10 things to do in Lyon this summer

Why not make the most of the fine weather to discover or rediscover Lyon? We've put together a little agenda of things to do this summer! Open-air cinema, private beach, rooftop, Solex rides...A delicious cocktail to enjoy the capital of gastronomy in a unique way. So head forLyon by train!

• A Retro Solex ride
• An open-air cinema
• A private beach on the edge of Lake Miribel
• A swimming pool with a Fourvière view
• A picnic in the Garden of Curiosities
• A rooftop drink at the Maison Nô
• A stroll along the riverbank
• An ice cream at Terre Adélice
• An extraordinary stroll on Barbe Island
• The Tout l’Monde Dehors festival: 300 free events all summer long

In case you didn't know: in some areas of Lyon such as the Croix-Rousse, it's a steep climb! So why not get on a good old Solex and ride around the city?

The Brélon de Lyon organises unique Solex tours. As a bonus, you can ride on the road (at a maximum of 30km/h) and wherever bikes are allowed.

Our favourite walk

Explore Croix-Rousse: a neighbourhood located on a hill, covered in small, charming streets. Squares, painted walls, traditional sites...Allow 1h30min of walking time.Fare: 35€ per person.

You can also walk from square to square, with a brunch break, and even rent 10 Solexes for a great trip among friends! This gives you the option to stop wherever you like: it's a perfect trip for a hen or stag party. Bookings must be made through Arnaud: +33 6 51 70 02 98.

The city of the Lumière brothers offers many open-air film festivals.

Among our favourites are the Cinéma Sous Les Etoiles festival, from the 16th to the 19th of July 2018 (Place d'Ainay), which has a very friendly atmosphere. L'Eté en Cinémascope, from the 26th of June to the 28th of August 2018 (Place Ambroise Courtois), is a not-to-be-missed event organised for more than 20 years now by the Institut Lumière. And finally, Cinété, a festival dedicated to children, with several family-friendly activities (in July).

>> Continuing with the theme of cinematic art, head for the Villa Lumière

A sandy beach perfect for making sandcastles, with clear blue water which goes up to 27°C. Tables and sunbeds in the shade, playgrounds, a beach volleyball court... All just 20 minutes from Lyon, it is the ideal spot for a day's picnic and swimming as soon as the weather turns warm.

TheAtol beach is located in a vast park with plenty of sport- and nature-based activities: walking around the lake, cycling, playgrounds, sailing, rowing, canoeing, paddling, fishing..…

Open from the 1st of May to the 30th of September, from Monday to Saturday from 9am to 9pm and on Sundays and bank holidays from 9am to 8pm.
Beach entry, Adult fare: 7€ / Child’s fare (From 4 to 11y/o): 3€ / and free for children under 4 y/o

The Atol
+33 4 78 80 56 20
Chemin de la Bletta
69120 Vaulx-en-Velin

>> Discover all the bathing spots around Lyon

Lovers of beautiful swimming pools will be delighted. With its unique architecture, the Rhône swimming pool is ideally located in the heart of Lyon and offers a superb view of the Fourvière hill.

We love the Olympic pool, which is open all year round, with a covered launch pool for the winter. And in summer, enjoy the family pool with its slide and hot tubs. Free aqua-gym and aqua-bike classes, as well as water polo, beach volleyball..…

Rhône public swimming pool - Centre Nautique Tony Bertrand
8 quai Claude Bernard - 69007 Lyon 7ème
From 01/07 to 30/09, every day from 10am to 8pm.
Adult fare: 8€/ Child’s fare: 5.50€

It is rumoured to have the most beautiful view in Lyon. This little-known park is worth visiting, hidden behind an iron gate at the end of the Place de l'Abbé Larue.

To get there, take the funicular from Saint Jean, in the direction of Saint Just, and get off at the terminal. Take the street that goes back down to Vieux Lyon; the square is a few hundred metres further down on your right. You will feel as though you are alone in the world.

The Garden of Curiosities - Place Abbé Larue - 69005 Lyon 5ème
From May to September, open every day from 8am to 10pm (until 7pm the rest of the year).

>> Feeling peckish? Discover 10 specialities from Lyon

This spacious rooftop opened in 2018 at the heart of the Presqu'île, a stone's throw from Place des Terreaux. On the 6th floor of a 45-room boutique hotel, this trendy bar-restaurant of over 100m2 has a 360° view over all of Lyon. 

Maison Nö
11 Rue du Bât d'Argent, 69001 Lyon
Telephone: +33 6 88 35 18 23

To go from Confluence to the centre of Lyon, you can take a Vaporetto, which connects the two in less than 30 minutes. A unique way to get about!
Open daily from 9.30am to 9.30pm.

And every Wednesday, from May through October (except in August), a gourmet and festive cruise is organised with appetizers.

If you're with friends, the best plan is to rent asmall electric boat on the Saône and take a fresh bottle of rosé on board!
Book now with Cap Confluent by calling +33 6 60 37 88 15.

Book and board the Bateaux Lyonnais and enjoy a dinner cruise if you wish to admire Lyon from the water at nightfall. Perfect for a birthday or a romantic date!
The departure and return is opposite 16 quai Claude Bernard – Lyon 7e
On the left bank of the Rhône at the foot of Pont de l’Université

Located on the Place de la Baleine in Vieux Lyon, this ice cream parlour is rumoured to be the best in the city . It offers more than 100 flavours of homemade ice cream and sorbets, half of which are organic. A must-do. 

Terre Adélice
1, place de la Baleine - 5e
Open Monday to Thursday from 12pm to 11:30pm
From 12:30pm to 11pm on Sundays

For a family picnic or a relaxed afternoon with friends, The Barbe Island is the perfect place. Its name is derived from the Latin insula barbara, "the wild island". Accessible via a bridge over the Saône in the centre of Lyon (9th district), the island offers peace and quiet and a complete change of scenery.

You will find an extensive and stunning public garden with a playground; however, the other part of the island is privately owned. Occasionally, the gate is open, and you can go for a stroll while respecting the tranquility of the locals.

This little hamlet has a village square, a Michelin-starred restaurant (L'Auberge de l'île), charming little streets, and the ruins of the old abbey founded on the island in the 5th century.

The island is accessible to all except for the private portion. The latter is accessible on Mondays from 6am to 6pm and from Tuesday to Friday from 6am to 8pm. And on Sundays, from 6am to 1pm.
Please note that this access may be subject to temporary restrictions.

Every summer, Lyon organises around 300 free events: dances, concerts, theatre, food trucks, cooking workshops, open-air sport, yoga, open-air cinema, etc…

The entire agenda will be revealed in June. So get ready!