10 Best Places to Go Shopping in Lyon

Aside from its undeniable cultural interest, Vieux Lyon (Old Lyon) is also a neighbourhood to saunter from shop to shop looking for the perfect souvenir to take home. Or simply steep yourself in the atmosphere of its shops, from the most original to the most traditional.

As you wander its cobbled streets, be sure to take home some chocolates from Saint Jean Délices or saucisson brioché (sausage in brioche) from Sirop de la Rue. To make the most of Lyon's famous silk-making, treat yourself to a scarf from Brochier or Ames Sœurs Edition.

The slopes of Croix-Rousse are the perfect place to get a feel for the animated world of Lyon creation. Rue du Romarin and Montée de la Grande-Côte are overflowing with small, independent shops full of original fashion pieces and items of vintage decor, second-hand clothes shops, bookstores specialising in design and other trendy concept stores.

The small cafés dotted around the area are perfect for a quick sit down when your bags get too heavy. For lavish cakes and colourful macarons, stop by the elegant Pâtisserie Bouillet and soak up the bohemian atmosphere of this hillside neighbourhood. 

Between Place Bellecour, Les Cordeliers and Place des Jacobins, Presqu’Île's well-named Carré d'Or (Golden Square) is a mecca for fashionistas. Here you can find haute couture shops, including Hermès and Louis Vuitton, and great jewellery houses, including Maier and Beaumont & Finet in the neighbourhood's poshest streets.

There's also a place for multi-brand shops like Printemps and more affordable fashion labels such as Zara and H&M making this partly pedestrianised area an unmissable shopping spot, whatever your budget. In Passage de l'Argue, an authentic covered passageway exuding luxury, you'll find yourself transported back in time. The charming shops offer hats, cutlery, gentlemen's shirts, leather goods and sweets, providing a delightful escape in the heart of the city centre.

Confluence takes centre stage in a fast-growing neighbourhood south of Presqu’Île, at the point where the Rhône and Saône rivers meet. This area is known for its green spaces and contemporary architecture. The premises feature a mix of covered and open-air spaces, with patios overlooking the harbour and various national and international sport and leisure brands.

Enjoy a meal in a pleasant setting and discover numerous activities for young children. The area boasts a cinema, a hotel, a family leisure centre and Climb'Up, a climbing centre, rounding out the diverse range of attractions.

With its pretty façades, wooden shop fronts and smart shop windows, Rue Auguste Comte is a haven for lovers of antiques and art. Here, and in the adjacent streets, the shops resemble present-day Ali Baba caves overflowing with treasures for curious souls and connoisseurs.

Discover coins and stamps, vintage dolls and toys, engravings, rare books, vintage furniture, sculptures and paintings. Modern galleries, chic boutiques and boho-chic concept stores add to the vibrant atmosphere, offering a delightful blend of past and present. If you're in Lyon on the first Thursday of October, don't miss the exclusive Tapis Rouge soirée (Red Carpet evening) when the boutiques present their finest attire.

Croix-Rousse Market retains a village feel, blending the countryside into the city. Its stalls offer a mix of Lyon specialities, organic fruits and vegetables and other fresh produce from regional farms, such as meat, poultry, cheese, tripe and cold meats. Bread, bakery items, wine and flowers complete this slightly patriotic, slightly boho, colourful gourmet offering.

The sound of laughter and conversation in a southern French accent, peppered with regional expressions, resonates from the stalls. You can't deny you're in an authentic, friendly place where shopping comes with the promise of a helping of happiness in your basket. To round off your experience of the neighbourhood's culture, enjoy a coffee on the patio at Brasserie Chanteclair once you've finished.

The indoor food market, Les Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse, is a testament to why Lyon is revered as the culinary capital of France. This food lover’s paradise brims with many of France’s most famous delicacies, and the selection of fresh produce, seafood, cheese, pates, meats and desserts will satisfy even the most discerning food connoisseur.

Prices reflect the high quality and attention to detail that goes into each offering. Just a short walk from Lyon’s main railway station, this is a great spot to stock up for your journeys.

Lyon Evening Farmer's Market takes place on Place Carnot outside Perrache train station. The first of its kind in Lyon, it enjoys a special atmosphere at the end of the afternoon in the time between leaving work and going out for dinner. Tourists and locals stroll through its single aisle, grabbing a snack and a drink, seeking inspiration for dinner or simply soaking in the delightful hustle and bustle.

While smaller than other markets, the quality here is exceptional: all the products come from nearby farms, the meat and the cheeses are local, the fruit and vegetables are guaranteed to be in season and the flowers are blooming fresh.

Established in 1979, Marché de la Création (Creation Marketplace) is a free-to-access, open-air exhibition area. On Quai Romain Rolland, in the Vieux Lyon neighbourhood, a hundred or so artists exhibit and sell their artwork every Sunday morning, come wind, rain or shine. Painters, sculptors, photographers, engravers, ceramicists and handmade jewellery makers gather along this charming promenade to create a space for meeting, exchange, sharing and togetherness.

They'll be delighted to share their inspiration if you ask them about their art and you can also order an original piece. Creation Marketplace is an integral part of Lyon's cultural heritage and, more than just a simple mainstream art gallery, it's a real place to celebrate humanity. That's your Sunday morning stroll sorted.

You'll find the largest food market in the city, Marché alimentaire Saint-Antoine Célestins (Saint-Antoine Célestins Market), along the Saône river, opposite Vieux Lyon. Cherished by locals and chefs alike, this market is a haven for morning people eager to verify the freshness of their ingredients. From Tuesday to Sunday, around 100 producers, market gardeners and farmers offer fruit and vegetables, meat and poultry, cheeses and cold meats, fish, bread and pastries, wine and fresh flowers.

Mouthwatering aromas fill the air, and the tips from store owners and recipes from fellow customers will inspire your culinary creations. To extend the experience, enjoy a drink at one of the refreshment stalls along the riverside.