Things to do in Lyon....any suggestions would be appreciated

Do a guided tour of traboules (guides can sometimes get into ones that are now closed to the public.)

visit the Basilica and Roman ruins via funnicular above the town.

Have a nice dinner at a bouchon -- we liked les Lyonnais just across the footbridge across the Soane -- the same one you would take to the funnicular -- reserve a couple days ahead.

Lyon has multiple good museums. Check online resources to see what appeals to you.

I'd suggest a later departure from Lyon, but I don't know how many nights you're spending in Paris, or whether this will be your first trip to Paris.

The Lyon Part Dieu train station was extraordinarily busy the day I passed through there during the summer of 2017--enough to impede my progress across the concourse. Allow time to deal with the crowds--but there's probably no value in showing up super early, because the platform for yout train most likely won't be posted very far in advance.

A suggestion would be to take the Métro, bus, or tram one morning to Gare Perrache and then stroll north through Place Carnot (a couple of nice statues) along rue Victor Hugo, which except for deliveries is pedestrian and bikes only. Lots of shops and places to see along the way, especially if you mosey down the side streets. Heading north, you'll shortly reach the huge Place Bellecour with the central statue of Louis XIV. Off to your right would be a bell tower from the 17th century that marks the location of a former hospital. There's a tourist information center in the south central part of Bellecour. Across the place on the corner of Rue Gasparin is a monument to the French resistance (keep your eyes open while walking through Lyon and you'll see numerous plaques commemorating sites where Nazis and Malice tortured and murdered men, women and children (sometimes by the dozen or more).

Head north out of Place Bellecour from the NE corner on Rue Bellecordière which, in a block or so, will take you alongside the recently remodeled Hôtel Dieu, a former hospital that started its existence in the 12th century and is now a pretty grandly remodeled commercial center. There's a museum of illusions there that I haven't seen but might be worth a stop.

After seeing Hôtel Dieu, head back west on rue Childebert to Place Républic with its pools and fountains and then on to Place des Jacobins with its ornate monumental fountain. Take a right at Place Jacobins and head up rue Edouard Herriot for a block. Turn left and walk through the Passage de l'Argue cross the street (rue de Brest) on the other side and then turn right on another street (also confusingly called rue de Brest) which, after a block or so becomes rue Mercière. Continue walking north on rue Mercière -- there's a large number of restaurants with outside dining on both sides of the street that is like a big party on summer evenings. It's a bit touristy but worth a look. Take a right when you hit rue Grenette and walk a few blocks east to the former Palais de la Bourse de Lyon (stock market). It's a beautiful building. There's a small park in front of the bourse where you can rest for a bit.

From there, head back west on rue Gentil for a few blocks until you get to the large gothic church (Église St. Nizier) with a flower shop out front. Take a right and head up the street (Edouard Herriot) until you reach Place Terreaux. It's a well-worn place surrounded by grand buildings (including city hall, or Hôtel de Ville). It's a centerpiece of Lyon's annual Fête des Lumières in December where the building fronts are used as projection screens for imaginative light shows. Here's an example from 2021.

The reason to go to Place Terreaux is to see the beautiful, and recently refurbished, Bartholdi fountain (designed by the same fellow who designed the Statue of Liberty and several other monumental works around the world). It originally was designed for the City of Bordeaux but the city leaders there got cold feet at the cost so Lyon bought it. Look closely to see the mist coming out of the horse's nostrils. The fountain is worth a visit during both day and night -- daytime to see it in detail, and nighttime to enjoy the impressive lighting.

The Musée Beaux Arts also borders Place Terreaux and is definitely worth a visit if you like art museums. Even if you don't want to go in the museum, there's a park inside the museum gate (no charge) that offers a very pleasant and quiet place to sit and rest for awhile.

You could do this walk in probably 90 minutes if you just walk. But if you take the time to look around, maybe have a lunch somewhere, it could take the better part of a day. If you see a place you think you'll like for dinner, stop by while they're open during lunch time to make a dinner reservation. Much easier than on the phone unless your French is good and understandable.

All of these are great suggestions, thank you so much! We will have been traveling in France for a good three weeks before we get to Lyon -- a quick stop before heading to Paris for 6 nights to end the trip.

Still contemplating the train time. There is one that leaves about 12 and gets there at 2 (then a 20 minute taxi/uber to our hotel) or one that gets us into Paris later, 6pm. Since we will be traveling in October -- I am thinking it may be dark by 6pm and may be better to hit Paris while it is still daylight. May be overthinking....

Thoughts?

Oh yes, and if you have any great ideas for Paris (besides the norm) please do tell! Cheers.

There should be more trains than that. On Wednesday 12th October, there are trains roughly every hour. 3 PM would be ideal: it gives you time for a non-rushed lunch in Lyon, and gets you to your hotel well before 6 PM.

Balso, maybe I am looking at the wrong website for trains? I am on TRAINLINE. Traveling out of Lyon on 10/26 to Paris Gare de Lyon. While there are a lot of train times - many say unavailable. There is an 11:55 - 13:50 and then a 15:54 - 17:50. Would you have a different site I should be looking at? Thanks so much!

Ha, you're a bit early to book for 26th October. Bookings open 4 months in advance for the regular TGV Inoui, which is why so many trains appear "unavailable". The available ones are the low-cost Ouigo, for which sales open 6 months in advance. Check again in a few days!
"Inouï" trains are more comfortable than "Ouigo" and come with fewer strings attached, so they are the recommended option. Also, some Inouï trains start from Perrache station, which can be more convenient than Part Dieu if you are staying near Place Bellecour or Vieux Lyon.

And yes, Trainline is a good agency, but it does charge a small fee to overseas buyers. If SNCF Connect is happy with your credit card, it will be cheaper.

Good to know!! I will wait a few more days and see what we can get. So appreciate your tips! Thanks so much! Cheers!

Ouigo trains are excruciatingly uncomfortable unless your back was the model for the mold of what I found incredibly uncomfortable seats. No flex or give and they sort of hunched me over -- truly awful. Train seats used to recline slightly and the seat would slide forward and you could adjust a bit. These are hard stiff and for me at least a very uncomfortable shape.

@Janettravels, I totally agree on Ouigo comfort!
Regular TGV Inoui still have reclining seats, and the pitch is noticeably better. This said, the latest renovation did lower the level of comfort, the seats are less plush than they used to be and less easy to sleep it (but easier to work in). As someone who travels over 25,000 miles/year on TGV trains, it is an unfortunate development... Irrelevant to the OP ;)