Novotel Paris Gare de Lyon
by the TopOfHotel team
Novotel is the only 4-star in the area with an indoor pool and family rooms that take up to 6 — and it's the closest hotel to the station on this list
Novotel is the only 4-star in the area with an indoor pool and family rooms that take up to 6 — and it's the closest hotel to the station on this list
In-Depth Review
Rooms and decor
The 253 rooms follow the current Novotel look — warm grey-and-brown tones, laminate wood floors, soft beds, and double-glazed soundproof windows that block train and street noise. A standard room runs about 22m², roughly 30% larger than citizenM down the road. The Family Rooms add a sofa-bed and take 2 adults plus 2 children — or 4 adults — without feeling cramped. One Tripadvisor reviewer summed it up as "clean rooms, soft beds, great soundproofing even right by the station." Children under 16 stay free with their parents when using the existing bedding.
Food and amenities
What sets this Novotel apart in the area is the heated indoor pool, open 06:30–22:00 — genuinely rare for a hotel by a Paris station. There's a well-kitted gym too, and the lobby restaurant Côté Diderot serves French brasserie food all day. The bar runs to midnight and room service is 24 hours. The breakfast buffet is about $29 per person (kids free); reviewers like the variety, though some call it a touch pricey and reckon a boulangerie near the station is better value.
Location and getting there
It's a 1-minute walk to every TGV platform across Hall 1 and Hall 2 of Gare de Lyon. Inside the station, RER A runs to La Défense and Disneyland, RER D connects to RER B for CDG airport, Metro 14 reaches Saint-Lazare in 8 minutes, and Metro 1 gets you to the Louvre in 10. Place de la Bastille is a 10-minute walk, and Notre-Dame is about 25 minutes along the Seine. The Promenade Plantée, an elevated green walkway, starts behind the station — good for an early run or stroll.
Things to know before booking
Rates start at $190, the highest of any 4-star on this list — that's the price of the location and the pool. The streets around the station can feel uneasy in the evening and late at night, and some reviewers say they didn't feel fully at ease. And the $29 breakfast, while varied, strikes some guests as expensive for what it is. This isn't the pick for budget travelers.
Our take
This one's built for families who land in Paris and then haul the TGV south to Lyon, Marseille or Nice, and want a pool to wear the kids out. It also suits business travelers with an early train and couples happy to pay a bit more for proper 4-star convenience. With an indoor pool, family rooms for up to 6, and the closest position to the platforms on this list, it earns its 8.3/10 — just not for anyone watching the budget.
Score Breakdown
Assessed by our editorial team from data and real guest reviews
The Honest Verdict — pros & what to know
- Closest to the station of any hotel on the list — a 1-minute walk (100m), so wheeling suitcases to the TGV or RER is easy even with big bags.
- Heated indoor pool, which only a handful of hotels near a Paris station can offer.
- Family Rooms add a sofa-bed to sleep 4 adults plus 2 children without feeling cramped.
- The Côté Diderot restaurant and bar run all day, with 24-hour room service on top.
- Dependable Accor service — the front-desk staff speak good English.
- Rates start at $190, the highest of any 4-star on this list — you're paying for the location and the pool.
- The area around the station can feel uneasy in the evening and late at night; some reviewers mention not feeling at ease.
- Breakfast is a buffet at about $29 per person — reviewers praise the spread but some find it pricey, and a boulangerie near the station works out cheaper.
Who It’s For
Match Score by travel style
Amenities
Location & Nearby Spots
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Insider Tips
- Book a high floor — kids love watching the trains pull in and out at night, and upper floors get less noise.
- The pool opens at 06:30, so you can swim before an early TGV; leave your bags in the luggage room while you do.
- Skip the buffet and grab croissants at a boulangerie near the station instead — most reviewers find it better value than the $29 breakfast.