Paris Gare du Nord: station guide
Paul Fleury
Gare du Nord (Paris-Nord) is Europe’s busiest railway station, serving northern France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany and the UK. Architecturally grand and sprawling, the station sits in the 10th arrondissement, a 10–15 minute Métro/RER ride from the historic centre. It combines long-distance trains, regional services, RER (suburban) lines, and multiple Métro connections.
Adeline Moutier
Station layout
Gare du Nord is a large but fairly straightforward station, laid out in a linear design with platforms at one end and main exits at the other.
Main concourse (street level): Long-distance SNCF platforms, shops and cafés, information desks, and the Eurostar check-in entrance (located upstairs on the mezzanine).
Lower levels: RER B and D platforms, suburban services, food outlets, left-luggage lockers, and access to Métro lines 4 and 5. The underground passage to La Chapelle for Métro Line 2 also begins here.
Upper areas: Eurostar check-in and departure lounge, additional dining, and some ticketing desks.
You can view detailed floor maps of Gare du Nord on the official SNCF Gares & Connexions website, under the ‘Plans de votre gare’ section.
Key facilities
Toilets: Well signposted throughout the station, with paid facilities (around €1) near the main concourse. Free toilets in some cafés and fast-food outlets if you make a purchase, or in the Eurostar departure lounge after security.
Wi-Fi: Free station Wi-Fi, connect to the SNCF network.
Food and drink: Bakeries, coffee chains, sandwich counters, brasseries and sit-down cafés both inside and just outside the station.
Left luggage: Official consigne lockers plus third-party services, photo ID required, priced by size and duration.
Cash machines and exchange: ATMs are on the concourse and lower levels, bureaux de change near the Eurostar area.
Charging points: Scattered around waiting areas and cafés, sockets are type E.
Information desks: Clearly marked, staff can advise on trains and connections.
Accessibility: Step-free routes with lifts, wide gates for RER/Métro, assistance available if booked in advance.
Carl Campbell
Arriving at Gare du Nord
What to expect: The station is busy at most hours. Signage is clear in French and English, with yellow SNCF signs for trains and white or blue RATP signs for Métro and RER. Security is visible but generally unobtrusive. There is no passport or security once you arrive at the station.
Eurostar arrivals (from London): You exit the Eurostar area straight into the public hall. Immigration checks already took place before departure in London.
Domestic and other arrivals: Most domestic and regional trains arrive on the main surface platforms. You step into the concourse with direct access to signage for onward transport.
Arriving by Métro or RER: Trains arrive at the lower levels of Gare du Nord. From the platforms, escalators and lifts bring you up into the main concourse, where you can connect to long-distance trains, Eurostar check-in, or station exits.
Departing from Gare du Nord
Finding your platform: Departure boards (marked Départs) are located in the main concourse. For most long-distance SNCF trains, the exact platform is only displayed about 15–20 minutes before departure, so travellers should wait near the boards until it appears.
Eurostar departures: The Eurostar departures area has its own clearly signposted entrance from the main concourse, with check-in, security and passport control located upstairs on the mezzanine level. You should arrive at the Eurostar departures area 60–90 minutes before your train to allow time for check-in, security and passport control. Check-in closes 30 minutes before departure. Refreshments and gift shops are available on the other side of check-in before boarding.
SNCF long-distance trains: Once the platform is displayed on the concourse boards, head straight to the correct platform. Most TGV tickets are digital, and staff are on hand if you need help with a paper ticket. Boarding usually closes a few minutes before departure, but aim to arrive at least 20–30 minutes before to ensure enough time to get to your platform.
Métro and RER tickets: You will need to purchase these tickets on the day for onward travel within Paris. A single T+ ticket covers Métro, RER (within central Paris), buses and trams for up to 90 minutes with transfers. Children under 4 travel free, while ages 4–9 are half price. You can buy tickets from machines in the station (select English, pay by card or cash).
To buy metro/RER tickets in advance:
On iPhone: add a Navigo card to Apple Wallet and buy T+ tickets with Apple Pay.
On Android: use the Bonjour RATP app on an NFC-enabled phone to buy and validate tickets directly at the gates.
Moiz K. Malik
Transfers within the station
Eurostar to domestic trains: Arriving from London, exit Eurostar arrivals and follow signs for ‘Trains Grandes Lignes’. Allow 15–25 minutes in crowds.
Domestic to Eurostar: Leave time for check-in, security and passport control (90-120 mins), as this can take longer than expected.
RER/Métro: RER trains are quicker and cover longer distances with fewer stops, making them ideal for connections between major hubs. However, the Métro runs more frequently, is simpler to navigate, and is often better for short hops within central Paris. Follow the ‘RER’ signs down to the lower levels for RER trains, or the colour-coded ‘Métro’ signs from the concourse for Métro lines.
RER:
RER B: Runs north to south through Paris, linking Gare du Nord with Châtelet–Les Halles and Saint-Michel–Notre-Dame.
RER D: Runs north to south, and is a longer-distance line linking Gare du Nord with Châtelet–Les Halles and Gare de Lyon, then south towards the suburbs.
Métro:
Line 4: Runs north to south across Paris, stopping at central areas like Châtelet and Saint-Germain-des-Prés.
Line 5: Runs east to south-east via République and Bastille.
Line 2: Runs east to west, via Montmartre (get off at Anvers westbound) and connecting to Belleville and Nation. Reached via the La Chapelle passage.
Each Métro and RER line is marked with a specific colour and number, and you can follow these colour-coded bands painted on the walls and floors to navigate the station quickly.
Transferring to other Paris stations
For transfers between stations, public transport is almost always the fastest and most reliable travel option, especially during rush hour. Although taxis are available outside the station, traffic in central Paris can be heavy, unpredictable and can lead to missed connections.
Gare du Nord to Gare de l’Est
For services to eastern France, Germany, and Luxembourg
On foot: 5–10 minutes’ walk from Gare du Nord, and the fastest option. Exit via Rue de Dunkerque and walk straight ahead, the façade of Gare de l’Est is visible at the end of the street.
Métro: Line 4 or 5 for one stop.
Gare du Nord to Gare de Lyon
For services to the south and east of France
RER: RER D direct from Gare du Nord to Gare de Lyon (~10 minutes train time; allow at least 25 minutes door-to-door). Follow signs for RER D Sud (southbound) towards Melun, Malesherbes, or Corbeil-Essonnes. This is the fastest way.
On foot: If you have time and are travelling light, walking between Gare du Nord and Gare de Lyon is a nice alternative to see more of the city. Allow an hour on foot.
Gare du Nord to Gare Montparnasse
For services to western and south-western France.
Métro: Line 4 direct from Gare du Nord to Montparnasse–Bienvenüe (~20–25 minutes plus walking inside Montparnasse, which is a very large station). This is the simplest route.
RER: RER B to Denfert-Rochereau, then Line 6 to Montparnasse. Useful if the Metro 4 is disrupted.
Gare du Nord to Gare Saint-Lazare
For services to Normandy and the western suburbs of Paris.
RER: RER E from Magenta (connected underground to Gare du Nord) to Haussmann–Saint-Lazare (~7 minutes; allow 20 minutes end-to-end). The fastest option.
Bus: Bus 26/43 from Gare du Nord (~25 minutes; varies with traffic).
Johen Redman
Exiting the station
Taxis: Follow signs for the official taxi rank outside the main façade. Join the queue; ignore touts. Paris taxis are metered; card acceptance is common but not universal, so ask before you ride.
Ride-hailing (Uber, Bolt, etc.): The apps will direct you to a nearby meeting point on surrounding streets. Avoid standing in bus lanes, and confirm the number plate before boarding.
Buses: Several city buses stop on the streets around the station; check the real-time displays at the shelters.
Nearest Métro entrances: Multiple entrances ring the building; the ones by the main forecourt are best for Lines 4 and 5. For Line 2, follow the signed indoor corridor to La Chapelle.
Luggage & stairs: Expect stairs and occasional narrow pinch points, especially towards the RER and Line 2 walkway. If you have heavy bags, prefer lifts/escalators or consider the taxi rank.
Safety tips:
Keep valuables zipped and on front in crowds; pickpockets may operate on escalators and at ticket machines.
Ignore clipboard petitions and unsolicited ‘helpers’ at ticket machines.
Use only official taxis/confirmed app drivers.
At night, stick to well-lit exits and main roads.
Xuan Nguyen
Layover suggestions (1–3 hours)
If you have a longer stop in Paris, you may want to leave your bags and get out to explore some of the city.
To store your luggage, Gare du Nord has a left-luggage facility with self-service lockers on the lower level near Platform 3. It’s open daily from 06:15 to 23:15. Bags are X-rayed for security before storage, and lockers are coin-operated (there’s a change machine on site).
Alternatively, you can use Stasher for storing luggage between journeys at 2000+ locations (enter code BYWAY10 for 10% off).
Nearby walks and sights
Canal Saint-Martin (10–20 minutes on foot): A tree-lined canal with iron footbridges and old locks, popular with Parisians for strolling, picnics, and sitting by the water. It makes a calm contrast to the station forecourt and is one of the best short walks near Gare du Nord. Along the quays you’ll find a mix of cafés and bakeries: Ten Belles (10 rue de la Grange aux Belles) for speciality coffee and pastries, Breizh Café Canal Saint-Martin (112 Quai de Jemmapes) for Breton crêpes and galettes right on the water, and Chez Prune (36 rue Beaurepaire) with classic outdoor seating beside the canal.
Rue La Fayette arcades (5–10 minutes on foot): Rue La Fayette runs directly south from Gare du Nord towards the Opéra district. The first stretch has everyday shops and small arcades, while further along you reach Galeries Lafayette and Printemps, Paris’s grand department stores with domed glass roofs and rooftop terraces overlooking the city. Even if you don’t have time to shop, the buildings themselves are worth seeing.
Food just outside the station
On Boulevard de Denain right in front of the station you’ll find typical brasseries such as Terminus Nord, a historic art-deco brasserie serving traditional French dishes, and Café du Nord, a slightly more casual option. Both are well set up for travellers with luggage and tight schedules.
Read our guides to packing for a train trip, the best apps for stress-free travelling, or about the art of slow travel.
