Children are so energetic and curious that we envy them. Whatever their personality – artistic, adventurous, scientific… There’s plenty to do in Lyon to express their imagination and satisfy their impatience. We’ve put together a selection of activities to do with children, so you can plan your perfect family day out. There’s no need to worry, just follow our advice and have fun!
Become a real budding scientist
Science Expériences is waiting for you to discover the mysteries of the universe and test the laws of physics in all their forms. The immersive multiscience museum has already won over 250,000 visitors and offers fun and recreation for all ages. Here, you can let off steam, experiment, learn and, above all, have fun again and again. Everything is designed to ensure total immersion in each room.
Location: Science Expériences, 32 Rue Thomassin, Lyon, 69002
Date: multiple dates
From €22
Don’t miss the Vacances Sportives de la Métropole de Lyon!
A not-to-be-missed event for all budding Antoine Duponts! During the Easter vacations, the Metropole de Lyon is offering a series of free sports activities for youngsters aged 3 to 18. On the program: BMX, archery, volleyball, rugby and many other disciplines, some twenty sports to discover. Since 2021, this program has enabled thousands of young Lyonnais to explore new sporting horizons beyond soccer and swimming. A great initiative to reveal tomorrow’s champions! Participation is free, but reservations are strongly recommended.
📍 Several locations in Lyon Bron, Dardilly, Décines-Charpieu, Meyzieu and Villeurbanne
📅 Date: April 22 to May 2, 2025
🎟️ All info here
Visit the new “Trop Forts!” exhibition at the Musée des Confluences
But how do they do it? We don’t think much about it, but some animals live and reproduce in extreme conditions that human beings couldn’t endure for even an hour. For example, the penguin can withstand freezing temperatures of -60°C, the camel can go without food and water for several days, while the llama acclimatizes to high altitudes despite oxygen-depleted air. A fascinating exhibition that also invites us to reflect on climate change and our own capacity to adapt. A must-see for the whole family!
📍 Location: 86 Quai Perrache, Lyon 2
📅 Date: from February 19, 2025
Open Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday, 11am to 10pm. Friday and Saturday 11am to 11pm.
🎟️ Price: €12 full price
Dive into the Aquarium de Lyon
Discover fish from all over the world in our impressive aquariums, and learn all about the underwater world that we rarely get to see. Don’t miss the yellow-fronted angelfish, the humpback grouper and the porcupinefish. And for the more adventurous and a breathtaking spectacle, head for the shark pit for a sample of the most impressive species!
Aquarium de Lyon, 7 Rue Stéphane Dechant, La Mulatière, 69350
🕘 Opening hours: open every day from 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. (please check exceptional closing days).
Immerse yourself in the magic of Guignol
It’s been a Lyon institution since 1966. Guignol is an integral part of French popular culture and heritage. Why not revisit it in 2025? Located in the heart of Vieux-Lyon , the theater is a little gem in itself. Housed in the vaulted cellar of the Palais Bondy, the 260 puppets come to life in this setting with passion and amusement. This year’s program promises to be rich and original. The whole family is invited to enjoy the show, which will take you back to our childhood memories…
Théâtre le Guignol, 2 rue Louis Carrand Lyon 5
🕘 Info and reservations here
Stroll the streets of Lyon in search of its many delights
If we love wandering around Lyon and its emblematic neighborhoods, it’s not just for the picturesque streets, but also to sample one of its many specialties! With children, the simplest pleasures are usually the best. What about enjoying a “Praluline” or bugnes and strolling along Croix Rousse or the quays? Whatever the case, Lyon has plenty of desserts and sweet treats to offer !
Visit “Mini World
Located in Vaulx-en-Velin, Mini World is France’s biggest miniature park! Children can observe detailed life scenes full of surprises. A fascinating miniature world to explore for young and old alike. New for 2025, come and discover the fantastic landscapes and beaches of the Côte d’Azur to help us beat the winter temperatures.
Mini World, Pôle du Carré de Soie, 3 Av. de Bohlen, Vaulx-en-Velin
🕘 Opening hours: Wednesday to Friday, 11am to 6pm; Saturday and Sunday, 11am to 7pm.
Take a break in one of Lyon’s parks
A day in the park remains the must-do activity for kids. And we grant you, the Parc de la tête d’or is hard to beat and makes an excellent place to spend a day with the family, wandering among the animals in its free zoo before enjoying a succulent home-made picnic. And if they’re good, you can even buy your kids a waffle or crêpe from one of the stalls. But this isn’t the only park in the City of Lights where you can have a good time, so for a change of scene, explore them one by one!
Hunt for… frescoes!
Fancy a playful stroll? Take to the streets of the city on this treasure hunt that will guide you to Lyon’s finest trompe-l’œil! Is it a painting or a real person? How many windows are real on this building facade? These are just some of the questions that will cross your mind on this walk that will make you doubt reality… You’ll also be able to enjoy the frescoes in homage to the great figures of Lyon.
Take part in a fluorescent painting workshop with Neon Brush Kids
If your children already have an artistic soul, this family workshop is for them! Watch their thoughts appear on canvas as they express themselves in paint, but above all share this moment with them, meet other families and spend some quality time together. Materials will be provided, drinks (2 to choose from: water, juice or soda) are included, and a professional artist will guide you… Put your mental load aside and concentrate on having fun! What’s more, you’ll leave with your own masterpiece, made with paint that glows under UV lights.
Le Dérobé, 21 Rue Dumont, Lyon 4
🕘 Opening hours: Wednesday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6.30 p.m. (check for special closing days).
Enjoy a delicious hot chocolate
Hot or cold, we can’t resist a good chocolate! The few addresses we’ve chosen for you understand this, and have decided to take the concept a step further by offering hot chocolates worthy of the greatest chefs, for a gourmet snack bursting with flavor. Be warned: your children will be asking for more!
Take a detour to the Musée Cinéma et Miniature
Right in the heart of Vieux Lyon, on the lively Rue Saint-Jean, the museum opens its doors to you for an adventure into the magical land of cinema! Get ready to go behind the scenes as you explore authentic sets and exclusive objects from the sets of the world’s greatest films. And that’s not all! On the top floor, a surprise awaits you: breathtaking miniature worlds to delight your children. It’s a chance to feel like a giant!
Maison des Avocats 60 rue Saint-Jean, Lyon 5
🕘 Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 10am to 6:30pm; Saturdays and Sundays, 10am to 7pm.
Attend a Candlelight concert
Why should Candlelight’s famous candlelight concerts only be for adults? If the experience has already won over audiences in Lyon, it’s now time for children to enjoy it too! Whether it’s music from Christmas movies or animated films, a tribute to Coldplay or Queen, the choice is endless! If it’s any consolation, the candles at Candlelight concerts don’t burn… They just decorate the room beautifully. Book your tickets here!
For rainy days, enjoy a day at Westfield La Part-Dieu
The Part-Dieu shopping mall needs no introduction, but since its recent renovation, we’re bringing you the latest activities to do with kids. There’s so much to do, you could spend the whole day there without leaving. Its many restaurants offer dishes from all over the world, its playful climbing gym lets you learn to climb in a fun, colorful setting, and its huge cinema is the perfect finishing touch to an emotionally-charged day. And don’t forget to say hello to Santa Claus, who’s staying with us until December 31 – what luck!
Westfield La Part-Dieu, 17, rue du Docteur Bouchut Lyon 3
Enjoy a movie at the best price
We all have a memory of a cinema. Whether we’re talking about a film that made a lasting impression on us, or a Smurf we chewed on during the trailers, going to the movies is a lifelong pleasure. And even more so when you can do so at the best possible price! If you buy your tickets online, you’ll benefit from a substantial discount at Pathé cinemas and CGR cinemas. Enough to make you want to go back to the cinema more often, and honor the 7th art as it should be!
Enjoy a family picnic in a Lyon park
Of course, Lyon is blessed with the magnificent Parc de la Tête d’Or. But did you know that there are other wonders hidden away in the capital of the Gauls? From the Jardin des Curiosités to the Parc de la Visitation and the Jardin des Chartreux, Lyon is bursting with parks ideal for a familypicnic – weather permitting, of course!