How to Change Train Stations in Paris

The modern new entrance of Gare du Nord in the heart of Paris. Photo Anouk van den Eijnde/greentraveller.Eurostar arrives at Gare du Nord, which is in the 10th arrondissement (district) of Paris near the Canal St. Martin and the historic Place de la République, which has many bars, restaurants and cafés. Gare du Nord has many connections to Northern France and onwards by Thalys trains to Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands.

These hotels close to Gare du Nord get good reviews>>

To take the train to many other destinations in France and beyond, you will need to change to one of Paris’ six other train stations. Other than Gare de l'Est (which is a short walk away), the Metro is usually the easiest way to make the trip - it costs €1.70 for a one-way journey, though some stations are linked by the fast 'express' rail network RER ('Regional Express Network'). Click here for a map of the Paris Metro. Here is our quick guide to how to cross Paris to the various train stations from Gare du Nord…

Please note: The transfer times given here are the minimum amount of time we recommend you should allow between the scheduled arrival of your Eurostar in Paris and the scheduled departure time of your connecting train from Paris. Don't forget, when you catch the return Eurostar back to London, you should factor in the compulsory 30-minute check-in time in addition to the transfer time.

  Gare du Nord > Gare de l’Est                    

For travelling to: Basel, Strasbourg, Reims, Zurich, the ICE train to Frankfurt and the City Night Line sleeper train 'Perseus' to Berlin and the City Night Line sleeper train 'Cassiopeia' to Stuttgart and Munich

These hotels close to Gare de Nord/Gare de l'Est get good reviews>> 

What to do:
> Exit Gare du Nord, turn left then at the main intersection turn right (slightly downhill) along Rue du Fauberg Saint-Denis for about 400m then left along Rue de Chabrol to Gare de l'Est. It's about a 10-minute walk, but if you've got alot of luggage, allow for longer. We recommend you allow at least 25 minutes for the transfer. It's worth getting to Gare de L'Est in good time as there's a lovely cafe/restaurant just inside the station that serves decent coffee.

Watch this short video for how to cross from Gare du Nord to Gare de L'Est:

 

> Alternatively, it is one stop on the metro line - from the Eurostar platform, turn left, walk down the stairs and follow the signs for Metro line M4 to Gare de l'Est (which is signposted 'direction Porte d'Orléans').

The Return Journey:
> Turn right at the end of the platform, walk along the concourse and exit Gare de l'Est via the side entrance. Turn right, climb the long set of stairs and turn left onto Rue de Dunkerque. Gare du Nord will be straight ahead. 
> Alternatively, follow the signs for Metro Line M4 (which is signposted 'direction Porte de Clignancourt). Don't forget the 30 minute check-in for Eurostar.
Transfer time: Allow 25 minutes. 

 Gare du Nord > Gare de Lyon                     

For travelling to: Grenoble, Nice, Lyon, Chambery, Avignon, Marseille, Perpignan, Geneva, Lausanne, and the high-speed Artesia TGV to Turin and Milan

These hotels close to Gare de Lyon get good reviews>>

What to do: 
> From the Eurostar platform, turn left, walk down the stairs and follow the signs for RER line D (which will be signposted 'direction' 'Melun', 'Malesherbes' or 'Corbeil Essonnes'). 
>It's just 2 stops from Gare du Nord to Gare de Lyon and takes a little over 10 minutes (plus there's a short 5 minute walk to the connecting TGV departure platforms), but we recommend you leave at least 50 minutes for the entire transfer.

The Return Journey:
> Follow the signs for RER line D (which will be signposted 'direction Orry la Ville' - usually platforms 2 & 4). Take the line two stops direct to Gare du Nord.

Transfer time: Allow 50 minutes

The magnificent interior of the Le Train Bleu in the heart of Gare de Lyon. Surely it's the best station restaurant in Europe. Photo Richard Hammond/greentraveller

 Gare du Nord > Gare d’Austerlitz                 

For travelling to: Cahors, Rodez, Montauban, St Gervais, Chamonix, Carcassonne, on the Elipsos trainhotel 'Francisco de Goya' to Madrid and the Elipsos trainhotel 'Joan Miro' to Barcelona

These hotels close to Gare d'Austerlitz get good reviews>>

What to do: 
> From the Eurostar platform, turn left, walk down the stairs and follow the signs for Metro line M5 to Gare d'Austerlitz (which is signposted 'direction Place d'Italie'). 
> It's 9 stops from Gare du Nord to Gare d'Austerlitz and takes 20-30 minutes, but we recommend you leave at least 50 minutes for the entire transfer.

The Return Journey:
> Follow the signs for Metro line M5 to Gare du Nord (which will be signposted 'direction Bobigny Pablo Picasso). At this station, the Metro Line M5 is overground, opposite the main station entrance. The metro will cross the Seine before heading underground for the rest of the journey.

Transfer time: Allow 50 minutes
 

 Gare du Nord > Gare Montparnasse            

For travelling to: Agen, Biarritz, Bayonne, Bordeaux, Nantes, Pau, Toulouse

These hotels close to Gare Montparnasse get good reviews>>

What to do:
> From the Eurostar platform, turn left, walk down the stairs and follow the signs for Metro line M4 to Montparnasse Bienvenue (which is signposted 'direction Porte d'Orléans').
> It's 14 stops from Gare du Nord to Montparnasse and takes 25-35 minutes, but we recommend you leave at least 50 minutes for the entire transfer time.

The Return Journey:
> Take the Metro line M4 to Gare du Nord (which will be signposted 'direction Porte de Clignancourt').

Transfer time: Allow 50 minutes

The 700-800m walk from Gare de Lyon to Gare de Bercy takes 10-15 minutes along the often busy rue de Bercy. Photo Richard Hammond/greentraveller.

 Gare du Nord > Gare de Bercy                    
 
For travelling to: Auxerre, Aurillac, Avalon, Clermont Ferrand, Sens, and the Artesia sleeper train 'Palatino' to Bologna, Florence, Rome and Naples or the Artesia sleeper train 'Stendhal' to Milan or Venice.

These hotels close to Gare De Bercy get good reviews>>

What to do:
> From the Eurostar platform, turn left, walk down the stairs and follow the signs for RER Line D (which will be signposted 'direction' 'Melun', 'Malesherbes' or 'Corbeil Essonnes'). Take RER Line D two stops to Gare de Lyon.
> Take Metro line 14 a single stop from Gare de Leon to Bercy (which will be signposted ‘M14 direction Olympiades’)
> Alternatively, you can walk from Gare de Lyon. Exit the station and walk onto the forecourt, turn left into the rue de Bercy, running alongside the station. Gare de Bercy is 700-800m away. 

The Return Journey: 
> Exit the station and walk onto the forecourt, down the steps and across the road straight ahead of you. The Metro station will be just around the corner. Take Metro line 14 one stop to Gare de Lyon. From here, take RER line D two stops to Gare du Nord (which will be signposted 'direction Orry la Ville').

Transfer time: Allow 50 minutes 

 Gare du Nord > Gare Saint Lazare             

For travelling to: Vernon, Cherbourg, Dieppe, Lisieux

What to do:
> From the Eurostar platform, turn left, walk down the stairs and follow signs for RER Line E (which will be signposted ‘Haussmann Saint Lazare’)
> It’s one stop from Gare du Nord to Gare Saint Lazare

The Return Journey: 
> Follow signs for RER line E (which will be signposted 'directionTournan & Chelles Gournay'). Take the line 1 stop to Magenta, which is connected to Gare du Nord.

Transfer time: Allow 25 minutes

> For more information about onward connections by train in France, see all our Train Journeys in France.