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How to cross Paris by metro or taxi. . .

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	1.  Here, two Eurostars have arrived at the Gare du Nord.  Simply walk forwards off the end of the platform onto the main concourse and turn left, following the sign in the foreground for 'Metro & RER'.  You go down the steps into the metro.
	2.  You find your way on the metro with a line number and a 'diréction'.  For example, from the Gare du Nord to the Gare d'Austerlitz, you'd follow the signs for metro line M5 'diréction Place d'Italie'.  See the recommended metro routes further down this page.
	3.  The ordinary metro runs every 2-3 minutes and calls at all stations.  Metro line M5 links the Gare du Nord with the Gare d'Austerlitz, metro line M4 links it with the Gare Montparnasse.  Metro & RER map.
	4.  The express metro (RER) runs every 5-10 minutes on its own tracks from its own platforms, and consists of suburban trains running in tunnels under Paris.  They are usually double-deck as shown here, and have far fewer stops than the ordinary metro, so they're faster.  RER lines are identified with a letter, A B C or D, then a 'direction'.  RER line D links the Gare du Nord with the Gare de Lyon in just 2 stops.  Metro & RER map
	Above:  Alternatively, you can take a taxi.  Crossing Paris by taxi costs 17-19 euros, but is painless.  This is a G7 Taxi, which can be pre-booked from the UK, see text.

Eurostar arrives at the Gare du Nord in  Paris, 10 minutes' walk from the Gare de l'Est but a metro or taxi ride from the other Paris stations.  Train journeys from London to Switzerland, Italy & Spain usually involve crossing Paris by metro between stations.  It's easy enough, although sometimes a little daunting for first-timers.  Here is a quick guide to changing trains & stations in Paris by metro, taxi or RER ('Réseau Express Régional' = express metro).

On this page...

How to cross Paris by metro or RER

How to cross Paris by taxi

Left luggage in Paris

Recommended metro routes from the Gare du Nord

Recommended metro routes to the Gare du Nord

Metro map: www.ratp.fr

There's a map of the metro & RER on the official Paris metro website www.ratp.fr (click 'plans des lignes' on the left)

Recommended metro routes from the Gare du Nord

Recommended metro routes to the Gare du Nord

How long should you allow to change trains in Paris? 

Crossing Paris by metro physically takes about 30-35 minutes, but you should allow at least an hour between the Eurostar arriving at the Gare du Nord and your connecting train leaving one of the other Paris stations.  45 minutes is sufficient for the Gare de l'Est as it's a ten minute walk from the Gare du Nord.  Allow longer (at least 90 minutes, or Gare de l'Est 60 minutes) if you are catching a sleeper train that you can't afford to miss.

On the return journey, don't forget the 30 minute Eurostar check-in, so allow at least 90 minutes between your train arriving in Paris and the departure of your Eurostar back to London (60 minutes for the Gare de l'Est). 

Summary of how long to allow.

How much does the metro cost?

The metro fare is 1.60 euros per journey.

Children 0-3 travel free.  Children 4-9 (inclusive) travel for 0.80 euro.

It's cheaper to buy a 'carnet' of 10 tickets for 11.40 euros.  You can keep any spare tickets and use them later, even up to a year later.  Each ticket is valid for one journey in central Paris on either metro, RER (express metro) or bus.

How do you buy tickets?

The metro is not included in mainline tickets, so head downstairs to the metro and buy a ticket from the self-service ticket machines or at the metro ticket office.  The self-service machines have an English language facility and accept euro coins, notes & credit cards.   They also sell carnets of 10 tickets.

Travel tip:  If you haven't any euros, the ticket machines will let you use a credit card even to buy one 1.60 euro ticket.

Travel tip:  If you are making a return journey, buy two metro tickets as you pass through Paris on your outward journey.  You can use the second ticket for crossing Paris on your return trip, saving time queuing at the ticket office.  Metro tickets can be used on any day once they have been bought. 

Travel tip:  You can buy a carnet of 10 Paris metro tickets for £11.50, and Paris metro visitor passes, at the information desk in the Eurostar terminal in London, just ask...

Finding the right metro platform...

Unlike the London Underground, which uses a line name then 'northbound' and 'southbound', Paris metro lines each have a number then a 'diréction'.  The 'diréction' is the name of the station at the end of the line in the direction you want to go.  For example, 'M5 diréction Place d'Italie', Place d'Italie being the station at the end of line 5 in that direction.

A taxi is a painless way to cross Paris, especially if you have large amounts of luggage.  A taxi from the Gare du Nord to (for example) the Gare de Lyon or Gare d'Austerlitz costs around 17-19 euro and takes about 25 minutes.  However, be aware that there's often a long queue for taxis at the Gare du Nord and other main stations, so always allow at least an hour or preferably more between trains, see above.  Don't accept taxis from touts, use the official taxi rank at the side entrance to the Gare du Nord (the same side of the station as the Eurostar platforms).  Make sure the driver turns the meter on when you drive off.

Pre-booking a taxi...

As there's often a long queue for taxis at the Gare du Nord and other Paris stations, it's a good idea to pre-book one.  Several companies offer pre-bookable taxis in Paris, including www.taxis-g7.com.  To book a taxi from G7:

• Call the G7 Taxis English-speaking line on +33 1 41 27 66 99.  Lines open 24 hours.

• Bookings can be made from 7 days until 1 hour before you need the taxi.

• A credit card guarantee may be required at certain peak times.

• Book the taxi for at least 10-15 minutes after the scheduled arrival of your Eurostar.  They'll give you a  booking reference.  The taxi will wait up to 5 minutes if you don't turn up on time (you may be charged for the waiting time!). 

• For some reason, their taxis can't or won't use the official station taxi ranks, so at the Gare du Nord they will normally tell you that the taxi will wait at 12, Boulevard du Denain, across the road directly opposite the front of the station.  Similarly, if you're being picked up at the Gare de Lyon, ask to be picked up at number 2, Place Louis Arnand, which is outside the Hotel Mercure, just walk outside the station onto the forecourt and turn left.  The taxis have a 'G7' sticker inside the rear window (see the photo to the right).

• If you tell them you're arriving by train, some G7 staff will refuse to book a taxi for you and tell you to call back on the day of travel.  In fact, I suspect these staff are following their company policy, whereas other staff happily conspire with you to pre-book one, using an address that doesn't look like a station pick-up (which may explain the point above!).  So it's probably better to avoid mentioning that you're arriving by train, use the '12, Boulevard du Denain' address above instead of mentioning the Gare du Nord, and if the staff member refuses to book a taxi because they suspect you're arriving by train, either (a) politely insist on pre-booking a pick up from one of the above addresses instead of the 'Gare du Nord' or 'Gare de Lyon', as it may be the reluctance to pick up from stations that's the problem, or (b) put the phone down, re-dial and get a more helpful member of staff who will pre-book it for you.  Yes, you really can pre-book one of their taxis, but some G7 staff are more helpful than others in getting around their company's rather self-defeating and hazy rules about train-related taxi bookings...

• Of course, you could call G7 Taxis on the day of travel using your mobile once your Eurostar exits the Channel Tunnel, and then you'll be sure you've reached France running on time.  That might a good option!

• You just pay the taxi driver at the end of the journey in the normal way, based on what the meter says, around 17-19 euros from Gare du Nord to the Gare de Lyon, Gare de Bercy or Gare d'Austerlitz, plus the 5 euro booking fee.  The drivers accept both cash (euro) and credit cards.  A recent Gare de Lyon to Gare du Nord trip cost 25 euro including the booking fee and a five minute wait as we were a bit late.

• If you use this service, feedback would be very welcome.  It's reported that they may not accept taxi bookings during the Paris rush-hour.

Alternatively, go to www.taxi-paris.net (+33 6 07 60 49 14, tim@taxi-paris.net) and book a hassle-free private transfer specifically designed to meet trains and take you across Paris to board another train.  This service gets good reports, with an English-speaking driver meeting you at the Eurostar arrival gate with his car parked right outside the station.  The only downside is the cost, around 58 euro per car plus 1 euro per luggage item, 4th & 5th passengers a few euro extra.  They may ask for a 50% deposit.  If you use this service, feedback would be very welcome.

Wheelchair-accessible taxis...

There's a pre-bookable wheelchair-accessible taxi service in Paris run by www.taxis-g7.com (their website is only in French, but look for 'plan du site' then 'G7 Horizon').  To book, call +33 1 41 27 66 99 (English speaking line) or +33 1 47 39 00 91, making sure you ask for a wheelchair accessible taxi.  There may be a 5 euros booking fee, and bookings can be made from 7 days until 1 hour before you need the taxi.  Gare du Nord to Gare d'Austerlitz for example costs 17-19 euros per taxi.  If you use this service, feedback would be very welcome!

If you want to spend some time in Paris, there are left luggage lockers ('Consigne automatique' in French, but signs are also in English) at the Gare du Nord, Gare de Lyon and Gare d'Austerlitz.  Expect to have your bags X-rayed before entering the locker area.  Small, medium and large size lockers cost 4.50, 7.00 and 9.50 euros for 24 hours.  A medium locker will take one backpack or small suitcase, a large locker will take two backpacks or larger suitcases.  There are no facilities for leaving bikes, surfboards or skis.

Gare du Nord ▶ Gare de l'Est

• It's an easy 10 minute walk from the Gare du Nord to the Gare de l'Est, much easier than taking the metro.

• Walk out of the Gare du Nord onto the street in front of the station.

• Turn left along the front of the station, and keep going straight ahead of you up the Rue de Dunkerque until the tracks leading into the Gare de l'Est stop you going any further.

• Turn right into the Rue d'Alsace along the tracks, descending the long flight of pedestrian steps to the side entrance of the Gare de l'Est.

• This is the quickest and shortest route, but to avoid the long flight of steps, walk out of the Gare du Nord into the Boulevard de Denain straight ahead of you, turn left into the Boulevard de Magenta, then left again into the Rue du 8 Mai 1945.  This route is a bit longer, but gives level access from one station to the other.

• Map of Gare du Nord & Gare de l'Est neighbourhood

Gare du Nord ▶ Gare de Lyon

• Walk off the end of the Eurostar platform, turn left, and follow the signs for RER line D.

• Take RER line D two stops direct to the Gare de Lyon (follow signs 'RER D direction Melun / Malesherbes').  Trains may be shown as going to Melun, Malesherbes or Corbeil-Essonnes.

• At both the Gare du Nord and Gare de Lyon there are escalators (and/or lifts) between the mainline station concourse, the RER concourse and the RER platforms, making it relatively easy even with luggage or a pushchair.  To access the RER, there are also special wide ticket gates for passengers with luggage or pushchairs.

• Top tip:  If you've time for a meal, coffee or beer whilst waiting at the Gare de Lyon, try the famous Train Bleu restaurant on the main concourse.

Gare du Nord ▶ Gare de Bercy

• Walk off the end of the Eurostar platform, turn left and follow the signs for RER line D.

• Take RER line D two stops from the Gare du Nord to the Gare de Lyon (follow signs 'RER D direction Melun / Malesherbes').  Trains may be shown as going to Melun, Malesherbes or Corbeil-Essonnes.

• Take metro line 14 one stop from Gare de Lyon to Bercy (follow signs 'M14 direction Olympiades').  Or you can walk from Gare de Lyon to |Bercy, it's about 600 metres.

• The mainline Gare de Bercy is a stone's throw from Bercy metro station.  Go up the steps to street level, then around the corner with the 'Cafe Chambertin', and you can see it ahead of you past the Hotel Claret.

• More information on the Gare de Bercy.

Gare du Nord ▶ Gare d'Austerlitz

• Walk off the Eurostar platform, veer left, and follow the signs for metro line M5.

• Take metro line 5 direct to the Gare d'Austerlitz (follow signs 'M5 direction Place d'Italie').

• Line M5 climbs out above ground, crosses the Seine on a bridge and arrives at the Gare d'Austerlitz on a high-level station opposite the mainline station entrance.

Gare du Nord ▶ Gare Montparnasse

• Walk off the Eurostar platform, turn left, and follow the signs for Metro line M4.

• Take metro line M4 direct to Montparnasse Bienvenue (follow signs 'M4 direction Porte d'Orléans').

Gare du Nord ▶ Gare Saint Lazare

• Walk off the Eurostar platform and follow the signs for RER line E direction Haussmann Saint-Lazare.

• Take RER line E one stop to Saint-Lazare.

Gare de l'Est ▶ Gare du Nord

• It's an easy 10 minute walk from the Gare de l'Est to the Gare du Nord, far easier than taking the metro.

• Walk off the end of the platform, turn right along the concourse and walk out of the Gare de l'Est side entrance (marked "Sortie rue d'Alsace")

• Turn right and walk up the long flight of pedestrian steps, with the tracks into the Gare de l'Est on your right.

• Ignore the first left turn into the Rue des Deux Gares, but take the second left turn into Rue de Dunkerque.  You'll now see the magnificent facade of the Gare du Nord straight ahead of you.

• This is the quickest and shortest route, but to avoid the long flight of steps, walk out of the Gare de 'Est and turn right down the Rue du 8 Mai 1945.  Turn right into the Boulevard de Magenta then right again into the Boulevard de Denain.  The Gare du Nord is now straight ahead of you.  This route is a bit longer, but gives level access from one station to the other.

• Map of Gare du Nord & Gare de l'Est neighbourhood

Gare de Lyon ▶ Gare du Nord

• Take RER line D two stops direct to the Gare du Nord (follow signs 'RER D direction Orry la Ville').

• At both the Gare de Lyon and Gare du Nord there are escalators (and/or lifts) between the mainline station concourse, the RER concourse and the RER platforms, making it relatively easy even with luggage or a pushchair.  To access the RER platforms, there are also special wide ticket gates for passengers with luggage or pushchairs.

Gare de Bercy ▶ Gare du Nord

• Walk out of the mainline station onto the forecourt, down the steps and across the road ahead of you.  The metro station is just round the corner.

• Take metro line 14 from Bercy to Gare de Lyon (just one stop, follow signs 'M14 direction Saint Lazare').

• Take RER line D from the Gare de Lyon to the Gare du Nord (just two stops, follow signs 'RER D direction Orry la Ville').

• Alternatively, walk 600 metres to the Gare de Lyon and take the RER direct to the Gare du Nord.

Gare d'Austerlitz ▶ Gare du Nord

• Take metro line 5 direct to the Gare du Nord (follow signs 'M5 direction Bobigny').

• The M5 metro station at the Gare d'Austerlitz is a high-level station opposite the mainline station entrance.  Line M5 crosses the Seine then dives underground for the rest of the journey.

Gare Montparnasse ▶ Gare du Nord

• Take metro line M4 direct to the Gare du Nord (follow signs 'M4 direction Porte Clignancourt').

Gare Saint Lazare ▶ Gare du Nord

• Follow signs 'RER E direction Tournan & Chelles Gournay'.

• Take RER line E one stop to Magenta, which is connected to the Gare du Nord.

Here is a summary of how long to allow to make connections across Paris.

Recommended time to allow to change trains in Paris...
The minimum connection times shown here are the minimum amount of time you should allow between the scheduled arrival of your train in Paris and the scheduled departure time of your connecting train from Paris.
Travelling FROM London	If your onwards train departs from the Gare de l'Est (only a 10 minute walk from the Gare du Nord, where Eurostar arrives):	45 minutes, if missing it simply means catching the next one. 1 hour 15 minutes minimum if catching the last train of the day or a long-distance sleeper train which you cannot afford to miss.
	If your onwards train departs from any other Paris station (usually a 30-40 minute RER or métro ride from the Gare du Nord):	1 hour if missing it simply means catching the next one 1 hour 40 minutes minimum, preferably 2 hours, if catching the last train of the day or a long-distance sleeper train which you cannot afford to miss.
Travelling TO London	Arriving on a train at the Gare de l'Est (only a 10-minute walk to Paris Nord from where Eurostar departs)	60 minutes minimum, which includes the compulsory 30-minute Eurostar check-in time.  if you miss the Eurostar because your train is significantly late, the Eurostar staff should let you catch the next one, as long as seats are available.
	Arriving on a train at any other Paris station (usually a 30-40 minute métro or RER ride to Paris Nord)	1 hour 30 minutes minimum, which includes the compulsory 30-minute Eurostar check-in time.  if you miss the Eurostar because your train is significantly late, the Eurostar staff should let you catch the next one, as long as seats are available.

Since the opening of the new UK high speed line, roughly 85-90% of Eurostars normally arrive within 15 minutes of the advertised time, but it is not unknown for problems in the Channel Tunnel to delay a Eurostar by an hour.  If you're connecting with (say) a long distance sleeper train which you can't afford to miss, then better safe than sorry!