The Parc de la Tête d’Or is Lyon’s great city park, more than 100 hectares on the left bank of the Rhône with a 16-hectare lake, a free zoo, France’s largest botanical garden with big glasshouses, and rose gardens. Everything in it is free. As of October 2026 the park opens daily 6:30–22:30 until 14 October and 6:30–20:30 from 15 October to 14 April. Take metro A to Masséna or a C1, C4 or C5 bus, and allow half a day, more with children.
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Tickets and tours for Parc de la Tête d'Or
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Why the Parc de la Tête d’Or matters
The city created the park in 1857, under the prefect Claude-Marius Vaïsse, on marshy land along the Rhône. The Swiss landscape architects Denis and Eugène Bühler designed it as an English-style landscape park with winding paths, lawns, woods and a lake fed by the river. The name, “golden head”, comes from a local legend of a treasure, a golden head of Christ, said to be buried here.
The glasshouses were built in the 19th century and the architect Tony Garnier added buildings in the early 20th. The city of Lyon says the park welcomes more than 8 million visits a year, which makes it the city’s favourite place to run, picnic, row and simply be outside.
What you’ll see
- The lake: 16 hectares. Rowing boats and pedalos can be hired in season, and the Île du Souvenir holds a memorial to the dead of World War I.
- The zoo: about 400 animals in a free zoo, with the African Plain (giraffes, zebras and other savanna animals) opened in 2006 and the Asian Forests area, opened in 2021 with threatened species from Asia.
- Botanical garden: 8 hectares, the largest botanical garden in France, with around 12,000 plant species in 6,500 m² of glasshouses, including the tall Grandes Serres, the alpine garden and the arboretum.
- Rose gardens: three of them, led by the 5-hectare international rose garden, at its best from late May to June.
- For children: playgrounds, a little train and Guignol puppet shows on Wednesdays.
Hours and prices
From the City of Lyon, as of October 2026:
- Park: free, daily 6:30–22:30 from 15 April to 14 October and 6:30–20:30 from 15 October to 14 April. Entry stops 15 minutes before closing.
- Zoo: free, 9:30–17:45 from 15 April to 14 October and 9:30–17:00 from 15 October to 14 April; the Asian Forests area closes earlier (17:00 and 16:30). Closed every Tuesday.
- Botanical garden: free. Outdoor collections 9:00–18:00 from April to September and 9:00–17:00 from October to March; smaller glasshouses 9:00–17:30 (to 17:00 Sundays) in summer and 9:00–16:30 in winter, closed Tuesdays. The Grandes Serres open daily 9:00–16:30.
- Boats and the little train: run by private operators, paid, and mostly from spring to autumn.
How long to allow and when to go
A walk round the lake takes about an hour; with the zoo, the glasshouses and the rose garden, plan half a day. Don’t come on a Tuesday if the zoo or glasshouses matter to you. Late May and June are best for the roses; autumn is lovely for the colours of the trees. Weekday mornings are quiet. On sunny weekends it fills with Lyonnais families, joggers and picnics, which is part of the charm. In summer, bring water and shade; in winter, the warm glasshouses are a good refuge.
Accessibility
The main paths are wide, flat and paved, so the park is easy with a wheelchair or pushchair. The city lists adapted equipment and a ramp near the Cité Internationale entrance, accessible toilets (seasonal), reserved parking and guided tours for blind and partially sighted visitors. Some lawns and woodland paths are gravel or grass, and the zoo is mostly flat.
Getting there
The park is in the 6th arrondissement, about 3 km north-east of Place Bellecour. The nearest metro is Masséna on line A, about five minutes’ walk from the park’s east side; Foch, also on line A, is a little further. Buses C1, C4 and C5 stop at Parc Tête d’Or – Churchill, by the monumental main gate, the Porte des Enfants du Rhône, and at Cité Internationale on the north side. A TCL ticket costs €2.10 for one hour (as of October 2026). There are Vélo’v bike stations by several of the gates, and the riverside cycle path along the Rhône leads straight here.
Combine it with
Pick up picnic food first at Les Halles Paul Bocuse, about 25 minutes’ walk south. Then cycle south along the Rhône quays to the Presqu’île and the Musée des Confluences, or cross to Vieux Lyon. More ideas for families and green spaces are in our Lyon travel guide.
Parc de la Tête d’Or FAQ
Is the Parc de la Tête d’Or free?
Yes. The park, the zoo, the botanical garden, the glasshouses and the rose gardens are all free. Only extras such as boat hire and the little train are paid.
What are the opening hours of the Parc de la Tête d’Or?
As of October 2026, 6:30–22:30 from 15 April to 14 October and 6:30–20:30 from 15 October to 14 April, every day. Entry stops 15 minutes before closing.
Is the Lyon zoo really free?
Yes. The zoo inside the park is free, with about 400 animals including the African Plain and the Asian Forests. It opens 9:30–17:00 in winter and 9:30–17:45 in summer, and is closed on Tuesdays.
When is the best time to see the roses?
Late May and June, when the international rose garden is in full bloom. Some roses keep flowering into autumn.
Can you rent a boat on the lake?
Yes. Rowing boats and pedalos can be hired on the lake in season, from private operators; check prices and opening days on site.
How do I get to the Parc de la Tête d’Or?
Take metro A to Masséna and walk about five minutes, or buses C1, C4 or C5 to Parc Tête d’Or – Churchill, by the main gate.
Sources
- © OpenStreetMap contributors · ODbL · fetched 3 Oct 2026
- Wikidata · CC0 · fetched 3 Oct 2026