Sun City

The biggest gay sauna in Paris

Sun City takes up 3000 m2 spread over three levels, right on boulevard de Sébastopol in the 3rd arrondissement. It's now one of the busiest gay venues in the capital, with a decor that plays the exotic card, inspired by India, columns and warm materials rather than the usual white tiling.

The clientele is exclusively male, mostly gay and bisexual, ages 18 and up. Access is reserved for people who show up in person, no walk-through visits for the merely curious.

Facilities that go well beyond the sauna

On the menu across the three floors: an indoor pool, a sauna, a hammam, a giant jacuzzi, a weight room, private cabins, a cinema area and a bar. Enough to move through several moods in the same evening, between steamy relaxation and cozier, more intimate corners.

Events punctuate the calendar: dance nights, dansant teas, and STI screening sessions organized with AREMEDIA, an initiative that comes back regularly and that regulars appreciate.

Hours and rates

Open every day, from noon to 2am Monday to Thursday and on Sunday, and until 6am on Friday and Saturday.

• 22 euros Monday to Thursday (14 euros for under 26s, 10 euros on Tuesday)
• 25 euros Friday, Saturday and Sunday (20 euros after 3am, 17 euros for under 26s)
• Entry includes two drinks, two towels and condoms

What regulars think

Feedback mostly praises the size of the place and the variety of spaces, hard to get bored with so many different zones to explore. The cosmopolitan vibe comes up often in comments, with a clientele that's varied in age and background.

Some visitors point to the noise and crowding at peak hours, especially weekend nights when the venue runs until 6am. A place that rewards a bit of planning during quieter hours, so you can fully enjoy the hammam or the pool without the crowd.