Lyon Walking Tour: Hidden Traboules & Silk History

Walk the traboules and hear a decade of Lyon stories in two hours

A two-hour guided walking tour of Lyon led by an English-speaking guide with over 10 years of experience, covering Place des Terreaux, Croix-Rousse, the hidden traboules passageways, and Vieux Lyon's courtyards and gastronomic quarter. The tour includes access to secret passageways and a personal guide list of Lyon's best restaurants and hidden sights; children from age 1 are welcome, and the route suits all fitness levels.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Lyon's main sights and hidden gems

• Visit Place des Terreaux square
• Look at Lyon Museum of Fine Arts courtyard
• Explore historic Croix-Rousse neighborhood
• Visit hidden traboules passageways
• See Village des Createurs incubator
• Enjoy viewpoint over Roman amphitheater
• View Fresque des Lyonnais mural
• Pass by gothic church
• Walk through old Jewish quarter courtyards
• Visit museum courtyard if open
• Pass main street and hidden courtyards in Vieux Lyon

The Experience

Two hours on foot through Lyon with a guide who has logged more than 2,000 five-star reviews. You start at Place des Terreaux and the Hôtel de Ville, then move into Croix-Rousse to learn how the silk workers shaped the city and inspired modern computing. The real draw is stepping inside the traboules—the hidden passageways that cut through the old buildings—where you'll see the Village des Créateurs, a creative business incubator tucked inside one of them.

From there the walk takes you to a viewpoint overlooking the Roman amphitheater, past the Fresque des Lyonnais (a mural of the city's most famous residents), and through the old Jewish quarter with its courtyards. You'll hear the WWII stories of Jean Moulin and the Resistance, and pass through Vieux Lyon's main street and hidden courtyards. The timing is built so you finish in the gastronomic heart of the city, ready for lunch.

The guide hands you a personal list of Lyon's best restaurants and hidden sights when the tour ends. Children can come from age 1 (in a pram or stroller if needed), and the pace works for all fitness levels. Public transport stops are nearby if you need to rest or cut out early.

What’s included

• Two-hour guided walk with an English-speaking guide.
• access to the hidden traboules passageways.
• a personal list of Lyon's best restaurants and hidden sights.
• all fees and taxes.

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Free Tour Lyon

Is this one for you?A guide with 10+ years of experience means you hear the real stories—the silk workers, the Resistance, the architecture—instead of a script, which is what turns a walk through neighborhoods into an understanding of why they matter.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

What are the traboules and why do they matter in Lyon?

The traboules are hidden passageways that run through the old buildings of Lyon, connecting the streets on either side. They were built by silk workers in the 18th and 19th centuries so they could move between workshops and homes without going outside, and they're now one of the most distinctive features of the city—the tour walks you through several of them, including one that houses the Village des Créateurs.

How long is the walking tour and what's the pace like?

The tour is two hours and is designed for all fitness levels, so the pace is steady but not strenuous. You'll cover multiple neighborhoods—Place des Terreaux, Croix-Rousse, the traboules, and Vieux Lyon—but the route is walkable without special preparation.

Can I bring young children on this tour?

Yes, children are welcome from age 1, and you can bring a pram or stroller if you need one. The two-hour duration and all-fitness-level design make it manageable for families with small kids.

What's included in the tour price?

The tour includes the guide's expertise and access to the traboules and all the neighborhoods visited. You also get a personal list of Lyon's best restaurants and hidden sights to explore on your own after the tour ends. All fees and taxes are included in the price.

Where does the tour start and end?

The tour starts at Place des Terreaux, the grand central square of Lyon, and finishes in Vieux Lyon, the old gastronomic quarter of the city. Public transportation options are available nearby if you need to get to the starting point or leave from the end.