5 Best Day Trips from Lyon

Nestled in the middle of France’s rugged Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, Lyon is the perfect base for some French exploration. If you can bear to leave its secret passageways, Michelin-starred restaurants, and world-class museums, you’ll soon discover a collection of rural gems right on the city’s doorstep.

We’ve picked out some of the area’s most culturally rich communes, historic spa towns and stunning national parks within a few hours’ drive from Lyon. Get ready to discover the beauty of the French countryside on one of our scenic day trips below.

Vichy

Enjoy a dose of old-world glamor when you take a trip to the picturesque spa town of Vichy in the Auvergne region. Head west out of Lyon along the A6 before merging onto the A89. Then follow the D906 through the Livradois-Forez Natural Park until you reach this historical town.

Once you’ve parked up, spend your morning admiring the mesmerizing Belle Époque, Art Nouveau, and Art Deco architecture dotted throughout the town. From the colorful frescoes of Église Saint-Blaise to the lavishly decorated Opéra de Vichy, this city’s structures blend various styles effortlessly.

Taste the famous mineral-rich waters of Vichy for free at Source des Célestins, located in another beautiful 19th-century building. You can also enjoy the thermal waters, hydrotherapy treatments, and well-being properties of the local spas.

Valence

Head into southern France in sleepy Valence, overlooking the flowing Rhône River in the region of Drôme. Amble through the cobbled passageways and quaint streets of the city’s magical old town, taking in ancient churches and leafy squares. Keep an eye out for Maison des Têtes, a striking 16th-century house decorated in flamboyant Gothic and Renaissance styles.

After all that sightseeing, pick up a picnic and get caught up in the allure of Parc Jouvet. This beautiful early-1900s park boasts floral gardens and idyllic fountains – ideal for a romantic stroll.

Valence is an easy drive from Lyon along the A7. However, chocolate lovers may want to take note of a small detour. Turn off at junction 13 and follow the D532A to Tain-l'Hermitage to visit Cité du Chocolat. This one-of-a-kind interactive museum takes you behind the scenes of the premium chocolate maker, Valrhona. Learn about the history of cocoa, see how chocolate is made, and of course, sample some of the sweet delights. From there, it’s an easy 25-minute drive along the N7 to Valence.

Pérouges

Dreamy and quintessentially French, it’s no wonder the quaint commune of Pérouges has been used as a film set for various international movies, including The Three Musketeers.

Pérouges is one of the closest places to visit for a day trip from Lyon, only 40 minutes away via the A42. Explore this fortified, walled town and you’ll feel as though you’ve fallen straight into the pages of a fairytale. Use the main street, Rue des Rondes, which circles the small town, as your starting point. Then, enjoy a stroll along the cobbled streets to admire the beautiful half-timbered houses and medieval architecture that lines the way.

Make your way to Place de la Halle – the heart of Pérouges and its main square. Here you’ll find a handsome linden tree planted during the 18th century at the time of the French Revolution. Grab a table at one of the cafes fringing the square for a spot of local cuisine – Hostellerie du Vieux Pérouges is one of the best.

Lac d’Aiguebelette

Discover an abundance of natural beauty at Lac d’Aiguebelette near the Chartreuse Natural Regional Park. It’s a breeze to get to. Travel for just over an hour along the A43 to reach Lac d’Aiguebelette, then take exit 12 to branch off towards the lake.

This tranquil part of France is a hiker’s dream, where lush valleys and woodland surround a huge body of water. You can park and explore on foot, by bike, or by boat.

The glittering, emerald-green lake comes with its own thriving ecosystem that’s carefully nurtured and protected. Spare some time to look for buzzards soaring through the air and deer emerging from the woodland. There’s also an area of the lake sectioned off for wild swimming and water sports, such as paddle boarding, if you’d prefer an adrenaline-fueled afternoon of fun.

Évian-les Bains

If you’ve got more time to play with, take a road trip to the Swiss border and discover Évian-les Bains. Located by the eastern French Alps, it will take you around two and a half hours to reach the delightful commune. Head north-east along the A42 and the A40 towards the Swiss border.

It’s worth the drive. With views of Lake Geneva and the French Alps shadowing the lakeside, this spa town is captivatingly beautiful.

Évian-les Bains is widely known for its spring water and spa baths, which first opened in 1839. Today, one of the best places to experience the famed waters is Thermes Evian Spa. Unwind with treatments designed to relax and revitalize. Post-spa, walk along the waterfront and soak up the pretty Belle Époque architecture. Admire the breathtaking Palais Lumière and marvel at the neoclassical facade of Villa Lumière, which became Évian-les Bains’ town hall in 1927. The lavishly decorated building was once owned by Antoine Lumière, father to Auguste and Louis, the inventors of the cinematograph.

Looking for more travel inspiration? Check out some of our other top trips around France, including day trips from Bordeaux and Paris.