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. Popular festivals include 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's also a great time to visit the many museums and art galleries in the city. Plus the spring-like weather in May invites you to stroll along the Saône River and enjoy the delicious local cuisine.

One of the best things to do in Lyon in May, this is a sporting event where women from all over the world run to help others overcome cancer. It's a charity event that aims 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 isn't 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 bring men and children to watch and enjoy the different races. During the event you also have the opportunity to share some typical dishes from the Lyon region.

Details of interest

• Price: prices vary from year to year, although to go to watch the race you don't 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've taken one of the best tours of Lyon, I recommend you go to one of the most important 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 see a play at this event. Tickets can be booked online before you go.
• Date and time: You can go and enjoy this event until the last week of May. The plays are usually performed at night.
• Location: The event takes place at the Iris Theatre in Villeurbanne.

It's true that during the month of May you should take advantage of one of the best excursions from Lyon, but it's 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 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 to be one of the best tennis tournaments 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 venues 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: This event generally 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 a wide range of activities, including concerts, conferences, exhibitions, workshops and games for children. The main aim 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 go on one of Lyon' s best gastronomic tours in one place, where you can sample some Turkish food. Among the dishes you can try are kebab, börek, lahmacun, sucuk and ayran. You will also have the opportunity to enjoy and shop for Turkish handicrafts and items such as carpets, jewellery, pottery and crockery.

Interesting details

• Price: Ticket prices can vary according to the events you want to attend, although prices can range between 50 and 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 in the Place des Terreaux in the city centre.

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

The events take place at night, so it's definitely one of the things you should include on your list of things to see and do in Lyon at night if you're travelling in May. Each year, around 500 artists take part in the festival, presenting exhibitions of all kinds of art, including painting, sculpture, photography and audiovisuals. You can sample some local produce during the event.

Interesting details

• 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: This event takes place all over France, and in Lyon you can enjoy it in all the city's museums.

Just like Paris, Lyon also hosts Fashion Week. This event takes place over a period of about five days, where you can see an extensive exhibition of art and fashion amidst catwalk shows by renowned brands and artists who have left no stone unturned to showcase their work. It is definitely an event you have to attend whether 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 where the different fashion designs are presented. At Lyon Fashion Week, participating designers and artists often receive recognition for their work and their work.

Details of interest

• Price: You can 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: Spring Fashion Week usually takes place during the second week of May. And as for the opening hours, the exhibitions are open from 9:00, although it all depends on the programme.
• Location: Lyon Fashion Week generally 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 can 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 enjoy a variety of food and drinks.

Interesting details

• Price: Tickets can cost you around 20 euros for general admission, while VIP tickets can cost 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 often concerts can last until dawn.
• Location: The Nuits Sonores Festival takes place at the Lyon Opera House.

Another event not to be missed in May is the Lyon International Contemporary Art Fair. It is a three-day festival that takes place both indoors and outdoors. During the contemporary art exhibition you will have the opportunity to see works by many artists.

If you're going with children, you can be sure they'll have fun because there are plenty of activities for them, including workshops, concerts and talks. You should also know that the participants who usually show their work include painters, sculptors, photographers, designers and other artists.

Interesting details

• 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: takes place during the last week of May and you can enjoy the activities between 10:00 and 20:00.
• Location: the fair generally 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 a host of comedy performances throughout the duration of the show. One of the things you' ll love most about this event is the large number of performers who show the audience their work.

You don't have to stick to one performer's brand of comedy, you can enjoy the humour of hundreds of performers who come to this venue to show a little bit of their talent in making the audience laugh. The festival runs for three nights in May, so if you buy your tickets in advance, you're guaranteed to have a good time.

Details of interest

• Price: You can get into this show for approximately 17 euros per ticket.
• Date and time: The comedy festival takes place during the first few days of May, although specific dates may change. Performances usually take place after 20:00.
• Location: Performance venues may change from day to day, but generally take place 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 the advancement of green and clean technology and its use and how these technologies are reflected in art and education. You can participate in conferences, workshops and exhibitions.

Other activities you can enjoy at the festival include concerts, theatre performances, film screenings, art performances, debates and talks. In addition, the festival also offers amazing activities such as a robotics competition, a film night and a music night, all within the clean energy project.

Interesting details

• 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: usually takes place during the last week of May and the exhibitions usually start in the morning around 9:00 and end 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 number of tourists in Lyon during the month of May is relatively high because of the approaching 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 historical architecture of the city.

Due to the large number of tourists coming to the area during this season, it is advisable to make your reservations well in advance, otherwise you might run out of places in hotels, restaurants, bars and cafes.