If you're not used to Paris, transferring train stations may seem daunting but in practice the connections are pretty seamless - some involve a simple change of platform within the station, while those that are require a change of station are well connected by the city's metro system (which is very similar to the London underground) or fast overground rail network RER - 'Regional Express Network'. In this guide, we've tried to show how easy it is, plus we've included a few tips on places to have lunch and a few nearby hotels, should you wish to stopover before the onward connection. There's also information for the return journey - and don't forget - when you take the return Eurostar back to London, you should factor in the compulsory 45-minute check-in time in addition to the transfer time.
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.
Eurostar Connections in Paris
The Eurostar train arrives from London St Pancras 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.
Click here for a map of the Paris Metro.
Tip for Eurostar: You can buy a Navigo Easy card (the new, prepaid Paris travel card to use instead of the old individual paper Paris Metro tickets) to use on the Paris metro at the bar buffet on board Eurostar – it will save you time on arrival at Gare du Nord where the queues at the staffed counters can be long.
Gare du Nord to 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.
On foot: 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.
By metro: it's just 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). Transfer time: Allow 25 minutes. Don't forget the 45 minute check-in for Eurostar.
Where to stay near Gare du Nord/Gare de l'Est: these hotels close to Gare de Nord get good reviews
Gare du Nord to Gare de Lyon
For onward travel to Grenoble, Nice, Lyon, Chambery, Avignon, Marseille, Perpignan, Geneva, Lausanne, the high-speed TGV train to Barcelona and the high speed Artesia TGV to Turin and Milan.
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 (Gare de Lyon to Gare du Nord): 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. Don't forget, when you take the return Eurostar back to London, you should factor in the compulsory 45-minute check-in time in addition to the transfer time.
Where to eat near to Gare de Lyon: The magnificent interior of the Le Train Bleu in the heart of Gare de Lyon station. Surely it's the best station restaurant in Europe.
Where to stay near to Gare de Lyon: These hotels close to Gare de Lyon get good reviews.
Gare du Nord to Gare d’Austerlitz
For travelling to: Cahors, Rodez, Montauban, St Gervais, Chamonix, Carcassonne, on the Elipsos train hotel 'Francisco de Goya' to Madrid and the Elipsos trainhotel 'Joan Miro' to Barcelona.
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 (Gare d’Austerlitz to Gare du Nord): 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. Don't forget, when you take the return Eurostar back to London, you should factor in the compulsory 45-minute check-in time in addition to the transfer time.
Where to stay near to Gare de Lyon: These hotels close to Gare d'Austerlitz get good reviews
Gare du Nord to Gare Montparnasse:
For travelling to Agen, Biarritz, Bayonne, Bordeaux, Nantes, Pau, Toulouse.
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 (Gare Montparnasse to Gare du Nord): Take the Metro line M4 to Gare du Nord (which will be signposted 'direction Porte de Clignancourt'). Transfer time: Allow 50 minutes. Don't forget, when you take the return Eurostar back to London, you should factor in the compulsory 45-minute check-in time in addition to the transfer time.
Where to stay near to Gare Montparnasse: These hotels close to Gare Montparnasse get good reviews
Gare du Nord to 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.
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 (Gare de Bercy to Gare du Nord): 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. Don't forget, when you take the return Eurostar back to London, you should factor in the compulsory 45-minute check-in time in addition to the transfer time.
Where to stay near Gare De Bercy: These hotels near Gare de Bercy get good reviews.
Gare du Nord to Gare Saint Lazare
For travelling to Vernon, Cherbourg, Dieppe, Lisieux.
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 'direction Tournan & Chelles Gournay'). Take the line 1 stop to Magenta, which is connected to Gare du Nord. Transfer time: Allow 25 minutes. Don't forget, when you take the return Eurostar back to London, you should factor in the compulsory 45-minute check-in time in addition to the transfer time.
Where to stay near Gare Saint Lazare: These hotels near Gare Saint Lazare get good reviews
Brussels
In Brussels Midi (‘Zuid’) station, Eurostar coaches 11 to 16 provide the quickest route to access the platforms for onward journeys. From the Quick Connections exit, turn left out of the double doors and look for your connecting train on the departure boards. High speed trains to various destinations (including Amsterdam and Cologne), normally depart from platforms 3-6, though do check the departure boards to be sure. For ‘Any Belgian Station’ including Bruges and Ghent, remember to look out for the terminating station on the departure boards. For Bruges, this tends to be either Ostend of Knokke/Blankenberge. For Ghent it can be Ostend, Knokke/Blankenberge or De Panne.
Lille
For connections to destinations in France, go upstairs from the platform to the main station where the departure board gives the train times and platform number for your onward journey. Trains are normally displayed on the departure board about 15 minutes before departure.