Renowned for its gastronomical delights and ancient architecture, Lyon is brimming with culture and leisure activities that are suited for the entire family.
Whether you’re looking for a quaint winter getaway or summer city break, this is an incredible city to visit all year round. You’ll find museums, theatres, parks and gardens galore; there is truly no shortage of exciting experiences to keep your children occupied.
If you have the opportunity to explore this stunning area of France’s Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, don’t hesitate to book your travel. It’s the perfect family-friendly destination that adults and kids can enjoy together all year round.
Visiting Lyon With Children: How To Plan A Kid-Friendly Holiday
Parc de la Tête d’Or
Situated on the banks of the Rhône is the Parc de la Tête d’Or – France’s largest urban park and one of the must-visit locations in Lyon. Meander along the gorgeous greenery of the 117 hectares on foot, two wheels, or by scooter. Explore the tree-lined paths in the summertime, enjoy beautiful warm colours in the autumn, or admire the scenery covered in snow during the winter.
You can start your day with a scenic boat trip on the lake or wander through the botanical garden’s offering of over 16,000 different species of plants. Its glass greenhouses date back to the late 18th century and the park is home to the Lyon Zoo. This makes the Tête d’Or a firm favourite among Lyonnaise children.
Fourvière Hill
Take your pick from a selection of breathtaking viewpoints across the top of Fourvière Hill. When you go for a stroll along these two hills, you are welcomed with the best panoramic views of Lyon’s cityscapes.
The route begins at the Fourvière Basilica before taking you across a trail of stunning parks and gardens, monuments and historic architecture. The route ends at Saint-Just funicular station so you can enjoy a gentle ascent down to Viex-Lyon if you’ve had enough exercise.
Also known as ‘la colline qui prie’ (the hill that prays), the history of this landmark stems all the way time to Gallo-Roman times and includes numerous UNESCO World Heritage Sites and ancient monuments.
Little Museum of Guignol
Lyon is the original home of the hand puppet so naturally there is a museum dedicated to the city’s obsession with puppets. This two-storey studio is home to a wide collection of world puppets and other items embossed with the image of a small wooden Lyon.
Guignol is Lyon’s most famous puppet and the star of the museum, as the name suggests. Visitors are immersed in an interactive trail that allows them to step into the shoes of a puppeteer and enter their workshop. You can touch, dismantle and reassemble puppets and try your hand at your very own puppet performance.
Jardin des Curiosités
Bask in the most beautiful view of the city when you visit the Jardin des Curiosités. This 6,000 square-metre park is situated on a hill in Saint-Just and offers scenic views of the city and even Mount Blanc on a clear day.
It was built to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of relations between Montreal and Lyon and donated by Canada in the year 2000. The walk uphill will take you around 20 minutes or you can take the funicular railway which takes just a few minutes to reach the top.
For some extra fun and exploration, have your little ones on the lookout for the six chairs dotted throughout. They were designed by Quebecois sculptor Michael Goulet and encourage visitors to contemplate the gorgeous scenery before them.
Food
Lyon is generally acknowledged as the gastronomic capital of France by the French so you’ll be spoiled for choice at meal times. The prime location of the city means visitors can benefit from a myriad of foods coming from surrounding regions. You’ll find crayfish from Bugey, wines from the Rhône Valley and cheeses from Dauphine, alongside the city’s signature dishes.
While the adults enjoy andouillette (spiced pork sausage and wine) and the famous Sant-Marcellin cheese, children can nibble at bugnes, a deep-fried sweet treat traditionally made for Mardi Gras. Don’t forget the pink pralines – these sugared almonds mixed with cream in pink tartes aux pralines are a favourite of the locals.
Getting there
Thanks to its central region, there are many options when it comes to transport. It takes under 2 hours if you are departing from London and select one of the many flights that leave the UK every day. You can then book a Lyon Airport transfer that will get you to your accommodation or to the city centre in no time.
The Eurostar is another convenient way to travel to France. The Eurostar will take you to Lille or Paris, and from there you can change to a connecting TGV train. The whole trip takes between 4 and 5 hours but you will have the stunning French landscape to keep you company for the duration of it.
