Lyon events this weekend & beyond

About Lyon

Lyon sits at the confluence of the Rhone and Saone rivers in southeastern France and has built a reputation as the country's gastronomic capital, a major footballing city and a cultural powerhouse with a UNESCO-listed old town. Groupama Stadium, the 59,000-seat home of Olympique Lyonnais, hosts Ligue 1 matches from August through May and regularly draws international football fixtures, rugby test matches and large-scale concerts by touring artists. The LDLC Arena, which opened in 2023 with a 16,000 capacity, has quickly become the premier indoor venue for arena tours, basketball and esports events in the region. The city's crown jewel cultural event is the Fete des Lumieres each December, when millions of visitors watch spectacular light installations transform buildings across the Presqu'ile and Vieux Lyon districts over four nights. Beyond sport and festivals, the Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourviere offers panoramic hilltop views, the Musee des Confluences presents science and anthropology in a striking deconstructivist building, and the traboules, Renaissance-era covered passageways threading through the old town, are unlike anything else in France. Spring and autumn deliver mild weather ideal for walking the riverbanks, while summer brings open-air cinema, the Nuits de Fourviere performing-arts festival in a Roman amphitheatre, and long evenings on cafe terraces in the Croix-Rousse quarter.

Top things to do in Lyon

• Olympique Lyonnais Ligue 1 matches at Groupama Stadium
• Fete des Lumieres light festival every December
• UNESCO-listed Vieux Lyon and its Renaissance traboules
• Nuits de Fourviere summer concerts in a 2,000-year-old Roman theatre

Local tips for visiting Lyon

• Book Groupama Stadium tickets early for Lyon derbies and European nights, as the 59,000 seats sell out fast for marquee fixtures.
• Visit the Basilica of Fourviere in the morning for the clearest views over both rivers and the Alps on the horizon.
• The Lyon City Card bundles public transport with free museum entry and river cruises, making it good value for a two- or three-day stay.
• Eat in a traditional bouchon in Vieux Lyon for authentic Lyonnaise cuisine, but reserve for dinner as the best ones fill up by 7:30 PM.

Frequently asked questions