Lyon food tour: Wine, charcuterie & traboules with guide

Taste your way through Lyon's gastronomic landmarks with a guide who knows the hidden passages

This is a 3.5-hour walking food tour through Lyon's old town led by an English-speaking local guide. You'll taste wine and regional cheeses near Lyon Cathedral, discover charcuterie at Place du Change, walk the traboules (covered passages that connect buildings), eat quenelle in a traditional bouchon restaurant, sample pralulines from a historic bakery, and finish with a regional herbal liquor in a bar near the river. Water and at least one alcoholic drink are included. The tastings across four stops add up to a full meal. Vegetarian options and non-alcoholic alternatives are available. Contact the operator about food restrictions before booking.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Lyon Cathedral45m
2. Traboules of Lyon1h

Lyon Old Town Food and Culture Tour

• Meet guide at meeting point
• Start with wine and cheese tasting
• Discover local charcuterie near Place du Change
• Explore Lyon's hidden traboules passages
• Dine on quenelle at traditional bouchon
• Taste praluline dessert at historic bakery
• Enjoy regional herbal liquor by the river

The experience

The tour starts near Lyon Cathedral, where you'll meet your guide at the meeting point and begin with a glass of local wine paired with a cheese tasting: varieties from the Rhône region and beyond. From there, you walk to Place du Change, a small square that tells the story of Lyon's trading past, to discover why the city earned its reputation as France's gastronomic capital. A local boutique walk-through introduces you to the charcuterie varieties that define Lyonnais food culture.

The heart of the tour takes you through the traboules: the famous hidden covered passages of Lyon's old town that once connected buildings and provided shelter during conflicts. After exploring these secret gems, you'll sit down in a traditional bouchon restaurant to try quenelle, one of the most iconic dishes of the region. The meal continues with a stop at one of the city's historical bakeries for a praluline, a soft brioche filled with pink-sugar-coated almond candies that locals consider the best dessert Lyon has to offer.

The tour winds down near the river at a bar popular with Lyonnaise youth, where you'll taste a regional herbal liquor with a storied past. It was once believed to cure every disease. By the end, you'll have eaten the equivalent of a full meal across at least four stops, with water included throughout. The guide speaks English and may also use French. Vegetarian options and non-alcoholic drinks are available if you request them when booking.

What’s included

• Water throughout the tour.
• an English-speaking local guide who explains the restaurants, their preparations and local curiosities.
• at least one alcoholic drink (wine at the cathedral stop and regional herbal liquor at the final bar).
• cheese tasting from the Rhône region.
• charcuterie discovery at a local boutique.
• a quenelle dish in a traditional bouchon restaurant.
• a praluline pastry from a historic bakery.

Options for this experience

2 options

Deal of the yearGuide in English or French · Only on 25 Nov · 17:30Special offer

A complete taste of France: the Lyon Sunset Food Tour by Do Eat BetterGuide in English or French · 17:30

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 timesMonday to SaturdayDeparts at 17:30

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (11 and older) · Child (4 to 10 years) · Infant (under 4): free

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 today

Good to know

Moderate physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Do Eat Better Experience

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to understand Lyon's food culture through its most iconic dishes and hidden passages, guided by someone who knows the stories behind each stop. The fixed route and included tastings mean you're not hunting for restaurants or deciding what to order. The day is built around the specialties that define the city.

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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 (4 to 10 years); Infant (under 4): free.

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.

What is the traboules and why do we walk through them on this tour?

The traboules are the famous covered narrow passages of Lyon's old town that connect one building to another. They were originally used to transport goods or seek protection during wars and conflicts, and they're considered a secret gem of the city's architecture. The tour includes a walk through these passages as part of discovering Lyon's hidden character.

How much food will I actually eat on this tour?

The tastings across at least four stops (wine and cheese, charcuterie, quenelle in a restaurant, and pralulines) add up to the equivalent of a full meal by the end of the 3.5 hours. The exact tastings can change based on the season and what the partner restaurants have available.

What drinks are included, and are there non-alcoholic options?

At least one alcoholic drink is included: a glass of local wine at the start and a regional herbal liquor at the end. Non-alcoholic alternatives are available if you prefer them. Let the operator know when you book if you need non-alcoholic options or have any food restrictions.

Is this tour suitable if I have dietary restrictions or allergies?

Vegetarian options are available on the tour. If you have food restrictions or allergies, contact the operator before booking so they can arrange alternatives with their partner restaurants. Guests with severe or life-threatening food allergies are unfortunately unable to participate for safety reasons.

What's the physical fitness level needed for this walking tour?

You should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness. The tour involves walking through the old town and the traboules passages, though the pace includes seated tastings at restaurants and bakeries along the way.

Can I bring a stroller or infant seat on this tour?

Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller, and specialized infant seats are available. Service animals are also allowed on the tour.