Long-distance and high-speed trains arrive in Paris at several different stations with Gare du Nord, Gare de l'Est, and Gare de Lyon amongst the more important ones for international travelers. Connecting between French long-distance trains going into the opposite direction from Paris, usually require a transfer to a different station as well. Taking a suburban RER train or the Metro is usually the fastest and cheapest way to make such a transfer although in some cases walking is easier while travelers with bulky luggage may find it worth splurging on a taxi.
Gare du Nord Station in Paris, France
Eurostar trains from London St Pancras International arrive in Paris at Gare du Nord (North Station), as do TGV Thalys trains from Northern France, Brussels, Amsterdam, and Cologne (Köln). Unfortunately, for most travelers Gare du Nord is not the final destination. Even travelers to Paris will generally require further transportation while those en route to other parts of France, Germany, Italy, Spain, or Switzerland will have to change to other major long-distance stations to catch further TGV trains.
- Transfers from Paris Gare du Nord to Gare de l'Est and Gare de Lyon are fairly simple but generally allow 60 to 90 minutes between scheduled arrival and departure times.
From Gare du Nord to Gare de l'Est Station in Paris
The easiest station to change to from Gare du Nord (North Station) is Gare de l'Est (East Station). Walking is generally the best option.
The fastest walk to Gare de l'Est takes only around ten minutes but does involve some stairs. Upon exiting Gare du Nord, turn left and walk along Rue de Dunkerque until reaching the railway tracks of Gare de l'Est. Turn right into Rue d'Alsace until reaching the station entrance. (On the reverse journey, follow the "Sortie Rue d'Alsace" signs in Gare de l'Est.)
It is possible to avoid stairs on the walk to Gare de l'Est by using main roads. From Gare du Nord, follow Boulevard de Denain to Boulevard de Magenta and continue along Rue du 8 Mai 1945. This flat route should take around 20 minutes.
- Metro line 5 also connects the two stations but unless weather is really bad, walking is an easier option.
Although the distances are short, allow at least 45 minutes for transits between Eurostar and TGV or other French SNCF trains. On the reverse journey, bear in mind the check-in time for Eurostar trains (usually around 30 minutes) - TGV and other French trains may be boarded up to seconds before scheduled departure times.
- Long-distance trains departing from Gare de l'Est include amongst others TGV and ICE trains to Frankfurt, Luxembourg, Strasbourg, Basel, Zurich, and Stuttgart.
From Gare du Nord to Gare de Lyon Station in Paris
Changing from Gare du Nord (North Station) to Gare de Lyon (Lyon Station) in Paris is unproblematic too. The two stations are linked by the fast RER suburban train on the D line with Chateles Les Halles the only stop en route.
- From Gare du Nord, take RER D in the direction Melun or Malesherbes to Gare de Lyon.
- From Gare de Lyon, take RER D in the direction Orry la Ville to Gare du Nord.
The RER train journey itself takes just half an hour but allow at least an hour transfer time between long-distance trains plus the Eurostar check-in time if applicable. The RER D trains run so frequently - around ten per hour - that there is no need to check schedules in advance. Avoid RER lines A and B, which require a change of trains at Chateles Les Halles.
- TGV trains departing from Gare de Lyon Station in Paris run amongst others to Lyon, Provence, Italy, and Geneva.
By Taxi from Gare du Nord to Gare de Lyon Station in Paris
Taking a taxi between Gare du Nord and Gare de Lyon will take just less than half an hour and should cost less than €20. Taxis are sensible for small groups or travelers with bulky luggage.
- France's fast TGV trains offer a great way to explore the French countryside from Paris although the use of different stations in Paris adds significantly to overall traveling times when the French capital is not the point of departure or the final destination. Increased cooperation between Western European high-speed railway networks through Railteam has made fast train travel possible to neighboring countries too with French TGV trains now running from France to Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Germany, and Switzerland.
Henk Bekker - Henk Bekker is a freelance travel writer currently living on the shores of Lake Geneva in Switzerland.
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