Things to Do in Lyon: 5 Unusual Activities you Can’t Miss

Lyon is a city for enjoyment, as there are so many unique things to do in Lyon. Culturally rich, it’s the perfect city for a weekend stay, an extended holiday, or a Sunday afternoon. It’s the kind of city where you can enjoy a visit with your children, even on a rainy day. Of course, a trip with friends is a fun way to explore a new place. A winding river, a viewpoint of the city and, of course, French cuisine are some of the reasons why this city is perfect for a weekend away with your partner.

Not a fan of tourist traps and long queues? Neither are we. We’ve found five unusual activities to discover or rediscover in Lyon.

• A life-size escape game.
• A flight simulator experience.
• A typical Lyonnais dinner and a city tour with an expert guide.
• A visit to a museum to learn all the secrets of cinema.
• A relaxing day at the spa to be pampered.

A life-size escape game

Ideal for a teambuilding: an unusual activity to enjoy with your co-workers

A company team building is best when outside of the office and even better outdoors.

Between a walking tour of the city and cultural museums, a bit of fun to strengthen the bonds within your team is priceless.

Are you familiar with the principle of escape games? Also known as a treasure hunt, the objective is to solve various enigmas in order to escape from a room in a limited time. Played with 4 to 6 players, escape games are perfect for team building. But who wants to be locked up in a room when it’s sunny outside? That’s why we recommend an escape game in Lyon in the open air.

Equipped with your smartphone, you can discover the must-sees of Lyon while working together to solve the mystery. In this scenario, you play the role of an alchemist investigating a strange accusation of witchcraft made by a village woman. To solve this, you will question different witnesses that you meet during your visit, allowing you to pass by famous places in Lyon such as the Bonaparte bridge, the Lyon opera and the Sathonay square.

A visit to Lyon that combines fun games and seeing the sights is one we highly recommend.

Be an aeroplane pilot without the training

Want to surprise your partner for Valentine’s Day, give an unforgettable gift for your brother’s birthday or give your mum a thrilling thank you gesture? This unusual activity, available in Lyon, is the gift to give to make their eyes water from happiness or adrenaline: a flight simulator experience in an A320 airbus.

Guided by a professional pilot, expect to fly over all the mythical places of the city with an immersive 180° view.

Who has never imagined being a pilot for a moment? How would you fare at landing a plane? Or react in a moment of crisis in the sky?

This experience teaches all the essentials for taking off: checklist, visual checks, communications, taxiing, and flight. Then, sitting comfortably in the pilot’s chair, choose to take off from any airport in the world. Dubai, Rio de Janeiro, or New York? Have a feeling of total freedom, and take passengers along.

A panoramic tour of Lyon with a local Lyonnais meal

While many think of Paris as the city of love, we recommend the beautiful city of Lyon, which offers the perfect setting for a romantic weekend away. Known for its gastronomy and the Bouchon Lyonnais, Lyon is ideal for gourmands with its superb cuisine and equally as good wine. And yes, Lyon is the capital of French gastronomy!

What if we combined cooking and visiting the city? A panoramic tour of Lyon with a meal in a local restaurant ticks all the boxes. With an expert guide, you will discover hidden places and the treasures of Lyon, finishing with a meal made with local products. Will you be tempted by a souffle of pike, the brioche sausage? Or would you rather have a sweet treat, like the traditional praline tart? No matter what your palate prefers, you will find what you are looking for in Lyon’s cuisine.

Thanks to the 3-hour guided tour of the city, you will walk through the streets of Vieux-Lyon, take the funicular to the Fourvière hill and admire the splendid Notre-Dame de Fourvière basilica, one of the most famous monuments in Lyon.

It’s raining! Get tickets for the Miniature & Cinema Museum

You thought you were going to enjoy the sun on this beautiful Sunday with your children, but the rain decided to fall on you. Visit the Miniature and Cinema Museum, located in the heart of Vieux-Lyon.

This “two-in-one” museum will awaken your inner child with the discovery of the magic of cinematic special effects on the one hand and the poetic universe of miniature artists on the other. Your children will undoubtedly marvel at the 500+ rare and original objects that reveal the magic behind the scenes of the cinema. With seven educational rooms, learn how the creatures and monsters of our favourite films are made: from Mrs Doubtfire to Stuart Little and Gladiator to Gremlins. You can guarantee a few hours of entertainment, as more than 450 mythical films are on display in the museum.

This activity, as unusual as it is educational, is the perfect way to spend a few hours while waiting for the sun to come out again.

A relaxing way to spend a day: at the spa

Lyon offers the XXL version of a relaxing spa day.

In the 900 m² spa, you can enjoy the heated swimming pool and the jacuzzi, as well as a hammam area to relax your muscles after a day exploring the city of Lyon.

Want to stay overnight? The spa is part of the Lyon Vert hotel. Recommended by La Petite Lyonnaise, this hotel located in the west of Lyon is worth booking for the full pamper experience.

The professional team at the hotel complex takes care of you to fully enjoy your stay. A range of top-of-the-range services is available: massage, customised treatments, duos to share with your mother, friend or partner, and a nail bar to be beautiful right down to your fingertips.

No matter the company you choose to visit Lyon with, and no matter the weather, this city is one not to be missed and to be long remembered.

Unique things to do in Lyon – Last thoughts

Which activity will you go for while visiting Lyon? Check out our blog for other French inspirations, especially when you’re visiting for the first time.