How to get to Paris Gare du Nord Train Station

Travel from Paris city centre to Paris Gare du Nord train station

Paris is known as the City of Love and is one of the top destinations in Europe. Known for its museums, galleries and fashion, this French city is an iconic place to visit. One of the most visited locations in the city is that of the Eiffel Tower, which is an impressive structure standing tall over Paris. One of the main train stations in Paris is the Gare du Nord. This station not only operates journeys between Paris and northern France, but also to other parts of Europe such as the UK, Belgium, Germany and Netherlands. As the name suggest, Gare du Nord, or North Station, is located north of the city centre in Paris.

In Paris the districts are split up into 20 Arrondissements, with the city centre being classed as number one. To travel from the city centre to this train station you can take various routes via public transport. In the 1st Arrondissement there are multiple metro stations, such as lines 7 and 8 at Opera station, which you can take towards Gare du Nord train station. Alternatively, there is also line 1 which you can take from Tuileries station.

How far is it from Paris city centre to Paris Gare du Nord train station

The centre of the 1st Arrondissement district in Paris is approximately 2.5 miles (4 km) from Gare de Nord train station. Starting your journey at the Louvre Museum and the Tuileries Gardens, you can head northeast on Rue des Pyramides. This will bring you to Pyramides metro station, where you can continue north on Avenue de l’Opéra. As you pass the opera house, which will be on your left, you will then follow Rue Halévy which turns into Rue La Fayette. This road then brings you Rue du Faubourg Saint-Denis, where you will need to cross over Boulevard de Magenta. Here you take a left turn and you will find Gare du Nord train station. There are various entrances on different roads, should you prefer to take a different route. This journey takes about 26min by car, 36min if your walking, or as quick as 20min by public transport.

What is the best way to get to Paris Gare du Nord train station from Paris city centre?

Travel from Paris city centre to Gare du Nord train station is easy, so you should be able to make your train time in Paris with ease. One of the best ways to travel from the city centre to the station is by metro, which helps you avoid traffic on the roads. Inside the 1st Arrondissement you will find many top tourist attractions, such as The Louvre Museum and the Tuileries Gardens, which are considered a central point. In the northeast corner of Tuileries Gardens you will find Tuileries metro station, which connects to the yellow 1 metro line. If you take this line in the direction of Château des Vincennes for three stops you will get to Châtelet, where you can change to the Magenta 4 metro line towards Portede Clignancourt. Then take this line for about 9min until you reach Gare du Nord train station. In total, this journey takes in the region of 21min.

Where are the airports in Paris and how to get there?

The major airports in Paris are Charles de Gaulle Airport(CDG) and Paris-Orly Airport(ORY).CDG is a hub airport which is about 17 miles (27 km) northeast of the centre of Paris. You can reach this airport in about 42min by car or 34min by B train from the Gare du Nord. ORY is a smaller airport, but is a similar distance from the train station. You can travel this distance in about 1 hour or take the B train and Orlyval trains in about 40min.

How accessible is Paris train station for those with limited mobility?

Gare du Nord offers a barrier-free transit to passengers with reduced mobility, so you will find it easy when travelling through the train station. The entrance to the train station is step-free and on the same level as the street. The main hall inside Gare du Nord is wide and equipped with lifts to help people get around the station, to the car park and to the metro station. The platforms are all located on the ground floor as you enter the train station. These platforms are not elevated and there are also ramps to assist you getting on board the trains.

There is also a special assistance service that you can find nearby to the tourism office. This ensures that those with reduced mobility can travel through the station, board and alight SNCF trains with ease. You can also get information about train station in Paris here too. If you require special assistance it is always a good idea to contact the station in advance to ensure there is a member of staff on hand to help.

Paris Train Station. Source: Shutterstock

Night trains to/from Paris Gare du Nord

There is not an overnight train from Paris or an overnight train to Paris that currently operates through this train station. In general any night trains tend to depart from Gare de Lyon or the Gare de l’Est, which are only a short journey from Gare du Nord. Gare de l’Est is just a short walk from Gare du Nord and it offers night trains between Paris Berlin (Germany) and Moscow (Russia).

Gare de Lyon, is about a 10min train journey from Gare du Nord and offers night trains to other cities such as Nice.

Traveling by train in Paris: Sustainable journey

Travelling by train is a more sustainable way to make your journey, with this mode of transport releasing fewer carbon emissions per passenger compared to flying or car journeys. SNCF is also working towards replacing and renewing older trains with a more modern, environmentally-friendly fleet. They have also reduced the noise pollution produced by the trains, which is great for local residence who live near the tracks.

Local tips: Paris train station points of interest

The Gare du Nord station is, as its name suggests, located in the north of the city in the 10th Arrondissement. It is a large 19th century building which serves much of northern France as well as other countries in Europe too. You can easily travel to the UK, Netherlands, Germany and Belgium from this station. Inside the station you will be able to find car hire agencies, cafes, toilets, gift shops and a hotel. One of the closest tourist attractions is Sacré-Coeur Basilica, which is in the Montmartre neighbourhood. This is about an 18min walk from Gare du Nord. From Sacré-Coeur it’s easy to continue to trip into the centre of the city to visit other major attractions like the Arc de Triomphe.For more local tips, you can check Omio magazine.

• Musee d’Orsay
• Cathedral Notre-Dame de Paris
• Sainte-Chapelle
• Palais Garnier
• Musee de l’Orangerie

What to do in Paris

Paris is an amazing city with so much to see and do. One of the most visited cities in Europe, it’s likely to be busy throughout the year. So it’s always a good idea to have a plan of action in place so that you don’t miss out on any of the top attractions. Begin your trip at the Louvre Museum, which is home to the Mona Lisa painted by Leonardo da Vinci. Then head over to check out the famous avenue, the Champs-Élysées, which has a range of high-end stores and restaurants. Next up, head over to the Seine River, where you can stroll for miles and take in beautiful scenery such as Notre-Dame Cathedral. The river will also take you to the Eiffel Tower, which is one of the most iconic buildings in the world.

When in Paris it is always a good idea to try out some local cuisine at one of the many restaurants in the city. With one of the specialities being escargot (snails), herbs, garlic and butter, you’re in for a treat. The French also like to eat raw, or very finely cooked, meat. So if you would like to try this, you should ask for a steak tartare.