Nightlife · Lyon · France
Lyon nightlife
Where the evenings happen in Lyon, from early drinks to late nights.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Karldupart, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Lyon has a large student population and an active nightlife: wine and cocktail bars on the Croix-Rousse slopes, barge bars on the Rhône, pubs in Vieux Lyon and electronic music clubs. The main areas are Pentes de la Croix-Rousse, Berges du Rhône, Vieux Lyon and Guillotière.
Key facts
- Nightlife areas
- 4
- Stay near the action
- Terreaux and the Pentes de la Croix-Rousse
- Local drink
- Lyon's local wines
Where to go out
Pentes de la Croix-Rousse
Small bars, wine bars and cafés in the steep lanes above the Terreaux.
Berges du Rhône
Barge bars and clubs moored along the Rhône's east bank, busy on summer nights.
Vieux Lyon
Pubs and bars around rue Saint-Jean and the Saône quays.
Guillotière
Cheap student bars and late-night eateries across the Rhône from the Presqu'île.
Nightlife tips
- Metro and tram services stop around half past midnight on weeknights and run a little later at weekends; night buses and Vélo'v cover the rest.
- Many barge bars on the Rhône are seasonal and busiest from late spring to early autumn.
- Watch your belongings around Place Gabriel-Péri and the Guillotière late at night.
Evening sights
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Landmark · Terreaux
Place des Terreaux
Come after dark, when the fountain and the city hall are lit.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- After dark
- History
Waterfront · Guillotière
Berges du Rhône
Rent a Vélo'v bike and ride from the Parc de la Tête d'Or south to the Confluence along the river.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- After dark
- Active
What to drink
- Lyon's local wines — House Beaujolais or Côtes du Rhône served in a thick-bottomed 46 cl bottle called a pot, the traditional jug of the bouchons.
Evenings through the year
Sunset and the overnight low decide how long the outdoor part of a night lasts. July has the warmest evenings, with lows around 17°C (63°F).
| Month | Sunset (15th) | Overnight low | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | About 17:22 | 0°C (32°F) | 8 |
| April | About 20:27 | 7°C (45°F) | 9 |
| July | About 21:28 | 17°C (63°F) | 6 |
| October | About 18:55 | 9°C (48°F) | 9 |
Getting home late
- Metro — Buy tickets in the TCL app or at machines; validate every time you board.
- Tram — Tram lines link Part-Dieu, Perrache, the Confluence and the university campuses; the Rhônexpress tram runs to the airport.
- Walking — Vieux Lyon, the Presqu'île and the Terreaux are within 15–20 minutes on foot of each other across the Saône footbridges.
Late-night bites
- Silk worker's brain — Bouchons, usually as a starter or before the cheese course.
- Saint-Marcellin — Cheesemongers in the Halles Paul Bocuse and on the Croix-Rousse market, and bouchon cheese courses.
Staying safe at night
Lyon is generally safe for visitors, but pickpocketing occurs in crowds, on the metro and at the Fête des Lumières. Some areas around Place Gabriel-Péri and the Part-Dieu and Perrache stations can feel uncomfortable at night.
- Emergency number
- 112 (European emergency number)
Where to stay for nightlife
$$ · Best for nightlife, food lovers, solo travellers and culture
Terreaux and the Pentes de la Croix-Rousse
Around the Place des Terreaux, with the Bartholdi fountain and the Hôtel de Ville, the Opéra and the Musée des Beaux-Arts, the 1st arrondissement climbs the Pentes (slopes) of the Croix-Rousse. The slopes are full of traboules, small bars, artists' workshops and independent restaurants.
- Good
- Lively bar and restaurant scene; Central with good character; Walk to Vieux Lyon
- Watch out
- Steep streets and stairs; Noisy at night around the bars
- Nearby
- Place des Terreaux, Museum of Fine Arts of Lyon, Opéra National de Lyon
Questions travellers ask
+Where is the best nightlife in Lyon?
Pentes de la Croix-Rousse, Berges du Rhône and Vieux Lyon. Small bars, wine bars and cafés in the steep lanes above the Terreaux.
+Which area of Lyon is best for nightlife?
Terreaux and the Pentes de la Croix-Rousse: City hall square, the fine-arts museum and steep lanes of bars and studios.