Best BikeTours in Lyon

One of the best ways to get around the city of Lyon is undoubtedly on two wheels. Here I'll tell you about some of the best ways to cycle around the city.

Andressa García

Andressa García

11 min read

Best BikeTours in Lyon

Getting to know Lyon | ©Roses_Street

One of the best things to see and do in Lyon is definitely to sign up for a good bike tour, because what better way to get to know a city than by bike? In the case of Lyon, this experience allows you to enjoy the architecture and history of the city without having to walk.

During the tour you will not only get to see the city from a different perspective, but you will also have the opportunity to stay as long as you want to visit the highlights of Lyon. The bike tour is also a great way to discover the culinary culture of Lyon.

1. Tour Lyon by bike from the ancient city gates

Cycling in Lyon| ©Fred Banchet
Cycling in Lyon| ©Fred Banchet

This cycling experience in Lyon from the gates of the old city will take you to discover the architectural treasures and historical monuments hidden inside the city. You will meet your tour guide at the Porte de la Guillotière, where the ride will begin and continue to Vieux Lyon.

This is one of the best bike tours in Lyon because it also takes you to places like the Quartier Saint-Jean and Place Bellecour. But you will also have the opportunity to stop at other places of cultural and touristic interest in the city of Lyon such as the Saint-Jean Cathedral, the Palais de la Paix, the Place de la Reine and the Palais Saint-Pierre.

Details of interest

  • Price: To sign up for this bike tour of Lyon from the old city gates, you'll need to pay around €25 per person.
  • Duration: The tour lasts approximately 3 hours.
  • Means of transport: The whole tour is completed by bike and you will have to make your own way to the meeting point.
  • Advantages of this option: Bike hire and the company of an expert guide are included.
  • Disadvantages of this option: Personal expenses are not included, nor are drinks or meals.

Book a bike tour in Lyon

2. One day bike tour of Lyon

Cycling in Lyon| ©Olivier
Cycling in Lyon| ©Olivier

This is undoubtedly one of the best activities you can do in Lyon because it is a day tour that takes you around the city by bike to enjoy not only the urban area of the city but also its green areas and nature. You will cycle through the old city, and you will have the opportunity to get lost in its narrow streets and passages.

The route is of medium difficulty, and is off the beaten track, so it's a good choice whether you've been to Lyon before or are new to the city. Your guide will also give you detailed information on local history and culture. Throughout the whole experience you will be accompanied by a support vehicle to ensure the safety of you and your companions on the tour.

Interesting details

  • Price: You will have to pay between 50 and 60 euros per person to participate in this experience.
  • Duration: The tour is a full day, so you will be on the route for approximately eight hours.
  • Means of transport: The entire route is completed by bicycle, although you will also have a support vehicle along the way.
  • Advantages of this option: The tour guide's company is included, as well as bike hire.
  • Disadvantages of this option: Personal expenses are not included, nor are meals and drinks along the way.

3. Electric bike tour in Lyon with food tasting

Eating in Lyon| ©Pascal Rey
Eating in Lyon| ©Pascal Rey

On this electric bike tour of Lyon you will be accompanied by a professional guide who will not only take you through some of the main streets of the city, but also tell you why they are so charming, as well as help you learn about the history and cultural details of the city.

During this tour you will also have the opportunity to taste some typical local dishes in some of Lyon's restaurants, so this experience could also be included among the best gastronomic tours in Lyon. Some of the delicious dishes you will have the opportunity to try during the tour include local produce boards such as cheese and charcuterie, as well as more elaborate dishes such as duck à l'orange or tartiflette.

Interesting details

  • Price: To live this experience you will have to pay between 50 and 100 euros per person.
  • Duration: This tour will take you around 4 hours.
  • Means of transport: The whole tour is completed on board an electric bicycle.
  • Advantages of this option: The electric bicycles are included in the price of the tour. Lunch stop and some refreshments during the tour are included.
  • Disadvantages of this option: Food and beverage prices are not included except for those included in the tour specifications.

Book a bike tour of Lyon

4. Wine tour of the Lyon region by bike

Tasting Beaujolais wine| ©tangobiker
Tasting Beaujolais wine| ©tangobiker

If you're a wine lover, this is one of the best experiences you can have in Lyon, and it's definitely a plan you should include in your Lyon itinerary in 3 days. It's a guided bike tour that will take you through the main vineyards of the Lyon region. You will see the vineyards, meet the winegrowers and learn about wine production techniques and processes.

Of course, along the way you will have the opportunity to park your bike and go to a winery to taste the local wines. This is definitely one of the best wine tours in Lyon because it stops at 4 or 5 wineries, where you will enjoy wine tastings. Beaujolais Villages, Mâcon Village and Saint-Amour are some of the wine tasting options. At a certain point of the experience you will have time to stop for lunch.

Details of interest

  • Price: This tour can cost approximately 110 euros per person.
  • Duration: The tour is planned to last a whole day.
  • Means of transport: You will travel on an electric bicycle throughout the tour, although you will have to get to the meeting point on your own.
  • Advantages of this option: The tour guide is included and will show you the best traditional and local wines. Visits to the wineries and vineyards are included.
  • Disadvantages of this option: Meals and drinks are not included, except for those specified in the tour.

5. Tour of Lyon's historic quarters by bike

Old Lyon| ©Jeanne Menjoulet
Old Lyon| ©Jeanne Menjoulet

Although you can also explore the historic quarters of the city by hopping on a Lyon sightseeing bus, you'll definitely find the cycling experience incredible. You'll climb aboard a bike and ride with your guide and the rest of your team through Lyon's historic quarters such as Vieux Lyon, Croix-Rousse, Fourvière, Bellecour and Presqu'île.

Your guide will tell you all you want to know about the architectural styles that blend in these neighbourhoods, as well as the many medieval and modern buildings that converge within them. In the Fourvière district, you will have the opportunity to visit the Château, from where you will have a beautiful panoramic view of the city.

Interesting details

  • Price: You will have to pay around 50 euros per person for this experience.
  • Duration: It will take you between 3 and 4 hours to complete the whole tour.
  • Means of transport: During the whole trip you will be on board a bicycle, however, you have to get to the starting point on your own.
  • Advantages of this option: All safety measures are included. The company of a tour guide is also included. Bottled water is provided along the way.
  • Disadvantages of this option: You need to be in good physical shape to enjoy the tour. Bike rental is not included, so you will need to rent a bike or bring your own.

6. Tour of the main attractions of the city of Lyon by bike

Bicycles of Lyon| ©kaiserstein
Bicycles of Lyon| ©kaiserstein

On this experience you will have the opportunity to go and see each of the most interesting places in the city of Lyon on a bicycle. It is different from other tours because you will go inside places like the Cathedral of Notre-Dame de Fourvière, the Three Gorges Park and the Jardin des Plantes.

Also during the tour you will have the opportunity to cross the historical bridges of the city on your bike. You will see and take pictures of the Saint-Georges Bridge, the Saint-Paul Bridge and the Saint-Clair Bridge.

Interesting details

  • Price: To participate in this activity you will have to pay between 35 and 50 euros per person.
  • Duration: It will take you around 3 to 4 hours to complete this experience.
  • Means of transport: The entire route is completed by bike, although you will have to make your own way to the starting point.
  • Advantages of this option: Bicycle hire is included as well as the accompaniment of a tour guide. Some entrance fees to tourist attractions are included.
  • Disadvantages of this option: Personal expenses and meals and drinks during the tour are not included. The cost of lunch is not included.

7. Lyon Gastronomy Bike Tour

Les Halles Paul Bocuse Market| ©Heather Cowper
Les Halles Paul Bocuse Market| ©Heather Cowper

During this two-wheeled experience you will have the opportunity to get to know the gastronomy of Lyon, taking a ride through some of the typical dishes of French cuisine. In the middle of this tour your tour guide will take you to taste foods such as Reblochon cheese, onion soup or veal Provençal style. You will also have the opportunity to eat traditional desserts such as tomato flan and tarte tatin.

For a taste of French cuisine in Lyon, your guide will take you to some of the city's amazing places such as its main markets, including the Les Halles Paul Bocuse market. As he takes you to taste typical French food, he'll tell you a little about the cultural influence on the city. Places to see include the area around the Saône River, the museum of Lyon's treasures and the Saint-Jean Cathedral.

Interesting details

  • Price: You can take part in this tour by paying a price ranging from €60 per person.
  • Duration: The tour will last approximately 2 to 3 hours.
  • Means of transport: The whole tour is completed by bicycle, although you have to make your own way to the meeting point.
  • Advantages of this option: The tour usually includes a tour guide, bike rental and tasting of typical dishes. A visit to the markets of Lyon is also included. You can choose the vegan option for your French gastronomy tour.
  • Disadvantages of this option: Transport to the tour meeting point is not included. Refreshments and snacks are also not included.

8. Tour along the Saône River by bike

Walking along the Saona River| ©Joan
Walking along the Saona River| ©Joan

This is a special tour because it takes you out of the city of Lyon and takes you on a bike tour along the Saône River. During this tour you will live a unique experience of connection with nature, but also with the culture and history of the place.

One of the experiences you will appreciate the most during this tour is the opportunity to appreciate a panoramic view of the fields, lakes, mountains and forests that are located around the river. But not everything will be nature during this tour, you will also have the opportunity to visit historical sites such as the Church of San Juan Bautista, the Castle of Vilardida and the Museum of Archaeology.

Details of interest

  • Price: You will have to pay between 20 and 30 euros per person to participate in the tour.
  • Duration: It can take around 3 hours to complete this tour.
  • Means of transport: You will travel by bicycle throughout the activity.
  • Advantages of this option: This tour includes the company of a tour guide and bike hire. Bicycle maintenance costs are also included.
  • Disadvantages of this option: Meals and drinks are not included, nor are personal expenses.

9. Tour of the old city of Lyon by bike

Person on Bike| ©Olivier
Person on Bike| ©Olivier

This bike tour will take you to discover the old city of Lyon from a historical and cultural perspective thanks to your tour guide who will tell you everything you need to know about it. Among the places you will see during the tour are the Saint Jean Cathedral, the Saint-Paul Church, the Place des Terreaux, the Tête d'Or Gardens, the Saône River, the Parc de la Tête d'Or and the Barbe Island.

On this guided tour you will not only have the opportunity to see and photograph the old city, but you will also be able to see all the beauty and tranquillity that the beautiful landscapes of the old city of Lyon have to offer. This is one of those tours that I recommend you to do even if you are only staying in Lyon for a day.

Interesting details

  • Price: A tour of the old city of Lyon generally costs between 40 and 60 euros per person.
  • Duration: The tour can last approximately 3 to 4 hours.
  • Means of transport: The entire tour is completed by bike, although you will have to make your own way to the meeting point.
  • Advantages of this option: This tour includes bike hire, a professional guide, a support vehicle, as well as bike maintenance and repair.
  • Disadvantages of this option: Entrance fees to tourist sites are not included. Additional expenses and expenses related to food and beverages are not included.

10. Tour of Lyon's art museums by bike

Bicycles and Musée de Confluence| ©martyr_67
Bicycles and Musée de Confluence| ©martyr_67

You'll love this bike tour of Lyon because you'll get to see the city's art museums. During the tour you will get to see and learn about up to six of the most famous museums in the city. In fact, it is one of those experiences that you have to do if you go to Lyon with children.

Among the museums you'll see on this bike tour are the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Musée des Confluences, the Museum of Fine Arts, the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, the Musée de la Soierie and the Museum of Natural History. Inside each of these you will have the opportunity to take a guided tour for an additional fee.

Interesting details

  • Price: The tour can be priced at around €30 per person, while museum entrance fees can vary according to the policies of each museum, although in general you will have to pay around €10.
  • Duration: The tour is a full day tour, so it will take you around eight hours to complete.
  • Means of transport: The entire tour is completed by bike, although you will have to make your own way to the meeting point.
  • Advantages of this option: Tour guide around the city is included. Bicycle hire is included.
  • Disadvantages of this option: Entrance fees to museums are not included. Guided tours inside the museums are not included. Transport to the departure point and back to the hotel is not included.

Tips for a bike tour in Lyon

Cycling day| ©Hëllø i'm Wild
Cycling day| ©Hëllø i'm Wild
  • Dress according to the season and ask before you set off what kind of landscapes you will see so that you know what to wear and if it is necessary to use sunscreen or insect repellent.
  • Even if you are accompanied by a tour guide and safety equipment, make sure that everything is in order regarding the bike and all its components.
  • Always carry plenty of water and a map, even if you're taking a guided tour with a bike tour expert.