2.5h Guided Bike Tour of Lyon Old Town with a Local Guide

Pedal through 2,000 years of history on this 2.5-hour guided bike tour of Lyon's Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Start at the Grand Hôtel-Dieu, a 12th-century hospital turned hotel, before catching sight of the Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière watching over the city from its hilltop. Climb into La Croix-Rousse, the steep, silk-weaving district where traboules once let workers move fabric through the rain, then stop at a mural tracing two millennia of Lyon's history. Freewheel down to Place des Terreaux and its Bartholdi Fountain, past the Palais de Justice on the Saône, and into the Cathédrale Saint-Jean-Baptiste, where a 14th-century clock still marks the hour. Cross Place Bellecour, one of Europe's largest pedestrian squares, before finishing at La Confluence, where the Rhône and Saône meet. Ride a comfortable Dutch-style bike or upgrade to an e-bike, in a small group with a local guide who knows the city's history, food and stories better than any guidebook.

1. 1

   Stop 1

   15 min

   Meet your guide in our shop for your morning or afternoon bike tour. Select your classic or elecctric bike, appropriate for your skill and experience level.

2. 2

   Grand Hotel Dieu

   5 min

   This impressive landmark was built in 1184 and served as a hospital for more than 800 years! Now a 5-star hotel and shopping center, these walls hold many stories of historical accounts and legends.

3. 3

   Stop 3

   5 min

   Admire the basilica watching over the city from its hilltop, an enduring symbol of Lyon's skyline.

4. 4

   La Croix-Rousse

   5 min

   La Croix-Rousse and its slopes are qualified as UNESCO heritage sites. La Croix-Rousse is the former working-class district of Lyon which housed the Canuts (or Lyon silk workers).

5. 5

   Fresque des Lyonnais

   5 min

   This fresque completed in 1995 represents 2000 years of history featuring 25 historical and 6 contemporary figures from Lyon. Some of the most notable depictions are the Lumiere Brothers, Antoine de St-Exupéry and the Little Prince, and Paul Bocuse.

6. 6

   Place des Terreaux

   5 min

   The most beautiful square in all of Lyon is home to the City Hall, Museum of Fine Arts, and the breathtaking Bartholdi Fountain. It serves as the perfect place to take photos, learn some interesting history and legends, and also take a pause and have a drink.

7. 7

   Stop 7

   5 min

   The Palais de Justice and its passerelle are a pairing of two iconic landmarks to the city. From the passerelle visitors can see far and wide along the Soane river at the very heart of the city.

8. 8

   Cathedrale Saint-Jean-Baptiste de Lyon

   5 min

   Sitting in the heart of the old town, this cathedral is an impressive structure. Built over three centuries starting in 1175 it has a mix of Gothic and Romanesque styles and features a 16th century astronomical clock.

9. 9

   Place Bellecour

   5 min

   As the largest pedestrian square in Europe, Place Bellecour is surrounded by history, new and old. Here you can see the newly-renovated statue of King Louis the XIV, The Institute of Paul Bocuse, and a memorial to Antoine de St-Exupéry.

10. 10

    La Confluence

    5 min

    Finally, we’ll end our journey at La Confluence. The uniqueness of Lyon’s geography is demonstrated by the two waterways that the heart of the city is built between; at the confluence the two waters become one. This also gives a perfect view of the deconstructivist architecture of the area and the museum that sits there.

• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels
• Minimum customer height for E-bike option: 165 cm

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.