What better way to explore Lyon than to run through it and soak up the city’s energy? The founders of RunMotion Coach studied in Lyon and know it inside out. They want you to benefit from their local knowledge, specifically for running routes. Lyon is packed with beautiful parks and stunning viewpoints, perfect for your next run. Here are two routes that will delight locals and visitors alike.
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Where to run in Lyon: Parc de la Tête d’Or and its 3.94 km loop
The first route is the obvious classic when it comes to running in Lyon. Parc de la Tête d’Or is the go-to jogging spot for countless Lyon runners. The big advantage is simple, you can run as many laps as you want depending on your goals, your fitness, and how you feel that day. And you do not have to worry about traffic.
The loop around Parc de la Tête d’Or is about 4 km, and we suggest a few landmarks at each kilometre so you can track your pace.
Our starting point is the East entrance, opposite Boulevard du 11 Novembre. Once you go under the bridge, on your right you will see a road sign (a “Do Not Enter” sign) on a sidewalk. That is kilometre 0.
Parc de la Tête d’Or loop, counter-clockwise
Most runners do the Tête d’Or loop counter-clockwise. The route is very easy to remember, basically you stay on the outer paths as much as possible.
After about 300 m, take the path on the right, then you hit a 200 m uphill before rolling into the downhill. Kilometre 1 is a few metres before the first gate of the Cité Internationale.
For almost a kilometre, the surface is soft underfoot. Kilometre 2 is just before the Porte des Enfants du Rhône, the main entrance, opposite Pont Churchill (photo above).
Kilometre 3 is just before the greenhouses, near the Porte du Lycée du Parc entrance. In total, the full loop is 3,940 m, a perfect escape in one of Lyon’s favourite parks.
Parc de la Tête d’Or opening hours
The Parc de la Tête d’Or opening hours are:
Summer hours, 15 April to 14 October: 6:30 am to 10:30 pm.
Winter hours, 15 October to 14 April: 6:30 am to 8:30 pm.
Looking to level up your running performance? Parc de la Tête d’Or is ideal for interval training sessions, tempo runs, and structured endurance workouts. The RunMotion Coach digital coach is here to guide you and keep you motivated as you train. When I was an engineering student in Lyon, Parc de la Tête d’Or was my favourite playground for a run. I probably still have a few PRs and Strava segments there…
Fourvière hill for the best Lyon panorama and a cultural running route
Our second running route in Lyon takes you right through the city centre. It is not the easiest run in Lyon, but it is absolutely worth it. You start at Place des Terreaux and head up to Fourvière, via Bellecour.
Perfect for discovering, or rediscovering, the “capital of the Gauls.” The view from Fourvière hill more than pays back the climb. Even better, the route stays fairly short, about 5.5 km (around 3.4 miles) with roughly 120 m of elevation gain.
The start is at Place des Terreaux, opposite the Hôtel de Ville (City Hall). Head towards the Opera House, then turn right onto Rue de la République towards Bellecour. Once you reach Bellecour, follow Place Bellecour along the right side, then take Pont Bonaparte.
A bit further on your right, you will arrive in front of Saint-Jean Cathedral. Take the road straight ahead (Rue Tramassac). Take a breath because the Montée du Chemin Neuf is about to begin. Run at your own pace, it is a long climb. We never said running in Lyon was easy.
At the top, when it starts to level out, take the first road on the right, Rue Pierre Marion. At the end of Rue Pierre Marion, turn right onto Rue de l’Antiquaille, then you should find the paths through the Fourvière gardens. Keep going straight, stay in the park as long as you can, and continue under the Fourvière Basilica.
A spectacular view of Lyon, just a few steps away
Then climb up to the Fourvière viewpoint using the stairs. You have earned a pause to take in the incredible panoramic view of Lyon.
After enjoying the view, you can start the descent through Parc de Fourvière, then continue down Montée du Garillan before dropping back onto Rue Saint-Jean. Turn left, then run along the banks of the Saône. Cross Pont de la Feuillée opposite Gare Saint-Paul.
You are almost there. Take Rue Constantine and you are back at Place des Terreaux. If you want to extend the run, the best option is to keep going along the Saône riverbanks.
More places to run in Lyon and around the city
Beyond these two great running routes in Lyon, you should also try the Rhône riverbanks, nicely developed for pedestrians and cyclists, perfect for an easy run or a steady endurance session.
Another solid option is Parc de Parilly, which even has a tartan track, one of the most accessible places for track-style workouts in Lyon.
If you want to get away for long runs and find a real nature vibe, the Grand Parc de Miribel-Jonage is an excellent playground, especially along the Jonage canal.
Trail running routes around Lyon
Finally, if you are hunting hills, you can run up Croix-Rousse in the city. For trail running near Lyon, head to the Monts d’Or and the Monts du Lyonnais, where the SaintéLyon passes.
After the effort comes the reward. Since Lyon is France’s gastronomy capital, treat yourself to a great meal in the restaurants and traditional bouchons of Vieux Lyon and the Presqu’île. That is how you combine running in Lyon with eating well.
One last thing, Jooks was developed in Lyon. They created virtual running routes in major cities across Europe and around the world, perfect for exploring new places on the run.