How many days · Lyon · France
How many days do you need in Lyon?
A straight answer, then what each trip length really gets you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Musée des Beaux-Arts de Lyon - Photo Corentin Mossière, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
3 days is the sweet spot for Lyon, and 2 days is the minimum to see the main sights. Two days covers Vieux Lyon, Fourvière, the Presqu'île and the Croix-Rousse with meals in bouchons. A third day adds the Musée des Confluences, the Parc de la Tête d'Or or the Musée des Beaux-Arts; four or five days allows Pérouges, the Beaujolais or Annecy.
Key facts
- Ideal
- 3 days
- Minimum
- 2 days
- Day trips available
- 6
- Daylight
- 8.7 h (Dec) to 15.7 h (Jun)
What each trip length gets you
| Trip | Pace | What you can see |
|---|---|---|
| 1 day | Rushed | Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière, Vieux Lyon and the traboules, Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse and Roman theatres of Fourvière and Lugdunum museum |
| 2 days | Good | Roman theatres of Fourvière and Lugdunum museum, Saint-Jean Cathedral and Place Bellecour and the Presqu'île |
| 3 days | Ideal | Place des Terreaux, Musée des Beaux-Arts de Lyon and Musée des Confluences |
| 5 days | Relaxed | The highlights plus a day trip to Pérouges |
| 7 days | Plenty | A slow trip with day trips such as Pérouges and Vienne |
How long the top sights take
The 12 best-known sights in Lyon add up to roughly 18–25 hours of visiting time — about 3–4 days at seven sightseeing hours a day, before travel between them and meals. The biggest time commitments are Parc de la Tête d'Or (Half a day), Croix-Rousse and the Mur des Canuts (Half a day) and Musée des Beaux-Arts de Lyon (2–3 hours).
| Sight | Time needed | Area |
|---|---|---|
| Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière | 1 hour | Fourvière |
| Vieux Lyon and the traboules | 2 hours | Vieux Lyon |
| Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse | 1–2 hours | Part-Dieu |
| Roman theatres of Fourvière and Lugdunum museum | 1.5–2 hours | Fourvière |
| Saint-Jean Cathedral | 45 minutes | Vieux Lyon |
| Place Bellecour and the Presqu'île | 1–2 hours | Presqu'île |
| Place des Terreaux | 30 minutes | Terreaux |
| Musée des Beaux-Arts de Lyon | 2–3 hours | Terreaux |
| Musée des Confluences | 2–3 hours | Confluence |
| Parc de la Tête d'Or | Half a day | 6th arrondissement |
| Croix-Rousse and the Mur des Canuts | Half a day | Croix-Rousse |
| Fresque des Lyonnais | 20 minutes | Terreaux |
By type of trip
| Trip | Days | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First visit | 3 days | The main sights at a comfortable pace |
| Short break / repeat visit | 2 days | Focus on Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière and Vieux Lyon and the traboules |
| With children | 4 days | Slower days and time for Parc de la Tête d'Or |
| With day trips | 5 days | Add Pérouges and Vienne |
Daylight changes the maths
Sightseeing days are much shorter in December (about 8.7 hours of daylight) than in June (about 15.7 hours). In winter, allow an extra day or plan museum-heavy afternoons.
Ready-made itineraries
Combining Lyon with other destinations
Questions travellers ask
+Is 2 days enough in Lyon?
It covers the main sights at a brisk pace; 3 days is more comfortable. Two days covers Vieux Lyon, Fourvière, the Presqu'île and the Croix-Rousse with meals in bouchons. A third day adds the Musée des Confluences, the Parc de la Tête d'Or or the Musée des Beaux-Arts; four or five days allows Pérouges, the Beaujolais or Annecy.
+Is a week too long in Lyon?
No — a week leaves time for day trips such as Pérouges and Vienne.