Lyon Old Town: Food Tour & Traboules with 4 Tastings

Walk Lyon's Hidden Passageways & Stop Four Times to Eat

You walk through Old Lyon's narrow streets and hidden passageways with a local guide for three hours, stopping four times to taste regional charcuterie, cheese, praline brioche, and wine. The guide points out the Cathedral and explains the traboules as you go. It's designed as an aperitif rather than a full meal, so you can eat dinner afterward without being stuffed.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Old Town and local specialties

• Discover Saint Jean Cathedral
• Explore famous traboules passageways
• Visit Lyon Cathedral
• See one of the most famous traboules
• Taste regional cold cuts with red wine
• Taste regional cheeses with white wine
• Enjoy praline brioche with drinks
• Taste artisanal ice creams or chocolates

The experience

The cathedral steps rise in front of you, and your guide is already pointing toward the narrow streets of Vieux Lyon branching off to the left. Three hours, four tasting stops, and you're moving through the oldest part of the city on foot: past the murals that cover entire building faces, past the traboules (those secret passageways Lyonnais use to cut between blocks) that most visitors never find. The guide knows which doors open, which ones don't, and stops to talk about the people who built them centuries ago.

The first stop comes early: regional cold cuts and a glass of red wine, standing in a small shop where the owner has been making charcuterie the same way for thirty years. Then cheese with white wine, then the praline brioche that Lyon is known for: the kind with pink pralines baked inside, still warm if you're lucky. Between April and October you get artisanal ice cream. In winter, chocolates instead. It's not a full lunch, but it's enough to feel like you've eaten your way through the city's food culture without sitting down for two hours. The guide talks about what each thing is, where it comes from, why it matters to Lyon, not in a lecture way, just in the way someone who lives here actually talks about food.

You'll stand in front of Saint-Jean Cathedral at some point, and you'll walk through at least one of the famous traboules: the ones with Renaissance courtyards hidden behind unmarked doors. The pace is slow enough that you're not rushing between stops, but you're also not lingering so long that your feet start to hurt. Groups stay small, which means the guide can actually hear you when you ask a question, and you're not shuffling behind twenty other people trying to take the same photo.

What’s included

Your afternoon includes a passionate local guide, four tasting breaks featuring regional cold cuts and wine, regional cheese and wine, praline brioche with hot or cold drinks, and either artisanal ice cream or chocolates depending on the season. All food and beverages are included in the price.

Options for this experience

2 options

3-hour Vieux Lyon tour with English-speaking guide15:00Explore the UNESCO district through its murals and paintings, traboules, must-see landmarks, and encounters with passionate local craftsmen.

3-hour Vieux Lyon tour with French-speaking guide15:00Discover the UNESCO district through its mural paintings, traboules, must-see landmarks, and meetings with passionate local craftsmen.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Lasts 3h, runs Tuesday to Sunday at 15:00, from € 75 per person, with a live guide in English and French, in groups of up to 12 and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesTuesday to SundayDeparts at 15:00

Book up to10h before

AgesAdult (21 and older) · Child (13 to 20 years) · Under 13: can't be booked

GroupUp to 12

Live guideEnglish and French

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearby

Operated by Lyon ORIGINAL Tours

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to taste Lyon's food culture without committing to a long sit-down meal, and you're curious about the Old Town's architecture and hidden corners: the guide and the small group size mean you actually learn something instead of just walking past things.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and French.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (13 to 20 years). Children under 13 can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How long is the tour?

Three hours, with four tasting breaks built in.

What exactly do you eat and drink?

Regional cold cuts with red wine, regional cheese with white wine, praline brioche with hot or cold drinks, and either artisanal ice cream (April–October) or chocolates (November–March).

Do you need to be fit to do this?

It's suitable for all fitness levels. You're walking at a slow pace through the Old Town, not climbing hills or covering long distances.

What are traboules?

Secret passageways that connect buildings and streets in Old Lyon. They date back centuries and are a distinctive feature of the neighborhood.

Is this a full meal?

No, it's designed as an aperitif: four tasting stops with wine and snacks, not a sit-down lunch. You can eat dinner afterward.

What time does it start?

The tour is listed as an afternoon departure. Check with the operator for exact start times.

What if there aren't enough people to run the tour?

The tour requires a minimum of 2 passengers. If that's not met after confirmation, you'll be offered an alternative tour or a full refund.

Is public transport nearby?

Yes, public transportation options are available near the Old Town.

Can you do this tour if you don't drink alcohol?

Wine is included with the tastings, but you should confirm with the operator if non-alcoholic alternatives are available.