Lyon Old Town walking tour with river cruise tickets

Two hours on foot through Renaissance streets, then an hour drifting past the city's skyline from the water

A private guided walking tour of Lyon's Old Town combined with pre-booked tickets for a one-hour Saône river sightseeing cruise. You'll explore the Cathedral of St John, Hôtel de Ville, and the traboules (Renaissance passageways) on foot with a licensed guide, then board the cruise independently to see the Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière, the Fresco of Lyonnais, and other landmarks from the water.

Step-by-step itinerary

Lyon Old Town walking tour and cruise

• Meet guide at Chocolats Voisin Terreaux
• 2-hour walking tour of Old Town
• See Hôtel de Ville architecture
• Explore Vieux Lyon Renaissance district
• Stroll down Rue Saint-Jean street
• Visit Saint-Jean Cathedral
• Board Saône river for 1-hour cruise

The experience

You meet your guide at Chocolats Voisin Terreaux on Place des Terreaux and spend two hours walking through Vieux Lyon, one of Europe's largest Renaissance districts. The guide leads you through Rue Saint-Jean, lined with traditional bouchons restaurants and historic buildings, and explains the traboules: secret passageways silk workers once used and that played a role in the French Resistance. You'll see the Hôtel de Ville's Baroque and Rococo architecture and the Cathedral of St John, which blends Gothic and Romanesque styles. The pace follows your interests, and the guide speaks your chosen language.

After the walking portion, the guide escorts you to the Saône riverbank, where you board a one-hour sightseeing cruise with commentary available in French, English, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, German, Russian, Chinese, and Japanese. The guide does not join the cruise itself. You'll have an audio guide and ticket with all the information you need. From the water you see the Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière on Fourvière Hill, the Fresco of Lyonnais, Les Subsistances, and the National School of Fine Arts. Snacks and drinks are available to purchase on board. The combination of walking and water views covers roughly three times more sights than a walking tour without the cruise.

The entire experience runs about three hours. Bring layered, warm clothing since the river will be cooler than the streets. The tour is wheelchair accessible, and infants can travel in a pram or stroller. Groups stay under 25 people per guide. Larger parties will have additional guides assigned.

What’s included

• A 5-Star licensed guide fluent in your chosen language.
• a two-hour walking tour tailored to your pace and interests.
• pre-booked tickets for a one-hour river cruise with audio commentary in multiple languages.

Options for this experience

2 options

3-hour option: walking and cruise, English and French09:15, 12:15 and 14:45Duration of 3 hours: take a 2-hour walking tour of Lyon's Old Town with a private guide fluent in your chosen language, and receive tickets for a sightseeing cruise with commentary. Visit the Cathedral of St John the Baptist, the Hôtel de Ville and other sights. Expert guide: an official 5-star guide who specializes in this type of tour and speaks your chosen language fluently. Code FRLY011

3-hour option: walking and cruise, Spanish, Italian, German09:15, 12:15 and 14:45Duration of 3 hours: take a 2-hour walking tour of Lyon's Old Town with a private guide fluent in your chosen language, plus tickets for a sightseeing cruise with commentary. Visit the Cathedral of St John the Baptist, the Hôtel de Ville and other highlights. Expert guide: an official 5-star guide who specializes in this type of tour and speaks your chosen language fluently. Code FRLY011

You pick the guide language when booking.

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

Before you book

Days and timesThursday to SundayDepartures at 09:15, 12:15 and 14:45Last departure this season: 27 Dec

Book up to10h before

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German and Italian

Audio guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German and Italian

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 12 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Rosotravel - France Tours & Activities

Is this one for you?Choose the English or French option if those are your languages. If you prefer Spanish, Italian, or German, book the second option, which pairs the same walking tour with the same cruise but in your language. The guide's language is the only difference between them: the route, the sites, and the river experience are identical.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German and Italian.

What is the Cathedral of St John like, and why is it worth seeing?

The Cathedral of St John is an architectural masterpiece that combines Gothic and Romanesque styles. It's one of Lyon's most significant landmarks and sits at the heart of the Old Town, so you'll spend time understanding its design and history during the walking portion of the tour.

What are the traboules, and where will I see them?

Traboules are secret passageways built through Renaissance buildings, originally used by silk workers to move goods and materials. You'll walk through them on Rue Saint-Jean during the tour and learn how they also became important hiding places during the French Resistance.

Will the guide stay with me during the river cruise?

No, the guide escorts you to the pier and gives you your cruise ticket with all necessary information, but does not board the boat. The cruise has audio commentary in multiple languages, so you'll still have context for what you're seeing as you sail.

What landmarks will I see from the river that I wouldn't see on foot?

From the water you'll see the Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière perched on Fourvière Hill, the Fresco of Lyonnais, Les Subsistances, and the National School of Fine Arts. These sites are visible from the Saône but not easily reached on foot, which is why the cruise adds so much to the tour.

Is this tour suitable if I'm not very fit or if I have mobility concerns?

Yes. The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels and is fully wheelchair accessible. Infants and small children can travel in a pram or stroller, and public transportation is available nearby if you need it.