Visiting Lyon with Kids

The summer holidays are nearly upon us, which means families travelling to Lyon for the summer break are likely to be planning ahead to ensure the little ones – and the not so little ones – are sufficiently catered for while visiting the city. Here at NileGuide Lyon, we’ve thought ahead, and using our Local Expert knowledge of Lyon, have selected a variety of family orientated, kid-friendly ‘Things to Do’ in and around the city, so you can spend less time planning and more time visiting!

For full details, access and a map for each point of interest, click on the highlighted link. In addition, for further family orientated activities in the city, visit; Kid-friendly Things to Do in Lyon.

Child-friendly tourist attractions in Lyon
Most of Lyon’s tourist attractions are child-friendly, but there are only so many churches and cathedrals a tot can take! Here are a few attractions that will definitely keep the little ones suitably captivated: The Renaissance ‘traboule’ passageways of Old Lyon will certainly enchant any child with their magic, and kids love taking the funicular from Vieux Lyon (Old Lyon), up the hill to see the sights of Basilique de Fourvière and the Ampitheatre Gallo-Romaine on Fourvière Hill. Place Bellecour is another popular attraction with children; being the largest pedestrianized square in Europe, the kids can run wild, while the parents relax – perhaps in one of the square’s pretty cafes – comforted by the absence of road traffic.

Swimming pools in Lyon
Always super busy during the summer holidays, Piscine du Rhône is nevertheless a great option for a splash around on a hot summer’s day in Lyon. Located in the city centre, adjacent to the River Rhône – so close you could almost jump in – this large outdoor swimming pool is a favourite with the kids, and with parent, who seem to enjoy sunning themselves on the pools large terrace area. As an alternative to the busy pools in the city centre, visitors can opt for the Piscine du Vaise; a huge Olympic swimming pool; accessed easily using the city’s underground system.

Family orientated, kid-friendly parks in Lyon
Lyon has numerous parks that add a helping of nature to the city’s urban landscape. Parc Tête d’Or is a particular favourite with families visiting the city. In addition to 105 hectares of lush green space – including a 25 hectare boating lake – the park is also home to Jardin Zoologique da la Tête d’Or; an outdoor zoo where admission is free (see below for more zoos). Other notable parks in the city include Parc Chambovet; a lively park with lots of sports activities and lovely locations for picnicking, and the hidden away Parc Chazière; a pretty little gem located in the vibrant area of Croix-Rousse.

Family Orientated, kid-friendly parks near Lyon
For parks located just outside of the city, try Parc de Miribel Jonage – a huge natural park and lake area that provides numerous activities centred around children, including; boating, swimming, wall climbing and cycling, and for a walk on the wild side, Parc Animalier de Courzieu (located west of Lyon) provides children with the opportunity to see wolves and eagles in their natural habitat. Also, Parc des Oiseaux, situated south of Lyon, is a vast ornithological park that features 400 bird species and includes facilities for children and families.

Child-friendly museums in Lyon
Heading back to Lyon’s central area, the city has numerous child-friendly museums that will keep the kids (and the adults) entertained for hours. For a few top picks from the bunch, visit; Musée des Miniatures et Décors de Cinema (museum of all things miniature), Musée des Marionnette du Monde (museum of world puppets) and Musée des Automates; a private collection of automated puppets and dolls. In addition, Musée Historique de Lyon is great for older children who can take an MP3 guided tour through the history of Lyon.

Lyon’s aquarium, zoos and the planetarium
Noted earlier, Jardin Zoologique da la Tête d’Or is a relatively small zoo located on the grounds of the lovely Parc Tête d’Or. The zoo is mostly an open-air arrangement that provides home to 27 mammal species and 5 reptile species. Admission is free and visitors can also visit the nearby deer park. While the animal accommodation at Jardin Zoologique da la Tête d’Or is regular by general zoo standards, Parc Zoologique de Saint Martin la Plaine – located west of Lyon – is a nature reserve that specialises in the protection of endangered species. Animals are accommodated in spaces that mimic their natural habitat as much as possible, and the reserve invests in educating visitors about the various species.

From animals to stars and planets, Lyon’s Planétarium is located on the outskirts of the city; featuring a main planetarium dome that seats 150 visitors, various educational programmes and activities are also available for children over the age of 5. The city’s large Aquarium Grand Lyon is located at the new development area of the Confluence; featuring 450 marine species, entrance is free for children under 5, and discounts are available for students.

Courses and holiday programmes for children
A nice alternative to the usual holiday agenda; Les Subsistances (located on the grounds of Lyon’s Ecole National de Beaux-Arts) offers holiday courses for children interested in exploring the performing arts, and UFCV, situated in Old Lyon, organise sporting holiday’s for children and young adults.

Article by Emma Muldoon

Photo credits in order of appearance:

Emma Muldoon, Herbaltablet, Remi Matius, Grand Parc Miribel Jonage, Emma Muldoon, NOESIS, US Army, Mingo.nl