An Eras Tour Vacation: Is Lyon Worth Visiting?
Last summer was completely out of the ordinary for me… I had a friendship in my life today that turned out to be one of the worst people to ever mistreat me, the Olympics were happening in Paris, and then… it was the summer of the Eras Tour in Europe.
Like many Swifties, I got very used to the Eras Tour and all that it meant – coming up with Eras Tour outfit ideas, playing Mastermind, watching the Tik Tok trends, and listening to the live stream while cooking dinner in the summer with my Parisian windows wide open.
I didn’t expect to miss the Eras Tour as much as I do. Maybe it shouldn’t come as a surprise, as I’ve been a fan of Taylor Swift since I was 12 years old and for almost 15 years – but I underestimated the routine, comfort, and safety it gave me in an otherwise offbeat and chaotic summer where I was still struggling to make friends in France.
Like many, I also traveled for the Eras Tour – having secured a ticket in Lyon instead of in my home city in Paris.
Walking Lyon; June 2024
Is It Worth Traveling For Concerts?
Yes, it is absolutely without a doubt worth it to travel for a concert – especially if it’s an artist you are absolutely obsessed with. I have traveled to see Kelly Clarkson in Baltimore, the 1975 in London, and Taylor Swift in Lyon – and all were worthwhile.
However, I’ve never been the kind to get on a flight hours for a concert – to me, a couple hours by train or car is the max I’m willing to do. Anything else, I usually decide to wait until the artist comes closer to where I live.
Is Lyon Worth Visiting?
Personally, Lyon alone was not a city I would have visited if it weren’t for Taylor and the Eras Tour. Lyon was never on my list of cities, and after visiting Lyon – I didn’t find it to have a big, loud personality.
A lot of people native to Lyon may dislike me saying that, but I just didn’t feel like Lyon had a distinct character – and other people living in France have agreed with me. Paris is moody, the French Rivera is glamorous relaxation, even Mont-Saint-Michel is its own medieval vibe –but Lyon just felt like… it existed, as if it didn’t really know what else to be besides a big city in France.
Place Bellcour in Lyon, France; June 2024
How Many Days Should I Stay in Lyon?
I think 2 full days in Lyon is more than enough to see everything the city has to offer, unless you’re interested in nearby day trips.
As I’m a “Type A” and paranoid person, I came to Lyon the day before my concert just to make sure everything was set up and good to go – as I find traveling on the day of a concert to can be stressful.
I spent the first full day and part of the second day sightseeing, and I believe I saw the majority of the city’s main tourist attractions.
Best Things to See and Do On A Short Trip To lyon
Here’s exactly what I did and saw on my long weekend trip to Lyon for the Eras Tour:
Parc de la Tête d’Or
Essentially, this place is exactly what you’d imagine it to be – a giant park similar to Central Park in New York or Regent’s Park in London.
The perfect place to go for a run, write in a journal, and enjoy a moment of peace and quiet in one of France’s largest cities.
Parc de la Tête d’Or in Lyon, France; June 2024
La Confluence
La Confluence is a modernized neighborhood that is known for its 21st century style architecture and dedication to working towards using 100% renewable energy.
Infamous for having been turned into a part of Lyon when it was originally an industrial wasteland, this is a cool thing to say you’ve seen – but in actuality, there isn’t much here for a local to do.
However, there is a park in La Confluence that is nice to sit and have a picnic.
Park in La Confluence in Lyon, France; June 2024
Fourvière
Fourvière was probably my favorite part of Lyon, as the view and the whole experience of going up the cable car was the most unique thing about the city.
View of Notre-Dame de Fourvière in Lyon; June 2024
Is it Worth Going to Fourvière In Lyon?
Yes, it is absolutely worth going up the cable car to Fourvière while in Lyon – as the view of the city alone was worth the trek up to the top. There is also a nearby bar where you can sit, have a drink, and chat with friends while taking in the scenic landscape of Lyon.
View of Lyon from Fourvière; June 2024
Old Town Lyon; June 2024
Cathedral Saint-Jean Baptiste
This cathedral in Lyon isn’t quite Strasbourg level surrealism, but it is pretty – with beautiful white detailing and located close to the old town.
View of Cathedral Saint-Jean Baptiste in Lyon, France; June 2024
Place Bellcour
Place Bellecour in Lyon is manicured, clean, and essentially helped me recognize the vibe of Lyon – which is a city reminiscent of Basel and that Lyon was kind of like France meeting Switzerland, or Switzerland meeting France.
Place Bellecour in Lyon, France; June 2024
Additional Things to do in Lyon
All of this being said, I realize that I only scratched the surface of Lyon – as many of the best thins that Lyon has to offer either don’t interest me or weren’t accessible to me.
Here are some additional things that Lyon is known for that you could explore while in the city:
Gastronomie: Lyon is known to be the capital of French cuisine – with bouchons and world-class restaurants. Some of the most popular Lyonnaise dishes to try include rosette Lyonnaise (curated meat), saucisson de Lyon (sausage), and Salade Lyonnaise (a mayonnaise based salad with bacon an egg). Long story short, Lyon isn’t the most vegan friendly city in France.
Unique Architecture and Museums: Lyon’s Old Town is home to renaissance streets, and the city is also a hub for traditional silk-weaving – more of which can be explored at the Musée des Tissus.
Rivers & Radical Urbanism: Lyon is working hard to ensure that it’s a city that can stand the test of time, even in the midst of climate change – such as with its innovative riverfront redevelopment known as La Confluence and the Rhône running through the city allowing for river views.
Special Lyon-Based Festivals: Home to a vibrant art scene similar to many other cities in France, Lyon hosts several festivals including the Fête des Lumières which takes place during Christmas and Biennale d’Art Contemporain.
Sports: Lyon is known for hosting Hosts Ligue 1 football with Olympique Lyonnais in addition to rugby and other international events.
Wandering Lyon; June 2024
Overall, if I had to provide an analogy for how Lyon felt – it would be how I compare Chicago to New York… meaning, the same way my mom and I find Chicago to be a baby New York, I found Lyon to be a baby Paris.
Ultimately, Lyon has Switzerland vibes, is functional, and felt more spread out than Paris. It’s personally not my style of cities, and I wouldn’t feel a need to come back voluntarily… but for Taylor, I would go just about anywhere.
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Last updated: July 20, 2025