Holiday Inn Paris Gare de Lyon Bastille
by the TopOfHotel team
The Holiday Inn lands closer to the Bastille than to the Gare de Lyon, which makes it the pick for anyone who wants the neighborhood buzz and the TGV both.
The Holiday Inn lands closer to the Bastille than to the Gare de Lyon, which makes it the pick for anyone who wants the neighborhood buzz and the TGV both.
In-Depth Review
Rooms and decor
The 67 rooms are done in a contemporary brown-and-beige scheme, with wood panels on the walls and headboards that warm the whole thing up. Standard rooms run 16 to 20 square metres, and the windows are double-glazed against street and rail noise. The detail that sets this Holiday Inn apart is the balcony: some Executive rooms get a small private balcon with space for a chair or two and a little table — enough for a morning coffee or an evening glass of wine. Reviewers single it out as the thing that makes this branch different from other Holiday Inns.
Food and amenities
The lobby holds a modern restaurant serving French and international plates, with a bar that runs until midnight and room service available late. Breakfast is a buffet at about $20 a head, and children under 12 eat free — guests call out the range and the coffee. Wi-Fi is free and fast throughout. IHG One Rewards members pick up upgrades and late check-out when they're going.
Location and getting there
You're close to both the station and the tourist quarter. Gare de Lyon is 4 minutes away, with Metro lines 1 and 14 and RER A and D inside it; Place de la Bastille is 7 minutes, with Metro 1, 5, 8 and the Opera Bastille. Line 1 runs straight to the Louvre and Champs-Elysees, RER A heads out to La Defense and Disneyland, and RER D into RER B reaches CDG in about 55 minutes. The Marais is a 15-minute walk, and Notre-Dame is 20 minutes along the Seine.
Things to know before booking
It's a 4-minute walk to the platforms — slightly further than the hotels sitting right on the station, which matters if you're dragging heavy bags to an early TGV. Rates from around $140 a night put it above Hotel Palym and the Mercure, both closer to the station for less. And the balcony, the reason many people book, is an Executive-room feature — a standard room won't have one, so request the right category if that's what you came for.
Our take
This is the pick for travelers who want the Bastille side of the deal — the cafes, the restaurants, the late bars on Rue de la Roquette — and still want the TGV a short walk away. It suits couples after neighborhood character, IHG regulars banking points, and anyone chasing a private balcony on a 3-star budget. If your only priority is being closest to the platforms, book one of the hotels right by the station instead.
Score Breakdown
Assessed by our editorial team from data and real guest reviews
The Honest Verdict — pros & what to know
- The location splits the difference — 4 minutes to the station, 7 to the Bastille — so you get a lively, walkable neighborhood instead of just a transit forecourt.
- A few Executive rooms have a small private balcony, room enough for a chair or two and a little table. That is hard to find anywhere near this station.
- IHG One Rewards members get extras here, including room upgrades and late check-out when they're available.
- There's a modern restaurant and bar in the lobby serving French and international plates, with the bar running until midnight and late room service.
- The streets around the hotel are full of French restaurants, cafes and the Bastille nightlife — plenty within a short walk for dinner or a drink.
- It's a 4-minute walk to the platforms, a little further than the hotels that sit right on top of the station — worth knowing if you're hauling big bags at 5am.
- From $140 a night, it runs above Hotel Palym and the Mercure, both of which are closer to the station for less.
- Standard rooms are 16 to 20 square metres and decidedly mid-size; the balcony is reserved for the Executive rooms, so a standard booking won't get you one.
Who It’s For
Match Score by travel style
Amenities
Location & Nearby Spots
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Insider Tips
- Ask for an Executive room with a balcony — it's a small surcharge, but it's the best room in the area for an evening glass of wine.
- Walk over to the Bastille before heading back — Rue de la Roquette is lined with restaurants and bars open late.
- For the airport, take Metro 14 from Gare de Lyon to Chatelet in 8 minutes, then the Orlybus, or stay on RER D to RER B for CDG in about 55 minutes.