Things to do & places to visit in Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes, France

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes #5 destination in France 2023. The average rating score is 4.48 based on 242.3k traveler reviews, of 406 attractions. Timezone: Europe/Paris, current date and time: Wednesday, May 08, 2024, 0:23.

Top things to do (33)

Top places to visit (30 attractions) view more »

5.0 Lake Annecy (6.913 reviews)
- A place not to be missed!
Spent 2-3 hours Bodies of Water

A few steps from Switzerland is the magnificent Lake Annecy. Its green and blue hues are sure to charm you. Surrounded by breathtaking mountains, the lake extend between Annecy and Doussard. I advise you to go there in spring or summer, to be able to take full advantage of the cycle track which surrounds it. Many beaches border this lake with turquoise waters and allow you to enjoy its fresh water with your family. To get around the lake it is better to use the bike or public transport, as many car parks are not free of charge even if they have the advantage of being close to the beaches. After enjoying the beauty of the lake, I advise you to go for a walk in the old town of Annecy to eat a little ice cream. You can also go up to the Col de la Forclaz to overlook this magnificent body of water. Have a nice trip! See more..
5.0 Aven d'Orgnac Grand Site de France (2.106 reviews)
- Nice cave and lovely guided tour
Wednesday: 9:45 AM - 12:30 PM, 1:45 PM - 6:00 PM Spent More than 3 hours Speciality Museums • Points of Interest & Landmarks • Caverns & Caves

The Cave and the Cité de la Préhistoire - Aven d' Orgnac in Ardèche - 30 mn from Vallon Pont-d'Arc and the Chauvet Cave (Unesco since June 2014). The Aven d'Orgnac has the label Grand Site de France, label of sustainable tourism rewarding the most beautiful French landscapes. See more..
5.0 Mont Blanc (1.588 reviews)
- Wow wow wow breathtaking scenery
Mountains

A towering mountain range on the Italian border, the highest peak of which measures nearly 16,000 feet, making it the second highest mountain in Europe. See more..
5.0 Free Tour Lyon (1.349 reviews)
- Both tours are incredible
Wednesday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM City Tours • Walking Tours • Sightseeing Tours

Absolutely amazing! Paul does two different tours, and after the first one (Vieux Lyon), I was so impressed I changed my plans to come back the next day for the other one (City tour). It is definitely worth doing both, because they explore different areas and Paul has so much interesting things to share about Lyon, that none of it repeats between the tours. Recommend it 110%, absolutely the best way to get a feel for Lyon. See more..
5.0 SENSAS Lyon (1.071 reviews)
- Bravo
Spent 1-2 hours Game & Entertainment Centers

bravo a Hugo notre maitre des sens qui a su rendre attractif toutes les activités malgré notre groupe un peu bcp...dissipé ! See more..
4.5 Parc de la Tete d'Or (11.7k reviews)
- A real gem.
Wednesday: 6:30 AM - 10:30 PM Spent 1-2 hours Parks

Come enjoy a moment of relaxation in family in a wooded and natural setting. A double course of 18 tracks awaits you. Young and old alike will share an unforgettable moment on the playful and amazing trails of mini-golf. Both children and parents will find happiness. A little introduction to the practice of mini-golf will be provided if you wish. See more..
4.5 Basilique Notre Dame de Fourviere (11.6k reviews)
- Gorgeous cathedral with incredible views of Lyon
Wednesday: 7:30 AM - 8:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Points of Interest & Landmarks • Architectural Buildings • Churches & Cathedrals

Standing atop Fourvière Hill, this basilica, constructed in the late 19th century, has an ornate interior to contrast its grave exterior. See more..
4.5 Aiguille du Midi (7.659 reviews)
- Phenomenal
Spent 2-3 hours Mountains • Lookouts • Ski & Snowboard Areas

From Chamonix (1035m), fly over the forest to reach le Plan de l’Aiguille in 10 minutes (2317m). On your right, the Glacier des Bossons, in front of you the Mont-Blanc (4810m), on your left the Aiguille Verte, the Drus and the Aiguilles de Chamonix. Then take a second cable car which, in just 10 minutes takes you up to 3777m, over the seracs, the glacier des Pelerins and the hanging glaciers on the north face of the Aiguille du Midi. . From the top, a sightseeing panorama unique in the world. Experience a very high altitude. See more..
4.5 Vieux Lyon (6.757 reviews)
- In love with the picturesque Lyon
Historic Walking Areas

Lyon's historic section is full of old buildings and a traditional old French atmosphere. See more..
4.5 Musee du Cinema et de la Miniature (5.162 reviews)
- A great little museum.
Spent 1-2 hours Speciality Museums

This stately old building is located in Vieux Lyon. See more..
4.5 La Vieille Ville (4.686 reviews)
- Best thing to do in Geneva
Points of Interest & Landmarks

Yes, you've read it right - in Geneva. Geneva is a pretty dull town for which we wrongly planned two days. All attractions in Geneva you can pack in half a day, so we drove to Annecy on our second day (it's only a 45 min drive). The second we arrived we were blown away by the beauty of this small town. Annecy old town has a fairy tale setting - charming small winding streets with pastel colored houses around the river, big lake, plenty of restaurants and cafes...double cheaper than Geneva. We regretted we didn't plan a night here, so we stayed until after dinner when we drove back. Beautiful small town. See more..
4.5 Grotte Chauvet 2 Ardèche (3.998 reviews)
- Brilliant attraction
Wednesday: 9:30 AM - 6:00 PM Spent 2-3 hours Caverns & Caves

Discover the first masterpiece of humanity from 36000 years ago: hundreds of hunting, running or fighting animals drawn from life. In a 20 hectare park, the grotte Chauvet 2 - Ardeche (largest cave replica in the world) recreates the magic of the UNESCO World Heritage listed Chauvet cave. Who were our artistic ancestors? What world did they live in? What animals surrounded them? Explore the Aurignacian Gallery to find out! The entrance ticket includes a guided tour of the cave, a self-guided tour of the Aurignacian Gallery and access to activities and workshops for the whole family during school holidays. Have lunch at our restaurant and enjoy its panoramic view. And don’t forget to stop by the gift shop for unique souvenirs! Must-see in 2022, everyday all day long, discover our new spectacle: "ANIMAL, From prehistory to street art", an immersive and magical experience with sound and light. Booking on : www.grottechauvet2ardeche.com Open all year round. See more..
4.5 Les Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse (3.927 reviews)
- Well worth a detour if in Lyon.
Wednesday: 7:00 AM - 10:30 PM Shopping Malls

Had a couple of fabulous lunches at Chez les gones within the market. The food was exquisite and great value and accompanied by some exceptional local wines. This is clearly a haunt of the local community and we were very much the lone Australians but it was an absolute delight. Staff were patient and had more english than we had french but we muddled along and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. See more..
4.5 Théâtres Romains de Fourvière (3.215 reviews)
- Wonderful Roman ruins to explore
Ancient Ruins

A remnant from the era of dominance of the Roman Empire, the ruins of these two amphitheaters are over 2,000 years old. See more..
4.5 Traboules du Vieux Lyon (3.060 reviews)
- Fun treasure hunt while enjoying Vieux Lyon.
Spent 2-3 hours Points of Interest & Landmarks

We had a few addresses to start with and once we got used to what we were looking for we came across several others on our own. The one at 27 Rue St Jean connects with 6 Rue des Trois Maries; and 31 Rue du Boeuf connects with 14 Rue de la Bombarde. Out of respect for people living in nearby apartments, try to keep your voice down inside the passageways. See more..
4.5 Puy-de-Dome Volcano (2.815 reviews)
- Don't miss it.
Points of Interest & Landmarks • Volcanos

A really good experience. The train ride up and down is memorable - try to sit on the left, going up, for the views. Also, check the times ... it only runs every 30-40 mins, and you'd be annoyed just to miss one because you had been dallying in the car park. It's a few minutes' walk from the parking to the train. You can do a complete circuit at the top, a kilometre or so, and the views are superb, as the field of extinct volcanoes extends in all directions. The Temple of Mercury is a building site, so don't waste time looking for it. There is a picnic hut if it is too blustery to eat outside - and it is probably windy on most days. Don't miss the videos and historic info in the station, either. Don'y waste your time if the cloud is down. Highly recommended. See more..
4.5 Colline de Fourvière (2.710 reviews)
- GET TO THE TOP OF THE VIEUX LYON
Historic Walking Areas

This hill was the location of Lyon's original Roman settlement and still is home to ancient ruins from that era. See more..
4.5 Gorges de l'Ardèche (2.419 reviews)
- Ardeche Adventures - my family's favourite ever holiday
Spent More than 3 hours Points of Interest & Landmarks • Nature & Wildlife Areas • Canyons

Our accommodation was arranged (option of camping or a static caravan) along with a one day kayaking practice day followed by a two day kayak trip including a bivi camp. On the bivi camp, three of my family did slept in a tent, one in a hammock and me outside looking at the stars. The trip was completed by a day on the high ropes (excited kids - terrified adults) and then a day climbing and abseiling. All activities were done under the supervision of staff who were happy to entertain kids all day while being firm about all safety aspects. Mike the owner, is a professional photographer and just sent me the best ever photos of my family which he was taking through the week – to cap it all - the photos were free. The holiday was great value and I would wholeheartedly recommend to other families. See more..
4.5 Le PAL - Parc d’Attractions et Animalier (2.279 reviews)
- Fantastic day
Wednesday: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM Spent More than 3 hours Amusement & Theme Parks • Zoos

Escape to an extraordinary leisure park! The PAL, amusement park and animal park is the only park in France to bring together in an exceptional natural setting of 50 ha, 30 attractions for the whole family, 700 animals and 3 unforgettable shows. With 620,000 visitors in 2019, Le PAL is the 5th most visited amusement park in France. See more..
4.5 Museum of Fine Arts of Lyon (2.233 reviews)
- Superb and Wide Ranging Museum.
Wednesday: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Art Museums

The museum of Fine Arts of Lyon is the largest French museum outside of Paris, in terms of the richness of its collections, and the importance of the bequests received at its creation, in the wake of the Revolution. The ongoing enrichment of the collection and its dynamic artistic program place the museum on the international art scene. The museum is located place des Terreaux, in the heart of the city center, in a former 17th century Benedictine abbey. Its cloister is now home to a quiet garden featuring sculptures by Rodin and Bourdelle, among others. The museum’s encyclopedic collections are exhibited in five sections and seventy galleries presenting artworks from all the major civilizations and artistic schools, from Antiquity to the present day. All year long, the museum offers its visitors an exceptional tour of 5 000 years of art history and organizes major temporary exhibitions, as well as cultural activities engaging all audiences. See more..
4.5 Chateau de Murol (1.893 reviews)
- A memorable experience and travel in the middle ages
Wednesday: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM Spent 2-3 hours Castles

In the heart of the Auvergne region, amongst volcanoes. The best guided visit ever you can dream of. You will travel in time back to the middle ages. At every corner of the castle you will have a blacksmith, farmer, a guard, knights, Lord of the castle and his wife, all dressed up to give you the most authentic experience. Sometimes using old French, they are so funny. Yet you and your little ones will learn so much as bout history and life in a mot and bailey castle. A beautiful day. See more..
4.5 L'Aventure Michelin (1.878 reviews)
- nice museum for all ages
Spent 1-2 hours Speciality Museums

L'Aventure Michelin is a scenographic journey of 2000m². Thanks to an interactive scenography, you will discover the history, the present and the future of the Michelin group. From the very first detachable tyre to the MICHELIN Visionary Concept not forgetting the famous maps and guides - or the good old Michelin Man - a whole world of excitement awaits you ! See more..
4.5 Grenoble Bastille Cable Car (1.819 reviews)
- Enjoyable experience using Les bulles
Wednesday: 11:00 AM - 6:30 PM Spent 1-2 hours Trams

We took a slow walk from Jardin des Dauphins up to Fort de la Bastille taking in the views along the way. Once at the summit there were incredible vistas of the city and the snow capped peaks in the distance. Instead of walking back into the city we took the cable car and as it was still fairly early in the day there were only a handful of people waiting for the next service down. We were lucky to be able get a bubble to ourselves of which there were four to a set. During the short journey we had dramatic views of Quartier Saint Laurent and Isère River. We had an enjoyable experience using Les bulles but we noticed later in the day that there was a long queue waiting for the service up to Bastille so it may be worth visiting off-peak where possible. See more..
4.5 Cathédrale Saint-Jean-Baptiste de Lyon (1.783 reviews)
- Highlight was the ornate clock
Wednesday: 8:15 AM - 7:45 PM Historic Sites • Architectural Buildings • Religious Sites • Churches & Cathedrals

A 12th-century Gothic cathedral with impressive stained-glass windows. See more..
4.5 Mini World Lyon (1.776 reviews)
- Great place to visit with the family on a rainy day
Wednesday: 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM Spent 2-3 hours Amusement & Theme Parks

Mini World Lyon is the biggest animated miniature park in France. Over 3000m2, 4 worlds (city, mountain, campaign brand new one opened last december : Mini Lyon) full of enchantment, interaction and humor welcome you for an immersive experience at 1/87 scale. Ticket also gives you access to our 3D cinema and our temporary exhibitions (LEGO®, Disney, Playmobil...). Our restaurant "La Place" is on free access. A visit here will take you in a typical french village's main square and immerse in the atmospheres of our worlds thanks to high definiton projections on our walls. See more..
4.5 Palais Ideal du Facteur Cheval (1.759 reviews)
- Visiting during the low season
Historic Sites • Architectural Buildings • Castles • Monuments & Statues

Le Palais Idéal du Facteur Cheval est le rêve d'un homme, piéton des postes, qui a concrétisé pierre à pierre après 33 ans de travail solitaire une œuvre unique.André Malraux en 1969 a classé le Palais Idéal : Monument historique. C'était pour lui le seul exemple en architecture de l'art Naïf. See more..
4.5 Les Gorges du Fier (1.713 reviews)
- Long walk from Annecy
Spent 1-2 hours Canyons • Geologic Formations

Annecy has free buses (July & Aug) and free bikes but there is nothing easy to get you to Gorges du Fier without a car. Most options included 2 buses. So we decided to walk, although the first 2.5 km we used the free velonecy bike to Bressis centre. From there it was a 61 minute walk. At the attraction you see spectacular geology on a boardwalk in a narrow deep gorge. An hour is more than enough time at the attraction. There were 2 points on the walk where we went wrong for a short way (see photos)...both of these were forks where you need to choose the right hand fork. At the entrance to the wood the more established track lured us, but the Google Maps route was correct...take the track on the right to enter the woods. After 100 yards there is another fork. Google maps wants to take you up and left, but stick right and despite going off the Google map direction, it comes good. See more..
4.5 Office de Tourisme d'Yvoire (1.698 reviews)
- A little piece of heaven
Wednesday: 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM, 1:30 PM - 5:00 PM Spent < 1 hour Visitor Centers

Welcome to Yvoire! Cross the ramparts, enter through the large gates of Nernier and Rovorée and spend a timeless moment in the narrow streets of this 14th century medieval town! Admire the view of the pre-Alps and the famous Dent d'Oche from the Port des Pêcheurs, discover the plant world through an amazing sensory walk in the Garden of the 5 senses, stroll along the banks of Lake Geneva at the Marina or take a cruise on the CGN steamers! If you like to go on an adventure, follow the Chemin des Vaudois which will take you to the picturesque village of Nernier or follow the Greenway to the Domaine de Rovorée to admire the crystal blue water of the largest lake in Europe! As for shopping, you will find all sorts of boutiques, art galleries, jewellery, designers, crystalware, decoration ... and for a gourmet break, go to one of our many restaurants with various specialities! See more..
4.5 Parc des Oiseaux (1.539 reviews)
- Brilliant day at the bird parc
Spent More than 3 hours Amusement & Theme Parks • Zoos

The website gives full details of this great fun place for the family focused on birds but with lots of really good play areas See more..
4.5 Mur des Canuts (1.472 reviews)
- Impressive and good optimale illusion
Wednesday: 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM Points of Interest & Landmarks

On a beautiful sunny sunday we took the tandrad metro line to this mur des Canuts. Very close to the metro station. And overwhelming. Life size paintings of several buildings and people on a complete flat big wall. I have looked at it and enjoyed it for several minutes ( perhaps even half an hour or longer). It is also fun to observe new visitors, and their discovery and amazement. Definitely worth to go and see it for yourselves. See more..