About Gare de Lyon
Gare de Lyon is the gateway to the south of France, Italy and Switzerland. TGV trains to Lyon, Marseille, Nice, Cannes and Monaco depart from the platforms above, alongside international services to Geneva, Turin and Milan. For anyone making a day trip to the French Riviera or heading to the Alps, this is the station they begin from.
The station itself contains one of the finest restaurant interiors in Paris: Le Train Bleu, a brasserie opened in 1901 and classified as a monument historique. The painted ceilings depict destinations served by the PLM railway, the gilded plasterwork is extraordinary, and the food - classic French brasserie - is entirely secondary to the architecture. Book in advance for dinner; the lunch prix-fixe is significantly cheaper.
Station Overview
Zone 1. Lines 1 and 14 on the Métro, plus RER A and D. Step-free access available. Major TGV terminus for south-east France and international services.
Travel Tips
- Le Train Bleu restaurant inside the station - a painted Belle Époque masterpiece. Worth at least a coffee to see the interior
- TGV to Lyon: 2 hours. To Marseille: 3 hours. To Nice: 5.5 hours. To Geneva: 3.5 hours
- RER A from here reaches CDG Airport in about 45 minutes and Châtelet in 8 minutes
- Bercy Village (converted wine warehouse shopping and dining complex) is a 10-minute walk east
Nearby Attractions
Le Train Bleu - Inside the station above the platforms. One of Paris's most spectacular restaurant interiors, classified as a historic monument. Lunch and dinner service.
Bercy Village - 10 minutes walk east. Wine warehouses converted into an open-air shopping and restaurant complex with independent boutiques and terrasse dining.
Promenade Plantée - The elevated garden built on a disused railway viaduct starts at Bastille and its lower section runs through this area toward Nation.
Timings and Best Time to Travel
Standard Métro hours. TGV services run from early morning to late evening. Book TGV tickets in advance for best prices - Ouigo (low-cost SNCF) often sells seats from Gare de Lyon at significant discounts.
Nearest Metro to Gare de Lyon (TGV terminal)
If you are heading to Gare de Lyon (TGV terminal), Gare de Lyon is your closest metro stop on the Ligne 1. It also gives easy access to Le Train Bleu restaurant and Promenade Plantée (start). Use the fare calculator to plan your journey cost before you travel.
Stations on This Line
Traveller Tips
- 1Le Train Bleu brasserie inside the station is a Paris institution - worth visiting even without taking a train
- 2TGV to Lyon: 2 hours, to Nice: 5.5 hours, to Marseille: 3 hours
- 3RER A from the mainline station connects rapidly to both airports
- 4The Promenade Plantée (world's first elevated park, inspiration for NYC's High Line) starts at Bastille