must-visit in LyonSquare & Landmark

La place Bellecour

📍 La place Bellecour, Lyon, France

1 photos

4.5/ 5.0

★★★★★

Quick Facts

Location: France, Lyon
Category: Square & Landmark
Duration: About 1 hour
Opening Hours: Daily 00:00-24:00 · Open-air public square, no closing days
Ticket Price: Free Admission: free · The square is an open public space with free entry; nearby activities and guided tours are charged separately
Address: La place Bellecour, Lyon, France
Coordinates: 45.7578, 4.8320

Introduction

The red-ochre heart of Lyon's Presqu'île stretches about 312 by 200 metres, among Europe's largest pedestrian squares. An equestrian Louis XIV, cast in 1825, anchors the centre, while the southwest corner carries Antoine de Saint-Exupéry with his Little Prince - Lyon was the author's birthplace. Almost bare of greenery, the emptiness itself becomes the stage: skateboarders, carousels and markets take turns across the paving. Walk west for a few minutes and you reach the Saône and Vieux Lyon.

✨ Highlights

European Scale

Some 312 by 200 metres of open paving, among the continent's grandest pedestrian squares.

Louis XIV on Horseback

The 1825 bronze equestrian statue holds the square's exact centre.

Little Prince

Lyon-born Saint-Exupéry stands beside his most famous creation.

Presqu'île Hub

The geographic midpoint between two rivers and the start of the main shopping streets.

Gateway to Old Lyon

A few minutes west, a bridge crosses the Saône to Vieux Lyon and Fourvière.

🛈 Practical Info

→Cost：The square is free, and the tourist office here hands out maps and brochures.

→Timing：Morning for tourist-office intel; evening for lights and street life.

→Shopping：Rue de la République runs north-south as the main pedestrian shopping axis.

→Festivals：At Christmas and during the Fête des Lumières, the square is the main venue - expect crowds.

→Transportation：Metro Lines A and D stop at Bellecour, as do many bus routes.

Opening Hours

Opening Hours
Monday	00:00-24:00
Tuesday	00:00-24:00
Wednesday	00:00-24:00
Thursday	00:00-24:00
Friday	00:00-24:00
Saturday	00:00-24:00
Sunday	00:00-24:00

Open-air public square, no closing days

Ticket Information

Ticket Information
Free Admission	free

The square is an open public space with free entry; nearby activities and guided tours are charged separately

💡 Tips

• For Fourvière, cross the bridge west of the square and take the funicular - it saves half an hour.

• At Christmas the market huts pack the square's north side, liveliest and most crowded at dusk.

• No shade at all out there - hat and water matter if crossing at midday in summer.

• The Little Prince statue is the classic Lyon portrait stop; mornings mean no queue.

• Bellecour station has many exits; follow signs toward Vieux Lyon for the quickest river crossing.

FAQ

What are the opening hours of La place Bellecour?

Friday: 00:00-24:00; Monday: 00:00-24:00; Sunday: 00:00-24:00; Tuesday: 00:00-24:00; Saturday: 00:00-24:00; Thursday: 00:00-24:00; Wednesday: 00:00-24:00; Open-air public square, no closing days

How much is the admission for La place Bellecour?

Free Admission: free; The square is an open public space with free entry; nearby activities and guided tours are charged separately

Any practical tips for visiting La place Bellecour?

For Fourvière, cross the bridge west of the square and take the funicular - it saves half an hour. At Christmas the market huts pack the square's north side, liveliest and most crowded at dusk.