Vieux Lyon
Vieux Lyon
4.5
About
Lyon's historic section is full of old buildings and a traditional old French atmosphere.
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listingTours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
Full view
What is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
Top ways to experience Vieux Lyon
The area
Neighbourhood: Vieux Lyon - Quarantaine
How to get there
- Vieux Lyon - Cathédrale St.Jean • 4 min walk
- Cordeliers • 9 min walk
Best nearby
We rank these restaurants and attractions by balancing reviews from our members with how close they are to this location.
Restaurants
2,897 within 5 kms
Attractions
390 within 10 kms
Contribute
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
We perform checks on reviews
Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews
Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
Learn more about our review moderation.
4.5
6,755 reviews
Excellent
4,441
Very good
2,058
Average
222
Poor
22
Terrible
12
Christian M
Copenhagen, Denmark3,763 contributions
Jan 2023
To strangers Lyon may seem overwhelming with all the traffic and noise - but visit Vieux Lyon and realize exactly why so many people are in love with the city.
Vieux Lyon is full of charming old houses, the famous bouchons (traditional restaurants), traboules (narrow alleys) and the devine beautiful Basilica on top of it all.
You’ll love every minute out here.
Vieux Lyon is full of charming old houses, the famous bouchons (traditional restaurants), traboules (narrow alleys) and the devine beautiful Basilica on top of it all.
You’ll love every minute out here.
Written 9 January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Terry M
Hamilton, Canada4,307 contributions
Nov 2022
The area is a richly deserved World Heritage Site, split over a lower and upper parts. There is a cathedral, a basilica and a handful of churches. Roads often run off at angles. Many pedestrian walkways allow for loitering. There are bouchons, home cooking Lyonnais style, the city one of the world's gastronomic capitals. The puppet theatre is not to be missed. A raft of souvenir vendors are at hand. Other high end clothing stores are present plus a good handful of candy/pastry shops.
Written 1 November 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Debbi B
San Jose, CA173 contributions
Oct 2022
Vieux Lyon is beautiful. A tad touristy but a convenient place to stay, close to museums, historical sites, and various tour kick off spots. I would have liked to have stayed there but couldn’t find a room; at the time it turned out there was a cinema festival and a race. Its a lovely place to stay.
Written 5 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Tox-downunder
Batemans Bay, Australia74 contributions
Oct 2022 • Couples
We picked a beautiful sunny day. I loved the cable tram to the top ( very easy with the standard public transport ticket) the basilica notre dames was impressive, beautiful mosaics. The view over the city were great too. The roman amphitheatre was nice to see too.
Written 2 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
robnh61
Stockport, UK1,668 contributions
Aug 2022
The old town is a lovely area to wander round. It's full of fabulous old buildings with some lovely restaurants
Written 2 September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Mohammed E
New Jersey38 contributions
Sep 2021 • Friends
I enjoyed my time there, in October 2019.
I will go back there again, and have some more fun with my family and friends.
I recommend this place to people who love to have a great time.
I will go back there again, and have some more fun with my family and friends.
I recommend this place to people who love to have a great time.
Written 18 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
peyman y
Iran161 contributions
Aug 2022 • Family
absolutly wort to visit . we first visit notre dam and walk down 15 min and then find fancy and charming and old alleyes and good restaurants.
Written 17 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
terrihansonmead
Redwood City, CA49 contributions
Aug 2022
We've been to Paris, Marseille, Nice, and lots of small villages with parts labeled as 'vieux' and this is by far our favorite. There are lots of shops and restaurants and traboules (courtyards) and it's very walkable. Small passageways take you from one street to another.
I've never seen so many restaurants in one place before. So much to choose from!
The funicular to the Basilica Notre Dame and the Roman theater is in Vieux Lyon (very convenient).
Definitely a must see and do while in Lyon.
I've never seen so many restaurants in one place before. So much to choose from!
The funicular to the Basilica Notre Dame and the Roman theater is in Vieux Lyon (very convenient).
Definitely a must see and do while in Lyon.
Written 14 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Claire Pear
2 contributions
Jun 2022
Make sure to find the Traboules and take a walking tour! The church rings at 10 am, and check out the clock inside. Have lunch or dinner at a traditional bouchon Lyonnaise!
Written 25 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
lowryepp
Epping, UK811 contributions
Jun 2022
Historic and mostly genuine mediaeval centre. Wander at will, much pedestrianised (or nearly so); go slowly, look up to building tops, into ancient passage ways (traboules) - worth getting a guide sheet or online for thes, not all marked. Even look underfoot, as the coblles and brass markers tell stories. Many cafes, icecreams, restaurants. Get to the higher parks by funicular.
If you stay in the old town, can be noisy at night!
If you stay in the old town, can be noisy at night!
Written 21 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Sherrie I
New Berlin, WI115 contributions
You all have provided so much information. How easy isotope to speak English I in Lyon And Avignon?
WDCUeberau
Phoenix, AZ53 contributions
In Lyon,
There is no problem using Englsh in Lyon. It is a big cosmopolitan city.
Avital K
Jerusalem, Israel22 contributions
We will be landing in Lyon in the evening with our teenagers and are wondering where to go eat some fast cheap food and a nice place to walk around. We will be renting a car so somewhere with reasonable parking.
Thanks!
Marina S
Brisbane, Australia146 contributions
Lyon is know as the food capital of France. It's a big city so we checked into our accommodation first to drop off bags and asked at reception for their advice for great local options. Always good to ask a local. Enjoy! The tourist office has a great free book with plenty of vouchers to venues too. Make that your next stop.
_hsiwamoto
San Francisco, CA3 contributions
Hey Merrill,
(BTW, I grew up in Northbrook). Anyway, I'd be very interested if you would share the route you took through Old Lyon. We'll be there in a week or so and have a free morning. Thanks!
vox214
River Forest, IL
Good morning. My husband and I are traveling with my three children (10, 7, and 3 y/o) as well as my mother. Could you please recommend a nice B&B in the old town Lyon for a couple of nights. thank you
MistyCat_8
Wirral & France108 contributions
It's very easy and convenient to get around Lyon so don't worry about staying in the old town, it's much cheaper and better with a family to get a small apartment with a kitchenette so you can cook your own meals. We stayed in the 7th arrondissement and the metro and trams were right outside the door! My husband is disabled so it was very important for us to be able to get around easily, as mentioned above, forget cars, it can take ages to get over the bridges and it's expensive to park anywhere.
wan c
Melbourne, Australia3 contributions
I've just got 4 hours in Lyon how far is Vieux Lyon from Lyon Part Dieu?
Pauline L
Lyon, France232 contributions
If during rush hours, you can take the tube, the way is easy.
Tube is connected to the Lyon Part Dieu train station.
Take the line B direction Oullins, then change at station Saxe-Gambetta to reach line D direction Gare de Vaise.
Get off at Saint Jean station: You're in Vieux Lyon.
And at this station, you can take the opportunity to take the old cable car (funiculaire) direction Fourvière to the beautiful vue from this famous hill here, and walk down to Saint Jean by a nice garden.
GuyR71520
Matour, France119 contributions
C'est quoi ce commentaire ? un gag ? j'aimerai que vous me donniez le nom du maire Communiste de Lyon, parce que moi je ne connais que Édouard Herriot qui est autant communiste que Gonzague de Saint Bris est prix Nobel de Chimie ! Quand à la destruction complète de St Jean et des Bombardement du Vieux Lyon, ma grand mère était donc une survivante traumatisée qui avait perdue la mémoire et qui ne se rappelait pas qu'"ILS" avait reconstruit sa maison sans qu'elle sans rende compte!!!!
Bien sur je ne vous pas de L'UNESCO qui est un ramassis de reptiliens qui protège cette information en inscrivant le vieux Lyon au patrimoine de l'Humanité ! J'aurais donc bien rigolé ce soir !!Merci !
Brendan M
4 contributions
Where do you catch the hop on off bus tour?
MistyCat_8
Wirral & France108 contributions
Belle Cour square has a tourist information office and I think it's the main stop.
stephenc
Belfast, UK57 contributions
We (2 adult couples in our late 50's) are in Lyon for up to a week arriving on Sun 2nd Oct. Are there many wine & food tastings at reasonable costs within the city please? Or would we be best to hire a car and travel some distance which would mean finding overnight accommodation?
OscarTammy
Auckland, New Zealand157 contributions
Lyon is a gastronomic heaven - with great wine thrown in! There are enough good restaurants to keep you going for weeks, let alone a few days. And I found the cost very competitive- better than Paris for example, as there is so much competition.I did do a half day wine tour organised by the TI Office but that was really more just to see the countryside and to visit some chateaux and wineries - Lyon has plenty of wine. I was there eight days and would have loved to stay longer.
Florencia C
3 contributions
Hola! Estoy viajando para Junio y estaré 4 dÃas tres noches en Lyon. Es mejor ir a Vieux un dÃa de semana? Por lo que leo los fines de semana hay mucha gente. Que podemos hacer sábado y domingo?
Muchas gracias
Thomas W
Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, France142 contributions
Hola! Tut mir leid, Juni ist vorbei, ich war unterwegs. Trotzdem: Das Wochenende ist tatsächlich überlaufen, persönlich ziehe ich die Wochentage. Was tun am Wochenende? Festivals, Opéra, Kulturveranstaltungen der Stadt Lyon, Menschen begegnen.
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
Vieux Lyon | | UPDATED January 2023 Top Tips Before You Go (with Photos) - Tripadvisor
Frequently Asked Questions about Vieux Lyon
- We recommend booking Vieux Lyon tours ahead of time to secure your spot. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. See all 31 Vieux Lyon tours on Tripadvisor
- According to Tripadvisor travellers, these are the best ways to experience Vieux Lyon:
- Lyon Highlights & Secrets Walking Guided Tour (small group) including Funicular (From €33.26)
- Lyon Hop-On Hop-Off Tour with Audio Commentary (From €15.26)
- Lyon City Historic Neighborhoods Guided Walking Tour (English) (From €3.13)
- Lyon Old Town Half-Day Walking Food Tour with Local Specialties Tasting & Lunch (From €81.38)
- Lyon Big Traboules in Little City Stories from the Past Private Guided Tour (From €39.67)
- Hotels near Vieux Lyon:
- (0.02 km) COTE PALAIS 1 (AU COEUR DU VIEUX LYON)
- (0.03 km) Cote Palais
- (0.03 km) COTE PALAIS 2 (AU COEUR DU VIEUX LYON)
- (0.04 km) La Tour Rose
- (0.05 km) Artelit
- Restaurants near Vieux Lyon:
- (0.01 km) Les Ventres Jaunes
- (0.01 km) Le Palais Saint Jean
- (0.01 km) Restaurant Un Deux Trois
- (0.02 km) Le Petit Bouchon de la Place
- (0.02 km) Le Panier Du Chef
- Attractions near Vieux Lyon:
- (0.03 km) Kanpai Tourisme
- (0.04 km) Maison Du Crible / Pink Tower Of Lyon
- (0.04 km) Mandragore
- (0.05 km) Maison Brochier Soieries
- (0.05 km) Boul'Dingue