Lyon family guide
Lyon sits where the Rhône and Saône rivers meet, and it rewards families with a free zoo, a funicular up Fourvière hill and secret covered passageways called traboules in the old town. It is the home of Guignol the puppet and of cinema itself, and it takes food seriously without being stuffy. Early December brings the Fête des Lumières, when buildings glow with light shows for four nights.
Create a Lyon activity book
Best ages
Little ones enjoy Guignol shows and the zoo; 7-12 year olds get the most from the traboules treasure hunt, the miniatures museum and Musée des Confluences.
Stroller
The Presqu'île and riverbanks are flat and smooth, but Vieux Lyon is cobbled and the Croix-Rousse slopes are steep stairs; use the funicular and metro lifts where you can.
Take this guide on the trip
Signal and roaming are not guaranteed abroad. Print this guide or save it as a PDF, then add a Lyon travel journal and packing list. All three are free and are made in your browser.
Travel journal for Lyon Packing list for LyonTop things to do in Lyon with kids
Parc de la Tête d'Or and zoo Ages all ages
A huge free park with a free zoo, an African plain area with giraffes, pony rides, a small train and pedal boats on the lake in warm months.
Funicular to Fourvière Ages all ages
Ride the little funicular from Vieux Lyon up to the basilica for a city view, then walk down past the Roman theatres; it costs one standard TCL ticket.
Traboule hunt in Vieux Lyon Ages 6+
Look for the doors marked with the lion symbol and slip through the hidden courtyards; start at 54 rue Saint-Jean, the longest traboule, and keep voices low because people live there.
Musée Cinéma et Miniature Ages 5+
Tiny handmade rooms and real film props and costumes fill this old-town house; allow 90 minutes and expect roughly €13 for adults and €9-10 for children.
Guignol puppet show Ages 3-8
Lyon's own puppet character has played here since the early 1800s; short shows in French at small theatres like La Maison de Guignol work fine for non-speakers.
Rainy-day and cold-day options
Musée des Confluences
Dinosaurs, mummies and insects in a futuristic building, free for under-18s.
Aquarium de Lyon
Sharks, rays and a touch pool across about 50 tanks, reachable by bus.
Musée Lumière
The villa where the first films were made, with early cameras and short clips to watch.
A simple first day
- Morning
- Ride the funicular up Fourvière and look over both rivers from the basilica terrace.
- Afternoon
- Walk down to Vieux Lyon for a traboule hunt and the miniatures museum.
- Evening
- Cross the footbridge to Presqu'île and share a praline tart after dinner.
Getting around
Four metro lines (A to D), trams and two funiculars cover everything; buy a 24-hour or 48-hour TCL ticket and walk the flat Presqu'île between sights.
Food kids like
Kids tend to like quenelles in sauce, saucisson, bugnes doughnuts and the bright pink tarte aux pralines; bouchon restaurants serve lunch 12-14 and dinner from about 19:30.
What Lyon costs for a family
About €140-210 a day for a family of four, excluding lodging.
| Item | Typical price |
|---|---|
| TCL single ticket (metro, tram, funicular) | €2-2.50 |
| Musée Cinéma et Miniature (adult / child) | €12-14 / €9-10 |
| Aquarium de Lyon (adult / child) | €19-23 / €14-17 |
| Bouchon children's menu | €10-15 |
The zoo, Tête d'Or park and city museums are free for kids, and the Lyon City Card bundles transport with most entries. Prices are typical ranges checked for 2025–2026; confirm current prices before you book.
Safety notes
- Riverbank paths (the berges) are popular with fast bikes and scooters, so keep little ones on the inside edge.
- Pickpockets work the metro and Vieux Lyon at busy times, so carry bags in front and phones out of back pockets.
- Summer afternoons can pass 35 °C, so plan museums or parks with shade after lunch; tap water is safe.
What's inside the Lyon activity book
A personalized printable book for one child (or up to three with Family), built around Lyon: landmark spotting, a 12-item scavenger hunt, a local food tasting page, local phrases and a quiz. Print it at home before you leave and bring a pencil.
Missions
- Traboule explorer
- Puppet and film detective
Landmarks to find
- Fourvière Basilica
- Vieux Lyon
- Parc de la Tête d'Or
- Musée des Confluences
Foods to spot or taste
- praline tart
- quenelle
- bugnes
- saucisson
Words to try
- Bonjour Hello
- Merci Thank you
- S'il vous plaît Please
- Oui Yes
Mini €5.90 (10 pages), Adventure €9.90 (25–28 pages) or Family €14.90 (up to three children). One-time purchase, no subscription; the book is printed at home in English.
Create a Lyon activity bookQuestions parents ask
Is Lyon good for young children?
Little ones enjoy Guignol shows and the zoo; 7-12 year olds get the most from the traboules treasure hunt, the miniatures museum and Musée des Confluences.
Can you use a stroller in Lyon?
The Presqu'île and riverbanks are flat and smooth, but Vieux Lyon is cobbled and the Croix-Rousse slopes are steep stairs; use the funicular and metro lifts where you can.
How much does a family day in Lyon cost?
About €140-210 a day for a family of four, excluding lodging. The zoo, Tête d'Or park and city museums are free for kids, and the Lyon City Card bundles transport with most entries.
When is the best time to visit Lyon with kids?
Best months: April, May, June, September, October, December.