Vieux Lyon
Historic Walking Areas
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Lyon's historic section is full of old buildings and a traditional old French atmosphere.
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The area
Neighborhood: Vieux Lyon - Quarantaine
How to get there
  • Vieux Lyon - Cathédrale St.Jean • 4 min walk
  • Cordeliers • 9 min walk
See what other travelers are saying
  • CPaM68
    Texas633 contributions
    Thought to be unlivable in the 19th century
    Lyon old town, known as Vieux Lyon, is situated across the Saone River from the Presqu'ile district in the heart of beautiful Lyon. The 16th century was a time of thriving business since Lyon was a crossroads of trade between Italy, Spain, and France. Four and five-story houses were built with interior courtyards, staircases, and galleries as the area grew to accommodate the thriving business population. Many of those homes show the influence of the Italians who were key trading partners at the time. Vieux Lyon is one of the largest Renaissance neighborhoods in Europe and offers over 2,000 years of history including Romain ruins. Surprisingly, during the 19th century, the old town was thought to be "unlivable" and a plan was proposed to build a major road through the middle of it. Fortunately, this plan was dropped and major restorations and renovations were started in the area.
    Visited July 2019
    Written June 29, 2020
  • Wandering_Aengus
    Belfast, United Kingdom482 contributions
    The Heart of Old Lyon
    Packed with restaurants, shops, museums and churches, the compact area of Vieux Lyon can easily absorb a day or two of a trip to the city. Many of the buildings date back to the 15th century or earlier, and the warren of cobbled streets beg to be explored. Rue St Jean, running from the St Jean Cathedral to the Place du Change, forms the main axis of the area and virtually everywhere in the old town lies within a minute or two's walk of this street.
    Visited December 2019
    Written January 4, 2020
  • Dimitris L
    Sydney, Australia43,559 contributions
    Wonderful Lyon
    This is perhaps the most interesting part of Lyon. It is a lovely area of the city to wander around, sit at a cafe and just enjoy a relaxing time. There are beautiful old buildings, narrow streets, the peaceful river, cafes and restaurants and shops to spend time in.
    Visited August 2019
    Written July 24, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions

4.5
6,771 reviews
Excellent
4,449
Very good
2,065
Average
223
Poor
22
Terrible
13

the_3_adventurers
Raleigh, NC392 contributions
Dec 2019
I don't know that I'd consider this view a 'destination,' but it is beautiful. it reminds this American Southerner of how lovely a city view of rooftops can be ... it's much different than my view of rolling hills and kudzu. But that's precisely why I travel. :)
Written January 2, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Christian M
Copenhagen, Denmark3,808 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.
Written January 9, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Titch-the-Witch
Romanel, Switzerland313 contributions
May 2023 • Couples
We set out to discover the old city before 9 o'clock and wended our way through the cobblestoned alleys. We were on the lookout for the "Traboules", the old passageways used by the silk merchants. We found several but were a little disappointed in some of them, as they were dirty and there was litter lying around. The Fresque des Lyonnais (a trompe l'oeil mural) is outstanding and is a must-see. By midday the calm streets were packed with jostling tourists looking for a terrace on which to have lunch. There are plenty of cafés, bistros and restaurants scattered all around the city. The Saint Jean-Baptiste cathedral is worth stepping into, even if it is just to admire the 16th century astronomical clock as well as the stained glass.
Written June 7, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

TorOnTour
Auckland, New Zealand34 contributions
May 2022
Vieux Lyon's restoration began in the 80s I believe and now offers an up-close and immersive experience in Lyon. Walk the busy cobbled streets which weave up and around in seemingly no order. Search for hidden 'traboules', eat pralines and just enjoy meandering around Vieux Lyon.
Written June 22, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Ivo Carneiro De Sousa
Macau, China146 contributions
Dec 2019
It is a fascinating experience to walk throughout the old Lyon historical center. It is not too large, can be done in 2-3 calm hours, but needs observation, attention to detail, and a lot of fun. I have a walkthrough Lyon with my family, including several teens, in December 2019 last year. The Christmas holidays brought us from Macau to Lyon, and the visit is much enjoyable. There are still some roman vestiges of Lugdunum, some medieval architecture as in the old St. Jonh the Baptist cathedral, and the historic center evolves along the calm Rhône, still a majestic river. Most of Lyon's historical center is a mosaic of late 19th century, early 20th century buildings, a lot of them transformed into commercial areas. Thus, a visit to old Lyon must include some shopping and lunch or dinner in one of the countless restaurants available. I have also visit antique bookshops and found some precious books. The prices were affordable from old books to restaurants: a pleasant tour.
Written March 12, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Vanessa
Lytham St Anne's, UK3,289 contributions
Jun 2023 • Couples
Travelling through Burgundy for a couple of weeks, we stopped here for 3 nights on a boat moored on the Rhone! Amazing experience.
We wandered around the beautiful cobbled streets of Lyon, visited the cathedral at the top, had meals and drinks in the lovely cafes and restaurants around the city.
It's a lovely place.
Definitely worth visiting and a transportation hub if you are getting around by train or bus!
Written July 4, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Terry M
Hamilton, Canada4,635 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 November 1, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

lowryepp
Epping, UK856 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!
Written July 21, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Hooray H
London, UK2,257 contributions
Aug 2020
This is really wonderful. Very well renovated & maintained, clean & charming. Easy to loose yourself while you admire the beautiful architecture, especially of the old doors.
Lots of restaurants & cafes & touristy shops but difficult to work out which are not commercial, if any.
The problem was people were not keeping their distance, especially on a busy Saturday night when there was a European Cup Football match on too.
So we wondered off to the quieter areas.
Written December 8, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Peasantfood
Adelaide, Australia780 contributions
Jan 2020 • Family
Paul was battling late comers and drizzly weather but like a good Dutchman he persevered. By two hours in we had a firm grounding of enough history of Lyon and the amazing city that I have learned to love more than Paris! Had a great time. Thanks.
Written January 5, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Vieux Lyon - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

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Vieux Lyon Information

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