Lyon is known by many as the gastronomic capital of France, making it a must-visit for food lovers. Beyond its world-renowned cuisine, Lyon charms visitors with its Renaissance architecture and lively markets. Our self-guided tours will help you discover historic Vieux Lyon and its hidden gems (and hidden passageways!).
If you're interested in booking one of our Lyon tours, we recommend visiting in May, June, September, or October.
July and August are the hottest months and the busiest in terms of international tourists. In August 2024, temperatures reached 38°C/100°F, which can make outdoor sightseeing less than comfortable.
During the winter months, temperatures in Lyon can drop to as low as 0°C/32°F or below, and the shorter days might limit your outdoor activities. However, if you're a fan of festive lights and Christmas spirit, December can be a magical time to visit Lyon, especially during the famous and very popular Festival of Lights.
To enjoy Lyon at its best, late spring, early summer, and early fall are the ideal times for a visit, as you should enjoy pleasant weather and avoid the biggest tourist crowds. This makes strolling through the city's historic neighborhoods and dining al fresco much more enjoyable.
In the guide below, we provide a month-by-month breakdown to help you choose the perfect time for your Lyon adventure.
We invite you to check out our self-drive tours in Lyon if you’re curious about exploring this region of France by car, at your own pace.
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Lyon by Month
January and February (Winter)
Lyon is typically very cold in winter, with temperatures ranging from below 0°C to 8°C (32°F to 46°F). It's also when the city takes on a more peaceful quality, as there aren’t so many tourists at this time of year.
It’s a good time to enjoy Lyon’s indoor attractions, such as the impressive modern architecture of the Musée des Confluences, a natural history and science museum, or the gorgeous Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière.
Food lovers may be interested in the Bocuse d'Or in late January, one of the most prestigious culinary competitions in the world, named after French chef Paul Bocuse. This is a biennial event and the next one will run from January 26-27, 2025.
Sirha Lyon, a world event for foodservice and hospitality linked to the Bocuse d’Or, also takes place in late January in 2025. At the convention center, you can taste your way around culinary exhibitions from around the world.
If you enjoy fine dining and you’d like to experience eating at a Michelin-starred restaurant (and money is no object), be sure to make a reservation at the Paul Bocuse restaurant in Lyon.
Or if you’re into winter sports, there are some excellent Alpine ski resorts within 1.5-2.5 hours’ drive from Lyon.
You may also like to read our articles about the best things to do in France in January and visiting France in February.
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Julie and Mike
March and April (Early Spring)
As spring arrives, the temperature rises to between 4°C and 16°C (39°F to 61°F) on average. It’s a lovely time to visit the Parc de la Tête d'Or, where you’ll find the gardens bursting with color.
Since you’ll be in Lyon outside of the peak tourist season, it’ll be easier to wander through the city’s famous traboules—hidden passageways full of history. Originally, these were built as shortcuts from the city to the river, making it easier for the silk workers to carry their goods from their workshops on the hill to the textile merchants by the river. The earliest traboules were built around the 4th century. Many have been blocked off but some are still accessible to the public–you’ll find them in the old town of Lyon. If you book one of our Lyon tours, we’ll help you find them!
And of course, you can't visit Lyon without indulging in the local cuisine at a traditional bouchon (we like Café Comptoir Abel). These cozy, welcoming restaurants serve up classic Lyonnaise dishes, such as andouillette (a type of sausage), coq au vin (chicken stew), quenelles (fish or meat dumpling in a creamy sauce), and tarte praline (a pink praline tart). The perfect way to warm up on a chilly spring day!
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May (Spring)
May is one of our favorite months to visit Lyon. The temperatures tend to range between 10°C to 21°C (50°F to 70°F), so the weather is warm, but not too hot, and the days are longer–ideal for exploring the city.
If you’re doing a walking tour of Lyon and you like street art, there are a number of impressive frescoes in the city. One of the most famous is the Mur des Canuts (the wall of the silk workers), in memory of the silk workers who once lived in the Croix-Rousse neighborhood and rebelled against working conditions in the 19th century.
Down by the river Saône, the Fresque des Lyonnais is another huge trompe-l'oeil painting on the side of a building. It depicts thirty well-known people from Lyon, including Antoine de Saint Exupéry (author of Le Pétit Prince), the Lumière brothers (pioneers of cinema), and Paul Bocuse (famous chef and the father of gastronomy). Just along the street by the river, you’ll find ‘The Library of the City’ fresco, featuring books by some of Lyon’s literary greats.
If you’re a fan of electronic music, the Nuits Sonores festival kicks off around mid-May, with events, performances and concerts taking place at venues across Lyon.
Browse some of our fully customizable France tour packages
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Allie Caulfield, Flickr, CC-BY 2.0
June (Early Summer)
At the beginning of summer, temperatures in Lyon will typically range between 14°C and 24°C (57°F to 75°F). If you plan to visit Lyon in June, book your tour earlier, as this is when the city starts to get busier.
It’s a lovely time to enjoy a stroll along the Rhône and Saône rivers or hike up to the Roman Theatre of Fourvière for panoramic city views. The Roman theaters host Les Nuits de Fourvière festival, a highlight of June and July, with theater, circus, music, dance, and film presentations. The festival has taken place every summer for nearly 80 years in the Roman Théâtre Antique de Fourvière (Grand théâtre), and in the Odéon de Lyon. The outdoor setting among Roman ruins makes every performance special!
The Jardin des Curiosités is just a short walk from the funicular station and the Roman theaters, and may be a nice spot at the top of the hill for a picnic. It has fantastic views over the city and the Saône river. But if it’s too busy, you can also enjoy great views from the top of the impressive Basilica of Notre Dame of Fourvière.
You can explore Paris, Alsace, Burgundy, Lyon & Provence at your own pace on our Best of Eastern France itinerary (which we can customize to suit your preferences)
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July and August (Mid-Summer)
Summer in Lyon can get very warm, with temperatures often hitting 30°C (86°F) or more, so it’s not our favorite time to visit.
In August, many locals leave the city for the coast, so in one sense, Lyon will be a bit quieter. On the other hand, it’s also the busiest time for international tourists.
If you’re in Lyon region in the summer and want to escape the heat and crowds, you might consider spending a day or two in the Alps or Jura Mountains, where you can enjoy cooler air, hiking, and beautiful scenic views.
Two hours’ drive from Lyon, you can visit the Cascades du Hérisson in the Jura Mountains, a series of beautiful waterfalls surrounded by hiking trails.
Hiking the Chartreuse Mountains may also be a good option. There are several hiking trails suitable for all levels, and stunning scenery all round.
Les Nuits de Fourvière festival is still in full swing in the city of Lyon during July, with a packed calendar of cultural events held at the open-air Roman theaters.
If beautiful scenery is what you’re hoping to see in France, you may like to browse our countryside tours of France.
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September and October (Late Summer/Early Fall)
The fall is one of our favorite times to visit Lyon, with temperatures ranging from 9°C to 22°C (48°F to 72°F) and fall colors illuminating the city and surrounding vineyards.
If you’re a foodie, a visit to Lyon’s markets in the harvest season is a must! Les Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse is an indoor market named after the legendary chef Paul Bocuse. There are more than 50 stalls offering high-quality meats, cheeses, seafood, pastries, and other seasonal delicacies like roasted chestnuts and truffles. It’s also a great place to sample local specialties like quenelles (fish dumplings), saucisson (sausage), and a variety of artisanal cheeses. We recommend visiting the market in the morning, as some stalls close after lunch. You can also eat lunch at one of the restaurants inside, if you like.
The Marché de la Croix-Rousse located in the Croix-Rousse district is a market known for its diverse range of products. You’ll find fresh cheese, meat, honey, fruit and vegetables, local delicacies and fresh flowers. You may see some clothing and crafts stalls too. It’s a great spot to mingle with locals and enjoy the neighborhood’s artistic features, such as the street art we mentioned above.
Fall is also the time of the grape harvest in the nearby Beaujolais and Côtes du Rhône regions. Spend a day tasting the new vintages, or simply enjoying a scenic drive through the red, orange and yellow vineyards. If you book one of our self-drive tours of the Lyon region, we’ll share all our favorite scenic routes with you!
If you prefer to enjoy the fall colors in the city, you may enjoy a stroll and a picnic in the Parc de la Tête d’Or on a nice day. This lovely park has a rose garden, botanical gardens, a lake (where you can hire a boat), fountains and a zoo.
Film buffs may be interested in attending an event at the Lumière Film Festival, which pays homage to cinema’s birthplace in Lyon. The festival runs for a week in October and you can find out the exact dates and events for this year on the Lumière Film Festival’s website.
If you love visiting local markets, we invite you to browse our French towns and villages tours. We’ll recommend a nice market for each day of the week!
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November and December (Winter)
In the winter, the weather in Lyon can drop to below 0°C, with average highs of around 10°C. It’s not our favorite time to visit in terms of the weather, but if you enjoy the festive spirit of December, then don’t let the cold deter you! December in Lyon is a magical time.
The Fête des Lumières (which will run from December 5-8 in 2024) transforms the city into a wonderland of lights. The facades of the city’s most beautiful buildings are lit up with lights and projector displays, and the local people place small lanterns (lumignons) on their windowsills and balconies on December 8th. This four-night festival of lights is a wonderful event to experience if you’re visiting this part of France in December.
As in other parts of France and Europe, Lyon has a popular Christmas market that runs from late November through Christmas Eve. It’s located on Place Carnot, between the Saône and the Rhône rivers. It’s a great opportunity to try some festive treats, such as gingerbread and mulled wine, and find some handmade gifts.
And there’s no better time than winter to warm up with a hearty meal at one of the city’s bouchons, or the indoor market at Les Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse.
If you want to experience Christmas in France, any of our Alsace tours will make you feel like you’ve stepped into a fairy-tale!
(Christmas bookings for Alsace need to be made around a year in advance to guarantee availability at the best accommodation!)
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To summarize, for mild weather and smaller tourist crowds, May, June, September, and October are the best times to visit Lyon. But if you’re booking a winter getaway and want to enjoy the festive spirit of Christmas, December is the time to visit Lyon and nearby Alsace.
