10 Things to Do in Lyon in June

The warm temperatures make visiting Lyon in June a pleasant and fun experience. In addition, there are many interesting activities to attend.

Andressa García

Andressa García

10 min read

10 Things to Do in Lyon in June

Fourvière, Lyon | J-Claude G.y

With average temperatures of around 22°C, Lyon is an incredible summer destination. During this month, you can enjoy the French culture and history, not only by touring the city, but also by going to numerous events that are organised during this summer month.

Here are some of the must-see festivals and events in June that you should include on your list of the best things to see and do in Lyon if you visit the city in June. The Lyon Jazz Festival, the Nuits Sonores and the Fêta de la Musique are just some of them. You can also enjoy outdoor, sporting and comedy events.

1. Enjoy good music at the International Jazz Festival

Jazz Festival| ©salva1745
Jazz Festival| ©salva1745

After taking one of the best tours in Lyon, I recommend you to go to the Lyon International Jazz Festival, which will help you understand the city from a more cultural and musical point of view. The interesting thing about this festival is that it has more than 20 years of history.

At the Lyon International Jazz Festival you'll have the chance to see a wide variety of artists on stage, from established musicians to up-and-coming young talents. In terms of musical genres, you can enjoy styles such as classical jazz, modern jazz, blues, soul and funk.

Not only can you enjoy concerts, but also workshops and activities for all ages. In fact, children can also enjoy this event, as there are activities specially designed for them.

Interesting details

  • Price: to enter the festival you will have to pay between 10 and 50 euros per ticket, which you can buy online before the event.
  • Date and time: generally this event takes place during the first week of June.
  • Location: mainly performances take place at the Parc de la Tête d'Or in Lyon, although there are also performances at other venues such as the Grand Théâtre de Lyon and the Auditorium du Parc.

Book a guided tour of Lyon

2. Taste the best food at Lyon Street Food Festival

Lyon Street Food Festival| ©Marc Lecocq
Lyon Street Food Festival| ©Marc Lecocq

There's no better way to experience street food in Lyon than at the Lyon Street Food Festival, which takes place every year in the Parc de la Tête d'Or during the third week of June. Inside the festival you can sample a variety of Lyon's traditional and urban food and drinks. You can also enjoy the city's street entertainment.

There's no doubt that going to this festival will be one of the best food tours in Lyon to do in June, because during the event you will meet chefs from the most popular local restaurants, but you can also find food trucks and street food stalls. It won't be all about eating and drinking though, because at the festival you'll also have the chance to enjoy activities for all ages, including workshops, craft sales and games.

Interesting details

  • Price: ticket prices range from 20 to 50 euros per person, depending on the type of event you want to attend.
  • Date and time: you can enjoy this event during the second week of June and generally the exhibitions are held from morning to evening.
  • Location: There are several venues for this event, including Place de la Bourse, Place des Jacobins, Place Bellecour, Parc de la Tête d'Or and Place des Terreaux.

Book a wine and cheese tasting in the Rhône Valley

3. Discover the new Lyon BD Festival comics

Comics| ©Erik Mclean
Comics| ©Erik Mclean

If you love comics, you can't miss the Lyon BD Festival, which is an annual festival held in Lyon and driven by a team of comic enthusiasts who are all passionate about what is considered the ninth art. It's a whole weekend where you can see the work of more than 200 comic book exhibitors and creators.

But in addition to that weekend, this festival offers entertainment all month long, so you'll have plenty to see in June. As well as being able to discover the latest comics, you'll also have the chance to meet some of their most prominent creators.

As if that wasn't enough, this festival offers you the chance to attend seminars, workshops and other entertaining activities. In its gastronomy area you can also sample iconic pieces of French cuisine, to round off this event which is one of the best things to do in Lyon during the month of June.

Details of interest

  • Price: it's a free event, so you can enter without paying any entrance fee.
  • Date and time: It takes place during the third weekend of June, and the shows can be enjoyed all day long.
  • Location: This event is usually set up at venues such as the Musée des Confluences, the Musée des Beaux-Arts and the Musée des Tissus.

4. Travelling to Pérouges for the Printemps Festival

In Pérouges| ©Denis GUILLAUME
In Pérouges| ©Denis GUILLAUME

Every spring, the Festival Printemps de Pérouges takes place in Pérouges, very close to Lyon, offering theatre performances, concerts and workshops for children and adults. Also at this event you will have the opportunity to enjoy exhibitions of local crafts, buy gifts at the flea markets and enjoy different gastronomic activities.

Going to this festival is an excellent opportunity to make one of the best excursions from Lyon, because during the event you will also have the opportunity to go hiking and cycling, as well as to go on jet skis and do outdoor activities. You can take advantage of the trip to buy handicrafts and also to visit the famous castles of this medieval area.

Interesting details

  • Price: Admission to this festival is free, so you won't have to pay anything to enjoy it.
  • Date and time: this event usually takes place during the last days of June and the concerts usually take place in the afternoon and evening.
  • Location: The event takes place in Pérouges, which is a medieval town located about 40 minutes away from Lyon.

5. Enjoy great music at the Terrasse ECAM Festival

Terrasse ECAM Festival| ©Stig Nygaard
Terrasse ECAM Festival| ©Stig Nygaard

For music and concert lovers, the Terrasse ECAM Festival is an excellent choice. It is a music festival held on the Fourviere hill, where you can see a large number of artists on stage showcasing their musical work.

But it's not all about music, because one of the things you'll like most about this festival is that they offer the audience a space with deckchairs to relax and enjoy the summer and the sun of the season.

The best thing about this event is that all the scenography is handmade and you will have the opportunity to take a tour of local wines and drinks, just tasting all the variety of this drink that they have to offer at the festival.

Details of interest

  • Price: Tickets range from 16 to 36 euros per person, although these prices may vary according to each edition.
  • Date and time: It usually takes place during the second week of June.
  • Location: Always set up on Fourviere hill for a well-deserved show on the rooftops of Lyon.

6. Get to know street art at Les Festives à l'Agny

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

If you want to see what street art is like in Lyon, I recommend you go to Les Festives à l'Agny, which is an annual event where you can see concerts and street art performances, but you can also participate in workshops and educational activities to learn more about the urban culture of the city of Lyon.

One of the goals of this festival is to promote culture, creativity and local talent, so not only will you have the opportunity to enjoy street art and music, but you can also try traditional street food and drink. After enjoying this event, I recommend that you sign up for one of the best bike tours in Lyon to continue to get a taste of the city's street culture.

Interesting details

  • Price: you don't have to pay an entrance fee to enjoy this event.
  • Date and time: Usually open to the public during the third week of June, the shows run from 11am to 5pm.
  • Location: It takes place in the village of Saint Laurent de l'Agny, about 25 km from Lyon.

Book a bike tour of Lyon

7. Go to the Fête de la Musique concerts

Fête de la Musique| ©Ioan Bacivarov
Fête de la Musique| ©Ioan Bacivarov

If you love music of all styles, I recommend going to the Fête de la Musique, where you can enjoy concerts and musical performances of many genres. You'll see performances by jazz bands and electronic music groups. You can also take part in instrument workshops, exhibitions and competitions.

If there's one thing you'll love about the Fête de la Musique, it's that it's an event where you can experience the diversity of the city's musical culture. It's also an all-ages event that you should include in your Lyon itinerary in 2 days or less if you're travelling in June.

Details of interest

  • Price: The Fêta de la Musique is free and open to the public, so there is no entrance fee.
  • Date and time: These shows are usually held during the third week of June each year. Concerts are held in the evenings.
  • Location: The events are almost always held in the Parc de la Tête d'Or.

8. To attend the concerts of Les Nuits de Fourvière Festival

Enjoying the Festival| ©Vishnu R Nair
Enjoying the Festival| ©Vishnu R Nair

The Festival Les Nuits de Fourvière takes place every year in the Parc de la Tête d'Or and offers a wide range of shows, including rock concerts, classical music, opera, ballet and theatre. Don't miss the fireworks show that is organised as part of the event. During the festival you will have the opportunity to enjoy the work of various local and international artists and bands.

There is no doubt that attending this event is one of the best things to do in Lyon with children, because you can also find a variety of activities for them, however, you should also keep in mind that some events are limited to adults only. You can't miss the opportunity to discover the local crafts, as well as taste the typical gastronomy.

Interesting details

  • Price: if you want to go to just one concert you will have to pay between 20 and 25 euros per ticket. While if you want to go to all the shows of the event, you will have to pay around 110 euros per ticket.
  • Date and time: This event usually takes place from the second week of June to the first week of July.
  • Location: Events take place in the Parc de la Tête d'Or, although some concerts may take place in other venues around the city.

9. See the African films in the African Film Caravan

People at the cinema| ©Luis Quintero
People at the cinema| ©Luis Quintero

The African Cinema Caravan is an annual event not to be missed if you like to see audiovisual works from other countries. It is an event organised by the Institut Français de Lyon in collaboration with the European organisation Eurimages, which aims to present and promote African cinematic narrative.

During the event you can watch African films of all genres and also have the opportunity to participate in interesting discussions about African cinema, making it one of those things you have to do in Lyon at night. During this event you can learn about African cinema and meet many of its most prominent figures.

Interesting details

  • Price: The event is a public event, so it is free and open to the public.
  • Date and time: This event takes place during the second week of June, and screenings are usually held in the evening.
  • Location: Exhibitions and film screenings are usually held in different locations such as Place de la Bourse, Place des Jacobins, Place Bellecour, Parc de la Tête d'Or and Place des Terreaux.

10. Run for Planet

Run for Planet| ©Gérard Collomb
Run for Planet| ©Gérard Collomb

If you love everything to do with sports and healthy living, and you also love good causes, I recommend you take part in the Run for Planet during your visit to Lyon. This is a running event where you will have to choose whether you want to participate in the 5K or the 10K marathon.

The best thing about this event is that you can participate regardless of your age, because it is even a family race in which children can also participate. During the event you will have the possibility to get to know the local culture, as well as participate in events and talks dedicated to the promotion of health and wellness.

Interesting details

  • Price: if you want to register for the race, you will have to pay from 26 euros per person, although prices may vary according to the age of the participant, and also vary from year to year.
  • Date and time: it usually takes place during the second week of June and usually starts at 10:00 and ends at 17:00.
  • Location: it almost always starts at Vaulx-en-velin 69 de Rhône in Lyon.

The influx of tourists in Lyon in June

Lyon Tourist Bus| ©Bus Box
Lyon Tourist Bus| ©Bus Box

June is high season in Lyon, so the tourist flow during that month is high, also considering the Jazz à Vienne Festival and other interesting events that attract large numbers of people.

For these reasons, one of the best tips when visiting Lyon during this month is that you should make all your reservations well in advance, to secure your place in hotels, restaurants and festivals, because although the hotels and accommodations in the city are enough to satisfy the tourist demand, it is always important to book.