Saône Guided Sightseeing Cruise in Lyon

Vieux Lyon from the River

Vieux Lyon, on the west bank of the Saône, is one of the largest Renaissance quarters in Europe and the heart of the Historic Site of Lyon, listed by UNESCO in 1998. In the 15th and 16th centuries, Lyon was a great European centre of trade, banking and silk, and merchants from Italy and beyond built the tall houses with pastel façades, mullioned windows and spiral staircases that still line its streets.

From the boat you see the whole riverfront of the old town at once: the colourful houses reflected in the water, the Gothic cathedral begun in the 12th century, and the hillside rising behind. Your guide explains the traboules, the covered passageways that cut through buildings from one street to the next. If you are planning a Vieux Lyon visit, this cruise is a perfect introduction before exploring its lanes on foot.

Fourvière Hill and the Basilica

Towering above the Saône, Fourvière hill is where Lyon began: in 43 BC the Romans founded Lugdunum here, which became the capital of Roman Gaul. Its two ancient theatres are still used for summer performances. At the top stands the white Basilica of Fourvière, built at the end of the 19th century, its four towers and richly decorated interior visible from almost everywhere in the city.

The view of the basilica and the green slopes of the hill from the river is one of the most photographed sights in Lyon, especially in the afternoon light. Your guide points out the funicular that climbs the hill from Vieux Lyon in a few minutes, the easiest way to reach the esplanade, which offers the best panorama over the city's rooftops, the two rivers and, on clear days, the Alps.

The Presqu'île and the Saône Quays

On the opposite bank lies the Presqu'île, the long peninsula between the Saône and the Rhône that forms the commercial heart of Lyon, with its grand squares, theatres and shopping streets. The cruise follows its quays lined with elegant 18th- and 19th-century buildings, passing beneath a series of graceful footbridges and stone bridges that link the two banks.

Look out for the neoclassical Palais de Justice with its row of columns facing the river, the colourful façades along the quays and the trees that shade the riverside paths, popular with joggers and families. This Lyon river cruise gives you a clear picture of how the city is organised between its two hills and two rivers, making it much easier to find your way afterwards.

Confluence, Where Two Rivers Meet

The default route sails south to the Confluence district, at the tip of the Presqu'île where the Saône flows into the Rhône. Once an area of docks, warehouses and railway yards, it has become one of Europe's largest urban renewal projects, with striking contemporary buildings such as a perforated orange cube and a green office block on the water's edge.

At the very point where the rivers meet stands the Musée des Confluences, opened in 2014, a futuristic cloud of glass and steel that houses collections on science, natural history and world cultures. From the boat you can clearly see the difference between the calm green Saône and the faster Rhône. If you are deciding whether Lyon's Confluence district is worth visiting, this view from the river will convince you.

Île Barbe (Alternative Route)

If you choose the other cruise option, the boat heads north from the historic centre, past the quiet residential banks of the Saône, to Île Barbe. This small wooded island is one of the oldest inhabited places in the Lyon area: a monastery was founded here around the 5th century, and remains of its Romanesque church and old houses still stand among the trees.

The northern route feels like a trip to the countryside within the city, with leafy banks, riverside villas and old suspension bridges. Both cruises last about an hour and include live commentary. The best time to visit Lyon for a river cruise is from spring to autumn, while early December brings the famous Festival of Lights, when the whole city is illuminated.