Lyon

The Grand Theatre of Lyon, also known as the Ancient Theatre of Fourviere, was constructed in 15 BC on the hill of Fourvière and is able to seat over 10,000 people. This ancient structure is one of the oldest of its kind and after years of deterioration was restored in the 20th century for visitors to be able to enjoy for years to come. Though the theatre is one of the most visited tourist sites in Lyon, it is also home to the annual festival of Nuits de Fourvière, which is a collection of circus, dance, music, and theatre and invites visitors from all over the world.

Musée Gallo-Romain de Lyon, 17 Rue Cleberg, 69005 Lyon, France, Phone: +334-7238-8190

A public aquarium located in the heart of Lyon, Aquarium de Lyon opened in 2002 and is home to over 5,000 fish. The 300 different species are located in 47 tanks, which vary from freshwater to saltwater environments. Visitors of all ages will enjoy exploring the aquatic animals and the interesting aquarium layouts with false shipwrecks and other fascinating decorative features. The largest and most popular exhibit is the "Fosse Aux Requins," where visitors can visit sharks and stingrays, while younger visitors will love "The Five Senses" exhibit, where they can hold certain fishes, sea stars, and hermit crabs.

7 rue Stéphane Déchant, La Mulatière, Lyon, 69350, France, Phone: 04-7266-6566

The Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourviere was built in the 1880s and is dedicated to the Virgin Mary, who was credited with saving the city of Lyon from the bubonic plague that hit Europe in 1643, the cholera epidemic in 1832, and the Prussian invasion in 1870. The church was a place for people of Lyon to be able to thank her. Visitors in Lyon in December can see the city and the church light up during the Fête des Lumières – the Festival of Lights. Built atop Fourvière Hill, the church stands prominently over the city and is a symbol of Lyon. Visitors can enjoy guided tours of the basilica and the Museum of Sacred Art and can sometimes access the basilica's north town and see amazing views of Lyon.

8 Place de Fourvière, 69005 Lyon, France, Phone: +334-7825-1301

If you are looking for something romantic

Visitors are transported back to the Roman era during a visit to Lyon Fourviere, which was the city center when the Romans founded what is modern day Lyon. Filled with wonder, visitors can explore some of the more interesting and unique aspects of Lyon's history, especially in the several churches that can be found there. One of the most popular sites to visit is the Basilique de Fourvière, or Fourvière Basilica, which towers over the city. Other sites to visit include the Metallic Tower, the Gallo-Roman Museum, the Ancient Theatre of Fourvière, Fourvière's Montées, Eglise Sainte-Irenee, Eglise Saint-Just, the aqueduct remains, and Parc des Hauteurs.

The Grand Parc de Miribel-Jonage is a 2,200-hectare urban park and recreational space that attracts both locals and tourists. Visitors can spend a relaxing day enjoying the many activities found in the park, such as horse riding, bicycle rentals and trails, guarded beaches, restaurants, cafes, and numerous picnicking spots. Visitors of all ages enjoy exploring the lush surroundings filled with flora and fauna, with contrasting landscapes that range from dry meadows to waterways. As well as being a nature park, the space is also dedicated to developing and preserving the area's natural heritage, supplying drinking water to urban areas, and providing protection against floods.

Chemin de la Bletta, Vaulx en Velin (Lyon), Rhône-Alpes, Phone: +334-7880-3067

The Institut & Musee Lumiere is an institution and museum dedicated to the preservation and promotion of French filmmaking as well as honoring Auguste and Louis Lumière, who invented the cinématographe, among their many contributions to filmmaking. Founded in 1982, the museum is located within the former home of the Lumière family, while the institute can be found in one of the family's nearby factories. Other than the Lumière brothers' famous cinematograph, other objects in the collection include the Demenÿ chronophotograph and Thomas Edison's kinetoscope. Guided tours are available in French, English, Italian, German, and Spanish.

25 Rue du Premier Film, 69008 Lyon, France, Phone: +334-6960-0223

If you are traveling with kids

The Le Mur Des Canuts is a large fresco painting found in Lyon and designed by CitéCréation. The company has over 670 mural art works all over the world, each of which adds a beautiful, almost magical, aspect to its surroundings. Each of the urban designs reflects something of significance in the area, and visitors in Lyon can see the story of the silk workers who rebelled against their working conditions in the 1800s in the Le Mur Des Canuts. The astonishingly realistic mural is impressive and filled with details that let visitors see what life was like for the workers.

Boulevard des Canuts, 69004, Lyon, France

The Cathédrale Saint-Jean-Baptiste de Lyon, more commonly known as Lyon Cathedral, is a Roman Catholic cathedral dedicated to Saint John the Baptist and is the seat of the Archbishop of Lyon. Built between the 12th and 15th centuries, Lyon Cathedral sits on what was once the churches of St. Etienne (St. Stephen) and Ste Croix (Holy Cross) and a baptistery. Visitors today can still see the remains of these structures in the archaeological garden next to the cathedral. When exploring the cathedral, visitors will come across a stunning 14th-century astronomical clock that sounds a unique combination of chimes, angels heralding, and roosters crowing at certain times throughout the day. The clock is a technological marvel and is one of the main highlights found in the cathedral. Another highlight not to be missed is the breathtaking 13th-century stained glass windows found in the choir.

Place Saint-Jean, 69005 Lyon, France, Phone: +336-6083-5397

AiroTour - Lyon is a wonderful concept that allows visitors to sign up for a free walking tour in various cities around the world. The local guides know all of the best places to visit in Lyon no matter what a visitor is interested in, whether it be religious art or local cuisine. And indeed, what could be better than a walking tour of the most amazing patisseries or traditional bouchons while learning about the history of the culinary capital of France? The guides take visitors to hidden gems and keep the small groups informed with fascinating facts about their surroundings. The best part is that visitors tip the guide what they want, depending on how much they enjoyed the tour.

Kai tn 1, Harju Maakond, 10111, Tallinn, Estonia

Lyon City Boat inaugurated their company with their first boat ride on the Saône and Rhône rivers in 1984. Now visitors have a choice of six luxurious boats and river barges to choose from with which to explore Lyon in a unique and fascinating way. Whether onboard the restaurant boat Hermès or the river barge Ville de Lyon, visitors will have one of their most memorable vacation experiences once they climb aboard. The Lyon City Boat experience is also a popular choice for those celebrating birthdays, anniversaries, or any other special events as they offer sightseeing cruises, dinner cruises, and private cruises. Visitors will not only get an opportunity to take stunning photographs, they'll also be able to learn some fascinating tidbits about Lyon.

13 Bis Quai Rambaud, 69002 Lyon, Phone: +334-7842-9681