anoramic view of an alpine valley with snow-capped peaks, pine forests and a mountain stream near Mont Blanc, French Alps

🇫🇷Lyon, Alps & Mont Blanc

From Lyon's bouchons and UNESCO old town to Mont Blanc's cable cars and Lake Annecy's turquoise shores, this French region packs in culture, adventure, and incredible food.

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Your family guide

Lyon, Alps & Mont Blanc with kids

“Skip the Alps on your first trip—start in Lyon's markets and traboules, then let the mountains reveal themselves on day three when everyone's ready.”

— San & Jo

Start your morning at a bustling market beside a turquoise alpine lake, then spend the afternoon riding a cable car up to the roof of Europe. That's the kind of contrast Lyon, Alps & Mont Blanc offers. This region combines two very different worlds: the warm, food-obsessed energy of Lyon and the dramatic scale of the Alps and Mont Blanc massif.

Lyon sits at the heart of it all, perched where the Saône and Rhône rivers meet and where some of France's most celebrated cooking was born. Its cobblestone old town, hidden traboules, and lively covered markets give families plenty to explore without ever feeling rushed. And on a clear day from Fourvière Hill, you can actually spot the Alps shimmering in the distance, a reminder of what is waiting just beyond the city.

Head into the mountains and everything shifts. The air gets crisper, the valleys open up, and Mont Blanc, the highest peak in Western Europe at 4,810 metres, dominates the skyline. Whether your family loves hiking through forested trails, riding scenic cable cars, or simply melting into a bowl of cheesy tartiflette after a day outdoors, this region has a way of making every kind of traveller feel right at home.

Mont Blanc4,810 m, highest peak in Western Europe

Gastronomic CapitalLyon: home to 24 certified authentic bouchons

Borders ItalyAlps, valleys, lakes and city all in one region

Cities and places in Lyon, Alps & Mont Blanc

7 places

Annecy

Discover Annecy with your family: a medieval old town, the stunning Lake Annecy, a hilltop château, and hearty Savoyard food that kids actually love.

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Chamonix-Mont-Blanc

Discover Chamonix-Mont-Blanc with your family. Cable cars to 3,842m, glacier trains, wildlife parks, world-class skiing, and hearty Savoyard food await.

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Lake Annecy

Lake Annecy combines clean swimming, a 42 km cycling loop, Savoyard food, and a charming old town. One of France's best family destinations.

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Lyon

Explore Lyon with kids: a UNESCO Renaissance quarter, free zoo, funicular rides, and world-class food in the gastronomic capital of France.

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Mont Blanc

Discover Mont Blanc with your family: ride cable cars to 3,842 metres, explore France's largest glacier, and share a bubbling fondue after a day in the Alps.

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Val d'Isère

Val d'Isère is one of the Alps' greatest ski resorts and a brilliant summer escape, with 300 km of pistes, glacier access, and the Vanoise National Park on the doorstep.

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Vieux Lyon

Explore Vieux Lyon with your family: traboules, a funicular, the Musée Cinéma et Miniature, and some of France's best traditional food all in one UNESCO neighbourhood.

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What makes it special

Why families love Lyon, Alps & Mont Blanc

A food culture built for curious families

Lyon is widely considered the gastronomic capital of France, and its markets, bouchons, and covered halls like Les Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse make food feel like a real adventure. Even picky eaters tend to find something they love, from buttery brioche to melty mountain cheese.

The Alps right on your doorstep

From Lyon, the high peaks of the Alps are genuinely close. Chamonix and the Mont Blanc massif offer one of the most dramatic mountain landscapes on the planet, and the Aiguille du Midi cable car whisks your whole family up to 3,842 metres in around 20 minutes.

Lake Annecy, a picture-perfect town

Often called the Venice of France, Annecy is a medieval town set beside a bright turquoise lake. A boat cruise on the water is a relaxed, scenic way to see it all, and the Tuesday, Friday, and Sunday markets are brilliant for a morning wander with kids.

History your kids can actually feel

Vieux Lyon is a UNESCO World Heritage Site full of Renaissance streets, colourful facades, and a network of secret covered passageways called traboules. The Roman arena at Fourvière dates to 15 BC and once held 10,000 spectators. History does not get more tangible than this.

Year-round outdoor adventure

This region never really switches off. Summer brings hiking, paragliding over Lake Annecy, and scenic cable car rides. Winter opens up ski resorts near Mont Blanc. Whatever time of year your family visits, there is always something active and exciting to do.

Your kind of holiday

The Food Lover's Family Trip

Base yourself in Lyon and spend your days grazing through covered markets, peeking into bouchons, and letting the kids try quenelles, saucisson brioché, and creamy cervelle de canut. The city's food culture is hands-on, generous, and genuinely welcoming to families.

The Alpine Adventure Holiday

Head straight for Chamonix and the Mont Blanc massif for big mountain drama. Cable cars, hiking trails, glacier views, and cosy chalet dinners of fondue and raclette make this a holiday that feels epic from start to finish. The scenery alone is worth the trip.

The City and Lake Escape

Combine a few days exploring Lyon's old town, Fourvière Hill, and Parc de la Tête d'Or with a stay beside Lake Annecy. It is a beautifully balanced mix of culture, colour, and calm, with plenty of space for kids to run, splash, and explore at their own pace.

Fun facts

Things to know about Lyon, Alps & Mont Blanc

A Roman arena still rocking after 2,000 years

The Théâtre Antique de Fourvière in Lyon was built in 15 BC and once held 10,000 spectators. It is still used for live concerts and events today. That means people have been sitting in those stone seats for over two millennia.

Lyon has secret passageways hidden in plain sight

Dotted throughout Vieux Lyon are traboules, covered passageways that connect streets by cutting through buildings. They were used by silk workers to transport fabric without getting it wet, and by the French Resistance during World War II. Exploring them feels like a real-life treasure hunt.

Mont Blanc is the tallest mountain in all of Western Europe

At 4,810 metres, Mont Blanc towers above everything else on the continent. The Aiguille du Midi cable car takes you up to 3,842 metres in around 20 minutes, giving your family views across the entire Alps chain and into Italy on a clear day.

Taste Lyon, Alps & Mont Blanc

What to eat with kids in Lyon, Alps & Mont Blanc

Tartiflette

A bubbling, golden gratin of potatoes, melted Reblochon cheese, lardons, and onions baked together until impossibly comforting. This is the Alps on a plate, and it is the kind of dish that makes cold mountain evenings feel very cosy indeed.

Kids love it

Saucisson Brioché

A cooked Lyonnais sausage baked inside soft, pillowy brioche dough. The salty sausage and sweet bread work together in a way that makes total sense once you try it. A classic bouchon dish that is straightforward and satisfying for all ages.

Safe choice

Quenelle Lyonnaise

Fluffy, oval-shaped dumplings made from pike fish, poached and served gratinéed with a rich Nantua crayfish sauce. This is one of Lyon's most iconic dishes and a genuine must-try for adventurous eaters in your family.

Must try

Fondue Savoyarde

Melted mountain cheese served in a communal pot with chunks of crusty bread for dipping. Fondue is one of those meals that turns dinner into an event, and kids almost always love the interactive, slightly chaotic nature of it.

Kids love it

Rosette de Lyon

A dry-cured pork sausage sliced thin and served on charcuterie boards across the region. It is one of Lyon's most celebrated cured meats and a staple of any proper bouchon spread. Simple, delicious, and very easy to snack on.

Local favourite