2,000 Years of History: An Audio Tour of Vieux Lyon
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Quick answer
Is 2,000 Years of History: An Audio Tour of Vieux Lyon worth booking?
2,000 Years of History: An Audio Tour of Vieux Lyon is a 1.5-hour experience in Lyon, France, from $12 per person. It scores 60 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Solid Choice”. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 60 / 100
- Rating
- Not yet rated
- Duration
- 1.5 hours
- From
- $12 per person
Vieux Lyon holds more than 2,000 years of history within its narrow, cobbled streets. On this walking tour, you'll trace the city's story from its Roman foundations to its Renaissance golden age, when Florentine bankers
What you get
- Lifetime access to this tour in English before your booking date and after it
- Offline access to audio, maps, and geodata
- Flexibility to explore at your own pace with a self-guided GPS tour
- App for Android and iOS
- Directions to the starting point so that when you’re in the right place, the tour will start
About this experience
Vieux Lyon holds more than 2,000 years of history within its narrow, cobbled streets. On this walking tour, you'll trace the city's story from its Roman foundations to its Renaissance golden age, when Florentine bankers and silk merchants made it one of Europe's wealthiest cities. Starting at Jardin André Malraux, you'll follow the remnants of the longest Roman aqueduct in France to Fourvière Basilica, with sweeping views over Lyon's two rivers. From there you'll descend into Vieux Lyon, the Renaissance old town nearly bulldozed in the 1950s before being saved as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and duck through the city's longest secret passageway, snaking through five courtyards and four buildings. Along the way you'll hear how Eugénie Brazier became the first person to earn six Michelin stars, discover the origins of Lyon's Fête des Lumières traced back to a plague epidemic, and spot Ahmed — France's only Muslim gargoyle, carved by a sculptor in his own likeness.
What's included
Included
- Lifetime access to this tour in English before your booking date and after it
- Offline access to audio, maps, and geodata
- Flexibility to explore at your own pace with a self-guided GPS tour
- App for Android and iOS
- Directions to the starting point so that when you’re in the right place, the tour will start
Not included
- Smartphone and headphones
- Personal expenses for admission fees not included during the tour
- Food and drink
- Transportation
What you'll see and do
Explore the Théâtre Gallo Romain, one of France's most impressive Roman complexes, built in 15 BCE and expanded under Emperor Hadrian to seat up to 10,000 spectators. Marvel at the tiered stone seating still used for open-air concerts today, and trace the remnants of the Aqueduc du Gier nearby — once the longest Roman aqueduct in France at 75 kilometres.
Pass by without stopping
Cimetiere de Loyasse
Stroll through the Cimetière de Loyasse, Lyon's grand 19th-century hillside cemetery, the resting place of the city's longest-serving mayor and a remarkable faith healer who rose to become an advisor to the Russian Tsar. Discover how this quietly monumental space reflects the ambitions and eccentricities of a city that has always attracted outsized personalities.
Pass by without stopping
Marvel at the Basilica of Notre Dame of Fourvière, Lyon's iconic hilltop church completed in 1896, its ornate white facade visible from almost every point in the city below. Discover how its origins trace back to a plague epidemic and the Fête des Lumières, the festival of lights that Lyon still celebrates each December in one of Europe's most spectacular annual gatherings.
Pass by without stopping
La Longue Traboule
Walk through La Longue Traboule, Lyon's longest secret passageway, snaking through five courtyards and four Renaissance buildings before emerging onto a different street entirely. Discover how these hidden corridors, built to carry silk goods away from the rain, later sheltered Resistance fighters moving unseen through the city during the Nazi occupation.
Pass by without stopping
Le Petit Musee de Guignol Fantastique
Pass Le Petit Musée de Guignol, dedicated to Lyon's most beloved cultural export — the Guignol puppet, created in the early 19th century as a sharp-tongued satirical figure who gave voice to the city's silk workers. Learn how this small museum preserves the tradition of a character who has been making Lyonnais audiences laugh, and think, for over two centuries.
Pass by without stopping
Cathedrale Saint-Jean-Baptiste de Lyon
Explore Cathédrale Saint-Jean-Baptiste, a masterpiece of medieval architecture that took 300 years to complete, its foundations laid in the 12th century and its facade concealing a remarkable secret still visible today. Marvel at the cathedral's 14th-century astronomical clock, one of the oldest in existence, which chimes with animated figurines at noon each day in the heart of Vieux Lyon.
Pass by without stopping
Where it starts and ends
Meeting point
Lyon
This tour starts at Jardin André Malraux. Before arrival, please install the mobile app and use the code provided on your confirmation ticket. Detailed starting point instructions are available after downloading.
Hotel pickup
No pickup: everyone meets at the start point.
Ends at
Tour ends at Place St Jean Cathedral
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- en
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 15 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- VoiceMap Audio Tours
Know before you go
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Photos
Good to know
- Duration
- 1.5 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- 6+
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Hotel pickup
- No pickup, meet at start point
- Booked in 30 days
- 0
- Verdict
- Solid Choice
Who runs this experience
Operated by VoiceMap Audio Tours, who run 703 experiences we rank across 222 cities, with an average Outty Ranking of 54.8.
See everything VoiceMap Audio Tours runsWhy this scores 60
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
2,000 Years of History: An Audio Tour of Vieux Lyon: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Lyon.
How much does 2,000 Years of History: An Audio Tour of Vieux Lyon cost?
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Prices start at $12 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Lyon usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does 2,000 Years of History: An Audio Tour of Vieux Lyon take?
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Plan for about 1.5 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Lyon is not rushed.
Is 2,000 Years of History: An Audio Tour of Vieux Lyon worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 60 out of 100, which we label "Solid Choice". That score blends traveler sentiment (0/5 across 0 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in Lyon, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule 2,000 Years of History: An Audio Tour of Vieux Lyon?
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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is 2,000 Years of History: An Audio Tour of Vieux Lyon suitable for kids and families?
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The operator sets a minimum age of 6. Older children generally do well here, and families should factor in the 1.5-hour running time when deciding.
How far in advance should I book 2,000 Years of History: An Audio Tour of Vieux Lyon?
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Around 0 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Lyon can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Lyon and add a light layer if any part of the 1.5-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does 2,000 Years of History: An Audio Tour of Vieux Lyon start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Lyon within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Lyon?
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On Outty we rank every Lyon experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Lyon Highlights & Secrets Walking Guided Tour (small group) including Funicular, Vieux Lyon Cultural & Historical Walking Guided Tour (English), Highlights and Hidden Gems of Lyon Guided Walking Tour (English). The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Lyon?
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Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Lyon?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
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