Free museums in Lyon: our complete guide

Visiting a museum doesn’t always mean expensive entry fees. In Lyon, several cultural spaces open their doors for free all year - so you can get cultured without spending a cent, squeeze in a visit between classes, or turn a rainy afternoon into a cultural adventure. Here are some of the best exhibitions and activities where history, art and discovery meet the magic word: free.

Located on Place Bellecour, Fondation Bullukian is the spot to discover high-quality contemporary temporary exhibitions - all for free throughout the entire year. It’s beautiful, bold and often thought-provoking - perfect for your next Instagram feed.

Free entry according to exhibition opening times.

27 Place Bellecour, Lyon 2nd

In Lyon's 3rd arrondissement, the Musée des Moulages is a little-known gem. Here, there are no QR codes or audio guides, just carefully reproduced ancient plaster masterpieces. It's a real immersion in the history of ancient art. The added bonus? Access to culture like this helps combat school dropout rates and encourages learning!

Open Wednesday and Saturday afternoons from 2pm to 6pm. Admission: free for all!

87 Cours Gambetta, Lyon 3rd arrondissement.

The Musée des Confluences offers free access to certain areas: the lobby, the Émile Guimet Gallery and the panoramic terraces. And yes, the rooftop is free, with breathtaking views of the city. Whether you visit by day or at sunset, it’s a spectacular (and free!) experience.

Free for: young people, people with disabilities, professionals.

See you at 86 quai Perrache, Lyon 2nd arrondissement.

The first Sunday of every month is like the “happy hour” of free museums in Lyon. It's the perfect opportunity to explore art, history and archaeology collections without breaking the bank. So mark the date in your diary and take the chance to discover or rediscover the city's must-see attractions.

Lugdunum preserves Lyon’s impressive Gallo-Roman heritage. This museum exhibits monumental mosaics, objects from everyday Gallo-Roman life and the famous Table Claudienne, a key piece recounting a speech by Emperor Claudius.

The Roman theatres, which are free to enter, offer an immersion in history... and a unique setting for the Nuits de Fourvière festival, which takes place every summer.

Finally, the archaeological garden allows you to stroll among the remains of an ancient artisan quarter, while enjoying a splendid panorama of the hill.

Meet at 17 rue Cléberg, Lyon 5ème

Home to one of the richest art collections in Europe. Here you will find Bronze Age remains, Roman steles and beautifully illustrated mosaics. The Museum of Fine Arts is located in the former Abbey of Saint-Pierre-les-Nonnains.

Opening hours? The museum is open Wednesday to Monday from 10:00 to 18:00, Friday from 10:30 to 18:00, and closed on Tuesdays and public holidays.

See you at 20 Place des Terreaux, Lyon 1er.

Dive into Lyon’s history with permanent and temporary exhibitions that share powerful stories and first-hand accounts. On the first Sunday of each month, entry is free for all.

Opening hours? Open Wednesday to Sunday, from 10am to 6pm. On Sundays, admission to the museum is free for everyone.

See you at 14 Avenue Berthelot, Lyon 7th arrondissement.

Listed as a historic monument, Gadagne is an iconic site in the city of Lyon! It is not just one museum, but two!

Free for all on the first Sunday of every month.

Meet at 1 Place du Petit-Collège, Lyon 5th arrondissement.

Culture in Lyon isn’t just about stepping inside buildings - it’s also in wandering its streets, climbing its hills and discovering hidden corners. Here are some free cultural treasures to complement your museum tour:

RDV au 8 place de Fourvière, Lyon 5^ème

Climb up to the Basilica of Fourvière, a gem that is free to visit both inside and out. And right next door, the Roman theatres open their thousand-year-old stones to you without a ticket. Perfect for friends or family.

Meet at 8 Place de Fourvière, Lyon 5th arrondissement.

Walk through the traboules of Vieux-Lyon and Croix-Rousse, and when you come out, take the lift at the Gadagne Museum to access its free hanging garden, a true haven of peace and greenery, ideal for recharging your batteries after a good day of classes!

The garden is free from Wednesday to Sunday.

Meet at 29 Rue Saint-Jean, Lyon 5th arrondissement.

Wondering if you qualify for free entry? Good news - you probably do! In Lyon, many museums and cultural sites offer free access to specific groups:

• People under 26 (students, volunteers, youth)

• Jobseekers, people receiving social benefits

• People with disabilities (and accompanying carers)

• Holders of cultural passes like Pass’Région

Students, Pass’Région beneficiaries, and those performing civic service: if this applies to you, you can enter most municipal museums free of charge.

Job seekers, recipients of minimum social benefits, persons with disabilities (and their carers): this also applies to you.

The culture card (€10/year for 18-25 year olds) offers unlimited entry to municipal museums!

Don’t just wander aimlessly - plan your route to make the most of your time: alternate museums, visit free gardens, enjoy panoramic spots, and jump from one neighbourhood to another. A free museum day in Lyon can easily turn into a perfect cultural mini-adventure!

Because culture isn't limited to museums, Lyon is also full of surprising and original places to explore for free! On the menu? Gardens, parks, science, stars... Here are a few spots and activities where you can enjoy an unusual and enriching experience, far from the beaten track.

The Parc de la Tête d’Or zoo is completely free, as are the greenhouses, the lake... In short, it's an open-air museum of biodiversity.

Meet at Place Général Leclerc, Lyon 6th arrondissement.

On the first Saturday of every month, admission to the Vaulx-en-Velin Planetarium is free. You'll find exhibitions, astronomy sessions, and even workshops.

Meet at Place de la Nation, 69120 Vaulx-en-Velin.

Culture isn't just about admiring works of art behind glass: it's also about feeling the thrill of a concert, being moved by a show or dancing in the open air. In Lyon, there are free stages everywhere, and some are just waiting for you to light up the dance floor.

Students from the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse offer free concerts throughout the year (booking required). The same goes for the Amphi de l’Opéra de Lyon, with concerts at 12.30 pm. Cultural lunch break: approved.

This free summer festival offers shows, concerts, open-air cinema screenings and more across all districts of the city of Lyon. It's a great opportunity to discover your neighbourhood from a new perspective.

If you thought contemporary art only existed within museum walls, think again: Lyon is a veritable open-air museum. Giant murals, colourful walls, reading boxes... The whole city is a canvas for artistic and cultural expression.

And the best part? It's completely free – all you have to do is open your eyes wide.

An 800m² mural depicting 24 historical figures from Lyon and 5 contemporary figures, created in 1994... It has seen many tourists and locals pass by!

Meet at 49 Quai Saint Vincent, Rue Martinière, Lyon 1er.

To find this wall, head to the Croix-Rousse district in Lyon, a must-see location thanks to this spectacular trompe-l'oeil mural, which is the largest in Europe! It depicts the neighbourhood and is regularly transformed to reflect life in the district as faithfully as possible. This desire to keep it evolving makes it particularly authentic.

Meet at Boulevard Canuts, Lyon 4th arrondissement.

If you fancy a free after-museum event in Lyon, we've got you covered ;) Because culture doesn't stop once you leave the museum! After admiring ancient mosaics or contemplating a contemporary fresco, why not extend your day with some more offbeat activities? There's no shortage of unusual things to do in Lyon: workshops, original walks, out-of-the-ordinary tours... Enough to impress your friends and add some variety to your activities.

Want to venture a little further afield without breaking your student budget? We know how it is: after a few museums and walks around the city, the call of adventure beckons. But a getaway often means higher costs... Unless you know about the holiday grant for young people! This clever scheme allows you to finance part of your trips and holidays, giving you a real break. Whether it's a weekend at the seaside, a trip to the mountains or a city break, this great deal is the key to travelling on a budget.

As you can see, with KLEY, your cultural calendar is always full, your budget stays healthy and your memories grow.

Who said romantic dates had to cost an arm and a leg? In Lyon, there are plenty of ways to spend a memorable evening without spending a penny. Between rooftop gardens, free museums and intimate concerts, it's easy to find a date idea! The city offers the perfect setting to impress your +1 without taking out your credit card.

Here's a simple, effective and completely free suggestion: a picnic in the Jardin des Curiosités. At sunset, followed by a free visit to the Gadagne Museum, then a concert at the CNSMD. Zero euros. 100% return on investment. Date and price confirmed, right?

With so many low-cost options, it's easy to get lost among museums, special events and temporary exhibitions. Don't panic: here's a quick checklist to help you make the most of Lyon's cultural scene on a budget. Keep it in mind and you'll soon become an expert on cultural events and activities in Lyon.

- Save the first Sunday of every month for museums that usually charge admission

- Take advantage of major events that are free or offer greatly reduced admission

- Find out about discounts with your student card

- Consider the Pass'Région

- Explore the gardens and free areas of museums

We hope this article on free museums in Lyon has given you lots of ideas for getting out and about without breaking the bank. With museums, temporary exhibitions, gardens, activities, contemporary art, iconic sites, great deals and inexpensive restaurants, the city opens its doors and treasures to you for free or at a low cost. It's safe to say that Lyon is the capital of great cultural deals.

So, are you ready to put on your trainers, charge your phone (you'll need it for photos) and set off to explore Lyon's free exhibitions, activities and museums?

It's time to get out of your student flat in Lyon. Come on, we'll be waiting for you up there, on the roof of the Musée des Confluences, with a breathtaking view of the city :)