10 Things to Do in Lyon in May

During your stay in the city in May you can enjoy amazing events of all kinds, from music and jazz festivals to culture and fashion festivals. Among the most popular festivals are the Nuits Sonores, the Lyon Film Festival and Lyon Fashion Week.

But these are just some of the best things to do in Lyon in May, because it is also a great time to go visit the many museums and art galleries that are in the city. Plus the spring weather in May invites you to stroll along the Saône River and enjoy the delicious local gastronomy.

This is one of the best things to do in Lyon in May, because it is a sporting event in which women from all over the world run to help others overcome cancer. It is a charity event where they try to raise as much money as possible for survivors and those still fighting cancer.

There are different categories to run in Courir pour elles, one of them is the 5K walk which is especially designed for weekend runners. You can also participate in the 5K run or the 10K timed race. If running is not your thing, you can also sign up for one of the activities and yoga classes that are set up during the event.

Only women can compete in this race, however, it is a family event where you can go with men and children to watch and enjoy the different races. During the event you also have the opportunity to share some typical dishes of the Lyon region.

Details of interest

• Price: prices vary from year to year, although to go to watch the race you will not have to pay anything, but to participate in the race you will have to pay from 24 euros per person.
• Date and time: the race usually takes place during the second week of May, and offers three days of racing.
• Location: the race usually starts from the Parc de Parilly in Lyon.

Once you have already done one of the best tours of Lyon, I recommend you to go to one of the most relevant film festivals in the city during the month of May, which is none other than the Festival Brut de Fabrique; where you can get to know the city from a more cultural point of view and from the point of view of its inhabitants.

The Festival Brut de Fabrique is an activity in which film enthusiasts have their space to present their works. The most interesting thing about this event is that the inhabitants of Villeurbanne have the opportunity to show their film proposals and works before the professional artists present the show to the public.

Details of interest

• Price: you will have to pay between 12 and 16 euros to enter to see a play at this event. Tickets can be booked online before you go.
• Date and time: you can go to enjoy this event until the last week of May. Generally the plays are presented at night.
• Location: the event takes place at the Iris Theater in Villeurbanne.

It is true that during the month of May you should take the opportunity to sign up for one of the best excursions from Lyon, but it is also true that during this month there are several sporting activities that you should take the opportunity to see and enjoy. One of them is to go to the Open Parc, an annual tennis event in which only the best participate.

The Open Parc tournament is divided into three categories, one for men, one for women and one mixed. This tournament is considered one of the best in the sport in the south of France. One of the things you will like most about it is that you will be able to visit different places that serve as stages for the tennis games.

Interesting details

• Price: prices can vary from 20 euros for a general admission ticket to 100 euros if you want to buy a VIP ticket.
• Date and time: generally this event takes place during the third week of May and usually starts in the morning at approximately 9:00 and lasts until noon.
• Location: the event takes place on the train tracks between Nantes and Lyon.

During the Festiculture festival, you will have the opportunity to enjoy many activities, including concerts, conferences, exhibitions, workshops and games for children. The main objective of this festival is to celebrate Turkish culture and promote cultural exchange between France and Turkey.

If you are a lover of food from all over the world, I recommend you to go on one of the best gastronomic tours in Lyon in one place, where you will be able to taste a bit of Turkish food. Among the dishes you will be able to try are kebab, börek, lahmacun, sucuk and ayran. In addition, you will have the opportunity to enjoy and buy Turkish handicrafts and items such as carpets, jewelry, ceramics and tableware.

Details of interest

• Price: ticket prices can vary in price according to the events you want to go to, although prices can range from 50 to 100 euros per person.
• Date and time: usually takes place during the third week of May and the exhibitions are held between 11:00 and 22:00.
• Location: these exhibitions are held at Place des Terreaux in the city center.

The Nuit des Musées is an annual festival held in May each year throughout France, and Lyon is no exception. It is an event where you can participate in interesting activities such as conferences, lectures and exhibitions in the vicinity of museums throughout the city. This festival lasts two days and during that time you can enjoy all these activities outdoors, although some museums also have activities inside.

The events take place at night, so it is definitely one of the activities you should include in your list of things to see and do in Lyon at night if you are traveling in May. Each year around 500 artists usually participate in the festival, presenting exhibitions of all kinds of art, including painting, sculpture, photography and audiovisual. You will be able to taste some local products during the event.

Details of interest

• Price: the entrance fee is 15 euros per day for adults, 10 euros for students and free for children under 18.
• Date and time: this event takes place during the last weekend of May and you can enjoy it only in the evening hours.
• Location: it takes place all over France, and in Lyon you can enjoy them in all the museums of the city.

Just as in Paris, Lyon also celebrates Fashion Week. This event takes place for about five days, in which you can see a wide exhibition of art and fashion amid parades of recognized brands and artists who have left everything to show their works. It is definitely an event that you have to attend even if you stay in Lyon for 2 days or less, in the month of May.

As for the places where the fashion week is presented, it is a combination of outdoor and indoor spaces, such as halls and galleries in which the different fashion designs are presented. At Lyon Fashion Week, participating designers and artists often receive recognition for their work and their works.

Details of interest

• Price: you will be able to enter to enjoy this experience by paying an approximate price of 20 to 50 euros for regular tickets. In case you want to live a VIP experience, you will have to pay around 90 to 150 euros. If you go with children you will have to pay tickets ranging from 10 to 20 euros.
• Date and time: the spring fashion week usually takes place during the second week of May. And as for the schedule of the exhibitions, these are enabled from 9:00, although it all depends on the schedule.
• Location: generally Lyon Fashion Week takes place in the spaces of the Grand Théâtre de Lyon.

In case you love electronic music, the Nuits Sonores Festival is an event not to be missed. Within this festival you will have the opportunity to enjoy electronic music, contemporary art, design and fashion. During the festival you will have the opportunity to see a lot of musicians and artists from all over the world.

The best thing about this event is that you will be able to enjoy the diversity of sounds and experiences. In addition to live performances, you will have the opportunity to attend interactive art installations and multiple film screenings, talks and workshops. In the middle of the festival you will also find several places where you can taste a variety of dishes and drinks.

Details of interest

• Price: Tickets can cost you around 20 euros for general admission, while for VIP tickets you will have to pay up to 90 euros.
• Date and time: The festival takes place during the second and third week of May. Generally this festival takes place in the evening hours, and many times concerts can last until dawn.
• Location: The Nuits Sonores Festival takes place at the Lyon Opera House.

Another event not to be missed during the month of May is the Lyon International Contemporary Art Fair. It is a festival that lasts three days and takes place both indoors and outdoors. During the contemporary art exhibition you will have the opportunity to see works by multiple artists.

If you go with children, rest assured that they will have fun because there are plenty of activities for them, including workshops, concerts and lectures. You should also know that the participants who usually show their works include painters, sculptors, photographers, designers and other artists.

Details of interest

• Price: ticket prices depend on the amount of time you plan to stay at the exhibition. In general you could pay between 4 and 12 euros.
• Date and time: it takes place during the last week of May and you can enjoy the activities between 10:00 and 20:00.
• Location: generally the fair takes place at the Halle Tony Garnier in Lyon's 2nd arrondissement.

The Les Lions du Rire Comedy Festival is one of the most anticipated shows in Lyon in May, thanks to the fact that it offers a wealth of comedy performances throughout the duration of the show. One of the things you will love most about this event is the large number of performers who show the audience their work.

You don't have to stick to the comedy of just one artist, you can enjoy the humor of hundreds of them who come to this place to show a little of their talent by making the audience laugh. The festival lasts for three nights in May, so if you buy your tickets in advance, you are guaranteed to have fun.

Details of interest

• Price: you will be able to enter this show paying an approximate price of 17 euros per ticket.
• Date and time: the comedy festival takes place during the first days of May, although specific dates may change. Performances generally occur after 20:00.
• Location: performance venues may change on each of the days, but generally they are presented at the Palais de la Mutualité and the Bourse du Travail.

If there's one event you shouldn't miss in May, it's Mix.E, which offers the best of clean technologies. It focuses on raising awareness of the advances in green and clean technology, as well as its use and how these technologies are reflected in art and education. You will be able to participate in conferences, workshops and exhibitions.

Other activities that you can enjoy in this festival are concerts, theater performances, film screenings, art performances, debates and talks. In addition, the festival also offers amazing activities such as a robotics competition, a movie night and a music night, all within the clean energy project.

Details of interest

• Price: you will have to pay between 10 and 50 euros per ticket if you want to go and enjoy this experience.
• Date and time: it usually happens during the last week of May and the exhibitions usually start in the morning, around 9:00, to finish around 20:00.
• Location: all exhibitions are usually held in the Parc de la Tête d'Or, which is in the heart of the city.

The tourist flow in Lyon during the month of May is relatively high because it is approaching the high season which is during the summer season. At this time of the year many tourists come to the city with the idea of enjoying the scenery and the historical architecture of the city.

Due to the large number of tourists that come to this area during this season, I recommend that you make your reservations well in advance, otherwise you might run out of room in the hotels, restaurants, bars and cafes.