Month guide · Lyon · France
Lyon in January
What January is really like in Lyon: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Phinou, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
January is a quieter month with trade-offs. Expect average highs of 7°C (45°F), lows of 0°C (32°F), about 8 rainy days and roughly 9 hours of daylight. Cold, often grey and foggy over the rivers; quiet museums and winter sales.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 7°C (45°F) / 0°C (32°F)
- Rainy days
- About 8
- Daylight
- About 9 hours
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Hotel prices
- Low
Weather in January
January is the 11th-warmest month in Lyon: days average 7°C (45°F) against a yearly average high of 17°C (63°F), and nights fall to about 0°C (32°F). Rain falls on roughly 8 of its 31 days. Compared with December (7°C (45°F)), January is about as warm; by February highs climb to around 9°C (48°F).
- Sunrise (15 January)
- About 08:17
- Sunset (15 January)
- About 17:22
- Daylight
- About 9 hours
Winter (December–February). The Fête des Lumières in early December, then cold, foggy and quiet weeks with low prices outside the holidays.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, January rates 2 for crowds (the peak is December at 5) and 2 for hotel prices (highest in December). That makes January one of the better-value months to book.
Events in January
- Winter sales — citywide shop discounts (usually from early-to-mid January)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in January
With cold days, plan around indoor sights and keep outdoor time flexible.
Religious site · Vieux Lyon
Saint-Jean Cathedral
Ask at the entrance when the clock's automata next perform; the show lasts a few minutes.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Architecture
- Rainy day
Market · Part-Dieu
Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse
Named after the city's most famous chef, this covered market gathers dozens of top producers: cheesemongers selling runny Saint-Marcellin, charcutiers, pâtissiers, oyster bars and chocolatiers.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Food
- Shopping
- Rainy day
- Iconic
- Free
Museum · Terreaux
Musée des Beaux-Arts de Lyon
Even if you skip the museum, sit in the shaded cloister garden for a quiet break.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- Rainy day
- History
Museum · Confluence
Musée des Confluences
Opened in 2014 at the point where the Rhône and Saône meet, this deconstructivist cloud of glass and steel holds a science and anthropology museum covering the origins of the universe, life on Earth and human societies, with fossils, a mammoth skeleton and ethnographic collections.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Architecture
- Nature
What to pack
For highs near 7°C, lows near 0°C and 8 wet days: a warm coat, hat, gloves and thermal layers; shoes with good grip for icy pavements; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is January a good time to visit Lyon?
A quieter month with trade-offs, with a notable event on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, April–June and September–October are better overall. Compare every month.
Lyon in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is January a good time to visit Lyon?
It is a quieter month with trade-offs. Cold, often grey and foggy over the rivers; quiet museums and winter sales.
+How warm is Lyon in January?
Average highs are around 7°C (45°F) and lows around 0°C (32°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Lyon in January?
Expect rain on about 8 days of the month.