Renowned for the quality of its gastronomy, Lyon is a city full of surprises. Although its parks and narrow streets make for great outings, you'll need to find shelter when the rain comes. Good news: in Lyon you'll find plenty of museums and indoor leisure facilities to wait for the sun to return. From the Musée des Confluences to escape games and unusual experiences, discover the 13 best things to do in Lyon when it rains.
1. Musée des Confluences, the must-do in Lyon when it rains
This is the must-visit museum fora weekend in Lyon! It's impossible to miss its incredible modern architecture of glass and steel. Inside, however, the past is told in 1001 ways. The Musée des Confluences is a museum of natural history, civilizations and anthropology. Step back in time and embark on a fascinating cultural journey around the world. You won't find a better activity to do when it's raining in Lyon!
Petit Futé Tip : Remember to book your Lyon City Pass right here you'll get unlimited access to the city's public transport system, as well asfree admission to 25 of the city's museums, including priority access to the Musée des Confluences !
2. Visit the Basilica of Notre-Dame-de-Fourvière when it rains in Lyon
A visit to the Basilica of Notre-Dame-de-Fourvière is one of the 17 must-sees during your stay in Lyon. Topped by its golden Virgin Mary, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The blend of Byzantine, Gothic and Roman styles creates an architectural ensemble of striking beauty. Inside, the stained glass windows and chapels make for a superb visit to Lyon when it's raining!
3. Visit the Musée Miniature et Cinéma when it rains in Lyon
Welcome to one of France's 12 best unusual museums, a must-see in Lyon when it rains. From Star Wars heroes to superheroes, via miniature reconstructions of astonishing sets, enjoy an out-of-the-ordinary experience at the Cinéma et Miniature museum, where there's a film for everyone. An incredible collection of filming objects awaits cinephiles when they book this private tour of the Cinema and Miniature Museum and the old town of Lyon, for example.
Ready for total immersion in the world of your favorite heroes? Click here to book your ticket for the Musée Miniature et Cinéma.
4. Test your 5 senses with your family at Sensas
Discover a new style ofescape game at Sensas that puts your senses to the test. Each room invites you to explore your senses other than sight, in order to solve enigmas that allow you to move on to the next room. While the main aim is to raise public awareness of visual impairment, the experience is also 100% fun. Between questions, giggles and scares, get ready to take on as many challenges as you can as a team!
5. Relax in a beer spa in Lyon
Hops, yeast and malt invite themselves into the swirling water of your spa! Here's an activity as unusual as it is comforting to do when it's raining in Lyon. But why a beer spa? It would seem that the various ingredients in this beverage have virtues of their own. Hops are said to be good for the skin, regulating sebum production. Malt is said to be anti-stress and anti-fatigue, while promoting skin elasticity. Brewer 's yeast is said to help combat stress. New-generation spas have not finished surprising us!
Are you tempted? Take advantage of our partner's special rates by booking your experience right here !
6. Be amazed at Lyon's Musée de l'Illusion in the rain
Located between Place Bellecour and the Rhône River, the Musée de l'Illusion is the perfect rainy-day activity in Lyon. Children, teenagers and parents are sure to have a great time. But how do you explain the optical illusions on display? No matter how hard you try, you just don't understand "the trick". Don't worry, each illusion is scientifically explained, so you can combine knowledge with a fun visit.
Are you tempted? Go here to book your ticket to the Lyon Museum of Illusion!
7. Remembrance tourism at the Montluc Prison National Memorial
At the Memorial National de la Prison de Montluc, there's no festive atmosphere. Nevertheless, this former Nazi prison provides an insight into the city's historical past and the atrocities that may have taken place there. Jean Moulin himself was taken prisoner here, along with 10,000 other inmates. Far from paying homage to this sad period in history, the memorial helps us to remember, while learning facts you may never have heard about in history class.
8. Disconnect with sensory floating when it rains in Lyon
A haven of serenity awaits you in the heart of the bustling city. Push open the doors of a sensory floatation center, to isolate yourself for a few moments in water saturated with Epsom salt. Not only does it immerse you in a deep meditative state, it also relieves joint and muscle pain. Alone or as a couple, enjoy an unusual experience far from the hustle and bustle of the world by booking right here! Attentive to your body and mind, you'll leave feeling 100% rejuvenated.
9. Visit Saint-Jean Cathedral when it rains in Lyon
Here's another of Lyon's must-see religious buildings to visit when it's raining (or not!). Notably famous for hosting the coronation of Pope John XXII in the XIVᵉ century, Saint-Jean-Baptiste Cathedral sits comfortably in the heart of Vieux-Lyon. Its impressive Romanesque-Gothic façade leaves no one indifferent. How about pushing open the doors to shelter from the rain and discover its organ, stained glass windows and many other wonders?
10. Take part in an escape game while it's raining in Lyon
Resolutely trendy, escape games are multiplying in major cities. Rain offers a golden opportunity for adventure. At Odysseus, for example, you'll discover more than just an escape game: you'll experience an adventure game! As a team, you follow the clues to save the world, living out this rainy day under the sign of heroism. Many other themes await you in the city's various escape games, such as Treasure Island book here or Blue Castle Prison, which you can also book here. Take your pick!
11. Drink a glass of glow-in-the-dark paint
Here's one of the most unusual things to do in Lyon during your stay! Bad weather is the perfect opportunity to try your hand at painting in the dark. At Neon Brush, you paint your own unusual work of art while enjoying a drink: what better way to cheer up on a rainy day? This art deco activity lasts 1 h 30, and is a clever way to occupy part of a gray day. Tempted? Book this unusual activity, the likes of which you don't often find by booking your experience right here.
12. Discover virtual reality in Lyon
Numerous virtual reality centers open their doors to you all year round, even when it's raining in Lyon. Step into the shoes of a gladiator and fight in the Arcadiusous arena by booking your virtual reality experience right here. Alternatively, put yourself in survivor or treasure-hunter mode at DreamAway which you can book right here. There are plenty of VR experiences to suit a very wide audience. Take your pick!
13. Visit the greenhouses at Parc de la Tête d'Or
You're strolling through the Parc de la Tête d'Or when suddenly... it starts raining! Don't panic: head for the park's greenhouses, a covered botanical garden featuring tropical plants, species from Madagascar and an aquarium greenhouse, to name but a few. Species from all over the world flourish in over 6,500m², making a rainy day in Lyon a pleasant one.
What to do in Lyon when it's raining with children?
Immerse your children in a magical world at Mini-World. From the Côte d'Azur to Lyon's must-sees, each scene is represented by lifelike miniatures. These mini-worlds are set against a magical backdrop of light effects. Superb! The Musée de l'Illusion will also delight children and parents alike. Together, try to understand the optical illusions on display. Fun, wacky, astonishing: it's one of our children's favorite museums.
Some escape games are also accessible to children. This is particularly true of Sensas, with its immersive rooms that let you exercise all 5 senses. On a quieter note, don't hesitate to discover the aquatic species at the Lyon Aquarium on a rainy day. Enjoy a few hours of total immersion in underwater life, at your own pace. Kids love it!
In the leisure department, Play in Park is one of Lyon's favorite addresses when it rains. Bowling, laser games, quizzes, karaoke, virtual reality and arcade games are just some of the activities on offer. Enough to pass the time for several hours while waiting for the sun to return!
Finally, we invite you to try out a fun activity in Lyon: the Quiz Room. Challenge your friends and family as if they were on a TV set, with themed questions that can be completely off-the-wall. This activity is open to people aged 8 and over.
Want more? Check out our top 15 things to do in Lyon with kids.
What to do in Lyon when it's raining for free?
Did you know that Lyon is one of the best cheap weekend destinations? Easily accessible by train, it offers plenty of free activities to visit a beautiful city for less.
Even if there are times when you need to be out in the open, why not visit Lyon's traboules while it's raining? After all, they're covered passageways linking several alleyways! While you're exploring the traboules of the Croix-Rousse, don't hesitate to stop off at one of Lyon's best brunches while you wait for the weather to return.
If you're visiting Lyon in summer, the Lugdunum museum is free every weekend in July and August. There are also a number of free museums in Lyon on the 1st Sunday of the month:
- Musée des Beaux-Arts,
- Musée d'Art Contemporain,
- Musée de l'Imprimerie et de la communication graphique,
- Center d'Histoire de la Résistance et de la Déportation,
- Henri Malartre Automobile Museum.
To complete your free stroll around Lyon, visit the many art galleries on rue de Burdeau.
Discover also the most popular things to do in Lyon:
As you can see, it's hard to get bored in Lyon when it's raining. You can also do a bit of shopping at the Lyon Part-Dieu shopping center. In any case, let's hope it doesn't rain if you're visiting Lyon during the Festival Lumière, one of the city's must-see events, as well as the Nuits de Fourvière. The latter take place in summer, so take the opportunity to discover the best things to do in Lyon in summer. Looking for even more festive events? Discover Nuits Sonores, one of France's best music festivals.
