With its relief, its quays and its green parks, Lyon has all the assets to please runners. From morning jogging on the banks of the Rhône to the annual marathon at the beginning of October, it's just one step (or rather, one stride) away! If you want to clear your mind while improving your physical fitness, here are our 10 favourite spots to run in Lyon. Beginner joggers and seasoned athletes, there's something for everyone!
For Parisians, we had also identified the best places to run in the capital.
The unmissable Tête d'Or park
Not surprisingly, the Tête d'Or park is popular with many runners from Lyon! It must be said that this green space of 117 ha is the largest city park in France. A loop of nearly 4 km will allow you to let off steam in the middle of groves of century-old trees and flowerbeds. The ideal way to get away from it all while getting away from the city for a few minutes (or hours, for the more energetic!)
The banks of the Rhone, panorama of Lyon
Here is another must-have for Lyon runners. The banks of the Rhone offer a course of nearly 5km from the Tête d'Or park to the Gerland park. Totally laid out, this totally pedestrian site is ideal for running day and night as it is lit. Moreover, the view it offers over Lyon (the Croix-Rousse, the Opera, Fourvière...) is breathtaking. As a bonus, after the effort you will find comfort in one of the bar-peniches along the Rhône!
Gerland Park, a race for greenSituated
The Croix-Rousse district for an urban trail
All riders find their happiness in Lyon. If beginners train in the different parks of the city, regulars will prefer the Croix-Rousse district. With its many stairs, sloping streets and traboules, it's the ideal place to work your thighs! And what a pleasure it is to run in the middle of these picturesque alleys which form a village with a unique atmosphere, inside the city
The Lacroix Laval park, a few kilometres from Lyon
Located in Marcy-L'Étoile, about ten kilometres from Lyon, the Lacroix Laval park offers an ideal setting for jogging with its 115 hectares of gardens, forests and meadows. Its loop of a little more than 7 km is completed in an average of one hour. Before or after the exercise, you can also discover an 18th century castle and its French garden. And if you finally prefer to rest, a small tourist train goes around the estate!
The banks of the Saône, in the heart of the city
If the runners love the banks of the Rhône, the banks of the Saône are also worth the detour during a jog. The Confluences district and its famous museum can be reached from the town centre thanks to a route of just over 11 km, which is rather well laid out for pedestrians. Take the time to stop on Île Barbe and admire the varied landscapes along the river to take in the view
The Fourvière hill, up to the summit
With its 120 m difference in altitude, the Fourvière hill is the ideal spot for an urban trail that makes your calves warm! There are several possibilities to reach the top of the hill and its famous basilica. From the Gourguillon hill to those of the Chemin-Neuf, Chazeaux or Saint-Barthélemy, you will have a wide choice. Montée Garillan, with its 244 steps, is also very popular with runners!
The Monts d'Or, in the heart of nature
If you want to run in the wilderness or escape from the city for a few hours, go to the Golden Mountains! This massif located north-west of Lyon is made up of five main mountains (Mont Thou, Mont Cindre, Mont Verdun, Mont Py, Mont Narcel). There are countless possibilities of routes between cliffs and dirt roads. A real breath of fresh air at about thirty kilometres from Lyon!
Le parc de la Feyssine, nature getawayAlways
Parilly Park, on the outskirts of Lyon
End of the race in Bron, south-east of Lyon. The Parilly park is a huge wooded area with a racecourse in its center. It's around the latter that you will be able to warm up! But that's not all, this park is also renowned for its wide range of outdoor sports activities with its athletics stadiums, football, basketball, handball, baseball, volleyball and even rugby fields! Parilly Park is easily reached by metro from Lyon.
