living in france
Joining a gym in France - and why it is different to the UK and US
Cultural differences and practical steps to know about before signing up for a gym membership
September - like the New Year - is a common time of year for joining a gym. With work routines normalising after the summer break, many feel the urge to get back into shape.
France is no exception, with the popularity of gyms proliferating in recent years - figures from this year show nearly 5,000 gyms in the country.
But before rushing to sign up it is good to have an understanding of both the practical and cultural aspects of joining a gym in France, which can differ in subtle ways from gym membership in the UK or US.
French gym culture
The French’s new-found love of working out comes with a particular set of cultural differences it is worth knowing about if you plan to join a gym in the country.
The first thing to understand is that despite the recent surge in popularity, most evident in the post-Covid era, there are generally fewer gyms in France compared to the UK (where there are around 7,000, according to 2025 estimates) and in particular the US where gym culture is well-established and gym membership tops 80 million.
French gyms also tend to keep tighter opening hours with the French lifestyle blog, Oui in France, noting that while it is not uncommon for a city gym in the US to open at 5:30am and stay open till late at night, this is far less likely in France.
At the same time, while gyms in the US often have personal trainers on hand to help members develop workout routines, this is rarer in France. So too is air conditioning, meaning things can get quite sweaty in high summer.
Female members at French gyms are also less likely to lift weights, the blog noted.
Attire and etiquette
Writer Joe Collier, who splits his time between London and the Brittany countryside has also observed a cultural difference in the way gym members interact in France compared to the UK.
Writing on his personal blog last year, Mr Collier said that members at the gym near his home in Tréguennec are far more sociable than you would generally find at his gym in England.
He said that while gym life in London “seems dominated by silence,” at his local French gym “meeting others is without fail accompanied by the equivalent of a ‘Good morning’ or ‘How are you?’, and leaving by a ‘Good bye’ or ‘See you soon’.
He also noted an unofficial dress code, with most gym users attired all in black.
If you are interested in being part of France’s gym culture, the government has just released some helpful guidance.
Published online at the start of the month, it comes after a government report last year into malpractice among French gyms.
Visit facility, take trial if possible
People looking to sign up to a gym should ensure they speak with facility managers first, even if the sign-up process is promoted online.
Managers must provide information, including:
Details of the services offered (content of the service offered, duration of the contract, etc)
General terms and conditions of sale and cancellation and internal rules
Detailed pricing information, including cancellation costs
The identity of the service provider
Information on using a consumer mediator after a contract has been signed
You can request a copy of the contract to read in full before signing, and this extends to an unsigned draft to ensure you agree with everything.
This can be taken off-site to read before returning to sign it.
All facilities should have easily visible indications of prices and tariffs, necessary qualifications held by personnel, rules on health and safety standards, proof of the insurance policy it holds, its emergency plans etc.
You can ask for a tour of the gym beforehand to check facilities over, and some gyms offer trial sessions (but this is not a legal requirement).
Opt for best payment method for you
When it comes to payments, try to avoid handing over all cheques at once (if paying monthly), and instead use a monthly bank transfer or direct debit. You can opt for an annual payment if you prefer, however this may make it more difficult to cancel the contract early.
In some cases where monthly payments are chosen, it may constitute a consumer credit agreement, and you will receive a letter from a credit provider.
You typically have 14 days to cancel contracts of this nature.
Contracts signed online must also have the option of being cancelled online.
70% of gyms found to not follow rules
The government also warned of the risk of poor contracts or misleading commercial practices associated with sporting facilities.
An investigation conducted by the Directorate General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control (direction générale de la Concurrence, de la Consommation et de la Répression des fraudes, DGCCRF) between 2022 and 2023 across 571 establishments revealed that more than 70% of gyms had at least one irregularity.
These ‘irregularities’ largely consist of a lack of consumer information, particularly regarding membership terms, the right of withdrawal, or the absence of a consumer mediator.
It is also common for gyms to be knowingly obtuse over pricing policies to confuse customers and charge higher amounts.
In addition, 46% of gyms assessed included unfair or illegal clauses in their contracts, including diminished cancellation rights.
Misleading commercial practices highlighted by authorities included hidden fees in ‘no commitment’ contracts, as well as unrealistic promises.
Further advice includes:
Verify with the provider that the services advertised are actually offered
Ask about any potential registration or administrative fees that the provider might have omitted
Confirm with the provider that the quoted price is not just for the first month of the membership
Check that all staff have the correct qualifications and ID card issued by the departmental prefecture
Ensure the gym complies with rules requiring it to clearly show information on how to report violence or discrimination, both as a victim and a witness
Information on how to use equipment safely must be provided in French, and if there are particular pieces of equipment you want to use you should check they are safe (for example, benches are not at risk of sliding, there is sufficient space around treadmills in the event of a fall, etc).
Insurance is not a requirement
As a member of the gym, you are not required to hold insurance to attend classes.
Facilities are legally obliged to have their own civil liability insurance that covers incidents where one member injures another (usually for contact sports, martial arts, etc).
However, this obligation does not extend to self-inflicted medical injuries, for example if you hurt yourself using equipment on your own.
In this case, insurance held by the gym will not cover you, but you may be covered by your own insurance (either your home insurance, mutuelle, or insurance from your bank may provide additional coverage in such incidents).
You do not need to have a medical certificate from a doctor to join a gym, but some facilities can ask you to provide one before joining – and it is not illegal for them to make this a prerequisite.
Complaints and further issues
If you are dissatisfied with the gym or have a disagreement and trying to resolve the issue amicably proves unsuccessful, send a registered letter (Lettre recommandée avec accusé de réception) with your issue.
If no progress is made, you can complain to a mediator – the gym is required to work with a specific mediator, details of which should be found in the facilities/on the website.
Finally, if you continue to face issues – or the facility is in contravention of the above rules – you can highlight the issue on the government’s alert page SignalConso.
Once all these methods are exhausted, if there is still no resolution you can take the matter to court – the tribunal judiciaire, or for matters of €10,000 or below, the tribunal de proximité.
It is worth also mentioning that readers with children can also take advantage of the €50 ‘PassSport’, which covers part or all of a pupil’s registration fees for joining a sports club or gym.
Sent out in mid-September through an email, the voucher can be applied if the facility is one of the 85,000 partners of the scheme.
