In LYON, feeding the SOUL not with food but with SIGHTS

Most visitors come to Lyon for the food, and rightly so. But beyond the bouchons and bustling markets, the city rewards curious travelers with Roman ruins, hidden traboules, panoramic viewpoints, street art, and cultural landmarks that tell a different story of Lyon—one best explored on foot.

 
There are these moments in Lyon during summer when the heat seems to be far removed, tempered by a cool breeze where the Rhône meets the Saône before rolling on toward the Mediterranean. It is at this time when tourists are baffled, mistaking the occurrence as a sign of autumn’s early arrival in this part of France.

To the locals, it is nothing more than an excuse to linger on for a bit longer over a petit déjeuner au balcon or hang around in a café while the rest contemplate on a belief that food and conversation are daily sacraments.

It’s early in the day. The occasional dog walkers have joined the crowd of tourists. Waiters usher patrons inside restaurants as they skillfully juggle between serving and taking food orders.

To arrive in Lyon is to take part in a pilgrimage. One navigates through a culinary Mecca while stumbling upon a colony of chefs and gastronomy aficionados engaged in a ritual of food worship.
 

Lyon is France’s third largest city. The jewel in the region of Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes and the gourmet capital of France (or perhaps the world). From Paris, it’s a short two-hour high-speed train ride south. There are more than two million year-round residents. Come summer, the number swells, and the city sags with tourists.

If Paris has its Seine, the river that divides the city into Left and Right Banks, Lyon is wedged in by its two rivers, the Rhône and Saône. With the energy of a university town where talent and ideas surge, Lyon’s is as dynamic as it is sophisticated.

The Best Things to Do in Lyon Beyond Its Famous Food

Visitors come to Lyon and spend time at the table while acquiring wisdom of French nouvelle cuisine, as well as the people behind it. Brazier, Bocuse, and Boulud—the holy trinity. Eugénie Brazier, aka Godmother, became the first chef to command six Michelin stars; Paul Bocuse, whose name is as holy as the Pope in the culinary world; and Daniel Boulud, a sought-after New York chef born in Lyon and a global culinary sensation.

I came to the city not for the ‘meal-of-a-lifetime’ but rather to feed my soul with the sights. After all, Lyon is not just about food—delicious-to-die-food, Michelin-starred restaurants, and deeply rooted bouchons. It is also, as any frequent traveler knows, a place that lends revelation.

I began my peregrination at the very heart of  Lyon, Presqu’ile or peninsula at Place Bellecour. From here—the point zéro, all distances from Lyon are measured. A towering statue of Louis XIV presides in the middle of the square as if demanding one’s attention to look up and pay homage to Le Roi Soliel (the Sun King). Not so far away is a more modest statue of a prince and his creator, Lyon’s illustrious son and author, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry.

There is not much in the square that is challengingly exotic to see. There is a Ferris wheel, a couple of small cafés, and a tourist office. Yet, this humble open space lures tourists, romantics, and locals alike—le tout Lyonnais. When not idling around, they are busy picnicking on baguettes, wine, and cheese. Come sunset, the square’s dusty patch of earth turns reddish, matching the sun’s fiery glow.

From Place Bellecour, I pulled out my map and checked the major thoroughfares that run through it. At Rue du Président Édouard Herriot, one is greeted by a throng of shoppers parading the street all the way to Place des Terreaux, which houses the Lyon Fine Arts Museum. The museum showcases a fine collection of antiquities alongside works by Matisse, Picasso, Rubens, and several French Impressionists.

Hidden Gems and Cultural Sights in Lyon

 
The Rue de la République can feel like a miniature version of Paris dotted with Haussmann-style apartment buildings. There is the unmistakably old Hôtel de Ville, Lyon’s city hall. Opposite is the Opera Nouvel, an ‘architecture tour de force’ . The old and the new seem to have found their way among the city’s structures. The two remaining thoroughfares, rue Victor Hugo and rue du Plat, lead to Perrache, the city’s old train station in the 2nd arrondissement.

Following my Airbnb host’s advice, I took the funicular up to the hilltop at Fourvière. My ascent was rewarded by a close-up view of Lyon’s most iconic monument, Notre Dame de Fourvière, a long-distant cousin of Montmartre’s Sacré-Cœur Basilica in Paris. Inside is a lavish decoration of Romanesque-Byzantine-style gilded mosaics and stunning stained glass windows dedicated to the Virgin Mary.

To the Lyonnaise, the Basilica is the physical representation of gratitude to the Virgin Mary, believed to have spared Lyon from the Black Death that swept across Europe in 1643.

The plague has long gone, indistinct in the city’s collective memory. But every 8th of December, the city pays tribute to its deliverance. Dubbed the Fete de Lumieres (Festival of Lights), the joyous event is celebrated with lights and splashing LED pageantry commemorating the Virgin.

A few meters away, heading east, I came across a Roman colony established around 43 BC. A grand theater spread out in front of me. Students sprawled with their backpacks and grazed around the theater like the former Lugdunum spectators did two thousand years ago.

Historic Landmarks and Roman Ruins in Lyon

 
At the old town, le vieux Lyon, a maze of streets merged into alleyways. Buildings from a bygone era, where lives have come and gone, still remain and are remarkably well preserved, as well as unmarked passageways that ran perpendicular to the river.

Back in the days when silk was Lyon’s greatest powerhouse, these passageways known as traboules helped Lyon silk workers to quickly access the river from their homes when transacting commerce and delivering merchandise. Secret meetings were also held in the traboules during Nazi occupation. Imagine the countless whispered conversations that took place here, as well as secret plots hatched within the passageway walls during WWII.

I crossed over the Passerelle du Palais de Justice footbridge, passed a few shops and the narrow pedestrian rue de la Monnaie before circling back to where I started—le point zéro. I popped into a café nearby and ordered a hot chocolate and croissant.

Perhaps there is nothing more pleasant than sitting in a café and spending the remains of my afternoon idling. I watched construction workers pause for a break as they slapped three euro coins on the wooden bar for a small glass of rosé. Old men encircled themselves with cigarette smoke while engaging in serious, long philosophical chat.

From the window, I saw a woman tuck a baguette under her arm and a mother push two strollers past tall teenagers. At a corner, lovers locked in an embrace, kisses land on cheeks, lips, and necks. At the opposite café, heads floated in windows like ghosts.

I dipped my croissant in a cup of hot chocolate and let it soak, as the city enveloped me with its act of conviviality. To dine in Lyon is to see and perhaps know a city of a peculiar, restless character. Lyon becomes a fitting escape not only for pilgrims of culinary journeys but also for travelers immersing themselves in the city up close through its sights that promise to nourish the hungry soul. ✍🏻

(Updated June 2026) Practical travel guide to discovering the city of Lyon and where to start.

Before you go:

What Is Lyon Famous for Besides Food?

Lyon is famous for much more than its gastronomy. The city is recognized for its UNESCO-listed Old Town, Roman ruins on Fourvière Hill, Renaissance architecture, hidden traboules (historic passageways), vibrant street art, and panoramic viewpoints. Lyon is also considered the birthplace of cinema thanks to Auguste Lumière and Louis Lumière, whose pioneering motion-picture inventions helped shape the film industry. Visitors can explore this legacy at the Institut Lumière, dedicated to the history of cinema.

When Is the Best Time to Visit?

The best times to visit Lyon are spring (April to June) and autumn (September to October), when temperatures are mild and the city is ideal for walking and sightseeing. Summer offers long days and outdoor events but can be crowded and hot. December is also a popular time to visit thanks to the annual Fête des Lumières, when artistic light installations transform the city.

What Is the Best Way to Get Around The City?

Lyon has one of France’s most efficient public transportation systems. The network includes metro lines, trams, buses, and funicular railways that connect major attractions, including Fourvière Hill and Old Lyon. Most visitors can comfortably explore the city without a car. Cycling is also popular thanks to dedicated bike lanes and the city’s bike-sharing system, making it easy to reach neighborhoods such as Croix-Rousse, Presqu’île, and the banks of the Rhône.
 

Experience more of France and keep reading:

>> Through the LENS and LIGHT

>> Uzès – The South of France on the other side of the River Rhône

>> Riviera For All SEASONS…For All REASONS

>> Uncorking Bordeaux