Traboules du Vieux Lyon
Traboules du Vieux Lyon
4.5
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The area
Address
How to get there
- Vieux Lyon - Cathédrale St.Jean • 5 min walk
- Cordeliers • 8 min walk
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4.5
3,082 reviews
Excellent
1,695
Very good
1,076
Average
248
Poor
53
Terrible
10
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CPaM68
Texas781 contributions
Sept 2020
While touring Vieux Lyon (the old town) our guide led us through some of the traboules that are open to the public. There are reportedly over four hundred of the secret passageways but only about forty are actually open to the public. I guess the rest are still secret. The passageways served a very useful purpose. Vieux Lyon was built as a very dense and compact city between the top of Fourvière Hill and the river, with all the streets running parallel to the river. The traboules were merely made as private cut-throughs (many with stairways) for people to get down to the river for water without having to walk all the way down the street to the end of the city and then go down the hill. Why they didn’t make the city with some streets running up and down the hill? I don’t know. Those French!
Written 31 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Martin B
Rosario, Argentina1,929 contributions
Sept 2023 • Friends
In France, a traboule is a passage that crosses the interior patios of one or several buildings, thus allowing passage from one street to another by crossing the interior of the block. They are present in Lyon and surprise the unsuspecting walker but are very curious and attractive to visit. Inside there may be shops or simply internal patios that are visited when crossing between the different buildings. It is not an attraction in itself, but it is within the beauty that the entire old city contains and you will surely come across it almost without intending to.
Written 19 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Peter S
Antwerp, Belgium195 contributions
Aug 2020
Nice to see the hidden streets and alleys. Not all of them are as good, and many that are indicated on the map are closed anyway.
TIP: there is often a magnetic lock next to the door which looks like a doorbell. If you press it, you can enter anyway.
TIP: there is often a magnetic lock next to the door which looks like a doorbell. If you press it, you can enter anyway.
Written 2 September 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
segalit
israel191 contributions
Feb 2024 • Solo
The passage corridors are very impressive. Bright and some are quite dark. The entrance from the street closes at 1300 because people still live in these troubles, so visiting hours are limited. You must keep quiet during the visit. The passage with the pink tower is spectacular in its beauty. There is also a beautiful art gallery with a very sympathetic host.
Written 10 February 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nancy_Ottawa
Ottawa, Canada628 contributions
Mar 2022
We had a few addresses to start with and once we got used to what we were looking for we came across several others on our own. The one at 27 Rue St Jean connects with 6 Rue des Trois Maries; and 31 Rue du Boeuf connects with 14 Rue de la Bombarde. Out of respect for people living in nearby apartments, try to keep your voice down inside the passageways.
Written 30 March 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
PamC49022
Charlotte, NC47 contributions
Apr 2023 • Solo
The Traboules du Vieux Lyon are an essential part of the history of Lyon both in the past and in the present. Many are free and ope, others are accessible with a guide only, and some are closed and only used for storage. Each one Is Unique.
Written 8 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Chris Lawton
50 contributions
Apr 2024 • Friends
I visited Lyon a long time ago and spent hours exploring the labyrinth of passages, tunnels, courtyards and staircases, never knowing where we would finally emerge. Now, most of them have been closed off. We did find one open, but it had all been gentrified and really gave little idea of what life and the environment would have been like in the past.
Written 13 April 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dimitris L
Sydney, Australia51,625 contributions
Aug 2019
Lyon is full of "secret passages, or small, narrow passageways between larger buildings leading from one major street to another. It can be fun but it can also be irritating if you have no idea where you are going. Then again that is an interesting way to discover more of the city! We did not specifically look for them but inevitably we came across many of them, some really nice, others dark and dirty. That is life in a big city.
Written 27 July 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Christian M
Copenhagen, Denmark6,223 contributions
Jan 2023
We found one of the famous traboules - but the door was closed. The door in the other end in another street was closed, too. How to get inside?
We must have looked rather baffled and confused, because one of the locals stopped and showed us that you just have to push a button next to the door, and then it opens.
Remember only to reveal the secret to people who deserves it - like you and me (c;
We must have looked rather baffled and confused, because one of the locals stopped and showed us that you just have to push a button next to the door, and then it opens.
Remember only to reveal the secret to people who deserves it - like you and me (c;
Written 9 January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Amber201083
Toronto, Canada377 contributions
May 2013 • Couples
It was fun to explore the old passageways and secret courtyards in the old town of Lyon. According to the tour guide, there were lots of traboules in the city and only about a few dozens were opened to the public...
What a different world in front of us once we walked in the passageway. Very “Roman”, very “Medieval”..In the courtyards we saw the ancient fountain, stone well, windows that appeared in Medieval movies and the carved stone, spiral staircases...
These five or six floors buildings were just amazing, and it was interesting to learn that currently these were still used as private apartments with tenants.
After learning about the fact that these traboules played a role in the silk trade and the weaver’s revolt in France and that it provided a safe passage for hiding and escaping from the Gestapo during the World War II, I felt like I was given a lesson in French history..
Really enjoyed the trip and wished that I could pay another visit to Lyon sometimes in future.
What a different world in front of us once we walked in the passageway. Very “Roman”, very “Medieval”..In the courtyards we saw the ancient fountain, stone well, windows that appeared in Medieval movies and the carved stone, spiral staircases...
These five or six floors buildings were just amazing, and it was interesting to learn that currently these were still used as private apartments with tenants.
After learning about the fact that these traboules played a role in the silk trade and the weaver’s revolt in France and that it provided a safe passage for hiding and escaping from the Gestapo during the World War II, I felt like I was given a lesson in French history..
Really enjoyed the trip and wished that I could pay another visit to Lyon sometimes in future.
Written 29 March 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Comment visiter les traboules ? Avons essayer d en faire sur le vieux Lyon hier, mais portes systématiquement fermées. Merci pour vos conseils avisés !
Written 11 August 2020
Bonjour , j'avais trouvé sur le net un parcours , 1 seule porte était fermée les autres étaient fermées mais pas verrouillées , il suffisait de les pousser !
Written 12 August 2020
Vieux lyon et traboules facile à pied descendre à quel arrêt de métro venant de la gare part dieu merci
Written 28 October 2018
Marcher 6 min (250m) pour rejoindre GARE PART-DIEU VIVIER MERLE. Metro ligne B direction Gare d'Oullins Descendre SAXE-GAMBETTA. Prendre ligne D dirección Gare de Vaise e descendre á VIEUX LYON
Written 29 October 2018
What day and time are the tours of the Traboules?
Written 2 June 2018
Several independent tours.
Ours was arranged by our river Tour company.
From the internet:
For the Vieux-Lyon traboules, the meeting place is outside the Vieux Lyon metro station. In Vieux-Lyon, these passageways are marked by a bronze shield.
Arrive 10 minutes early
Duration: 2 hours
Price: 12 euros
8 – 18 and students: 7 euros
Reserve the Vieux Lyon traboules here or phone +33(0)4 72 77 69 69
Written 2 June 2018
Bonjour Gilles, je passe à Lyon aujourd'hui. Il y a t il un plan ou une liste des principales traboules? Peut-on se le procurer à l'office du tourisme sans avoir à faire un tour guidé? Merci.
Un trou lyonnais pour manger à midi (avec deux enfants, pas trop touristique)? Merci
Written 19 August 2017
Bien désolé pour vous, mais y a des traboules qui restent ouvertes : trans amboularer = passer à travers les maisons, de rue en rue. Avec des cours renaissances remarquables. J'ai eu l'occasion de les voir quand j'étais jeune ! et que c'était les pauvres qui habitaient ce quartier peu fréquentable, qui a failli être rasé d'ailleurs. Je me mets à la place des gens qui y vivent maintenant on aspire tous à de la tranquillité alors le défilé des touristes ! Verriez-vous d'un bon œil que les gens viennent sous vos fenêtres pour admirer la façade, votre point de vue ? Moi non, je me fait cette remarque quand je visite un village classé on passe sous les fenêtres des gens devant leur jardin, leur terrasse. Et puis de temps en temps il faut savoir insister, aller à l'allée suivante, vous êtes passé à côté de belles surprises. DOMMAGE. Et la place Bellecour est pas mal non plus, quand on se met au milieu et vue depuis Fourvière ?
Written 26 January 2017
Bon, je retournerai une autre foi puisque j´ai des amies qui habitent dans un village pres de la ville,pour connaitre d´autres surprises de Lyon.
Merci pour vôtres recommandations
Written 23 May 2017
Hola! Voy a estar por Lyon en Junio con con mi marido y estoy armando itinerario. Solo 4 días, 3 noches pero justo llego un fin de semana que por lo que lei es bastante concurrido todo. Quería preguntarte si tenias alguna visita guiada de los Trabones para recomendar porque veo que es mejor hacerlo con guía.
Muchas gracias
Written 23 May 2016
Comment avez vous contacte votre greeter? Je vais etre de passage a lyon 2 jours fin mars et je souhaiterai de couvrir les traboules
Written 19 February 2016
I will be in Lyon on Monday, 3 August to Weds 5 August. How easy is it to book a tour for English-speakers for Monday or Tuesday? Can I get one for the same day Iif I go to the tourist office first thing that morning? I arrive on Sunday evening, but too late for tourist office.
Or: can I get a private tour guide for Monday or Tuesday or Weds if I just show up?
I would buy the Lyon city card now, but it is too late to have it delivered to my home. Also, I don't know whether to buy the card that includes airport transit or not. There will be 2 of us, going to St Exupery Airport on Weds evening.
Written 29 July 2015
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