Museum of Fine Arts of Lyon Tours

Lyon Museum of Fine Arts showing heritage architecture and street scenes
Choose one or more items to build your trip:
Learn about the history of art by browsing up to 70 rooms full of creative treasures that come from varying time periods and genres.

Housed in a phenomenal structure, the Lyon Museum of Fine Arts is the city’s hub for artistic works. Varied pieces from fascinating Egyptian antiquities to stylish postmodern displays hang in the galleries of this former Benedictine convent from the 1600s. Spend an afternoon browsing through some of Europe’s finest works of art in this impressive building.

The large museum is split into five main departments: Antiquities, Art Objects, Medals and Coins, Sculptures and 13th- to 21st-century Paintings. Take a guided tour in English of the entire museum on Saturdays or remain within your favorite department to study the works. The tour takes about 1 hour. Book in advance for groups by calling the museum. Alternatively, follow one of several 90-minute audio guided tours.

Browse Egyptian gems, such as the Coffin of Isetemkheb and the Gate from a Temple at Medamud. Peruse intriguing items from Persepolis, Greece and the Roman Empire. Explore the Medal Collections to see the Treasure of Terreaux and the Stater of Vercingetorix, which is a Celtic gold coin from 52 B.C. with a head of curls on one side and a galloping horse on the other.

Appreciate impressive paintings, such as Claude Monet’s Agitated Sea at Etretat and Pablo Picasso’s Woman Seated on the Beach. Marvel at Auguste Rodin’s sculpture The Temptation of St. Anthony. View high-definition photos of some of the highlights, such as works by Renoir and Pissarro, on the museum’s website.

The museum is closed on Tuesdays but otherwise open daily from morning until early evening. There is an entrance fee to see the collections as well as an additional amount for the exhibitions.

The Lyon Museum of Fine Arts is on the small peninsula between the two main rivers of La Saône and Le Rhône. Take the metro to the Hôtel de Ville-Louis Pradel stop in the center of the city and walk west for 3 minutes to reach the museum. The Lyon Opera and the Museum of Printing and Graphic Communication are nearby.

Plan a trip to see Museum of Fine Arts of Lyon

Residence La Reserve
Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Browse tours and tickets to explore Museum of Fine Arts of Lyon

Holiday & seasonal tours

See all 5 activitiesOpens in new tab

Reviews of Museum of Fine Arts of Lyon

4.4
Top Destination
5 - Excellent
20
" "5 - Excellent 46.51162790697674%
4 - Good
21
" "4 - Good 48.83720930232558%
3 - Okay
2
" "3 - Okay 4.651162790697675%
2 - Disappointing
0
" "2 - Disappointing 0%
1 - Terrible
0
" "1 - Terrible 0%

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler
Aug 18, 2019

A fantastic museum. Not large, but very well organized. You enter by a lovely peaceful garden in the former abbey's cloister. The lowest level is a fantastic sculpture gallery, then you go from the lower floor of ancient Egyptian, Greek, and Roman art up a couple floors of successive centuries of art all the way to current day. They have some lovely Renoirs, Manet, and Monets. The Picasso and Van Gogh paintings were gone when we visited. Absolutely worth a visit. It takes about 3 hours or so to go all the way through.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler
Jun 25, 2019

Be ready for a good walk and some artistic surprises.

Popular places to visit


Best Lodging Options Near Museum of Fine Arts of Lyon

Grand Hotel Des Terreaux
Grand Hotel Des Terreaux
4 out of 5
16 Rue Lanterne, Lyon, Rhone
Grand Hotel Des Terreaux
Mercure Lyon Centre Saxe Lafayette
Mercure Lyon Centre Saxe Lafayette
4 out of 5
29 Rue De Bonnel, Lyon, Rhone
Mercure Lyon Centre Saxe Lafayette
OKKO Hotels Lyon Pont Lafayette
OKKO Hotels Lyon Pont Lafayette
4 out of 5
14 bis, quai General Sarrail, Lyon, Rhone
OKKO Hotels Lyon Pont Lafayette
Residhotel Lyon Part Dieu
Residhotel Lyon Part Dieu
3 out of 5
79 boulevard Marius Vivier Merle, Lyon, Rhone
Residhotel Lyon Part Dieu
Hotel Silky by HappyCulture
Hotel Silky by HappyCulture
4 out of 5
2 Place Francisque Regaud, Lyon, Rhone
Hotel Silky by HappyCulture
Boscolo Lyon Hôtel & Spa
Boscolo Lyon Hôtel & Spa
5 out of 5
11 Quai Jules Courmont, Lyon, Rhône
Boscolo Lyon Hôtel & Spa
Fourvière Hôtel Lyon
Fourvière Hôtel Lyon
4 out of 5
23 rue Roger Radisson, Lyon
Fourvière Hôtel Lyon
Intercontinental Lyon Hotel Dieu, an IHG Hotel
Intercontinental Lyon Hotel Dieu, an IHG Hotel
5 out of 5
20 Quai Jules Courmont, Lyon, Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes
Intercontinental Lyon Hotel Dieu, an IHG Hotel
Keystone Boutique Hôtel
Keystone Boutique Hôtel
15 Rue Casimir Périer, B, Lyon, Rhône
Keystone Boutique Hôtel
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.