Paris Gare du Nord photo aid

[Deleted]

A lot of people arrive at Gare du Nord in Paris, either on the RER trains coming from the airports, or by the Eurostar trains from London or the Thalys trains from Brussels, Amsterdam and Cologne. (A few people arrive from Copenhagen, Stockholm, Warsaw or Moscow, and they are obviously welcome here as well!)

Gare du Nord is the busiest train station in Europe, so it can obviously engender a certain amount of anxiety for first time visitors. Here are a few photos so that it does not seem so scary.

The platforms are pretty straightforward, except for the isolation of the Eurostar access.

Here, for example, are the two Thalys platforms -- all trains to Brussels, Amsterdam, Cologne and a few other destinations leave exclusively from these two clearly indicated platforms.

If you arrive by Eurostar from London, you exit on the same main level. However, to take the Eurostar you have to go up one level for airport style check-in and security.

I would have photographed Eurostar check-in and security procedures as well, if I had not been escorted out of the zone by the security personnel. It looks just like a light version of what one goes through at the airport, so there is nothing to worry about. The Eurostar requires check-in at least 30 minutes before departure (normal trains ask you to board 2 minutes before departure), and there is a departure lounge in which to wait and spend money before you are allowed to board the train.

For all of the other trains at Gare du Nord, you just look at the departure or arrival board and go in the appropriate direction.

Plenty of people arrive from the RER, which is just a matter of rising from the subterranean depths... and following the appropriate signs.

           

           

People with lots of baggage need to learn that there are special exits to use for the RER. They are always getting their suitcases trapped in turnstiles, while these enormous exits with swinging doors stand unused. (They work with paper tickets and Navigo passes just the same as the turnstiles.)

There are escalators and elevators to reach the main line train level.

(to be continued)

[bixaorellana]

My gosh ~~ there should be a law that guides to these kinds of terminals are presented as you've done above! I've spent much of my life wandering around looking for things that didn't look the way the guide books made me envision them.

[Deleted]

On both the metro and the main level, there are numerous automatic ticket machines for holders of chip & PIN cards. Cards with just a magnetic strip are not accepted in these machines.

The same machines are used to exchange train tickets that you already have, if they are of the cardboard 'boarding pass' type.

There are also multiple ticket windows on the main level with a common queue, so that people do not get stuck in the one line that is not moving.

Gare dn Nord still has big traditional departure and arrival boards as well as smaller video screens scattered all over the station.

I have seen a lot of people on travel forums saying that the Gare du Nord area is totally sleazy and unsafe and that people should not considering staying there. I could not disagree more, because it is an excellent travel hub for the metro, the RER and the bus system, it has dozens of hotels in every price category and lots of good eating establishments, too.

Here is what you see when you walk out the front of the station.

This is the street that is perpendicular to the front of the station. At the end of the street, there is a convenient Leader Price supermarket (that is the alternate name for Franprix).

People with Bank of America cards are often on the lookout for ATM's operated by BNP Paribas, since there is a reciprocity agreement for no fees. There are six machines directly across from the station.

For North American visitors on the lookout for familiar fare, there is another option besides McDonald's right across from BNP Paribas.

The façade of the station is being renovated at the moment, so it is under wraps.

I dug up a photo from the Nuit Blanche 2008 which gives an idea of what the station looks like without the scaffolding.

[Deleted]

Baggage lockers are rare in much of Europe since the years of terrorist bombings, but Gare du Nord is one of the stations that still has them, with x-ray screening.

The lockers are down by the rental car desks on the Eurostar side of the station.

Many people have reported long lines, but they are not long at the moment.

The Gare du Nord taxi stand is right above this area. Facing the tracks, that means you would go out of the left side of the station if you have overpacked and are unable to appreciate the public transportation options.

There is also a luxury limousine stand next to the taxi stand for the high rollers.

[Deleted]

Here is just a grab bag of a few other things at Gare du Nord. For example, it is another one of the rare places where one can find some coin telephones.

There are bilingual notices for current situations, such as flu A/H1N1.

For people arriving from the airport after a long grimy flight, it is useful to know that you can get a shower at Gare du Nord if you really need one and it is too early to check into your hotel.

This place is down on the metro level, across from the main subway ticket office.

Speaking of the ticket office, when a bunch of international trains come in at the same time, the queues can get long.

Although this subject was partially covered on a separate thread about Charles de Gaulle airport, here are a few things that you can expect to see if you are taking the RER to the airport.

The tickets machines are green instead of the yellow of the long distance machines.

There are plenty of signs in the main station to point you in the direction of the RER (or the metro).

You will often see the term "Ile de France" on signs in Paris. It is the name of the region in which the Paris metropolitan area is located and is a name just like Alsace, Brittany or Normandy, so don't start looking for an "island"!

The RER and other suburban lines are down under the modern glass part of the station.



The elevators are glass, too, which is probably why a lot of people do not see them.

This is the main passage just one level above the tracks. It doubles as a shopping mall, including a Monoprix store. There are also numerous eating establishments, including one of the 4 or 5 "Paul" bakery fast food places located inside Gare du Nord.

The screens show all of the trains to the airport.

There are also route diagrams when you want to know more about where you are going.

All aboard!

[Deleted]

Just one little last detail that should be mentioned about Gare du Nord -- the mysterious RER E line. It is one of the best ways to get to the Saint Lazare/Opéra area from Gare du Nord, in just one stop.

It is neither complicated nor a long trek, which is one of the main fears since the station has been named "Magenta" rather than "Gare du Nord" for some reason. (I know the reason, but I'll keep it to myself. )

All you have to do is follow the signs for the RER E and take the escalators down from the RER interchange level.

This is the full length of the connecting corridor to the 'Magenta' station. It is far shorter than many metro connections.

Here is the Magenta station, on which the SNCF spared no expense.

In less than 5 minutes, you arrive at Saint Lazare-Haussmann. There is even an exit right behind the Printemps department store, for those who need to know that.

[spindrift]

Thank you for this wonderful guide. The Gare du Nord has been re-born since I regularly used it when I was a student in La Fere, Aisne. I cannot recognise anything about it.
I am most impressed with the shower and left luggage facilities. It would be nice to spend a complete day in the Gare du Nord exploring all the possibilities.

[lagatta]

Yes, I remember the Gare du Nord being very grotty, with a lot of junkies hanging out there, but that was back in the 1980s before the renovations for Eurostar, Thalys etc. It is very clean and pleasant now, and I've never felt unsafe in the vicinity.

I didn't know about the showers - indeed I'd find it well-worth 7€ to feel clean after a long flight when I arrive too early to stay somewhere (whether at public accomodation or chez quelqu'un, as the friends would usually be working when I arrive early in the morning). I did know about the consigne, which is a godsend. Damn those terrorists anyway!

[Deleted]

What a great travel aid K. thanks.
I tried taking some pictures at JFK airport and was pounced upon and severely reprimanded by the security persons.

[imec]

Great detail kerouac! And I'm stealing the picture of the Brasserie Terminus Nord where we ate our last dinner in Paris as I was unable get a picture of the exterior as we departed in torrential rain. Thanks for this - fun as well as practical.

[LouisXIV]

Well done, you are very good at this type of thing.

If you do a "guide" for Gare Montparnasse would you please take a picture of the public toilet. I could never find it when I was there.

[Patnabihari]

This is great but one word of warning, particularly for women with handbags (no matter whether it has a zip) - take care and watch out for thieves and pick pockets. We got "owned" by a couple of teenagers at Gare du Nord when changing to Metro line. We got distracted by them as they tried to push us when pretending to rush into the train. But within seconds they pushed us out of the way and rushed out of the train - before it had time to even leave the station. Later we realised that we had lost a wallet from a handbag with a zip and the bag was under the arm!! In a cruel way, the deed was impressive!!

So fellow travellers to Gare du Nord please be careful.

[Deleted]

Sorry to read about that, but it is valid for any busy metro station anywhere in Paris -- you must be very careful with your possessions anywhere in the big city.

[Debs Brown]

This is such a useful post, thank you. I've been trying to find out if there's luggage storage, and at last have found an answer!

[Deleted]

13,000 readers -- that's pretty good.

[Margie Vincent]

Thank you so much for posting this valuable information. This will make our trip so much easier now

[Deleted]

People should also be aware that there is a tourist information kiosk in Gare du Nord, which can also make hotel reservations.

[anshjain97]

Great report. One question: what arrival cards are those? Is that for UK Immigration?

[Deleted]

Yes, those cards are for the UK.

[anshjain97]

Thanks.

[K August]

Thank you kindly for providing such good information.

I was wondering if you knew if its possible to travel from Gare du Nord to Montparnasse and avoid stairs and escalators?

It seems like the best rout is:
--Gare du Nord via RER B to Denfert-Rochereau

--Change to line-6, direction "Etoile" and get off at the Montparnasse station.

But that there are four flights of stairs. Is there an elevator?

I'm travelling all day from Amsterdam to Brittany, with a dog and five weeks of stuff - so -
I'm trying to figure out where its better to pack a rolling hard case or a large hiking backpack - I know I'll look very silly either way.

Also the escalator has proven to be the only terror for my well traveled pup.

Thanks!

[tod2]

Only Kerouac will know for sure.

[Deleted]

K August, I consulted the RATP site (www.ratp.fr) and requested the method with the least walking. It says just to take metro line 4 (25 minutes travel time) from Gare du Nord to Gare Montparnasse.

However, line 4 arrives on the far side of the Tour Montparnasse, leaving the train station some distance away. Nevertheless, once you have gone through a couple of corridors and maybe a flight of stairs up or down (sorry - I don't go there often enough to remember), you then have the long moving walkway (180 meters) followed by a series of escalators or one or two elevators up to the train station level. The elevators are not always easy to find, so you have to look for them in the corners and almost never out in the middle of the commuter rush -- but they are not officially hidden either, so you just have to look for the elevator pictograms.

[K August]

You are really an amazing source help.

Dare I ask, is this metro trip possible with a dog?

The walking seems great - we're good walker (the pup and me), we just never have the chance to engage with vertical variation (living here in the netherlands).
Thank you heaps!

[Deleted]

Dogs are supposed to be small enough to fit in a carrying bag to be taken on the metro, but this is often not respected outside of rush hour. I often see German shepherds and Labradors on the metro.

[K August]

That's brilliant, Thanks you've save much stress!

I think I'll take the direct line 4 (as its a mid-saturday afternoon), my walking shoes and the rolling luggage - and clean my spectacles for hunting out lifts.

Thanks heaps!

[Deleted]

This might help some people fit the pieces of the station together.

[bjd]

Porte d'Orléans is no longer called that?

Good video, Kerouac. You should sell it to the RATP/SNCF.

[Deleted]

Jun 21, 2013 8:13:26 GMT bjd said:

Porte d'Orléans is no longer called that?

Now the direction is "Montrouge" since the line was extended.

[Deleted]

We Parisians have an unfair advantage because in most stations, just from experience, we know which end of the train will be full and which will be emptier. However, sometimes we will take the crowded car anyway, because we know that it is where the exit or the connection will be at our destination.