Shopping · Lyon · France
Shopping in Lyon
Shopping streets, markets and souvenirs worth the suitcase space.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Jean-Christophe BENOIST, CC BY 4.0
Quick answer
Lyon offers department stores and chains on rue de la République, luxury boutiques around rue Édouard-Herriot, designers and makers on the Croix-Rousse slopes, and outstanding food shopping. Best souvenirs: Lyon silk, Pink pralines and Coussin de Lyon.
Key facts
- Shopping areas
- 4
- Markets
- 3
- Top souvenir
- Lyon silk
Where to shop
Rue de la République
The main pedestrian shopping street of the Presqu'île, with chains and department stores.
Rue Édouard-Herriot and rue du Président-Carnot
Luxury and designer boutiques between Bellecour and the Terreaux.
Pentes de la Croix-Rousse
Independent designers, artisans and the Village des Créateurs.
Rue Auguste-Comte
Antique dealers and galleries south of Place Bellecour.
Markets
Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse
The city's covered gourmet market for cheese, charcuterie, pastries and seafood.
Croix-Rousse market
A long open-air food market along the boulevard de la Croix-Rousse most mornings except Mondays.
Quai Saint-Antoine market
A riverside food market along the Saône on the Presqu'île most mornings except Mondays.
What to buy
Lyon silk
Scarves and ties from silk houses that keep the canuts' tradition alive.
Pink pralines
Bags of pink sugar-coated almonds, or a praline brioche to eat on the train.
Coussin de Lyon
Green marzipan 'cushions' filled with chocolate ganache, a Lyon speciality.
Beaujolais and Côtes du Rhône wine
Bottles from wine shops and the Halles; ask for advice on the Beaujolais crus.
Guignol puppets
Puppets of Lyon's famous puppet character from shops in Vieux Lyon.
Streets and markets worth a wander
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
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Street · Presqu'île
Place Bellecour and the Presqu'île
Place Bellecour, a vast square of red gravel with an equestrian statue of Louis XIV, is the starting point for walks along rue de la République and rue Victor-Hugo, past 19th-century façades, shops and cafés, towards the Place des Jacobins and its fountain.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Shopping
- Architecture
Street · Terreaux
Fresque des Lyonnais
A trompe-l'œil mural covering a whole building on the Saône quay depicts about 30 famous people from Lyon's history, including the Lumière brothers, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry with the Little Prince and chef Paul Bocuse, at windows and on balconies.
- Time needed
- 20 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Art
- Kids
- Photo spot
Food and drink to take home
Edible souvenirs travel best when they are dry or sealed: consider Silk worker's brain, Pink praline tart, Saint-Marcellin and Bugnes. Bouchons, usually as a starter or before the cheese course. Check your home country's rules on bringing food and drink back.
Shopping by neighbourhood
| Area | Price level | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Presqu'île (Bellecour and Cordeliers) | $$$ | Grand squares, shopping streets and river quays between the Rhône and Saône |
| Terreaux and the Pentes de la Croix-Rousse | $$ | City hall square, the fine-arts museum and steep lanes of bars and studios |
| Croix-Rousse plateau | $$ | Village-like hilltop of the silk weavers with a daily market |
| Brotteaux and the 6th arrondissement | $$$ | Elegant Haussmann-style avenues next to the Parc de la Tête d'Or |
| Part-Dieu | $$ | Business district around the main TGV station and shopping centre |
| Guillotière | $ | Multicultural streets of North African, Asian and student eateries on the Rhône's east bank |
| Confluence | $$ | Former docklands at the tip of the peninsula with bold modern architecture |
Paying and bargaining
Prices are in EUR. Service is included by law. Locals round up or leave a euro or two for good service; around 5–10% in a finer restaurant is generous but optional.
- Say 'Bonjour' when entering a shop or restaurant and 'Merci, au revoir' when leaving.
- The Lyon City Card pays off if you visit several museums and take the river cruise.
When to shop
Shops and markets are quietest in January–March; the busiest months are December.
- January: Winter sales — citywide shop discounts (usually from early-to-mid January)
- March: Quais du Polar — crime-fiction festival (usually late March or early April)
- May: Nuits Sonores — electronic music festival (usually May)
- June: Nuits de Fourvière festival in the Roman theatres (usually June to July)
- October: Festival Lumière — classic film festival (usually mid-October)
- November: Christmas market on Place Carnot (usually late November)
Staying near the shops
$$$ · Best for first-timers, shopping and families
Presqu'île (Bellecour and Cordeliers)
Grand squares, shopping streets and river quays between the Rhône and Saône
Questions travellers ask
+What should I buy in Lyon?
Lyon silk, Pink pralines, Coussin de Lyon and Beaujolais and Côtes du Rhône wine.
+Where is the best shopping in Lyon?
Rue de la République: The main pedestrian shopping street of the Presqu'île, with chains and department stores.
+What are the best markets in Lyon?
Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse, Croix-Rousse market and Quai Saint-Antoine market.