Last summer, my mom and me spent just over two days in Lyon. And, since we both enjoy taking pictures and sharing them with anyone who cares, we wanted to show the city’s best side to our followers.
Let me tell you: while you could easily spend weeks, months or even years in this city and still not see it all, you’ll need no more than a weekend break in Lyon to get to all these Instagram spots.
This is the definitive guide to an Instagrammer’s Lyon weekend break.
The best free Instagram-worthy places in Lyon
Let’s start off with some good news: most Lyon Instagram spots are free to visit.
Yay!
Pont Lafayette
During your 48 hours in Lyon, you’ll probably pass this bridge a few times. So why not take advantage of this and take some gorgeous scenery pictures for the gram?
- What it is: A bridge over the river Rhône, constructed in 1829.
- How to get there from Gare Part-Dieu: Head west on Cours Lafayette.
- How to get there from Place Bellecour: Head east on Rue de la Barre and turn left on Quai Jules Courmont.
- Photo idea: Look north and take a photo of the colourful houses spread across the hills.
Place Bellecour
The beating heart of the Presqu’île region of Lyon is called Place Bellecour. Although it might not seem very Insta-worthy at first, you’ll quickly find out that many events that might give you some new photo ideas are hosted on this square.
- What it is: The largest square in Lyon and the fifth largest square in France.
- How to get there from Gare Part-Dieu: Head west on Cours Lafayette and turn left after crossing Pont Lafayette. Turn right on Rue de la Barre.
- How to get there from Place Bellecour: Well… Look around you.
- Photo idea: Take wide-angle shots of the entire square from one of its corners and take a detail shot of the Louis XIV statue in the middle.
Rue Joséphin Soulary
This is probably the first entry in this list that could be classified as ‘off-the-beaten-track’, for the simple fact that most travellers don’t go here. All the more reason to check it out, if you ask me.
- What it is: A small street in northern Lyon with a long stairway, leading up to the Croix-Rousse neighbourhood.
- How to get there from Gare Part-Dieu: Head north on Boulevard des Belges and walk along the south-western border of Parc de la Tête d’Or. Cross Pont Winston-Churchill and head left.
- How to get there from Place Bellecour: Head east on Rue de la Barre and turn left on Quai Jules Courmont. Once you reach Pont Winston-Churchill, head left.
- Photo idea: Take photos of the picturesque stairway leading up to this street from Pont Winston-Churchill.
Mur des Canuts
Europe’s largest mural is located in Lyon, and it’s a great spot for your next Instagram post.
- What it is: Mur des Canuts is a big-ass painted wall that represents life in the working class area known as Croix-Rousse
- How to get there from Gare Part-Dieu: Follow the same route that got you to Rue Joséphin Soulary and then open up Google Maps on your phone. (Sorry, it’s just too complicated to explain like this.)
- How to get there from Place Bellecour: Head north on Rue Émile Zola, along Place des Jacobins, Rue de Brest, Rue Terme, Montée de la Grande-Côte, Rue Jean-Baptiste Say, Rue de la Terrasse and Boulevard des Canuts. Yeesh.
- Photo idea: Take a picture that defies logic from across the street (where Rue Denfert-Rochereau and Boulevard des Canuts cross).
Place des Jacobins
One of the most Instagrammable places in Lyon is Place des Jacobins, and you’ll soon find out why that is.
- What it is: A square with a beautiful fountain in the middle, part of the designated UNESCO World Heritage area in Lyon.
- How to get there from Gare Part-Dieu: Head west on Rue Servient, cross Pont Wilson and head further west on Rue Childebert until you reach Place des Jacobins.
- How to get there from Place Bellecour: Head north on Rue Émile Zola, Rue Gasparin or Rue du Président Édouard Herriot.
- Photo idea: This square looks good from any angle. Let your creativity run wild.
Opéra National & Hôtel du Ville
Besides being a popular theatre and concert hall, Lyon’s National Opera is a beautiful building in the city centre. Bonus: it’s right across City Hall (Hôtel du Ville).
- What it is: Two beautiful buildings, located at about 20 metres from each other.
- How to get there from Gare Part-Dieu: Head west on Cours Lafayette and cross Pont Lafayette. Turn right on Quai Jean Moulin and turn left on Place Louis Pradel until you reach Place de la Comédie.
- How to get there from Place Bellecour: Head north on Rue du Président Édouard Herriot and turn right on Rue Joseph Serlin.
- Photo idea: Head up the Opera building and take pictures with Hôtel du Ville and the Lyon skyline in the background.
Quai de la Pêcherie
At first glance, this might not seem like a very picture-worthy location. However, should you make it here during the weekend, you’ll find a very quaint book market that will look great on your Instagram story.
- What it is: A picturesque street along the Saône river that hosts a book market every weekend.
- How to get there from Gare Part-Dieu: Head west on Cours Lafayette and cross Pont Lafayette. Continue west along Place des Cordeliers and Rue Grenette. Turn right on Quai Saint-Antoine.
- How to get there from Place Bellecour: Head west on Rue Colonel Chambonnet and turn right on Quai des Célestins. Continue along the river until you reach Quai de la Pêcherie.
- Photo idea: Photograph the people who are selling books, posters and records with their stalls.
Vieux Lyon
Admittedly, Vieux Lyon is one of Lyon’s main tourist areas, but there’s a good reason for that. The whole area is so picturesque and authentic that you might forget you’re in the twenty-first century and not in the middle ages.
- What it is: The medieval city centre and the largest Renaissance district of Lyon.
- How to get there from Gare Part-Dieu: Head west on Cours Lafayette and cross Pont Lafayette. Continue west along Place des Cordeliers and Rue Grenette and cross Pont Alphonse Juin.
- How to get there from Place Bellecour: Head west on Rue Colonel Chambonnet and cross Pont Bonaparte. Turn right on Quai Romain Rolland and turn left at Rue de la Bombarde or Rue du Palais de Justice.
- Photo idea: Any type of picture in this area will look great, but consider photographing Rue Juiverie, Rue Saint-Jean or Rue du Boeuf.
Cathédrale Saint-Jean de Lyon
This cathedral is one of Lyon’s main religious buildings and also one of the most popular Lyon Instagram spots. And, although the inside is nothing special – aside from its astronomical clock – the building itself and the square at its foot are worth a visit.
Other names: Cathédrale Saint-Jean-Baptiste, Primatiale Saint-Jean de Lyon
- What it is: A Gothic-style church located on Place Saint-Jean.
- How to get there from Gare Part-Dieu: Head west on Rue Servient and cross Pont Wilson. Continue west on Rue Childebert and Rue du Port du Temple. Cross Passerelle du Palais de Justice and turn left.
- How to get there from Place Bellecour: Head west on Rue Colonel Chambonnet and cross Pont Bonaparte. Turn right on Place Saint-Jean.
- Photo idea: Take a picture of the cathedral from the other side of Place Saint-Jean.
Tour Part-Dieu
Granted, this tower might not look like a very Insta-worthy building at first glance. But wait until you see the view from up above.
- What it is: A skyscraper that is mostly occupied by offices. The top ten floors are taken by the Radisson Blu hotel (the highest hotel in Europe!).
- How to get there from Gare Part-Dieu: It’s literally right there.
- How to get there from Place Bellecour: Head east on Rue de la Barre and turn left on Quai Jules Courmont. Cross Pont Wilson and continue east on Rue Servient.
- Photo idea: Take the elevator (free!) to the 32nd floor and take a panorama picture of downtown Lyon.
Place des Célestins
Place des Célestins, which is home to Théâtre des Célestins, hasn’t changed its appearance since the eighteenth century. In case that’s not enough to convince you to stroll through, this square is also home to an outdoor food market every morning.
- What it is: A square located in the 2nd arrondisement that was classified as UNESCO World Heritage.
- How to get there from Gare Part-Dieu: Head west on Rue Servient and cross Pont Wilson. Continue west on Rue Childebert, cross Place des Jacobins and continue on Rue Jean Fabre and Rue Montcharmont.
- How to get there from Place Bellecour: Head north on Rue Émile Zola and turn left on Rue des Archers.
- Photo idea: Take a photo of the theatre building while standing at the start of Rue des Archers.
Place des Terreaux
This square is home to one of Lyon’s most famous fountains: Fontaine Bartholdi. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to enter Place des Terreaux because scaffolding was set up all around.
- What it is: A square in the 1st arrondissement and home to Bartholdi’s famous fountain.
- How to get there from Gare Part-Dieu: Head west on Cours Lafayette and cross Pont Lafayette. Continue west on Place des Cordeliers and Rue Grenette. Turn right on Rue du Président Édouard Herriot and turn left on Place des Terreaux.
- How to get there from Place Bellecour: Head north on Rue du Président Édouard Herriot and turn left on Place des Terreaux.
- Photo idea: Take a close-up shot of the fountain or a wide-angle shot of people walking on the square.
What if I’m not interested in Lyon Instagram spots?
That’s completely fine.
Not everyone travels for the Instagram stories. Some people would rather take in their destination instead of hopping from one picture spot to the next.
Don’t get me wrong: I don’t think one style of travelling is better or worse than the others. Imagine how boring life would be if we all lived and travelled the same way.
If you’re one of the people who would rather soak it all in, check out this article: How to be a traveller, not a tourist.
Plan your trip to Lyon
- Google Map with all mentioned places
- Airbnb in Lyon (€30 off your first booking with this link!)
- Couchsurfing
- Cheap flights to Lyon
