A winter day: change pace rather than give up
In December, Lyon is just as rewarding under cover. Alternate short walks between districts with warm indoor activities: you will get more out of your day, especially during the Festival of Lights.
Discover wine in a vaulted cellar
At Le Petit Musée du Vin, 3 rue Passet, four spaces explain the vine, terroir, winemaking and aromas before an accompanied tasting of eight wines. The visit takes about an hour and suits the curious as much as wine lovers. Full price €32, reduced rate €25 with proof of eligibility. Booking recommended.
Special opening on Monday 7 and Tuesday 8 December 2026, 11:00 am – 7:00 pm (last entry 5:30 pm). The cellars are reached by a spiral staircase only: the museum is not accessible to visitors with reduced mobility or wheelchair users.Lyon’s museums
The Musée des Beaux-Arts will appeal to lovers of painting and sculpture, while the Gadagne museums tell the story of Lyon. In Vieux Lyon, the Musée Cinéma et Miniature offers something different. Check their hours for your exact date on their own websites: Mondays, Tuesdays, events and holidays can change the usual opening times.
Take time for lunch
Stop at a traditional bouchon or a café. Food is part of the Lyon experience; on a busy weekend, book your table and leave some margin between activities.
Vieux Lyon between showers
The Renaissance facades, the lanes of Saint-Jean and the Saône quays are worth a stroll even under a grey sky. Wear shoes suited to wet cobbles; some traboules have restricted access.
Festival evenings
The light installations start in the evening: 7 pm on 5, 7 and 8 December 2026, 6 pm on Sunday 6. An indoor visit during the day is a pleasant way to wait. In the evening, check the official programme and travel restrictions: rain, crowds and entry checks can change how you get around.
See also: our daytime walking route from Bellecour to Vieux Lyon, via Le Petit Musée du Vin and a short stretch of the Rhône banks north to Pont Wilson.