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Published 06 November 2023 by Leyla Alyanak — Parisian by birth, Lyonnaise by adoption, historian by passion
Lyon is known for many things - and great food is at the top of the list. If you're looking for an introduction to the city's food specialties, taking one of these 7 Lyon food tours is the best way to start.
Walking tours are ideal to discover Lyon and lyonnaise cuisine.
My first Lyon food tour was typical: it involved walking around the Old Town, sampling everything from pralines to saucisson. But the best part was meeting the various restaurant and shop owners, who explained the "why" of dishes, and the stories behind them.
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Just want the #1 best Lyon food tour?
Secret Food Tours Lyon with Private Food Tour Option
This tour has it all, from delicious food samples of local specialties to authentic French wine. Their local guides are filled with knowledge about Lyon’s food culture and they have over 200 five-star reviews.
Below you’ll find a list of the top 7 food tours to take in Lyon, and they're all highly rated, with a minimum of 4.5 out of 5 stars (most actually have 5/5).
Lyon has over 4,000 restaurants that feature French cuisine, including many local and regional specialties. Food has long been an important part of the local culture, and many of the best-loved recipes have been passed down through generations − that's how important food is here.
Most Lyon food gourmet tours traditionally involve a walk through the historic old town, where you'll visit several establishments and sample food and wine. A few other tours may take you to different parts of town, like the vegan tour that goes to Croix-Rousse or the bike tour that explores several parts of Lyon.
Whichever you choose will be a great start to your Lyon culinary adventure − and you won't have to face the overwhelming decisions of what to try first, where, and you'll gain plenty of insight into the food culture.
Let me add that many of the Lyon food tours are similar, varying only in length and the choice of local artisans along the way, whether charcuterie producers or praline makers. They're all highly rated and you'll do well with any of them.
Also, descriptions are accurate at the time of writing but stops and samples may change, so be sure to click through and check before you book!
Indulge in the best of French cuisine including freshly baked pastries, a traditional Canut breakfast sampling, Lyonnais sweet treats, French cheeses, and a secret dish on this tasty Lyon food tour − which also, by the way, includes a tasting of French wine.
⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 3.5 hours
✔︎ Sample a traditional Canut (silk weaver's) breakfast
✔︎ Fresh pastries
✔︎ Hot dish in a traditional "bouchon"
✔︎ Creamy French cheeses
✔︎ Walk through the Old Town in the heart of Lyon
✔︎ French red and white wine
This secret food tour in Lyon will explore the Old Town Neighborhood of the city. The group is limited to 12 people so it is the perfect way to experience the food culture in Lyon without a large crowd.
You can also book this as a completely private tour for just your group. Not only does a private tour give you a more personalized experience, but it also can fit better with your schedule as you can select a start time based on your needs.
⭐️ Rating: 5 / 5 ⭐️
“Highly recommended, you get to see some of the sights of Lyon and taste your way through some true culinary delights.”
-John
"Charlotte provided us with such knowledge of Lyon (and all of France) and brought us to the most amazing food stops. Would absolutely take another Secret Food tour!!
- Samantha E.
This half-day food tour takes place in Lyon’s historic old town and stops at 6 different establishments, where you'll taste 10 different local specialities, meet local food producers and learn more about Lyon’s incredible gastronomical scene. Make sure you show up for this tour hungry, because it also includes a delicious lunch.
⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 4 hours
✔︎ 10 food tastings in 6 different establishments
✔︎ Passionate and expert guides
✔︎ Small group with a maximum of 12 people
✔︎ Walk through Lyon’s Old Town and meet local producers
✔︎ Lunch included
This highly rated food tour is limited to a small group of 12, so you’ll get a personalized experience and be able to interact with the local guide.
The tour takes place in Lyon’s old town and includes a walking tour to learn more about the history and culture of the neighborhood.
⭐️ Rating: 5 / 5 ⭐️
“This was by far the best tour we did while in France! A perfect combination of history, seeing the city, and trying plenty of food (with generous portions)."
-Maria
"Wonderful meeting the shop owners and seeing the obvious pride they have in their products!"
-Nicol_W
"We loved every place we stopped at and appreciated they were all locally owned and operated. The entire tour was wonderful! I highly recommend it!"
-Diane_M
Another exploration of Vieux Lyon takes place with this 4-hour Lyon food tour, during which you'll taste 14 delicious local products. As part of your tour, you'll explore St Jean Cathedral, along with Old Lyon's traboules, or secret passageways, once used by merchants to keep their silk cloth dry.
⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 4 hours
✔︎ 14 food tastings at 5 different places, equivalent to a typical lunch
✔︎ Expert local guide
✔︎ Walk through Lyon’s Old Town, one of Europe's largest Renaissance areas
✔︎ See the Cathedral of St. Jean and the famous passageways
This tour mixes history and food tastings and gives you the chance to explore Lyon’s oldest neighborhood while tasting some delicious food. Your guide will show you 5 different places where you can enjoy local food tastings and learn more about the food culture of Lyon.
⭐️ Rating: 4.8 / 5 ⭐️
“Our tour was outstanding. Three tours in one. Historical, architectural, and, of course, culinary. Superbly well-designed and managed by Erick, who was extremely well-versed in the history and origins of food in Lyon.”
-Anonymous
This Old Town walking tour stops at 4 different places to meet with local artisans to learn more about French cuisine in Lyon. This afternoon food tour allows you to sample some of the best French food, including typical dishes – an assortment of regional cheeses, local cold-cut meats, brioche, praline pie and artisanal regional ice cream, along with French wine and local beer.
⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 3 hours
✔︎ 10 food tastings at 4 different places
✔︎ Expert local guide and small group tour
✔︎ Local cold cuts with red wine
✔︎ Selection of regional cheeses with white wine
✔︎ Praline pie and chocolates
✔︎ Alcoholic beverages included
This food-tasting tour offers late afternoon starting times, which is perfect for anyone wanting to do their sightseeing in the morning, and is capped at 12 people to keep it small and intimate.
⭐️ Rating: 4.7 / 5 ⭐️
"Our guide was both knowledgeable and passionate about Lyon, its history, and its food. The food samples were VERY good. A great way to explore Vieux Lyon.”
-Mitch
Lyon is the perfect destination for foodies, and this food-tasting tour is sure to meet expectations for some delicious French cuisine. Wander through the Old Town of Lyon while making stops at 5 different places for some unique food tastings.
Try such Lyonnaise specialties as pike quenelle (dumplings) with rice, cervelle de Canut (a creamy cheese dip), praline brioche, and more while your guide explains more details about food culture in Lyon.
⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 3.5 hours
✔︎ 5 unique food tastings at 5 different locations
✔︎ Local expert guide
✔︎ Try cervelle de canut, the artisanal creamy cheese, and taste a pike quenelle
✔︎ Top it off with a praline brioche and a typical Lyon sweet, the "coussin lyonnais"
✔︎ Wine and bottled water included
✔︎ Small group tour
This small group tour is limited to 10 or fewer participants so that you can sample the foods promptly and have a chance to ask questions. The tour visits local artisan shops, bakeries, and more in the area of Lyon’s Old Town.
⭐️ Rating: 4.5 / 5 ⭐️
“Great to be informed about the local delicacies and introduced to new things we hadn’t come across yet. Perfect sized group.”
-Shannon
"We enjoyed the great local people, shops and food and Baptiste's connections across Vieux Lyon. A must experience for anyone."
-Neal_E
This vegan food tour in Lyon is an incredible food-tasting experience for those who follow a vegan or vegetarian diet and lifestyle, and as of this writing, this is the only vegan tour in the city of Lyon.
Not only will you get to experience some of the best vegan food in France, but you will also get to taste foods from a few of the best vegan restaurants in Lyon. Your professional guide will also be able to give you recommendations on where to eat vegan or vegetarian-friendly food during your stay in Lyon.
⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 3 hours
✔︎ Vegan food tastings
✔︎ Local expert guide
✔︎ Explore the bohemian Croix-Rousse neighborhood of Lyon
✔︎ Perfect tour option for vegans and vegetarians
This small-group tour features 100% vegan food tastings, but you don’t have to be vegan to enjoy it. It is also a great option for people who want to try something different from the typical food tours in Old Town, whether they are vegan or not.
The tour explores the Croix-Rousse neighborhood of Lyon, which has an artsy, bohemian feel to it. This was once home to the silk weavers and their workshops, and today, it is filled with beautiful street murals, art galleries, and eateries.
⭐️ Rating: 5 / 5 ⭐️
“Lulu is a super guide. In addition to taking us to many fine vegan restaurants and a patisserie, she showed us the Croix-Rousse on a very interesting tour.”
-Fred_H
"Don’t eat ahead of time… portions are generous. Guide is super knowledgeable about vegan jam and Croix-Rousse history. All around happy with my choice!"
-Naomi_B
"I am a non-vegan (and non-vegetarian) and booked this tour because my children are vegetarians. I was pleasantly surprised and pleased at how good the food was on this tour!"
-Anonymous
Combine a food tour in Lyon with sightseeing on this electric bike tour with food tastings. A local guide will take you around the highlights of Lyon by electric bike, seeing all the interesting sites in Lyon’s UNESCO-heritage old town and along the beautiful Rhône River.
Your guide will tell you more about the history of Lyon and how it became known as the food capital of France. In addition to stopping at several historical sites, you’ll wrt stop at a local eatery to sample some of Lyon’s best foods.
⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 4 hours
✔︎ Electric bicycle and helmet
✔︎ Option to book a 2.5-hour tour or 4-hour tour
✔︎ Local expert guide
✔︎ Explore Lyon’s Old Town pedestrian zone
✔︎ Stop at a local eatery for delicious food samples
✔︎ Glass of wine or drink of your choice
✔︎ Small group tour
On this tour of Lyon, you’ll see important sites such as the Place Bellecour, Place des Terreaux, the Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière, and more. The food stop at a local restaurant will also allow you to taste some of the famous Lyon cuisine.
This is a great option for those who want to combine food tasting with sightseeing on either a 2.5-hour or a 4-hour tour. Both tours include food tasting and sightseeing, but the 4-hour tour includes a ride up to La Croix-Rousse for incredible views of Lyon.
⭐️ Rating: 5 / 5 ⭐️
“The bikes were fun and the route was quite safe. It is a great orientation to everything you would want to see in Lyon. Bring a refillable water bottle!”
—Mike
"Definitely need electric bike to go up steep hills – effortless via e-bike and well worth going."
—Awi_K
"A fantastic tour of the overall layout of the city along with a great pit stop for wine and a snack. Do this one early on your trip so you can take full advantage of all their recommendations for food, shopping, and fun local experiences."
—Spencer_R
In my story on Lyon as the world capital of gastronomy, read all about the Lyonnaise mothers, or mères lyonnaises, who contributed so much to the city's local culture as chefs during the 19th century.
Lyon is home to many regional and local food specialties, many with recipes passed down through generations.
Eating well is important here, and is one of the best things to do in Lyon.
My favorite foodie activity? Spend a few hours in Les Halles Paul Bocuse, the city's covered market with a wide range of high-end products.
So go out, explore, and eat to your heart's content!
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Bonjour! I’m Leyla, born in Paris, I now live in the bucolic mountain foothills of Eastern France. My days are spent exploring my country.
As a journalist and former diplomat, I spent years living abroad and now, it’s time to rediscover my own back yard.
Passionate about history and culture, I’ve created Offbeat France to seek out my country’s mysteries and legends, less-traveled destinations, with plenty of food stops and many castles – I am French, after all!
Read more here.