Lyon

France’s second largest city, Lyon is characterized by the intelligence and seriousness often associated with the second born. It’s a financial powerhouse, but it’s also known for its gastronomic scene and as an important center for film. Vieux Lyon, the old city, is a United Nations World Heritage Site. Lyon is also second only to Paris the numbers of British and American expats, so more than a few bars, stores and associations cater to these thousands of English speakers. Many websites have pages in English as well as French.

Most of Lyon's gay scene is found in Vieux Lyon, on the presqu'isle bounded by Le Rhone and La Saone, and almost all gay points of interest are within an easy ten-minute walk of each other. Fierté is the city’s annual gay pride festival, held every June.

For sports fans, TIGALY is an international gay badminton and volleyball tournament also held in June and Les RebeLyons is the local gay rugby team.

In March Lyon has the Écrans Mixtes queer film festival, and  Face à Face is another popular gay film festival held each November in nearby Saint-Etienne.

 

Getting here

Aéroport de Lyon-Saint Exupéry is about 13 miles east of the city center. Lyon is approximately two hours by TGV (the amazing trains which travel at tres grande vitesse) from Paris.

Getting around

Lyon has an impressive public transportation system of buses, trams, and trains. Getting just about anywhere is quick and cheap. For information see the TCL SYTRAL website.

Vélo'v provides bikes, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at locations all over Lyon and Villeurbanne, at intervals of 300 meters or so.

Neighborhoods

Vieux Lyon, the old city, is where you’ll find most gay points of interest.

Currency and Money

France is part of the Euro Zone, so the euro is the accepted currency. There are plenty of ATMs in the downtown area.

Local media and resources

Heteroclyte and GayInLyon are two excellent local sources of gay information online for Lyon and surrounding areas. LOM Magazine, with their Guide Plein Cud (GPS) is another good source for information on gay Lyon and other southern cities such as Toulouse, Perpignan, Nîmes, and Montpelier. Actu-Gay also has an online guide to gay Lyon.

The Tourist Office guide lists places that cater to Lyon’s gay community as well as their general information for visitors. Ville de Lyon has a dozen more useful English-language guide sites. Le Petit Paumé also has tips on bars, restaurants and places of interest.
 

 

Going out

À Chacun Sa Tasse (2 rue du Griffon), tea and coffee house/cafe, shop, world-wide selections, cocktails, juices, art exhibits

Broc Bar (20 rue Lanterne), great sidewalk terrace cafe, casual vibe, deco colors, morning coffee from 7:30am, afternoon and evening cocktails until 10pm.

Bull Café (24 place de la Croix-Rousse), former Bar du Gymnase, easy-going mix of all types at the center, playful cocktails.

Le Cap Opera (2, place Louis Pradel), swings seven days just behind opera house. Young, sophisticated types, l'heure de cocktail into the night, theme parties, quick and tasty munchies, sidewalk terrace.

Le Domaine (9 rue du Jardin des Plantes) at heart of Lyon peninsula, open nightly, comfortable decor, south facing sunny terrace, dance floor, relaxed vibe, tapas, acoustic live music performances.

L'Etoile Opera, (26, rue de l'Arbre Sec), cocktail bar and restaurant, mixed clientele, delicious light lunch.

Le Forum Bar (15, rue des Quatres Chapeaux), Lyon's classic men's bar, busy with relaxed guys who love to converse.

La Ruche (22, rue Gentil), local institution, popular with fun crowd, international ambience, warm-weather terrace, Sunday 6pm buffet spreads.

Lugdunum (3 place des Cordeliers), new 5pm-3am terrace bar, energetic theme nights, large smokers' area, spacious shower cabin where hot guys cool off.

Station B (21 place Gabriel Rambaud), area's main men's bear bar, roomy beneath arched stone ceilings, DJs play dance music.

V.Bar (89 rue Masséna), gay men and general mix, upscale cocktail bar, salads, quiches, snacks, Saturday and Sunday brunch, special party nights.

XS (19 rue Claudia), casual bar, mostly men, all ages and types, bears to twinks and women friends.

 

Dance clubs

L’Apothéose (4 rue Saint-Claude), after-hours dance boîte, nightly to 5am, gay guys and girlfriends, separate floor of cabins and make-out sofas get plenty of use.

Le Crazy (24 rue Royale), Thursday to Sunday, young gay/lesbian, hetero-friendly dance club, 80's/90's pop and disco, alternating Sundays men only/all women.

Délice at Bloc Club (67 rue de Rancy), 5 or 6 per year theme parties, large club, big high-tech sound and lights. See local press for upcoming dates.

Le DV1 (6 rue Violi), mixed crowd dance club in Old Lyon, two rooms - electro/techno or pop choices, gayest on weekends, Sunday cabaret shows.

Friends Club (22, rue Joseph Serlin), Thursday to Sunday gay after-hours dance club to 5am, dark basement cruising.

Le Marais (3, rue Terme), re-opened in old Mix location, piano and karaoke bar, dancing from midnight.

Le Pinks Club (38, rue de l'Arbre Sec), after-hours dance club, young mixed crowd, uninhibited theme nights, big Pride and Bastille Day parties.

L'United Cafe (Impasse de la Pecherie), aka L'UC, the club in town for young, cool mostly male crowd until 5am, seven nights. Karaoke and game nights, drag Wednesdays, "Black-Out Zone" Sundays.

 

Sex clubs

BK69 (1, rue de Thou), bondage, fetish, S&M wet dream for varied male membership who push limits of sexual adventures. Join them for online diversions.

MCRA (2, cours d'Herbouville),  aka Le Men, Lyon's hard-sex membership club bar. Use ECMC cards, or join at the door. Secured front entrance, full Friday and Saturday night schedules of bondage, fetish, water-sports, dress code leather, rubber uniform nights.

Le Premier Sous-Sol (7, rue Puits Gaillot), sex club in quartier des Terreau, two levels of fun and fantasy, videos, back-room, mazes, private cabins; seven days a week until 5am, weekends 8am.

SMAC 69 (30 rue Burdeau), fetish and bondage association, bar, fisting sessions, Sunday afternoon get-down-to-business Gay Tea Fuck from 4pm.

Le Trou (6, rue Romarin), open seven days, 2pm to 3am (to 6am Fridays and Saturdays), full agenda of fetish/leather, fisting, naked, jack-off, cockring, bear, black out, piss parties, -- men only.

 

Saunas
This city boasts a good selection of saunas with all the facilities you'd expect.

Le Double side (8, rue Constantine), open daily noon to 3am -until 5am Friday/Saturday, younger crowd than most, naked nights, buffets.

L'Oasis Club (2, rue Coustou), and Le Sauna Bellecour (4, rue Simon Maupin) are two more hot local steam and sauna options for men with cruising and videos.

Sun City (3, rue Ste Marie des Terreaux), sibling to big stylish club in Marais gay district of Paris - a modern steam/sauna/cruise heaven for men, largest of it's kind in France.

 

Sex shops
DOGklub (12, rue du Romarin), local outlet for DVD retail and rentals, fetish gadgets, lubes, toys, etc.

 

Restaurants
Les Feuillants (5, rue des Feuillants), highly recommended, fantastic food, open from noon through dinner-time.

Logo Cafe (1 place Croix Paquet), French breakfast weekdays from 7:30am (special Saturday ones from 9am), lunch from noon, aperitif lounge open until 8:30pm.

Le Jean Moulin (22 rue Gentil), gay-favored local bistro, late service hours until midnight.

 

Lodgings
Hotel Le patio des Terreaux (9, rue Sainte Catherine; 04-7828-1101), renovated historic building from silk ateliers days (Lyon was once world leader in silk production). Comfortable rooms, private baths, sexy TV after 1am.

The Hotel Iris (36, rue de l'Arbre Sec; 04-7839-9380), good local lodgings, mixed clientele.

For more accommodations in Lyon see our maps and listings tab above.