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See larger map Red = high-speed line |
Paris Gare de Lyon: Location map
One of the most important stations in Paris and the third busiest station in France, the Gare de Lyon is the station for trains heading southeast out of the city, including trains to Dijon, Lyon, Avignon, Marseille, Nice, the French Alps, Switzerland, Italy & Barcelona. There has been a station here since 1847, although the current station building dates from 1900. The Gare de Lyon is a classic Parisian landmark and I always relish the chance for a meal, coffee or beer at the fabled Train Bleu restaurant.
Overview: See station plan
The Gare de Lyon is a terminus with flat level access between the taxi rank, concourse & all platforms, so it's easy to navigate with wheeled luggage.
The station has two separate concourses, known as Hall 1 and Hall 2, see the station plan. Hall 1 is the original trainshed dating from 1900 housing platforms A to N, Hall 2 is the later extension housing platforms 5 to 23.
You can find more about the station and its facilities at www.garesetconnexions.sncf, also see www.garedelyon.fr.
The classic facade of the Gare de Lyon of 1900. The large arched windows above the canopy are those of the Train Bleu restaurant.
If you walk through the entrances in this facade, you'll find yourself in Hall 1, facing platforms A to N.
Hall 1, platforms A to N
This is the original trainshed, dating from 1900.
Hall 1 & platforms A to N seen from the top of the Train Bleu restaurant steps. Platform A on the left, N on the right.
Note the automatic ticket gates between concourse and platforms.
Looking across Hall 1 concourse, with the steps up to the Train Bleu restaurant out of shot to the left, platforms A to N ahead. The main departure board is above the Starbucks Coffee kiosk in the centre. The escalators down to the Metro & RER and behind the hoarding behind the Starbucks kiosk.
The steps up to the wonderful Train Bleu restaurant, on the back wall of Hall 1. In 2024, the facade has been renovated but some hoardings remain!
Hall 2, platforms 5 to 23
A later extension, accessed from Hall 1 by walking walking through the ticket hall.
Looking across Hall 2 with platforms 5 - 23 on the right, platform A behind the camera, the slope down to Hall 3 on the left.
Automatic ticket gates. Just scan the barcode on your ticket or phone e-ticket and the gates will let you through. Note the wider gate for wheelchairs or large luggage. Gates may shut off a couple of minutes before departure.
Hall 3, underground with access to all platforms
Hall 3 is what they've now decided to call the sprawling underground concourse (a glorified passageway) one floor down from Hall 2 and extending underneath all the tracks. You can reach Hall 3 by going down escalators from Hall 2, or by going down stairs or escalators from Hall 1 then a short walk. There are stairs and escalators from Hall 3 up to each platform. You normally access the platforms and board trains from Hall 1 or Hall 2. The Salon Grand Voyager and left luggage lockers are in Hall 3, plus a cafe and many ticket machines.
Looking along Hall 3 underneath all the tracks, platform 5 at one end, platform N at the other.
The main departures board
There is a large colour departure board in the centre of Hall 1 and another in Hall 2 on the far wall. The photo below shows the one in Hall 1. The platform number or letter (13, 11, J, C and so on) is shown for departures that are ready for boarding (typically 20 minutes before departure, but it varies). For departures which are not yet ready for boarding, the board shows whether to wait in Hall 1 (platforms A to N) or Hall 2 (platforms 5 to 23). Click for larger photo.
Tickets & reservations
The SNCF ticket office is in the broad passageway linking Hall 1 with Hall 2, parallel with platform A.
There are two sections, Libre Service where you can use a computer terminal to book yourself a ticket, and Conseil, where there is someone to book tickets & passholder reservations for you. The photo below shows the Conseil entrance, the Libre Service entrance is out of shot to the left.
There is a small Trenitalia ticket office for ticket sales to Lyon, Milan & Italy on Trenitalia services, hidden away in a corner of Hall 1, opposite platform N.
Salon Grand Voyageur (1st class lounge)
The SNCF Salon Grand Voyageur first class lounge is in the passageway connecting Hall 1 with Hall 2, immediately to the right of the ticket office. The reception desk is just inside the entrance, the lounge itself is upstairs with windows overlooking platform A, but there are stairs and a lift.
You can use the lounge if you have any sort of 1st class TGV-Lyria international ticket to Switzerland, business premiere or standard premiere, full-price or advance.
For all other routes, you can only use the lounge if either (a) you have SNCF's (or other Railteam members) frequent traveller loyalty card or a full-price 1st class Pro or Business Premiere fare (not a discounted 1st class fare), which you probably won't have.
The lounge is open 05:40-21:00 weekdays, 07:00-20:00 weekends, closed on French national holidays.
Inside the lounge there is comfortable seating, a water cooler and free coffee machine, free WiFi, phone chargers & toilets.
The Man in Seat 61 says, "The lounge can be handy if you qualify to enter, but I still prefer paying for a beer or real coffee at the Train Bleu restaurant Big Ben bar!"
Left luggage lockers
The luggage lockers are in Hall 3, which is one floor down from track level. Follow the signs to the Consigne. They're at the extreme platform N end of Hall 3, in the far left corner as you walk along Hall 3 from platform 5 towards platform N. Expect to have your bags X-rayed at the entrance to the locker room. For opening hours & prices see the left luggage lockers page.
Hotels near the Gare de Lyon
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The Mercure Paris Gare De Lyon is ideal for an overnight stop with an early train to catch next morning. It's an integral part of the station itself, on the forecourt right next to the clock tower, see the photo below. It gets over 8/10 in reviews for staff, comfort & cleanliness, less than 8 for facilities and room size, but these are arguably less important for a one night stay between trains.
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The 4-star Citizen M Hotel gets great 8/10 or better reviews on all counts, close to 9/10 on some and I've had great feedback from seat61 users too. It's 160m 2-minute walk from the station.
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Also try the Hotel Terminus Lyon (across the road in front of the station, 3-star); Novotel Paris Gare de Lyon (opposite the station, 4-star); Hotel 26 Faubourg (5 min walk from Gare de Lyon, 2-star).
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There aren't many cheap hotels around the Gare de Lyon, try the Hotel Ibis Styles Gare de Lyon across the road. If you're prepared to walk a bit, try the Libertel Austerlitz Jardin des Plantes as this is significantly cheaper but still with a 8+ review score, a 13-minute walk across the river Seine past the Gare d'Austerlitz.
Mercure Hotel entrance, next to the Gare de Lyon's famous clock tower. Handy for early train departures!
Tips for using the Gare de Lyon
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Don't rush through
Take a moment to wander onto the forecourt and see the beautiful station facade of 1900 with its famous clock tower. The clock is illuminated at night - it's now electric of course, but before 1929 this was done with oil lamps.
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Boarding your train
Trains typically become ready for boarding around 20 minutes before departure, when a platform number will appear against your train on the various departure screens around the station. However, the screens will show whether to wait in Hall 1 or Hall 2 even before a specific platform number is shown. It only takes 2 minutes to walk between Hall 1 & Hall 2 along platform A or through the ticket hall, but it's better to be waiting in the right area close to where your train will leave.
Most platforms at the Gare de Lyon now have automatic ticket gates. When each train is ready for boarding, place the barcode on your print-your-own ticket, conventional ticket or phone against the glass scanner on the gate, and the gate will open. There are plenty of staff to help if you need assistance. If you have ticket barcodes for multiple people on your phone, use one at a time to send your travel companions through the gates, then use the last one to get yourself through.
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The famous Train Bleu restaurant
It's a national monument (and an experience) as much as a place to eat! Plan to have a meal at the celebrated Train Bleu restaurant before strolling across the concourse to your train, see the Train Bleu restaurant page. Eating in those surroundings is an experience in itself, and the food is pretty good too...
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The Big Ben bar - ideal VIP waiting lounge!
For the price of a cup of coffee or a beer and maybe some tapas, you can use the Big Ben Bar inside the Train Bleu Restaurant as your quiet & peaceful VIP waiting lounge, away from the hubbub of the station concourse below - see the Big Ben Bar photos & info here. It has great character and is a favourite of mine, it's not the cheapest beer or coffee you'll find just consider it VIP lounge access!
Alternatively, consider the excellent craft beer bar L'Express de Lyon across the road from the station at 1, rue de Lyon, see the Express de Lyon Tripadvisor page. It serves a selection of beers from France Germany & Spain, and does good food too.
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First class lounge = SNCF Salon Grand Voyageur
There's an SNCF Grand Voyageur lounge at the Gare de Lyon for certain types of first class ticket holders, see details of facilities, location & access conditions below. Though personally I still prefer paying for a beer or a proper coffee at the Train Bleu restaurant's Big Ben bar!
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Stock up at the supermarket
There is a Monoprix supermarket a few metres up the Rue de Lyon opposite the station, I've marked it on the map above - just click for full screen then zoom out. the supermarket is a good place to stock up for a journey, and has a passable range of half-bottles of wine, ideal for taking with you on a train. Of course there are coffee and filled baguette outlets all over the station, and you'll also find a chemists on the station, in the ticket hall passageway towards Hall 2.
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Left luggage lockers
The station has plenty of luggage lockers if you want to leave your bags for a few hours or a day, see the luggage lockers section below. The luggage lockers are in Hall 3 (one floor down from platform level) at the extreme platform N end of that Hall, in the extreme far left corner of Hall 3 as you walk along Hall 3 from platform 5 towards platform N. Follow the signs to the Consigne. Expect to have your bags X-rayed at the entrance to the locker room.
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Taxis
There's a well-organised taxi rank on the station forecourt in front of the station, with staff allocating people to taxis. Even if the queue looks long, it moves fast and it won't take much more than 10 minutes to get into a taxi. It's a 25-30 minute drive to the Gare du Nord or Gare de l'Est.
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For more information on the station & its facilities see the official SNCF site www.gares-sncf.com.
