First timer’s guide to the museum
First timer’s guide to the museum
More than 5,000 years of art history welcome you. The museum of Fine Arts of Lyon presents encyclopedic collections ranging from Antiquity to contemporary art.
The collections are divided into several galleries, on three floors:
Explore the must-see areas of the Saint-Pierre palace : the garden, the coins and medals room, the chapel, the monumental Puvis de Chavannes staircase, the large-format paintings gallery, the Flowers gallaery... Admire the masterpieces of the collections, such as the Koré (Ancient Greece), La Fuite en Egypte by Nicolas Poussin (17th century), Fleur des champs by Louis Janmot (19th century), Mer agitée à Etretat by Claude Monet (19th century), Peinture 181 x 244 cm by Pierre Soulages (21st century)...
When to visit ?
The museum is open every day except Tuesdays and bank holidays, from 10am to 6pm.
On Fridays, the museum opens at 10.30am.
The museum and exhibitions are busiest at weekends and during school vacations.
What is the entrace fee?
Admission to the museum (permanent collections) costs €8 full price and €4 reduced price.
To visit temporary exhibitions and the permanent collections, the ticket costs €12 full price and €7 reduced price.
Find out more about free admission here.
How to get there ?
On foot or by bike.
By public transportation.
By car.
How to customize your visit?
Whether you're a curious visitor, a stroller, an enthusiast, visiting solo or with your family... no need to be prepared to visit the museum, art is above all a matter of sensitivity and emotion.
What interests you most?
Egyptian and Greco-Roman antiquities, paintings, sculptures, decorative arts, coins and medals... what is your favorite? Discover the collections map to define your route throughout the museum.
Discover a theme
Choose your route ! Upon arrival, ask for a free booklet that will guide you through the galleries following one of these themes : Masterpieces, Nature, Colour : Black.
Let us guide you
One hour tours. Guided tours in English are scheduled on Saturdays, for an additional €3 to the price of the admission ticket.
The museum offers a rich cultural program of visits, activities and events throughout the year, to suit all tastes (in French).
Masterpieces. Discover our audiotours, available in English, Italian and Chinese. Free online.
How much time at the museum?
You can come and visit a show, admire a single artwork or the entire collection! From 10 mn to a whole day, it's up to you.
Our visitors spend an average time of 2h45 in the museum.
What's the difference between collections and exhibitions?
Collections are all the works belonging to the museum, on permanent display throughout the year.
Exhibitions are thematic presentations of artworks from the museum’s collections and other institutions or private collections, brought together for a limited period of time. The museum usually presents one to three temporary exhibitions a year.
