What to do in Lyon in June?

Things to do in June in Lyon

With temperatures between 20 and 25°C, June is the perfect month to make the most of the city all day and all evening. Here is our pick of ideas for things to do:

• Stroll along the banks of the Rhône: with its cycling and walking paths, the Rhône’s riverbanks are a must for the season. They offer a cool stroll from Gerland Park to Tête d’Or Park, dotted with play areas, French boules pitches and riverboats. At the end of the day, people in Lyon flock to the riverbanks to enjoy the sun!
• Browse Lyon’s street markets: in the first fortnight of June, shopkeepers in the Croix-Rousse and 6^th district of Lyon brings their stalls out onto the pavements.
• Explore Tête d'Or Park with its flowers in bloom: with the arrival of the summer warmth, it’s an excellent time to visit the park’s international rose garden. You can enjoy no less than 16,000 rose bushes, across 450 varieties, in all their splendour after flourishing through May.
• Take a river cruise on the Saône: while this is something to be enjoyed all year round, it has a special charm in the low evening sunlight of June. Some boats offer “aperitif cruises” in the evening.
• Explore the ‘traboules’ of the Presqu’île and Croix-Rousse: early summer is a pretty popular time for tourism in Lyon. For visitors looking to explore Lyon’s famous ‘traboules’ (hidden passageways between streets) away from the bustle, those in the Presqu’île and Croix-Rousse districts are less well-known than in Vieux Lyon (Old Lyon), but are every bit as beautiful! You can visit them self-guided or with a tour guide from the Tourist Office.
• Visit an open-air museum: Since the advent of its giant murals in the 1980s, Lyon has welcomed urban art with open arms. There are more than a hundred wall paintings and trompe l'oeil murals. They are a great way to take in local street art for free and at all times of day. Our tips to explore street artworks in Lyon.

In June and all year round:

• Don’t miss the chance to visit some of the many and varied exhibitions on in Lyon’s thirty-or-so museums.
• Experience local flavours through the traditional Lyonnaise cuisine served in Lyon’s bouchons, as well as the modern cuisine of the new guard, to explore the many facets of Lyon’s food scene.
• Dip into the rich offering of live music at the city’s show and concert venues.
• Discover independent designers’ outlets, concept stores and Lyon’s famous local know-how, including silk fabrics, to find the perfect souvenir to take home.
• Explore Lyon and its fascinating history through a guided tour.

Events not to be missed in June in Lyon

Some events return every year in June and are mileposts in the month. These major gatherings are bursting with food, fun, music, interesting encounters and culture. 

Nuits de Fourvière: an iconic festival in Lyon 

Since 1946, this has been Lyon’s most eagerly awaited early-summer event. The Nuits de Fourvière (Fourvière Nights) festival gets warmed up in May and then into full swing in June and July: more than 150 performances covering drama, dance, circus arts, music and opera take place in the unique setting of the ancient theatres overlooking the city. This has to be on your bucket list.

A dozen shows have discounted tickets with the Lyon City Card.

Fête de la Musique: a country-wide event

Every 21st of June, all over France and in Lyon, hundreds of free concerts are unleashed onto streets, squares and inner courtyards. A night of live music for all tastes, in all parts of the metropolitan area.

Lyon Street Food Festival: a fun culinary experience that you won’t want to miss

Since 2016, the four-day Lyon Street Food Festival has brought together Michelin-starred chefs, ambassadors of bistronomy and fresh talents at Les Grandes Locos, to serve up their street food creations at affordable prices. The programme mixes things up by inviting chefs to make music and artists to make food, like the chef Philippe Etchebest and his rock band - Chef & The Gang - in 2025. You will also find participative workshops, concerts and DJ sets.

Lyon BD Festival: a celebration of comic art

Lyon and comics have a long-standing love affair! Since 2006, each year in June, Lyon BD Festival has been a magnet for appreciators of the “ninth art”. Comic book authors drop into the city’s cultural institutions for signing sessions, exhibitions and meetings that are open to all.

European Archaeology Days: a national event with special meaning in Lyon

Every third weekend of June, Lyon offers a peek into its archaeological research projects during the European Archaeology Days: guided tours, visits to dig sites, and workshops for children and adults. A rare opportunity to explore the city’s oldest strata of history.