10 Things to do in Lyon at Christmas

There's no doubt that touring the city at Christmas time is one of the best things to see and do in Lyon. The festive atmosphere is one of the features you'll love the most. You can visit the Christmas markets to shop for seasonal produce and gifts. You can't miss the delicious Christmas food in the local restaurants and attend the Christmas concerts.

But besides that, you should also visit the Fourvière Basilica and go and see the whole city from the bell tower, especially at night to admire all the decorations. Ice skating, attending theatrical performances, visiting museums and walking through theme parks are other quintessential Christmas activities in Lyon.

One of the best things to do in Lyon during the Christmas season is definitely going to the Place des Terreaux Christmas market, because it offers a wide variety of restaurants to try the local Christmas food. Among the Christmas foods you can enjoy at the market are duck with rice, Christmas fritters, gingerbread and onion soup.

You will also have the opportunity to try typical Christmas food and hot drinks. This Christmas market is famous because it hosts a variety of events, including musical performances, lighting shows, fireworks, and craft workshops for children.

Interesting details

• Price: you don't have to pay anything to enter these markets, the additional costs will be for what you want to buy.
• Date and time: The Christmas market is available from the last week of November until the last days of December. And the events that take place inside the market occur during the afternoon and evening.
• Location: The Christmas market is located every year at the Place des Terreaux.

One of the most popular places to experience the magic of Christmas in Lyon is the Palais de Justice in Lyon, because you can go and enjoy multiple events and activities for the Christmas season, which undoubtedly become the best things to see and do in Lyon at night during this time of the year.

Activities that you can enjoy during these events include concerts, competitions, theatre shows, children's workshops, art exhibitions and much more. Near the Palais de Justice, you can also find a Christmas market where you will have the opportunity to get a variety of handmade products, food and gifts for the season.

At the Palais de Justice in Lyon you can enjoy some of the city's main Christmas attractions, including the Passerelle du Palais de Justice, the Passerelle Saint-Georges and the Gros Horloge, which are some of the city's most famous attractions during this season.

Interesting details

• Price: There is no charge to go and enjoy the Christmas events at the Palais de Justice.
• Date and time: These activities are generally available from the first week of December to the first week of January.
• Location: The Palais de Justice is located in the Place de la Justice in the city centre.

One of the activities to include among the best things to see and do in Lyon in November and the rest of the Christmas season are the concerts offered at the Grand Théâtre. These performances feature some of the best artists and musicians in the region, so you'll be able to see a variety of musical performances. The artistic offer at Christmas time includes famous classical works such as Bach, Vivaldi and Mozart.

These concerts are accompanied by special effects, lights, fireworks and video projections. But, in addition to concerts, I recommend you go and enjoy the wide variety of Christmas plays that are presented in the theatre for the holidays. Some of the most popular ones are The Nutcracker Suite, Romeo and Juliet, Swan Lake, The Carnival of the Animals and The Marriage of Figaro.

Details of interest

• Price: these works can cost between 15 and 35 euros per ticket, although children can pay a little less money to get in.
• Date and time: Christmas plays and concerts are presented throughout December in the afternoon and evening hours.
• Location: Le Grand Théâtre is located on Fourviere Hill in the city centre.

At Christmas time the Basilica of Fourvière is a great place to enjoy Christmas shows, in fact going to this place is one of the best things to do in Lyon with children during this season because there are shows such as storytelling, puppet shows and fairy plays.

For adults there is also seasonal entertainment at this place, because the Basilica of Fourvière offers classical music concerts, the traditional live nativity, special masses and many other Christmas-related events.

Details of interest

• Price: the price to enter these events can range between 15 and 20 euros, depending on the activity you want to attend.
• Date and time: the basilica is open during the Christmas season to enjoy the events between Monday and Saturday from 09:00 to 17:00; on Sundays it is open from 12:00 to 17:00.
• Location: The Basilica of Notre Dame de Fourvière is located on the Fourvière hill in Lyon.

As Christmas lights are part of the Christmas celebration, you can't miss the Place des Jacobins in Lyon, which is famous for its impressive Christmas illumination. Around 600 LED lights are installed in the square to light up the whole atmosphere, making it one of the best places to take pictures.

In addition to all the illumination, the square has a large Christmas fair where you can enjoy a wide variety of food and drinks typical of the region. And if you go with children, they will also have a great time because they will find a variety of games and activities for them. And of course, if you have the opportunity, I recommend you not to miss the lighting ceremony to celebrate the beginning of the season.

Interesting details

• Price: you won't have to pay anything to enjoy this experience because the entrance to the square is free.
• Date and time: The lights are switched on during the first weekend of December and are switched off at the beginning of January.
• Location: Place des Jacobins is located in the city centre.

If there's one place where you can enjoy the Christmas lights, it's Vieux Lyon, which is decorated with hundreds of LED lights welcoming in the Christmas season. I recommend signing up for one of the best bike tours in Lyon to see the lights during the afternoon and evening hours. In the midst of this spectacle, the sky fills with colour and offers you the perfect panoramic view for some beautiful photographs.

In each of the alleys of the old city, you can also enjoy the traditional Christmas music of Lyon. I recommend stopping by the famous Christmas market, especially during the end-of-year festivities, when you can find plenty of things to buy, from food and drink to decorations and souvenirs.

Interesting details

• Price: The old city tours are free of charge, unless you decide to take a guided bike tour, which costs around 15-20 euros per person.
• Date and time: These city tours to see the Christmas lights can be done throughout the month of December.
• Location: The old city of Lyon is in the historic centre of Lyon.

If you are one of those people who love to party, this is definitely one of those activities that you have to do. It is a Christmas party at the Lyon Opera House, which includes a wide variety of Christmas shows, opera performances, concerts, plays and live music.

In the middle of this party at the Lyon Opera, you will have the opportunity to take one of the best gastronomic tours in Lyon, without leaving the place, as you will be offered typical Christmas dishes of the region, including cakes, desserts, cheeses and wines. All these dishes are divided into starters, hors d'oeuvres, main courses, desserts and drinks.

Interesting details

• Price: to go to this party you will have to pay around 50 euros for a general ticket, in case you want a VIP ticket you will have to pay up to 100 euros for it.
• Date and time: This party is organised during the whole month of December, and until the first days of January.
• Location: they are held at the Lyon Opera House, which is located at 1 Pl. de la Comédie.

The Palais de la Bourse offers a variety of events throughout the Christmas season, from concerts to theatre performances. Definitely one of the best activities to include on your Christmas to do list in Lyon. Events usually include a jazz concert, an opera performance and Christmas plays.

You can also see and enjoy choir concerts during the season. You can also bring children to these events, although in some cases, there may be certain restrictions for children under the age of 18. One of the great things about these activities is that most of them are free of charge.

Interesting details

• Price: some of these activities have a small cost, while others are free.
• Date and time: these events take place throughout the month of December, usually starting at 19:00 and usually ending between 22:00 and 23:00.
• Location: The Palais de la Bourse is in the Place de la Bourse in Lyon's 2nd arrondissement.

Of course, one of the things to do during Christmas is to go to the Promenade du Rhône, which is nothing less than one of Lyon's main attractions during the Christmas period. In addition to the seasonal lighting, the Promenade offers a variety of activities for all ages, so it's a great place to take the kids.

The Promenade du Rhône is transformed during the Christmas season into a real seasonal fair, where you can find many stalls to buy handicrafts and other things related to Christmas in Lyon. You can also buy some games and toys for children at this Christmas bazaar.

You will love the ice skating rink that is available on the promenade, as well as a skiing area with slides and a sledding area, to make the winter walk complete. On top of all this, you can enjoy a wide variety of concerts and Christmas events in the Rhône promenade area.

Interesting details

• Price: There is no charge to go on the Rhône Promenade, but if you want to go on the skating rink or any of the other attractions on site, you will have to pay the cost of the activity.
• Date and time: The site is decorated and illuminated from the last week of November to the first week of January.
• Location: the Rhône promenade is located on the banks of the Rhône river.

You will love going to the National Auditorium of Lyon to enjoy a Christmas concert which every year offers a unique and different show. During the concert you will have the opportunity to enjoy a wide variety of Christmas music, including carols, children's music and classical Christmas songs.

What you'll love most about the Christmas concerts at this venue is that they often include classical works such as Bach's Christmas Oratorio, as well as traditional Christmas concerts including Tchaikovsky's Christmas Symphony and his famous Nutcracker.

Interesting details

• Price: to enjoy a Christmas concert at the National Auditorium of Lyon, you will have to pay around 10 to 50 euros per ticket.
• Date and time: Christmas concerts are held throughout the month of December and usually take place in the evening.
• Location: The concerts take place at the National Auditorium of Lyon, which is located in the heart of the city.