Last updated: 11 November 2024
Discover the holiday season in Lyon with our complete guide to festive events. From traditional illuminations to Christmas markets, our guide accompanies you through the winter celebrations of the Capital of Gaul.
Place Bellecour hosts the main Christmas market, with its traditional wooden chalets and local artisans. The streets of Old Lyon are adorned with festive decorations, while the Festival of Lights illuminates the facades of historic buildings. Place des Terreaux and the Presqu'île offer activities for the whole family, from ice skating rinks to street performances, creating a warm atmosphere in the heart of the city.
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Lyon Holiday Light Displays
Festival of Lights
- What to Expect
- Artistic light illuminations of historic monuments
- Description
- The Fête des Lumières is an unmissable event in Lyon that takes place from Thursday, 5 December to Sunday, 8 December. Visitors can admire artistic light installations that illuminate the city's monuments, creating a unique and moving spectacle.
- Where
- Lyon | More Info : Festival of Lights
Lyon Holiday Markets and Shopping
Lyon Christmas Markets
- What to Expect
- Diversity and quality of local and national products.
- Description
- The Lyon Christmas Market takes place on Place Carnot from November 22 to December 24, 2024. The square transforms into a festive village, illuminated and decorated, with animations, exhibitors, and visitors. Each year, the goal is to highlight the craftsmanship and talents of local producers, artisans, and businesses.
- Where
- Lyon | More Info : Lyon Christmas Markets
Lyon Holiday Shows and Entertainment
Light Show of the Basilica Notre Dame de Fourvière
- What to Expect
- An extraordinary garden on the esplanade with giant poinsettias and light birds.
- Description
- The light show at Notre-Dame de Fourvière features a new spectacle called "Fourvière en voix," with 9 colorful and musical scenes highlighting the basilica. The musical accompaniment is primarily composed of female a cappella voices, ranging from opera to jazz vocal, and 3D animations evoke over 2000 years of Lyon's history.
- Where
- Lyon | More Info : Light Show of the Basilica Notre Dame de Fourvière
Lyon Opera in December
- What to Expect
- A unique blend of lyrical music and choreographic theater.
- Description
- The Opéra de Lyon in December offers a variety of lyrical and choreographic performances, including Rossini's "Le Turc en Italie" and Puccini's "Madame Butterfly," with renowned interpreters.
- Where
- Lyon | More Info : Lyon Opera in December
Guignol Theater of Lyon
- What to Expect
- Traditional puppet shows in the Parc de la Tête d'Or.
- Description
- The Théâtre Guignol de Lyon is an iconic place of Lyonnais tradition, offering puppet shows since 1948. The traditional Guignol plays entertain children and adults with their funny and historically charged stories.
- Where
- Lyon | More Info : Guignol Theater of Lyon
Lyon Other Holiday Activities
Visit to the House of Canuts
- What to Expect
- Guided tour with a weaving demonstration on a 19th-century loom.
- Description
- The Maison des Canuts offers a guided tour that delves into the history of Lyon's silk industry and the invention of Jacquard, featuring a weaving demonstration on a 19th-century loom.
- Where
- Lyon | More Info : Visit to the House of Canuts
Visit to the Fine Arts Museum of Lyon
- What to Expect
- A French collection offering a 150-piece journey of paintings and drawings over 400 years.
- Description
- The Musée des Beaux-Arts de Lyon offers a rich and varied collection of paintings and drawings from the 17th to the 20th century, with guided tours and family activities.
- Where
- Lyon | More Info : Visit to the Fine Arts Museum of Lyon
Visit to the Museum of Illusions
- What to Expect
- A unique sensory destabilization experience.
- Description
- The Museum of Illusions offers an immersive visit to a world of optical illusions, featuring holograms, kaleidoscopes, visual puzzles, and distorting mirrors.
- Where
- Lyon | More Info : Visit to the Museum of Illusions
Visit to the Hôtel-Dieu de Lyon
- What to Expect
- Guided tours on the medical and architectural history of the Grand Hôtel-Dieu.
- Description
- Dive into eight centuries of history at the Grand Hôtel-Dieu of Lyon through 4 guided tours, led by professional conference guides. These tours explore medicine, architecture, sciences, and arts, using the collections of the Hospices Civils de Lyon Museum.
- Where
- Lyon | More Info : Visit to the Hôtel-Dieu de Lyon
Visit to the Musée des Confluences
- What to Expect
- Discover the permanent and temporary interactive exhibitions.
- Description
- The Musée des Confluences offers an immersive exploration of sciences, cultures, and civilizations through permanent and temporary interactive exhibitions.
- Where
- Lyon | More Info : Visit to the Musée des Confluences
Visit to the Museum of Cinema and Miniature
- What to Expect
- Exhibition of thousands of authentic objects from famous films.
- Description
- The Cinema and Miniature Museum offers a unique exhibition of thousands of authentic objects and original sets from famous films like Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Alien, and Terminator. Visitors can discover iconic costumes and accessories that have captivated generations.
- Where
- Lyon | More Info : Visit to the Museum of Cinema and Miniature