Game, where you’re accompanied by a Game Master.
There’s also a fun night-time tour looking at Lyon’s mysteries and ghosts – great for teens.
Bike tour of Lyon
If you want to see more of Lyon with a guide, you’ll also have an impressive choice of bike tours in Lyon, including quite a few ebike options – very handy when it comes to the hills, although those are more limited for families.
This three-hour bike tour focuses on the flatter central areas of Lyon, although you still get the choice of regular bikes or electric bikes, and is suitable for kids who are 150cm tall or above.
If you’re visiting with kids aged 12+, Lyon Original Tours have two ebike options with a two-hour tour and three-hour tour – the itineraries vary but our two-hour tour took us up to Croix-Rousse.
Want something a little less energetic with kids? Lyon’s open-top hop-on hop-off bus tour visits eight stops around the city, and there’s an option to upgrade your one-day ticket to a two-day pass. Commentary is done via your phone.
Vieux Lyon and the traboules
You don’t have to sign up to a guided tour to explore though – a wander through Vieux Lyon, the medieval streets of Lyon’s beautifully preserved old town, is one of the simplest and most enjoyable things to do in the city with kids, and it’s completely free.
The real fun for children lies in the traboules; this network of hidden passageways cut straight through buildings and courtyards, some designed to take you quickly down to the waterfront, others used by silk workers to move their goods through the city while staying dry (you’ll find more of these in Croix-Rousse).
Spotting the small plaques that mark a traboule entrance, then ducking through to see where it comes out, turns an ordinary walk into something closer to a treasure hunt.
Many of the traboules are still in daily use by residents, so do keep noise down and be respectful as you explore, but the general rule is that if the door is open, you’re welcome to look inside these semi-secret passageways.
Fourvière Basilica and the funicular
High above Vieux Lyon, the Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière is one of Lyon’s most striking landmarks, and taking the funicular railway up the hillside makes a visit even more fun for kids.
Inside, the basilica is astonishing – you certainly don’t need to be religious to appreciate the intricate mosaics and rich decoration, with plenty of little details to spot as you look around. Plus it’s free to go in, so even if your kids lose interest quickly, it’s well worth a quick visit.
Save some time to enjoy the views over Lyon from the terrace outside – on a clear day, you can apparently see all the way to the Alps but the panorama is impressive whatever the weather.
The funicular ride itself only takes a few minutes, but it’s a great way to get up the Fourvière Hill – not only is it a novelty that most kids (and adults!) enjoy, it saves a fairly steep climb on foot. You can pay for it using contactless, in the same way as Lyon’s other public transport (read on for more tips about that).
The Roman Theatres of Fourvière
Also on Fourvière hill, and an easy stop to combine with the basilica, the Théâtres Romains de Fourvière are the remains of two ancient theatres, the Great Theatre and the Odeon, dating back to the very foundations of Lyon as a Roman city.
The Theatre itself is the oldest in Roman Gaul, as well as being one of the largest, stretching 108m in diameter. The semi-circle of seats originally had space for 5,000 spectators before being expanded to have room for 10,000 – unlike an amphitheatre, this would have seen theatrical performances, including dance rather than gladiators and games.
The smaller Odeon was designed for musical performances and recitations, and both still host events throughout the year.
Free to visit, kids can clamber over the tiered stone seating and get a real sense of their scale, underlining the importance of Lyon – or Lugdunum – in Roman times. You don’t need to be a Roman history expert to enjoy this one either, perfect for firing younger imaginations.
The amphitheatre of the Three Gauls
Lyon’s other main Roman site is its amphitheatre on the hill of La Croix-Rousse, opposite Fourvière.
Known as the Amphithéâtre des Trois Gaules, it was built in the early 1st century and later expanded to have space for 20,000 spectators.
Today, it’s a surprisingly tranquil place to wander, with the banked seats and arena hinting at its far more exciting and blood-soaked past.
Gallo-Roman Museum of Lyon-Fourvière
Right beside the Roman theatres in Fourvière, the Gallo-Roman Museum brings the ancient site to life with an impressive collection of artefacts, including weapons, coins, mosaics and everyday objects unearthed from the city’s Roman past.
Built partly underground into the hillside, the museum itself is an interesting space to explore, with the ruins visible through windows as you move between galleries, tying the exhibits directly to the site outside.
There’s an audio guide for kids which helps to add some fun to the walk past the various displays – the adult version is informative but a bit dry – as well as more than a few chances to get hands-on.
Most of the games have instructions in French only, but if you can translate it, there’s lots to get kids thinking amidst the interactive fun – anything from how much gladiator armour weighed to I Spy, a chance to create your own mosaic, and sort out a historic timeline.
Add in a separate themed area to dress up and play, complete with Lego recreations of various sites, and there’s plenty for younger kids, plus highlights such as original mosaic floors, huge statues and treasure hoards.
Look out for the temporary exhibitions too – during our visit, it looked at the ways in which we recreate the past, from technology to how stereotypes can bias our conclusions. A more immersive experience than the main collection, it was easily one of the most engaging corners. Entry is included in the Lyon City Card.
If you can’t get enough of all things Roman, there’s also a guided tour of Lugdunum to explore Lyon’s Roman past
Musée des Confluences
Sitting at the southern tip of the Confluence district, where the Rhône and Saône rivers meet, the Musée des Confluences is instantly recognisable thanks to its futuristic, angular building of steel and glass – worth the visit for the architecture alone.
But the collections inside have plenty to tempt too, mixing science, history, culture and anthropology. Along the way, the exhibitions cover everything from the origins of life to cosmic mysteries, alongside dinosaur skeletons, meteorites and mummies – the 155-million-year-old Camarasaurus skeleton is always a family favourite.
The ambitious goal is to explore human history, behaviour and our relationship with the natural world, so it’s a good option to get teens thinking, but also has plenty of interactive exhibits and some immersive displays to entertain younger visitors.
There’s also a rooftop terrace with a panoramic view over the confluence of the two rivers and the city beyond, well worth the climb before you leave. Entry is included in the Lyon City Card.
You can also buy skip-the-line tickets to the Musee des Confluences
Boat tour of Lyon
Shaped by its two rivers, you won’t be short of boat tours in Lyon with kids, and it’s a lovely way to experience the city, seeing a few of the sights and enjoying the scenery.
Take one of the boat rides north along the Saône, and you’ll reach countryside surprisingly quickly, spotting some of the wildlife living along the banks along with the islands dotted at the river’s centre, such as the Ile Barbe.
We took this 90-minute cruise with Lyon Croisieres – long enough to take us right out of the city, complete with multilingual commentary and even some music from our guide. There’s an hour-long discovery cruise and another hour-long cruise to the Ile Barbe from the same company too.
Or you can head south to the Confluence with this hour-long cruise for another view of Lyon.
Street art in La Croix-Rousse
La Croix-Rousse was traditionally the heart of the silk weaving industry in Lyon, and you’ll find plenty of reminders as you explore – expect more traboules here, designed to protect the silk from the weather, as well as houses designed with a larger ground floor to house the Jacquard looms and plenty of windows to let in the light.
One of the big highlights of exploring today is the area’s street art though. You’ll find nods to the past, such as with a Silk Road mural showing some of the figures and destinations linked to the trade route and its importance to Lyon.
But there are also a couple of other huge murals that you shouldn’t miss – the Mur des Canuts is the largest mural in Europe at 1,200m². Regularly updated (it was behind scaffolding when we were there so we could look but not get close), it shows daily life so characters and scenes change.
The trompe l’oeil steps in the centre look unexpectedly 3D, and if you stand in the right place, it’s easy to make it look as if you’re standing or sitting on them.
Not far away, the Fresque des Lyonnais depicts some of the most notable and important inhabitants of Lyon over the centuries, all shown by the painted windows of a house – starting with Roman emperor Claudius who was born here but also including the Lumière brothers and Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, author of Le Petit Prince.
Those are only some of the best-known though, with more sprawled across the quarter. There are guided street art tours to try too, including a walking tour led by a street artist complete with a collage demo, and another 90-minute street art walking tour that’s suitable for age 6+.
If you don’t fancy trying to spot them all on foot, there’s an ebike street art tour to whisk you around the neighbourhood – recommended for age 14+.
La Maison des Canuts
Lyon made its name and fortune through silk weaving, and if you’d like to learn more about that history, the Maison des Canuts is a small, living museum dedicated to this part of Lyon’s story, with working looms and demonstrations that bring the craft to life.
It might sound a bit dry for kids, but watching a weaver at work on a traditional Jacquard loom is surprisingly fascinating and the guided demonstrations help explain just how much hard work went into the process, so it’s more engaging than a potted recounting of the textile industry.
If you’re visiting the Croix-Rousse district, it’s an easy option to fit into your day – allow around 60-90 minutes, including the demonstration.
As an alternative, you can also join one of the Soierie Vivante tours to go inside a genuine canut workshop and see the looms in action – there are tours in English on Fridays, book ahead
Musée Cinema et Miniature
Another of Lyon’s smaller museums, the Musée Cinema et Miniature combines two unlikely subjects – astonishingly detailed miniature scenes and props and special effects from famous films – in one quirky spot that tends to appeal particularly to older children and teens.
Tucked into a historic building in Vieux Lyon, the miniature dioramas are extraordinary in their detail, often depicting scenes so realistic that it takes a moment to register the tiny scale, while the film props and effects displays give a fascinating look at how movie magic is created.
In total, there are 10,000 original pieces, including costumes, props, sets, and miniatures, with links to films from Star Wars to Harry Potter, via Indiana Jones, The Matrix, Marvel, Wes Anderson, and Batman.
It’s a slightly different kind of stop from the city’s more traditional museums, but if your kids are fascinated by film, it’s a fun one to include.
A few minutes away on the same street, the Petit Musée de Guignol is dedicated to puppets and the history of puppet shows in Lyon – you’ll only need around 30 minutes to explore, but it’s another quirky option for your list and is included in the Lyon City Card.
Les Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse
Named after the city’s most famous chef, the Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse is Lyon’s big covered food market, and while it’s aimed squarely at food lovers, the mix of stalls and places to grab a bite to eat make it very family-friendly, more so than a more formal restaurant if you’re hoping to introduce kids to the city’s reputation for food.
Wander between stalls selling cheese, charcuterie, pastries and chocolate, and you’ll usually find something to tempt even cautious eaters, alongside a few counters where you can sit and eat on the spot. It’s busy and buzzy rather than a quiet browse, but that’s very much the appeal.
If nothing else, stop to try one of the brioches aux pralines which is Lyon’s most child-friendly classic – made with toasted almonds, often alongside hazelnuts, and coated in a thick crunchy layer of bright pink caramelised sugar, you’ll find lots of variations, all as eye-catchingly rose-coloured as the next (and all pretty delicious, having tried several ourselves).
Maison Pralus is another great place to try these – in 1955, Auguste Pralus invented the brioche version he called the Praluline and there are still several shops dotted across the city, including in Vieux Lyon and La Croix-Rousse, although the branches on Quai St Antoine and Rue de Brest are the best for the brioches. Or you can even learn to make your own with this brioche-making class.
Can you visit Lyon’s bouchons with kids?
Lyon’s traditional bistros, known as bouchons, are famous for their classic Lyonnaise cooking – and while some of these dishes, such as those using tripe, offal and pike, are unlikely to appeal to young kids, you’ll often find children’s menus as well as simpler options including roast chicken.
If you’re tempted, do book ahead as they fill up quickly, particularly at weekends when reservations are essential.
Parc de la Tête d’Or
One of the largest urban parks in France, Parc de la Tête d’Or is spread across around 117 hectares just north of the city centre and while you’ll need to venture away from Lyon’s other attractions, it’s easy to while away hours here.
Inside, you’ll find a completely free zoo with giraffes, flamingos, monkeys and more, plus several rose gardens, a botanical garden and a large lake where you can hire rowing boats in warmer months.
There’s also a carousel, playgrounds dotted throughout, and a little train (Le Lézard du Parc) that loops the park, not to mention the Balad’or bikes – with a bench seat at the front for kids, and another at the back where you sit to pedal, it’s a fun way for families to explore further.
It’s easy to spend the best part of a day here, particularly if you bring a picnic, and with no charge to enter the park and zoo, it’s one of the best free things to do in Lyon with kids too. Try to enter through the imposing Porte des Enfants du Rhône gate if you can, which brings you straight to the lake.
There’s also an 18-hole mini golf course within the park, as well as 30-minute performances at the little puppet theatre – the Théâtre Guignol du Parc de la Tête d’Or.
If you were tempted by the treetop course of France Adventures in Fourvière, with its ziplines and high ropes, the site has now moved to Fort Le Bron – it’s not impossible to include a visit while you’re in Lyon with kids, but it’s around 30 minutes by car/taxi, and at least 45 minutes by public transport including one or more changes
Aquarium of Lyon
Also a little way outside the centre, the Aquarium de Lyon is always popular with younger children, with touch pools, live feeding sessions and the immersive Ocean 360 room.
With 310 species from different habitats around the world, the aquarium is split into five main themed areas, including La Confluence, home to fish from temperate freshwater areas in Europe – such as Lyon.
There are also colourful reef fish and eels, tropical species from across the world, sharks and rarer marine creatures, before you get the chance to explore the depths of the ocean (virtually) in the Ocean 360 room, with its wall and floor projections creating an immersive recreation.
It’s around a 10-minute walk from the Musée des Confluences, if you’re planning to visit, or various buses run from the centre and stop a few minutes from the aquarium.
Buy tickets to Lyon Aquarium with free cancellation
Science Experiences
One of the newest attractions in Lyon for kids, Science Experiences is the city’s immersive science museum – a cross between a traditional museum and an immersive experience, right in the heart of the Presqu’île.
With six themed spaces, the emphasis is definitely on doing rather than reading – think laser mazes, optical illusions, interactive projections and even a floor that appears to turn to lava beneath your feet, as well as venturing to the bottom of the ocean, the top of a volcano and inside the human brain.
The idea is to make science feel exciting through sensory experiences rather than long information panels, which makes it a good bet for children who prefer to be hands on. The activities work well for younger children who just want to enjoy the experience, while older kids can learn more about the science involved.
Definitely one of the most fun ways to delve into the mysteries of the universe – plus it’s another good indoor option on a rainy day in Lyon for families.
There’s also an audio guide available in English, although as the focus is on getting involved rather than reading, you needn’t worry too much about knowing intricate French scientific vocabulary!
Museum of Illusions
Like most major European cities, you can enjoy some mind-boggling, eye-confusing tricks at the Museum of Illusions – and while Lyon’s version is along the same lines as most others, it’s still just as fun.
You’ll find a whole mix of sensory illusions as well as holograms and puzzles designed to mess with your perception, plus a chance to learn more about the science behind them… as well as taking dozens of photos apparently floating in mid air, standing upside down, shrinking in size and so on.
Not far from Place Bellecour on the Presqu’île, it’s a great option if you’re hoping to fill an hour on a rainy day in Lyon with kids or simply fancy a break from history and sightseeing.
Mini World Lyon
For a slightly different kind of sightseeing, Mini World Lyon is an indoor miniature park featuring tiny, highly detailed models of the city’s landmarks – more than 1,000 buildings in total, alongside 35,000 mini characters and thousands of vehicles.
There’s also countryside and mountain scenes to give you a glimpse of what lies outside Lyon, and you can even enjoy the miniatures lit up for the night – the day passes on a 20-minute cycle with the light changing from sunrise to sunset before night falls.
Plus there’s a free guide to help you spot lots of unexpected references as you wander, so you don’t miss some of the more unusual details. There is also a backstage tour for age 4+ but it’s conducted primarily in French, although the guides may be able to answer some questions in English, so best if you speak some French.
It’s some way outside the city centre, but you can take Metro Line A to Vaulx-En-Velin La Soie metro station which takes around 30 minutes from the Presqu’île. As it’s indoors, it’s a great option if you’re visiting Lyon in the rain with kids.
Getting around Lyon with kids
You definitely don’t need to bother with a car in Lyon – much of the city is easy to navigate on foot, and if you’re travelling further afield, the public transport network includes metro, trams, buses, trolleybuses and a funicular to whisk you up the hill to Fourvière.
Add in an impressive network of cycle lanes (and plenty of places to hire bikes, including the city’s bike-sharing scheme if you’re visiting with older tweens and teens), and ride-hailing options like Uber and Bolt, and you normally have a choice of ways to get around.
If you’re planning to take occasional trips on public transport, simply tap your contactless card to pay – on trams and buses, you’ll find a couple of different machines depending if you’re using a card or ticket, so you might need to hunt around for the right one.
For the metro and funicular, just tap your card to open the gates as you go in, and there’s a turnstile to leave. Children under four travel free; it’s also possible to get free travel for age 4-10 and discounted travel for age 11-15 but you’ll need to apply for a pass, so it’s not really worth it for a short city break.
Once you’ve tapped, you can travel on the network for one hour (but need to validate the card again if you connect to another mode of transport) – a single trip costs 2.10 Euros, and the total is capped at 6.90 Euros for the day.
Alternatively, a Lyon City Card (available for one, two or three days) covers public transport as well as entry to many of the city’s museums and attractions, which can work out a simpler and more cost-effective option if you’re planning to pack a lot in.
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Images: Musée des Confluences/Parc de la Tête d’Or/clownfish courtesy of Depositphotos, all other images copyright MummyTravels
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