When we were in Paris this past fall we stayed in the Gare de Lyon neighbourhood of Paris at the Coutyard Marriott. We chose that hotel because we could get our entire stay paid for using points. After staying and exploring this area for a week I totally believe you don’t have to stay in the more popular arrondissments to have a great trip to Paris. I bet you will think so too after reading these 5 reasons to stay in Gare de Lyon.
Before you Go
Before you head off on your Parisian vacation make sure to pack the following:
Comfortable but European chic sneakers like these will keep your feet happy. I wore these on our vacation and not only did I fit right in with the Parisian girls on the Metro my feet were comfortable.
Wear a backpack that looks more like a purse. Makes life easier in Museums! I like this one because there is a hidden pocket.
Where to stay in Paris – 5 Reasons to stay in Gare de Lyon
Rue Cremieux – this is a pretty insta famous pedestrian only street that was steps from Gare de Lyon station and our hotel. Even if you aren’t into places shared so much on Instagram you feel like you need to go there, you can’t deny that the Gare de Lyon neighbourhood is pretty. Lots of Hussaman style architecture and wide boulevards. You can walk around this neighourhood and get that Parisian feel even though you aren’t right beside the top tourist attractions.
Read More: Best Shoes for Walking around Europe
Walkability – On our first full day of touring we walked along the Siene and over to the Notre Dame Cathedral. We easily walked to the Bastille neighbourhood and over towards le Maris. The beauty of Gare de Lyon is that even though it isn’t in the heart of the more touristy area, it really isn’t THAT far out of it either.
Restaurants – Most of our days touring we were done sightseeing by 3 pm. We would go back our hotel to rest before heading out to dinner again. Everywhere we ate dinner was either in La Bastille (one metro stop away) or right in Gare de Lyon. There were so many restaurants to choose from and the food was fantastic. There were also grocery stores and patisseries where you could stock up on snacks and lunches for long sightseeing days.
Transit access – We found out the first three reasons to stay in Gare de Lyon while we were actually in the neighbourhood. We knew that easy transit access was a perk before we arrived. The Gare de Lyon station gives you access to both the Metro and rail lines. There is also another rail station just across the Siene River; Gare d’Austerlitz which gives you access to additional Metro and rail lines. We went to Gare d’Austerlitz and used the trains there to go to Versailles. My husband and I bought a Paris Visite pass and we used the Metro every day. We even used the train system when we arrived at the airport.
Budget – Paris can be an expensive city. There are many ways to travel to Europe on a budget. One of the easiest is to stay OUTSIDE the most popular areas. The closer you stay to famous monuments or desirable areas the more expensive the hotel room. Gare de Lyon is close to everything without being right in the thick of it. You still get the beauty of Paris but hotel rooms are more affordable. We were able to pay for our hotel room with points. This would have been impossible at a more central location. To be honest I didn’t even feel like we weren’t central since we were still in the main part of Paris.
We enjoyed our stay in the Gare de Lyon area of Paris. We had easy access to everything the city had to offer and got to enjoy a part of Paris most wouldn’t think to check out. Ask questions about this area in the comments.