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10 must-do activities with kids in Lyon!
Our selection of things to do as a family
As a family
Last updated date : 05/04/2024
Make the most of your family holiday or weekend away and spend quality time together exploring Lyon.
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1 - Go for a walk in the Parc de la Tête d'Or
This park is a firm favourite among Lyonnais kids! On foot or on a scooter or bike, meander along in the shade of the cool, tree-lined paths in the summer, enjoy the beautiful warm colours in the autumn, breathe in the sweet spring air or admire the scenery covered in snow in the winter. At this park, every season has its own charm and beauty. Your day at the park:
For 3-6 year olds: See a Guignol puppet show, an institution that has been entertaining children since 1948!
A visit to the zoo is a must. From the African plain to the big cat area, children of all ages will love it!
Le Lézard train travels around the park’s 117 hectares for a unusual and entertaining tour. Lastly, treat your kids to a carousel ride on the Carrousel du Parc.
For older children, there are various activities available in the park (‘Balad’or’ bikes, pedalos, little boats, mini golf and more)
2 - Visit a museum
For 3-6 year olds, head to Vieux-Lyon and the Petit Musée de Guignol. Book a puppet show then enjoy a look behind the scenes! You’ll get to know the characters Guignol, Gnafron and Madelon better.
At the Lugdunum museum (ages 4 and up) your children will be able to explore the Roman era and dress up in the children’s area. You can follow this up with a visit to the Roman theatres. On the first Sunday of every month, entry to Lugdunum is free for all visitors.
For ages 6 and up, the Musée des Confluences will have the whole family fascinated with the animal mummies in the Species - the Web of Life collection, the lion, giraffe and wall of butterflies, and the dinosaur skeletons in the Origins - Stories of the World collection. Then, in the museum gardens, you can capture the moment with an Instagrammable photo of the children in front of the ONLYLYON sculpture!
Le Musée Cinéma et Miniature is a must-see for anyone interested in special effects! Older and braver kids won’t want to miss the horror section and the Alien Queen…
Musée Lumière,
Learn about how cinema was born in Lyon in the Lumière brothers’ house. You can see the recreation of the bedrooms upstairs and the amazing bay windows on the ground floor. The museum also has gardens where you can sit outside for a drink.
Suitable for everyone, Mini World Lyon can be enjoyed on different levels depending on age. An ideal family outing!
There are many other activities offered in Lyon’s museums that are great learning experiences for kids: Le Musée des Beaux-Arts de Lyon, Le Musée des Tissus, les musées Gadagne.
Budding heroes will love the Musée des Sapeurs-Pompiers (Museum of Firefighters), Musée de l'automobile (Automobile Museum) or Musée de l'aviation (Aircraft Museum)…
3 - Explore La Croix-Rousse - the silk weavers’ district
Take your children to see a demonstration of a weaving loom at the Maison des Canuts.
Introduce your kids to the ‘Bistanclac-pan’ sound of weaving looms at the Soierie Vivante workshop. Also, don’t miss the weaving sessions held there.
Round off your visit to La Croix-Rousse passing by the Mur des Canuts and visiting Place des Tapis square: here you can see street decorations in the shape of cocoons.
4 - Admire the view from Fourvière hill
It’ll feel like you’re on top of the world! Have fun spotting the different iconic sites and buildings of Lyon from Esplanade de Fourvière or the Jardins du Belvédère. From here, the cityscape is spread out before you in a breathtaking panorama: Place Bellecour here, with its little horse, the dome of the opera house there (lit up red when a show is on), and the "Pencil Tower" and "Rubber Tower", as children like to call them, standing proudly against the skyline.
Want to explore even higher? Take a guided rooftop tour of the Basilique de Fourvière basilica for a unique way to look out over Lyon!
5 - Take a walk in Vieux-Lyon
This unusual district is full of historical and living heritage to discover!
Discover the ‘traboules’: in here, out there, and make sure to look up as you pass through! These traboules are like secret passageways! But don’t forget, in this protected world heritage site, silence is golden...
Hungry after your walk? It’s a perfect opportunity to enjoy a gourmet ice cream at Nardone!
Take a look inside the Cathédrale Saint-Jean and admire its astronomical clock.
6 - See a show as a family
There are shows for children all year round in Lyon.
L'Auditorium de Lyon is a fixture in Lyon’s arts scene both for its renown and its shows for families: introductory music sessions, children's musicals, film concerts and youth concerts.
The opera house holds events for families and children aged 3 and above. Perfect for children to attend their first opera, see a show with family, discover dance and see the opera house...
Lastly, the Aquarium de Lyon offers live shows, as does the Planétarium de Lyon which will take you on a journey through the cosmos!
Even more ideas...
7 - Take part in sporty activities together
Children need to be active.
Take them on a treetop adventure course at City Aventures and share an amazing adventure with them in Sainte-Foy-lès-Lyon forest.
From the age of 2, children can develop their balance and refine their motor skills with play trails on the ground. Daring older children can take on the challenge of the trails in the trees. Try out the zipline adventure!
France Aventures, at the top of Fourvière hill, offer 7 adventure courses with panoramic views over Lyon from the treetops. Super!
The Graine de Môme course is open to children aged 4 and up (introductory course possible from the age of 2). Their elder siblings will be able to put themselves to the test on the black course with its 100m long zipline.
A chance for everyone to experience games and exhibitions on the environment and sustainable development.
The Exalto leisure complexes in Villeurbanne and Dardilly have 8 indoor activity areas: Trampol, Ninja Warrior, Funclimb, Lasergame, VR, LaserBall, Arcadrone, Escape Game, Karaoké Box et Bowling !
8 - Go for a walk in one of Lyon’s parks
Les Berges du Rhône,
The Berges du Rhône stretches for 5km along the banks of the Rhône, linking the Parc de la Tête d’or and the Parc de Gerland in a succession of developments varying between natural, mineral and urban styles… There is a picnic area between L’Université and Galliéni bridges.
Limited to non-motorised modes of transport, they provide safe, landscaped paths for bicycles, scooters and pedestrians.
Le Parc de Gerland, in the south of Lyon, is dedicated to leisure, sporting activities and nature.
On the site of an old military fort, Le Parc Sergent Blandan is a green haven for everyone, perfect for your family outings!
More ideas...
9 - Go on a fun guided tour
Take a special family tour together.
Older children can see the whole of Lyon in an hour and a half with Lyon City Bus.
10 - Be amazed on a cruise in Lyon
Le Vaporetto, sailing along the Saône from the Place Nautique de Confluence to the Vaise district, is not your typical way of getting around the city.
You can learn a lot about Lyon in an hour with guided cruises on the Bateaux Lyonnais boats.
More ideas for family activities.
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Les transports pour découvrir Lyon en famille
More ideas for family outings in Lyon and the surrounding area?
It's best to book activities in advance.