The rudest nastiest people no one is helpful or nice all miserable I flew London to Paris before was easy great not anymore I got time wrong missed my train $200 London to Paris these thieves charged ne $62 more to lose one hour in my Paris day these thieves charged worst customer service ever disgusting vile people read more

Not a ton of amenities. Truly freezing in January. There are a few places for pastries and a coffee. I wouldn't come here more than an hour before boarding. read more

Interesting train station ! During our day trip to Paris we came during the train/subway strike ! Parts are very cold and in the open air - some are inside where it is warm. Today was a long day waiting and waiting and waiting and when one train is behind schedule all the trains that follow will be as well. They try very hard to get people through security as quickly as possible but it doesn't work. The lines are huge and they make it hard with many security screening spots. I totally understand all the security measures and truly appreciate them but it needs some more organization. The food stations inside are wonderful! Be prepared for anything!! read more

One star because of French border agents. Almost all incompetent except for the person who actually stamps your passport. He was cool. At first I was really excited on how easy the VAT process was. I had two forms and they both scanned as Intended and were green lit. Good to go! But no, as we were leaving, we are stopped by an agent who asks for the paperwork and passport, which I happily provided. Mind you my purchases were less than $10k, so shouldn't be a big deal. Everything checks out, but now he wants to see the item. So we unpack our luggage and show him the box which was packaged nicely from the Chanel store as it was a gift. He made us undo the packaging so he could look at the handbag for half a second. He then just left my passport lying on the counter without even saying anything. Just being a complete dick because he can be. My wife asked if there was a problem and he said no, no problem but you are in French territory so you do as I say. After all that, we realized that we only received one of two VAT refund validations. We now have to spend the extra time figuring out how to get the refund for our larger purchase. Loser. read more

The station itself is okay but located in an area that appears to be dangerous. Take when trying to catch a taxi and seriously consider whether to walk anywhere in the neighborhood. read more

Train stations are awesome, so I'm a bit biased. We were here to take the train to visit Chateau Chantilly. Unfortunately, the scheduled train was cancelled, so we were scrambling to figured out what was going on (and the fact that it was cancelled to begin with). The sign board didn't indicate it, and it was only via announcements in French. After asking 4 different people, we finally found someone by the train who confirmed it. It was hard to figure out the next available one on your own, and it took her a solid five minutes to tell us which one had our stop. Google Maps was somewhat helpful as well. The station was fairly clean and there were plenty of shops for dining and light shopping. Since the next train out wasn't for an hour and a half, we decided to wander outside for some fresh air. Not surprisingly, the neighborhood seemed a bit shady. I was thinking it wouldn't be a good idea to hang out if it was dark out. read more

This is a beautiful train station reminiscent of old school Grand Central Station. It is easy to navigate. I was lost as to where to begin but since I'm in an EU country going to another EU country there was no custims. A very friendly worker helped me, and he spoke English. There is a bag limitation, but I went shopping so I have an extra bag. Will update yo see what happens... read more

Gare du Nord - Blue is departure and Green is arrival. - Train Stations Near Me - Paris, 75

One of the most beautiful, well run train stations I've been in. I haven't been in many, but this one was pretty nice. People easy to find to give you direction, very nice about it too and could tell us in English (an added bonus). I wouldn't hesitate a bit to go again when in country. Europe makes the US look dumb when it comes to travel. We need to take note... read more

Arrived in Paris at the Gare du Nord with my family after traveling on the Eurostar from London. After getting off the train, we navigated through this busy station. My sister has to use the restroom, which you have to pay for. She ends up having to use the ATM, then you have to break change with a vendor to have proper change. The whole thing was a hassle, especially for someone arriving without currency yet. The saddest part is the people who are nodding off on drugs just outside the station. They were not hurting anyone but themselves, but it's so unfortunate to see people just pass them by. The streets around the station seem very sketchy as well, so mind your luggage and know where you are headed before you venture out from the station. This was my least favorite part of the trip, frustrating but at least we didn't have to stay in the area. Off to explore Paris! read more

Gare du Nord - Arrived in Paris - Train Stations Near Me - Paris, 75

Super convenient and easy train station to ride into from Germany. I wouldn't even want to try to drive in the heart of Paris, it's a mad zoo, people drive in a mad frenzy, it's a normal flow to them, but to the outsider, it looks chaotic. They have fast trains all over Europe, why not take the Euro rail, it's so stress free. This is a pretty large train station, it's bustling at most hours. read more

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Crowded. Noisy. Tiny, slow elevators. No seating areas. Unclear / Unhelpful signage. Even more unhelpful (Eurostar) staff. ...and you have to pay to use the bathrooms. In short, this place is a shitshow. But there are lots of cafes, so at least you won't be hungry AND frustrated. PRO TIPS: 1. Use the bathrooms on your train before you disembark. Paying to pee is so uncivilized. 2. Do not ride with anyone soliciting you and offering taxi services (use only taxis with official signage/lights, and that have meters in the vehicle) 2a. Better yet, take the Metro. The ticket machines are in 4 languages, including English. It's a much cheaper option (although also crowded), and with Google's help, you have an excellent chance of getting where you need to be. read more

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They need to be more organized here. For some odd reason, they make everyone wait in the hallway until the train comes so it's super cramped and chaotic. Makes no sense. I didn't have this issue at Brussels or London train stations. read more

Gare du Nord is one of the biggest and busiest train stations in Paris, and it is where the Eurostar between England and France operates from. Given the importance of the station, it is unfortunate how unappealing it is. The station is extremely busy but has very few areas for passengers to sit and wait, and restrooms were difficult to find. Plan ahead when using this station and allow yourself enough time to get there and to get through the station. Options for food were limited. The waiting room for the Eurostar felt more like a refugee camp, and the whole operation felt a lot more disorganized when compared to the UK side. The British put an extraordinary amount into making st. Pancras station a pleasure to use...the French would do well to do the same with Gare du Nord. read more

Huge. Trains and metro. A bit overwhelming for the newly arrived traveler on their first visit. read more

Huge station! Major transportation and transfer area. Be aware of pick pockets! This station reminds me of New York city's central station where all lines connect. It is housed in a beautiful large building, kept in pristine clean conditions. Always ask for directions if you're lost, because thus is such a large station, despite signs everywhere, there will always be a helping hand. Plenty of escalators and elevators for those handicapped or with large luggage. read more

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Gare du Nord is not a pleasant place for travelers and is overall uncomfortable. Officers carry semi automatic rifles at their sides. Makes me highly uncomfortable. You have to pay to use the bathroom. So if I don't have money, are we expected to pee our pants ? Not enough seating or accommodations while people wait. I am currently sitting in the floor along with like 400 other people. The small amount of chairs they DO have are uncomfortable and have no back. Very little charging ports available. Poor signage. Staff isn't the most helpful. It's confusing, chaotic and stuffy in here. read more

Gare du Nord - Crowded and delayed. - Train Stations Near Me - Paris, 75

I always heard that Europe has the most efficient and wonderful train system. This station was clearly a bust. I don't know what it is, but the staff members looked miserable; didn't enjoy their job. They took their sweet time instead of assisting tourists that support their economy. This train station was so confusing and adding u helpful staff made things 100x worse. Stay away from this station, nothing is good about it. read more

Large, disorganized and workers that seem to be just as confused and/or indifferent as the tourists traveling through. Asked a few workers how to get to a specific platform and they all had different responses, none of which were correct. When boarding, it's just a scrum of people, no order or queues, chaos running into chaos of disembarking passengers. This was third time traveling through this station and the experience has not improved over time. Could think it's such a mess since main hub, but other similarly busy stations have got it together and are so much more functional. read more

Gare du Nord is an incredibly busy train station in Paris It's a massive, bustling station with a lot of hustle and bustle. But despite the crowds, it's actually a pretty efficient and easy-to-use station. However if you're taking a taxi, be aware do the "fake" taxis with high tariffs. You'll see signs posted warning you of such. But basically, stay in the legit taxi line and you'll be okay. The station is well-signposted, so it's easy to find your way around. There are also a number of shops and cafes, so you can grab a bite to eat or do some shopping while you're waiting for your train. read more

This place reminds me of the train station in London. The architecture and layover seem familiar. To catch the Eurostar to go to London, head upstairs via the elevator/escalator and present your travel document on the upper level. 4 stars because there is not really a seating area. For a huge station like this, it feels somewhat chaotic. There are people standing everywhere waiting for their trains. I tried my best to not be in the way for others, but I feel like I have to constantly move around. Relatively easy to navigate your way around the station. Signage is pretty clear. read more

Gare du Nord - View from the 2nd floor - Train Stations Near Me - Paris, 75

This is THE station to get to and from Paris. There are connections with Paris metro, RER trains, and buses. If you are taking Paris metro there are so many lines in the station just follow the line you are transferring to. There are also plenty of stores as you are walking through the station. If you need to take the busses or connecting trains like the Eurostar, again, follow the signs. You will be lead to ground level with more stores and plenty of trains taking you out of Paris. read more

Gare du Nord - Train Stations Near Me - Paris, 75

Most travelers to Europe will have no choice but to pass through Gare du Nord, one of the largest and busiest train stations in Paris. I've been here many times and I still don't like this station. First, it's ugly and nondescript inside. I don't require my stations to be grand and beautiful, but this one is just "meh" on all levels. It's absolutely huge too, making it a confusing puzzle to find your platform / the Metro / the bathroom. There are ridiculously few dining options but thankfully the Eurostar platform construction is now complete and there's a Paul boulangerie and a couple of other food and shopping outlets upstairs. Also if you're a tourist, try really hard to blend in or risk getting your luggage or wallet stolen. Google "popular Paris scams" before your trip so you'll be better prepared. read more

Gare du Nord - One of the few dining options at the station. Their baguettes are pretty good. - Train Stations Near Me - Paris, 75

Gare du Nord is the world's largest train station outside of Japan, considering that the state of this station is so sad to see, it's swarmed by homeless people and drug addicts, and the sketchy, smelly streets around the station surely is the worst welcome to Paris anyone could get, especially considering this is the main station used for Eurostar services and international services from countries such as the UK, Belgium and the Netherlands. The beautiful city of Paris isn't given any justice through Gare Du Nord, and the state of this station means the whole city and country should be ashamed of such a major station. You'd never see that in Amsterdam or London or even Germany, which is home to half of Europe's top 20 busiest stations by passenger number. There were a small number of places to grab food, souvenirs or drink before travel, mainly your huge chains including Paul and Five Guys who also have many places around the city if you are travelling via the Eurostar please remember once you go through security there is literally nothing and you can't leave to nip to the shops etc, you can get to the Eurostar platforms by the lift/staircase at the entrance opposite Burger King, again this isn't signposted at all and it seems every sign around the station seems to have forgotten Eurostar. Lack of staff around the station too, especially considering how hidden the Eurostar is if heading from the bus terminal, makes it hard to navigate. The main concourse of the station and the ceiling is stunning, buses going into the station via a bus interchange also makes it easy to get to but that seems to be where the positives end as far as I'm concerned. 2* - I wouldn't feel safe letting a young person or lady walk around the station on their own, I don't even feel too safe myself, it just makes me sad to see the state such a major station not just for Paris, but the whole of Europe has become. read more

Gare du Nord - Train Stations Near Me - Paris, 75

This is the main train station in Paris. I arrived here coming from London and departed here on to Brussels. It's centrally located making it easy to international and domestic destinations. It is a huge station and being over 150 years old, it has a nice classical architectural design. There are a decent amount of shops and stores here as well while you wait for your train. read more

Going with the consensus that this is a very busy station and not as nice as King's Cross St. Pancras. Arrived into Gare du Nord from London to travel to Lyon. Did not realize you have to go underground and take subway to next station. I almost missed my connection. Major disappointment was not having enough customer service attendants on site to help. Fortunately, I ran into another American living in Paris who helped out. Also, the train, I took from Gare du Nord to Lyon was considerably older and not as comfortable as the Eurostar. read more

Gare du Nord - Inside Train Station view - Train Stations Near Me - Paris, 75

Sad to say it, but avoid this place as best you can. It's not the safest place or the most savory. There are times that you shouldn't be in the area (dark and late), and even though it's one of the busiest stations in the world, it doesn't appear to have much if any security in or around the station, staff is also not to be found easily. The main platform to and from the airport is very busy and in a shady area. No matter how many times I've been here- this is the one place I always feel unsafe. Try to avoid any connections here and opt for other locations during the evening and night time/very early AM. If you're a tourist looking to come into the city through Eurostar during the daytime (9a-4/5p) it's safe as it can be, but other times should likely be avoided. The vagrancy surrounding Gare du nord is astounding, and the lack of mindful care in the way of security by the city for its largest train station is upsetting. read more

Gare du Nord is the main train station if you are taking the high-speed trains to or from Paris. When we visited (December 2019) there was a major labor strike in France making all forms of transit a bit difficult. There were lots of canceled trains, the metro stations weren't running the way they normally do, etc. The station itself is big and spacious with lots of natural light coming in from the ceiling. The station itself is fairly easy to navigate, and we found employees there to be pretty helpful in pointing us the right way. But it was VERY congested and busy. Make sure you keep a good eye on your belongings. It's exactly the type of place pick pockets love. There is also some cool art. Be aware if you are leaving the station and heading into Paris that the taxi drivers lined up on the street outside are VERY pushy and aggressive. They also are looking to rip you off. We had one guy offer to take us to our hotel for 80 Euros, and when we told him that was too much he literally followed us down the sidewalk about half a block badgering us. It was to the point of me feeling very uncomfortable with him near us. Then we had another taxi driver tell us 50 Euros. And we learned that it really was something like a 20 Euro Uber ride. So lovely train station, easy to navigate, watch your stuff and mind the cabbies outside. Also, we loved the big red Bear statue out front - don't miss it! read more

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This train station in Paris is always very busy and messy! The streets around the train station is not designed to handle the traffic! Homeless all over the place. The soldiers patrolled around the area with semi automatic guns on their hands! I don't like the feelings of the area. It is not comfortable! The train station itself seems okay, but it is getting over loaded. The security area was very slow. A lot of passengers miss their train! So make sure you give yourself enough time to pass the security checkpoint! The good thing was the station PA system non-stop tells you how much time you have and also let passengers know they're automatically change your ticket to the next train if you're missed your train! I don't know they are always do it, or only if they know the passengers get screwed up by the security checkpoint! Lol! read more

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Kinda chaotic in here with many people, many tracks, several levels, different trains but the signs are not entirely clear. You have the Thalys here, the RER A and B, the metro, just make sure you are at the right level. For CDG airport, you'll have to take RER B northbound. Make sure it's northbound! Southbound takes you to Orly. And RER A takes you to Mickey Mouse. Also, the most important thing is to watch your belongings. There are scammers and pickpocketers here, even our taxi driver warned us before we got off the car. Guard your belongings, like any other stations, get here early to find your track. There's also a Five Guys here for burgers. Five Guys is popular in Europe actually! read more

I've been to Gare du Nord six times and I just realized that I've never seen the outside of the place! The inside, however, is a neatly laid out station that intersects International Rail (including the EuroStar to London), National Rail to French destinations, RER to suburban Paris and Metro to urban Paris. As one would expect with this many types of traveler, it can be a bit confusing. No worries, they have bunches of signs and I found the place neatly laid out. Many vendors of food and drink are there if you're early and need to get a bite before departing. They have ATM's ("cash points" to Brits) and an extortionate currency exchange. The taxi stand is also easy to find, though you may want to rush to get to the head of the queue, as the business travelers can consume the standing ones quickly. Warning: The beggars and pickpockets are thick here. If someone asks "Do you speak English?" just move on. Bonus: When I was there, they still had one of those departure boards that went clickety-clickety as the times and departures changed. It was AWESOME! read more

Gare du Nord - Clickety-clackety departure board - Train Stations Near Me - Paris, 75

The signage is terrible and there is no one to help you, but the trains run on time and are very clean. Tip: even if your train leaves from upstairs, go downstairs to buy your breakfast. Upstairs a small bottle of Evian is 3.20€. Downstairs a big bottle of Evian is .64€! read more

This big honkin' train station provides ready access to major SNCF, Paris Metro, and RER lines, which includes local and regional rail lines. It's well-organized, and different sections of the station are clearly labeled, even if you don't understand French. Last I was here, I took the Eurostar to London. If you decide to follow in my footsteps, don't forget your passport! read more

Gare du Nord - Train Stations Near Me - Paris, 75

It's 10 Euros on the RER B from CDG airport. And yes, it may lack some bells and whistles, but it seems to run seamlessly from the two times that I utilized it. Huge hub of a rail transit mecca, just a bit west of the Gare de l'Est station. I like to nip into Relay (which are all over the world) and get little things, like Evian! The walk may be a bit long to connect to wherever it is that you may be headed, but there are certainly distractions for the shopper along any route. read more

Gare du Nord - Train Stations Near Me - Paris, 75

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Okay, so what do YOU expect from a rail terminal? Lots of room for passengers? Check. A mammoth sign board for departures, and a separate (also mammoth) board for arrivals? Check. Information booth(s)? Check. Rest rooms? ATMs? General cleanliness? Check, check and check. Announcements regarding departures and arrivals? Yup. Food and magazine kiosks? Yeah, those too. I expect those things as well. So what sets Gare du Nord apart for that fourth star? I'm not really sure that it is anything tangible... more of a gut feeling. I grew up in New York and often visited Grand Central and Penn Stations, so I'm no stranger to these termini... but there is *something* about this particular station that filled me with... hope. Sure, there are beggars here, as well as every other terminal in the world. There's trash in the street and hustlers everywhere. But hey, it IS a rail terminal, after all. But one of a reasonable size. For whatever reason, the French decided to put Gare de l'Est just four blocks away, thereby relieving the massive congestion and confusion that would have been likely had they made it all one station. Oh, by the way - after the young lady in the information booth allowed me to stumble along in my broken French ("Please pass the upside-down turtle in the foot...") she deftly told me the time and track of my train, in English. But she at least let me try... :-) read more

Gare du Nord - Great service! - Train Stations Near Me - Paris, 75

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Absolute sham. Having travelled here from London, I expected a decently quick boarding experience. I arrived 45 minutes early there and effectively walked onto my train. Here, it was a nightmare. They had separate queues forming for the same train, so by joining the actual queue, you actually put yourself at a disadvantage. I arrive around 70 minutes before my train was scheduled to depart and made it by all of 2 minutes. Already having waited in line for 45 minutes, I asked the woman right before customs if she could guarantee I would make it on the train. She said no, as I had not arrived at customs 30 minutes before boarding. How is any of that my fault given than I arrived at the station an extremely reasonable time beforehand? They truly need to get their act together. read more

I had no issues with the Metro - of course, we used this particular location on a Saturday morning, and perhaps traffic is a little lighter than Monday thru Friday. Yes, we did see a security presence, but having lived and worked in Central America and Mexico, I am used to seeing security/police with heavy duty arms, so generally speaking, it doesn't bother me. The homeless were around, also, but they were around different parts of the city that we visited, and not just at subway stations. It is sad to see them, though. Regarding the service of the Metro, we didn't have issues. Although we couldn't see signage in English and my French is pretty poor, the passageways and directions were clearly marked and we were able to figure out where to go without a problem. As far as cleanliness is concerned, the trains were about as clean as one can expect - and compared to other city subways - they were right on par. We got where we needed to go on time and without issues, so we give this service a thumbs up. read more

We arrived at this train station from London and took it back to London as well. It is a big station with trains constantly coming and going. As soon as we had our luggage together we immediately got in the taxi line as we were not yet familiar with the Metro and we wanted to get to our Air BNB. Outside of the fact that it seemed like everyone smoked cigarettes, our wait for a taxi was pretty quick. We ended up with a cool van and a crazy but awesome driver. We could not believe the way he worked his way through the Paris traffic. Upon our return, we had an easy customs and on-boarding process and back to London we went. I didn't encounter any scammers at all and felt very comfortable engaging with other Parisians. This station does have plenty of food and drink stops along with clean restrooms and some last minute shops for you to grab anything French you might not have grabbed! read more

Gare du Nord - Sleek and comfortable trains. - Train Stations Near Me - Paris, 75

A pretty messy station. Nobody really wants to help you and they seem to direct you somewhere else every single time. It's rather annoying. Hard to find anything and again, it's really messy. Nothing is very clear, and I think I was really spoiled by the London King's Cross station. Overall, a big miss, but you really have no choice in many cases and will end up here. read more

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The station has improved dramatically, especially the Eurostar terminal. Easier access, speedy passport control, both British and French. Security is friendly and quick, even with scanning where those with ICDs or Pacemakers can walk through. The station itself has good eateries and bars. Shops for those last minute needs are there. The only downside is outside. You never feel 'safe' with the 'down and outs' wandering around. Then, you can say that for many main line stations throughout the world. read more

I'm not sure what was going on here. This place seems less than efficient to be a train station. To me everything in here seems to be placed haphazardly. It is just a mess. It's like a mad rush to do everything here. I mean it is just crazy, everybody is rushing to do something, with that everyone is just rude. I just felt rushed to get to where I was going. No time to do anything here but hurry up and wait. I was really glad to be back on the train and get out of here. read more