 |
|
|
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, with the Brasserie Marius below it.
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, see the photo below.
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 Libre Service entrance, the Conseil entrance is further on to the right.
The Trenitalia ticket office for ticket sales to Lyon, Milan & Italy on Trenitalia's Frecciarossa services is tucked 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 (a) you have an expensive full-price 1st class Business Premiere fare (not a regular cheaper 1st class fare or railpass), or (b) you have SNCF's or another Railteam member's frequent traveller loyalty card, such as Eurostar Carte Blanche.
You can also use the lounge if you have any sort of 1st class international ticket to Switzerland with TGV-Lyria, even discounted, either in première or première signature.
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!"
Luggage lockers
The luggage lockers are in Hall 3, which is one floor down from track level. Go towards platform N on one side of Hall 1, go downstairs following the signs to the Consigne. Expect to have your bags X-rayed at the entrance to the locker room. You pay with cash for most lockers, but some lockers now take cards. For opening hours & prices see the left luggage lockers page.
The left luggage locker room, one level down from the hall 1 concourse, in the corner at the platform N end of Hall 3.
Food & drink
Train Bleu restaurant - an experience in itself!
Located in Hall 1, the celebrated Train Bleu restaurant is a listed national monument, not merely a place to eat. Have a meal where Brigitte Bardot and Salvador Dali have dined, before strolling across the concourse to your train! Highly recommended, see the Train Bleu restaurant page.
Big Ben bar - a VIP waiting lounge
For the price of a cup of coffee or a beer, 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 more about the Big Ben Bar 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!
Brasserie Marius
If the Train Bleu is beyond your budget, the Brasserie Marius is a cheaper alternative on the concourse in Hall 1, directly below the Train Bleu. Open from 06:00, handy when catching an early train before your hotel serves breakfast. You can sit in the seating on the concourse shown below, or inside underneath the Train Bleu restaurant.
Brasserie L'Européen
This is the large traditional French brasserie directly across the road from the station. It's similar to the Brasserie Terminus Nord at the Gare du Nord, having dined at both I think the Terminus Nord has a slight edge, but there's not a lot in it, you'll enjoy this! It offers a wide menu with lots of seafood including oysters. Treat yourself!
L'Express de Lyon for craft beer
This is a small but excellent craft beer bar across the road from the station at 1, rue de Lyon, see the Express de Lyon Tripadvisor page. It serves a wide selection of beers from France, Germany & Spain, and does decent simple food too, such as sausage and mash. Another place I can personally recommend!
Hotels near the Gare de Lyon
The Mercure Paris Gare De Lyon is the hotel I recommend if you've an early train to catch next morning or will be arriving by train late at night. It's an integral part of the station on the forecourt next to the clock tower, see the photo below. It gets over 8/10 in reviews for staff, comfort & cleanliness, the overall score is reduced by facilities and room size, but these are less important when you're only staying one night between trains. I've stayed here myself and found the rooms excellent, unless you want to play tennis. You can almost roll out of bed onto the concourse! Breakfast starts at 06:30 weekdays, handy if you're catching a train at 07:30 or so.
The 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. 4 stars.
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).
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. I found the room great, and so handy for an early train departure!
Tips for using the Gare de Lyon
-
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.
-
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.
-
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 coffee at the Train Bleu restaurant's Big Ben bar!
-
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.
-
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.
-
For more information on the station & its facilities see the official SNCF site www.gares-sncf.com.
