Lyon by bike: guided tours, e-bikes and Vélo'v compared

The answer first

For a first visit, take the 3-hour guided bike tour (€44, 4.7/5 from 240 reviews). You choose a regular or an electric bike, and the route crosses the city from the old town to the Confluence district. If hills worry you, the answer is an e-bike rather than a shorter tour: the 3-hour e-bike tour and the 2-hour panoramic tour climb Fourvière on electric bikes, and the Old Town tour, which also stops at Fourvière and Croix-Rousse, offers an e-bike for the hills from 165 cm.

Four tours

• 3-hour guided bike tour (€44). Starts at 7 Quai Romain Rolland in Vieux Lyon. The page lists Place des Terreaux, the Parc de la Tête d’Or, the Croix-Rousse tunnel for bikes and pedestrians, Place Bellecour, the Rhône banks and Confluence, in French or English, and calls the ride easy and flat. Bikes for children and child seats are available on request; under-16s must ride with an adult; the electric bike is not available under 14. Not suitable for pregnant women or anyone under 150 cm. There are no toilets at the departure point.
• 3-hour guided e-bike tour (€50, 4.9/5 from 158 reviews). Groups are limited to 10, and the route adds the climb to Fourvière with its basilica, Roman theatres and viewpoints. The page excludes children under 12, pregnant women, people with mobility impairments, anyone over 120 kg and anyone under 150 cm. It starts only with four participants and refunds in full if it cannot run.
• 2-hour panoramic e-bike tour (€48, 4.8/5 from 26 reviews). Climbs both hills, Fourvière and Croix-Rousse, with two viewpoints at the top of Fourvière and one over the roofs from Place Rouville. Minimum age 14 and minimum height 1.55 m; four people per booking are required.
• 2.5-hour Old Town bike tour (€35, 5.0/5 from 12 reviews). Dutch or English guide, up to 15 in the group, meeting at 1 bis Place Antonin Jutard. A comfortable Dutch-style bike, or an e-bike if you are at least 165 cm tall.

Side by side

Tour	Duration	Bike	Language
3-hour guided bike tour	3 hours	regular or electric	French, English
3-hour e-bike tour	3 hours	electric	English, French
2-hour panoramic e-bike	2 hours	electric	French, English
Old Town bike tour	2.5 hours	Dutch-style or electric	Dutch, English

Or just rent a Vélo’v

Vélo’v is the self-service bike scheme of the Métropole de Lyon, with day tickets and electric bikes. Older pages may quote outdated prices, so read the current ones on velov.grandlyon.com before you plan around a figure. It makes sense if you know your way and want one stretch, say along the Rhône. It does not give you a guide or the story of the city.

Who should not book

• Families with young children: the electric tours start at 12 or 14, and the regular tour asks under-16s to ride with an adult, though child bikes and seats are offered on request. Ask before you book.
• Anyone under 150 cm or over 120 kg: the 3-hour e-bike tour lists both as not suitable, the 3-hour guided bike tour lists under 150 cm; the Old Town tour names only a minimum of 165 cm for its e-bike option.
• Anyone who dislikes bad weather: the operator of the 3-hour guided bike tour says its tours run in all weather and provides ponchos.

Our recommendation

For most visitors, the 3-hour guided bike tour: one route, both rivers, your choice of bike. Pick the panoramic e-bike tour if the views from the two hills are the point. All choices: bike and Segway tours in Lyon. Prefer to see Fourvière on foot? Read Fourvière: basilica, funicular and Roman theatres.