Insanity. Came off the Eurostar and needed to get a taxi. Taxis are conveniently located right outside the Eurostar stop but taxi line (queue) was insane. Lots of people and the security directing people into taxis were having a conflict with the taxi drivers so the taxis were manually pulling people out of line so a 10 minute wait took 25 minutes and we nearly missed our connecting train in montparnasse (Eurostar scheduled the train and layover). read more

Gare du Nord is the largest station in Paris. It's the station for high speed trains including Eurostar connect to other countries. Fascinating architecture with historic details and extremely busy station. After we got off the train, we had to carry our baggages and also watched out the pickpockets. We had to keep our own hands in our purse/bag. We tried to get out and got the taxi ASAP. We also came back here for the return trip to London. If you need to go the washroom, pls be prepared to pay 7€ for using the "toilettes". read more

Beautiful train station where the trains depart and arrive on time. Came here from London. Nice journey. The only disadvantage was really standing in line for taxi. A long line...... read more

The Gare du Nord is one of the two main train stations in Paris with this one being the bigger and historical landmark. We have arrived at this station from Brussels and Amsterdam and both times the train station has been swamped with locals and tourists alike. Being a huge place one of the things people criticize about the Gard du Nord is that it is pretty dirty. Guess what, when a million people are running around things happen. The architecture and design of the train station is magnificent. The trains leave on time so give yourself ample time to get to the train station and finding your platform. Also be careful as their are many pickpocketers and thieves ready to earn a living so watch your stuff and don't voluntarily talk to anyone. 5 stars for an amazing job to manage this huge place. With all said and done trains come and leave on time and if you have a little sense you are able to enjoy your travels. read more

Beautiful train station has lots of eateries if you go there early there's places to sit and just people watch. Do you know there are beggars and they will come back and get kicked out and back again and get kicked out but overall a very nice train station. Lots of places for food while waiting for your train to arrive. read more

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Three stars because the station itself is very nice. Or maybe not. Could be I'm just used to far worse stations. Not five stars because the station is apparently a hive of taxis that will attempt to scam you. They'll wait until you hop on, then declare it is a fixed price ride of 50 euros (or some other exorbitant amount) even for a short ride. Yes, if you hadn't guessed already I fell victim to this scam. I originally requested an Uber but had three drivers cancel on me so just decided against my better judgement to try a Paris cab. To not get swindled like this: 1. Know beforehand that this station is a hive of taxis that will scam you. This seems to include both real Paris taxis and totally fake ones. Google for lots of similar stories. 2. There is an official taxi stand to the side of the station. Any taxi you see at the front (main entrance) is probably going to scam you. But seriously, just get an Uber. Yes, Uber has had problems, but you're likely to be much better off than a regular cab. 3. Addendum to #3 if you are a visitor not familiar with the area, and just got a late night train and looking for a ride home, it's quite easy to just wander out the main entrance, see a taxi, and get a ride (and thus scammed). I will never, ever, use another taxi cab again in any city unless I have no other choice. I'm genuinely sorry to all legitimate honest hardworking cabbies. Long live Uber and Lyft. read more

My daughter lost her purse at the security scan belt in the station. The security employees were cold and not helpful. On top of that, some of the security employees tried ushering us to leave the area quicker even after we said we had a lost bag. We went back on last time before our train took off to check if they had finally found it but was rudely ignored. And this is a city is hosting the Olympics in 2024, it's very disappointing! read more

We arrived to Paris from Brussels. The Gare du Nord is impressive! But tbh I did not stay long enough to see it. Just off the train and outside to find a ride to the hotel. Immediately there are taxis waiting. And despite thinking I was ready to avoid being ripped off by a "taxi" SMDH sure enough we were! We were advised to avoid "taxis" that do not have the trip counter visible. Well, I didnt get to look for it till the car was moving. Yikes. The young guy was friendly, quick, and smiling. Refused a girl's call for taxi when he opened the door for us. Promised 55E would get us from here to our hotel. Smdh, when we got out he then said 115E!!! Wth! Thankfully though, we had much less cash than this on us and my husband didn't care to argue about the "55E". He considered the extra cash as a tip. And he and the dude agreed. I was peeved. And then we were glad to learn our way around via metro! So, beware the taxis and beggers at the stations. This one, too. read more

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

Beautiful building. This is the train station in Paris. It was freezing outside and to my surprise this place was freezing as well. Obviously I should've known that it would be since it's a train station and the trains enter this building. Very convenient as well that you can ride the metro from here too. Sort of confusing as there were really no signs telling us where to go so we had to find someone and ask. They do have a Starbucks and other pastry shops available for food and drink. read more

Historic train station. Clearly written signage with English translation is listed throughout the building. For arrivals from London, there is a taxi stand waiting out front, but there is a line. It is well organized and moves quickly as there are several cabs awaiting arrivals. There are two attendants that assist with the taxi line, but tourists are targeted by random independent people at the station trying to sell cab rides. Advance toward the taxi line and you will be set. read more

Gare Du Nord deserves 0 stars, none of your consideration, all of the critiques, and all of the hate it receives. But like the unhelpful, spiteful, unpleasant staff that pollute this station: it doesn't care. It doesnt care because it knows that more than likely you'll have to pass through its station whether you're taking the Eurostar, RER, or the Metro and that you'll be stuck in its bowels with no place to relieve your bowels because their toilets are all pay for. I had the misfortune of having to experience the station because I took the Eurostar from London. On the London side, there is clear signage telling us where to go. There was a comfortable lounge with ample seating and a cafe. There were free, clean toilets. Boarding was a bit of a mess, but after getting on the train it was smooth rolling. HOWEVER. AT GARE DU NORD. NOT. SO. MUCH. The signage is... a mess. There are few ways to get around the several levels. If you come here from the Paris metro you have to exit twice before you can get to the level where the Eurostar trains accept passengers for departures. Oh on top of all that, you WILL have to keep your head on a swivel and your eyes open because crime, pick pocketing, and scammers are a plenty here. Do not take any taxi without the proper markings. Do not listen to any petition signing. Be wary of seemingly friendly people walking up to you in English offering you help with the metro, directions etc. Oftentimes, this is a distraction technique to allow for another to steal your shit. You'll recognize official Gare Du Nord staff because they have soulless stares, frown lines deeper than their disdain for being asked to do their jobs, and they'll speak down to you as if they're trying their damndest not to spit on you. If you have to travel through here, buy extra snacks and pack another carry-on of patience because you WILL need it. read more

We found ourselves at Gare du Nord way too much than I would have liked (mid to late June 2015). As other reviewers have said, this is a huge bustling station that serves people traveling to and from the continent, the UK, and local French destinations. You can also connect to many Metro stations (buy a book of 10 tickets to save money and time, and be prepared to take a long walk) and rent a car from here. We took the Eurostar to and from London St. Pancras here. If you're headed to London, you'll have to go upstairs to check-in and go through UK Border Control and Security in order to get to your gate. Thankfully, there is a waiting area with chairs and stools, albeit a very crowded one. There are shops (L'Occitane for one) and cafés, so you can buy food and water that you can bring on the train. We also picked up our rental car from Gare du Nord. If you're facing the station, walk in, hang left and take the escalators down to where the rental car offices are. We had booked our rental car via AutoEurope a few months before and knowing what I know now, I would not pick up and/or drop off a rental car from here again! Leaving the station was fine as we picked up our car and left early on a Sunday morning (7:30 am). Parisians are not morning people, so there was barely anyone about at that time in Paris. However, dropping off was pretty horrific to say the least. We got into Paris proper around 5:30 pm on a Saturday and it took us about an hour to go through a couple of miles. It was terrible! The traffic around the station will test even the most patient person. This station is sorely lacking in seating for those who are waiting for trains, so don't arrive too early or if you see a spot to sit at a café, take it right away. There are many cafés outside the station if you have time to kill. We did not have any problems with pick-pocketers (but that doesn't mean you should not be on alert for that) or knowing where to board, but we did encounter scammers when we were looking to take a taxi to our AirBnB apartment. Cab drivers were trying to tell us that it will cost 80€ to get down to the 1er which is 1.6 miles away. Really? Do they think we're stupid? Take UBER or flag down a cab a street or two away from the station if you don't want to get scammed. Better yet, take the Metro to your destination. It'll cost you less than 2€ to get to your lodging! We packed light for our trip, so taking the Metro was not a problem for us. When we were leaving Paris, news came out that Gare du Nord is up next for renovation. That's good news and hopefully, they'll create more waiting areas for passengers alone and more café seating for travelers! read more

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Oh this is crazy: what can I say about Paris' biggest train station. Other than the fact: my sister almost gave her luggage to thieves. They asked to "help" carry her luggage and my sister accepted. They started walking super fast in the crowd with her carry-on bag while I was dragging mine and my sister was walking beside me not them. I screamed super loudly when I could barely see them: and they stopped : hehe. I told them we do not need their help anymore. Merci !!!!! I may be tiny but you can't mess with me no matter if I am in Paris or in Florida. My sister said I was feeling annoyed. But that's beyond the point. You can be judge of that story. Few things you need to know about this train station: Many trains are coming and going: please learn a few key phrases related to direction, you can get easily lost here so good sense of direction and French bits and pieces is needed. I didn't have problem with my ticket etc because I didn't have to buy it there but the lines are crazy long if you don't have tickets or need information etc. It is a messy train station but the architecture is beautiful, if you can visualize it without the mess :) Your in Paris, so what if you get lost alittle, enjoy even your time in Gard du Nord. As long as no one steals your luggage or pick pockets your wallet. read more

My daughter and I took the Eurostar from London and arrived in Gare du Nord. I noticed a stark difference in the appearance from the train station in London. It was bustling with throngs of people. There's a pick pocket warning sign. I lost my cell phone here. I don't know if I dropped it or someone took it. Some of the people who hang out here are questionable. The vendors are rude and arrogant. You need your passport and a Landing Card per person. Dollar was even weaker against the Euro. read more

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

Scammers, wheelers, dealers, tricksters....they're all here, and primarily the reason it earns its second star. Forget having a double espresso, just hop of a Eurostar kinda tired, exit into the Northern Paris night sky and run the gauntlet....safe to say you'll be feeling wide awake after that. As for the insides of the station, perpetual construction always on going, the metro is as confusing as an enigmatic, pretty French girl. Get in, or get out, with a minimum of fuss. read more

Gare du Nord - Outside its the Wild West of scammers, hustlers and general ne'er do wells - Train Stations Near Me - Paris, 75

SOOO UNSAFE! Not only is Gare du Nord full of pickpockets and scammers, I saw minimal police presence. You'd think at a big train station that is packed full of vulnerable tourists there would be a lot of police or military around. NOPE! I saw maybe three officers in the entire station. Simply put, I did not feel safe. Pickpockets and scammers are a huge problem here, so to anyone arriving or departing from Gare du Nord, here is my advice: 1. Know where you are going. Fumbling with maps makes you a great target for pickpockets. 2. Do not show your wallet or cash to anyone. Pickpockets are always watching and they strike when you least expect it. 3. Have a hold on your bags at all times. Thieves often prey on those with tons of bags or are distracted and set their bags down. Signage is a problem here as well. It's almost all in French and well, if you don't know French you're kinda screwed. When I was heading back to London, I was looking for a Eurostar sign. There were none that I saw, only signs that said Londres and an arrow. Eurostar check-in is actually upstairs overlooking the train station. If you're taking Eurostar to/from London, you have no choice but to arrive or depart from Gare du Nord. Just take precautions to protect yourself from theft, and maybe brush up on simple common French words and you should survive. read more

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

I have to admit that I was scared to death to arrive in the Gare du Nord train station after reading all of the scary reviews about pickpockets!!! I must have looked like a paranoid, crazy lady clutching my suitcase and purse to me for dear life! Fortunately, we were not robbed at the station (probably because I was alert and watching for thieves). We decided to purchase the Paris Museum Pass at the Tourist Information Booth and it could not have been easier. There was no line and the attendant spoke English after she realized my only French included "Bonjour" and "Pardon, non parlez Francais. Parlez vous Anglais?" We were also able to easily purchased Metro tickets at the train station and were able to hop onto the correct metro line to our hotel. On our return trip to Gare du Nord we arrived at the station about an hour before our train to Amsterdam arrived because we thought we had to go through customs and security like we did in London. Turns out there is neither so you can easily show up 20 minutes before your train arrives without feeling rushed. While we waited for our train in a small seated area we were approached by several beggars. They didn't bother us after we politely said no and went on their way. Be weary of your valuables in this station (as you should when you travel anywhere), but do not fear this train station. It's really not that bad. read more

Why the low ratings for Gare du Nord? Because someone scammed you? Well, be a more alert traveler then, I guess. Now, this train station is no King's Cross - that place is awesome! But I made it through the lines with no problems. I filled out my customs form - I got another stamp in my passport and I got to the waiting area and then to my train just fine. We left on time - we arrived on time. I mean, what do you expect from a train station, folks? I will say that Gare du Nord could stand to have a bit more A/C goin' on... but that might just be the American in me, wanting all of my climates controlled all the time! I kid, I kid. Travel from here - be alert and aware of what's going on around you. Try your best to speak a little French to the employees (a little goes a long way!), and enjoy your journey. read more

Much of the information you need is already in other reviews. So I'll just give you some pointers that I would have liked: Make sure you know which line your training is leaving from and keep accurate track of when it's leaving, especially if you are a non-Frencg speaker. It can be easy to miss your train. Use the bathroom before you enter the international terminal back to St Pancras. The international bathrooms gets packed and there is only one mens and one women's restroom. Otherwise, a train station that could use some cleaning and an update. read more

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

Took the euro star into the Gare Du Nord and took the thalys out of Gare De Nord. You really have no choice when traveling high speed trains to come in or out of this train station, this is one of the busiest and largest train station in Paris. It's not very grand in detailed, it's there to serve a purpose of moving people from one destination to another. Be mindful of your surroundings, keep a good eye and hand on belongings. There aren't many places to grab a bite to eat or to sit while waiting for your train. The platform needed to board your train is normally posted within 30 minutes before leaving, we took the thalys out of Paris, never had to go through security check just saw what platform our train was on and headed that way. It's not a pretty train station, it is a busy train station, but it got it's job done. read more

Trains, Trains, and more Trains! In Paris! The Gare du Nord is one of the largest train depot hubs in all of Paris, France. It's definitely the cheaper alternative to flying inside Europe, if you have the time. Trains in Europe are fast and reliable, although they do take more time versus flying on an airplane. It was pretty neat to see all the trains lined up with plenty of travelers waiting for the train and those who got off the train from a destination where I would love to go someday. I was here on a trip from Paris to Amsterdam and it departed from Gare du Nord on the Thalys train. The Thayls train is noted for is speed and comfort, so I was like, that's great. It took about 3 1/2 hours from Paris to Amsterdam, so it wasn't too bad of a ride. Gare du Nord is seems to be always busy, with people traveling to and from this hotspot in Paris. I guess, its Paris afterall, so the economic impact is pretty huge here to get tourists and travelers in and out of the city to wherever they're going in central Europe. The main area of concern was that there is no outlets to charge your smartphone, which is a bummer. I don't think there is wifi wired in the Gare du Nord, but that is okay. I spent the time people watching while waiting for my train to Amsterdam. I found it odd that during my train trip in Gare du Nord and on the Thalys itself that I did not have to show my Passport to any government official, especially when traveling to another EU country. Found that a bit odd, but whatever. At least I had it with me. I bought my train ticket a couple of months before departure, so I didn't have to maneuver the complexities of the train ticket machines! Yay for internet! The Gare du Nord is located in central Paris, pretty much in the thick of where you want to be. Several Patris metro line serve the Gare du Nord, including routes 4, 5, 7, RER "B" and RER "D". I myself took the public bus route #42 from my hotel near Tour Eiffel. There are several food vendors here, but they just do fast food items like cakes and sandwiches. There is also a place where they sell newspapers and magazines, so you're pretty well stacked here waiting for someone or waiting for a train to get out of Paris. There's minimum security here, although I did see some France military people dressed up and patrolling the main area. That kind of made me feel safe yet scared at the same time. Kind of like being in a military state of mind really, but that's alright. Several reviews here have mentioned Gare du Nord being sketchy. I can relate to that. I guess, it just depends on what time of day you are there. Just got to pay attention and keep your stuff together. Like any areas of Paris, do be aware of pickpockets. More so here than anywhere, since it can be fast paced and there are many people around you. Like an airport when you can just forget about stuff. I didn't have any problems getting around here. Just need to follow the signage and any French you have picked up along the way and figure this stuff out. Even as an American traveling overseas in Paris, I can figure it out rather than having to ask for directions. There are signage in English, so that takes some of the headache while traveling overseas too, as they know Americans and the British love to go to Paris anyhow. I did like the retro train departures board, which refreshed itself and it clicked and clanked. It wasn't digital at all, but it refreshed itself every 5 minutes. I was lucky to sit next to it while it refreshed until I saw my train information on the schedule. I knew my train ticket was real and not some bs info I got off the internet. You never know nowadays. There can be weird people here, although I did see this homeless guy near one of the entrances to Gare du Nord, wailing off in French. Glad to not know French, just sounds so I didn't need to know what he was wailing about! My experience here was kind of short and brief. My train departed at 1225 to Amsterdam and I was here close to 1000, so I had some time to kill. Best bet would be to have lunch or a pre train meal outside Gare du Nord, since food prices here can be rough, for what you pay. Then again, it's Paris, so be prepared to pay up anyway. I am glad that nothing happened to me while waiting for my train. Try not to trust anyone, except from a uniformed personnel. You're well off, believe me. My overall thoughts here are rather positive. I didn't get pickpocketed nor gotten my luggage stolen and my train was on time. I did had to ask which cabin my seat was in, since the Thalys was ridiculously long. Happy to have book my train trip through Gare du Nord for its inexpensiveness versus air travel, but do be safe and aware of what's around you. Last thing you need is to get your stuff stolen while on vacation. Where was cabin #16 seat 41? Support local! B- read more

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When I came through here, I felt like I was at LaGuardia in NYC all over again. It's a major train hub in Paris, so I expected it to be packed, but it was just a nightmare to get around. Signs weren't easily identifiable, so trying to find your way out is a pain. They charge you to use the restrooms, so expect a long line to use one. At the time, some of the metro ticket booths weren't working, so expect a long line to use one. Hell, expect a long line to use anything. I stood in line waiting to buy metro tickets for almost 20 minutes, at which I said forget this. We ended up finding our way to the next metro station a few blocks away. On our return to leave, we had trouble finding the Customs checkpoint, when we asked an employee not only did we get a an attitude, but we didn't get clear enough directions. We finally found a police officer who helped us get where we wanted to go. We were fortunate enough not to be pick-pocketed, but I can see how it can easily happen. read more

Like most reviews... sis and I arrived here this past weekend... literally LOST IN TRANSLATION. First breathe: cigarette / smoke galore! Their information booth was antique to say the least... literally. I was in awe. Please see pictures (which I will post later). It's one of those things that I saw in movies I just didn't think they still existed. There were a lot of police / military men and women walking around with their guns... smiling... yet they didn't seem to really watch "watch" what's going on. I guess that's the USA influence in me that I personally like seeing military personnel actually work and observe each passenger... There were a couple of food stands... if you're hungry. For all you TOURIST... there is such thing as a "TOURISM" booth located all the way in back... and in there you'll be able to get your museum passes to go to the Louvre and Musée d'Orsay. Also you can get your metro pass... if you plan on using the metro instead of the cabs. Also upon taking back the Eurostar... the departure is all the way in the back as well (escalators) and you have to fill out a customs form to enter through London again. So make sure you give yourself plenty of time... Be aware of your surroundings... as always... read more

Gare du Nord is A-OK Notes: If you get to Gare du Nord from the RER, once you arrive, just keep going up, up, up to get to the terminal. Sinage and directions are marginal. From Les Halles Chatlet RER B is the same as the metro - one ticket. If you're going on Eurostar to London, keep going up - ticketing and check in is still a level above the main floor of the terminal. Customs for the UK is at Gare du Nord, so make time for that. read more

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

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This is probably the fastest way to CDG via RER B and cheapest (30 minutes/10euro). You can always take a car, but it's hard to account for traffic and it'll end up being an hour of your time (60euro). less a star for the indifferent station workers. Traveling between london and paris via the eurostar at this station is easy. You can't miss the huge UK flag pointing you in the proper direction. read more

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Paris's international rail hub, Gare du Nord (French: Station of the North) is somewhat mediocre for major European train station: modern, well-equipped, but not exactly somewhere you want to show up too early before your train departure. Because many trains including Eurostar and Thalys go through here, this station is always crowded but don't expect any seating before you check in for an international train. That being said, in a classic Parisian manner, you will definitely find plenty of shopping options to occupy your time if you haven't shop enough before your departure! Nonetheless, while it's somewhat beautiful, Gare du Nord is not a station that you want to linger too long because it can be chaotic. Fortunately, it's well-connected by metro and RER to go to or from anywhere easily, so you really have no reason to show up for your departure too early or stay after your arrival for too long! --- tl;dr version: 1) Modern but chaotic and crowded 2) Plenty of shopping options to kill time 3) Well-connected by Paris Metro and RER read more

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A supposed necessary evil. If you are traveling internationally using Eurostar or Thalys to Paris you will very likely have Gare du Nord as your destination. It smells of piss and various unknowns, isn't awfully clean, full of possible pitfalls-- scammers, pushy types, and pick pocketers. So, keep on your guard and watch your stuff. Gare du Nord seems to have two main entrances. One area for domestics and a large entrance for international. The domestic area looked a bit nicer and had a nice looking Starbucks connected to it. The international area was smelly, and very busy, but you didn't have to go far to get to the platforms. There is also a waiting area for ticket holders. Finding a place to sit and wait is also challenging as the wait area isn't very big and in general there isn't many seats. Starbucks or a cafe nearby might be your best bet. Downstairs leads into the metro. I didn't really use the metro at all on my trip, just public buses, but I was able to buy all my tickets for the buses here at Nord easily. When we arrived in Paris, the train platform had us filtered out into the back of the station, which was odd for me. I couldn't access the main area without using a ticket. I didn't think too much on it since we were very cold. For that matter, the station is very cold in winter and very open. Certainly not one of my most favorite stations, but what can you do? If you come to Paris from outside France this is the one on all the lists. Plus sides-- There are some very reasonable hotels in the area of Nord. Ours was only an 8 min walk from the station and an easy walk back when we left. Or purchase a carnet of tickets-- 10 tickets, which are cheaper here than purchased from the bus drivers and use the public bus system which is extremely easy to navigate to get to your hotel. If your hotel is near Gare de l'est you won't even need a ticket unless you have too much luggage to walk with. read more

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

2.5 The station gets an extra .5 for the Paul bakery in its Eurostar concourse. Although the staff was pretty disorganized for the morning rush (I'm assuming that having a train-load of travelers/business people rushing to get to London first thing in the am is a pretty regular experience), the quality of the Paul product saved the day. There's something about freshly-squeezed orange juice and pastry first thing in the morning... even if it is over-priced. Again, the staff is nice enough (especially for being so early in the morning) but if they were able to get/keep their act together, that would be just the bonjour we all need in the matin. read more

Very sketchy. I did not feel safe at all arriving here from London. Be very careful and watch your belongings. Huge open space with lots of people. Gigantic board that was easy to read. When we got off the train, A man and his wife was traveling with their 2 year old cute son. They were strapping their bags on the kids stroller and he pad locked his bags with a heavy bungee cord to the kids stroller to make sure that no one will steal it from them. Welcome to Paris! read more

Gare du Nord - Took my first photo in Paris! - Train Stations Near Me - Paris, 75

Gare Du Nord or Paris Nord is an Eurostar station in Paris. It's the one you take if you want to take a train from Paris to London. If you're taking the Paris Métro, it's connected to the station, you can save yourself from taking a taxi to this station. Once I boarded the train, I realized that the seats weren't the most comfortable. They're a bit too soft, as I prefer seats that are more firm. Leg room is only average, it's only slightly better than economy class for most airlines. However, the train is smooth and very quiet. It feels like you're riding in a high end European luxury sedan, except for the cheap upholstery seats and mediocre legroom. There is a little shop inside the train where you can buy food and drinks. The washroom is a little different as you have to press a button with your foot to release water in the small sink. The washroom is about 2-3 times the size of an airplane washroom, so it's not too bad! The ride from Paris to London will put anyone to sleep. Scenery was mostly green empty fields and warehouses in the suburbs of France and London. Going underwater was nothing exciting too. It's like driving in a freeway at night in the middle of nowhere with little lights.The trip from Gare Du Nord to St. Pancras station in London was one of the most boring train rides I've experienced in a long time. On another note, the big city of London isn't boring, but full of life and excitement. Don't expect train service with someone with a cart of coffee, tea, and snacks strolling through the aisle. Sorry, not available, for non-business class. So, bring a pillow and a blanket with you and enjoy the silence. Lastly, I do want to emphasize that I didn't travel in business class, and business class is different, and maybe it's better. However, I did see a lot of business type of people wearing suits, while working on their laptop computers and talking on their cellphone inside my train, so I doubt it's really worth the extra money. read more

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Huge and busy train station that has pretty much all forms of ground transportation including high speed rail to the Netherlands (Thalys) and London (Euro Star). The place has some shopping and a few small cafés. The place is always extreamly crowded so it can be a bit overwhelming if you don't know where you are going. The food selection is not so great but if you are looking for something a bit better, the restaurants across the street are not bad. The service is usually pretty quick there as well since most customers are waiting on trains. If you are only passing through and have a few minutes, step outside and take a look at the building, it is very impressive. Also make sure to note the awesome old fashion big departure board. It's one that has the little flippy things for each letter. So when the board changed, you always hear the click click click of the letters moving and it is cool to watch. read more

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

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This is the train station that we used to get on the Eurostar. It is a lot bigger than I realized. It was a very busy area. They do have a currency exchange as well as several restaurants, more like a grab and go. The restrooms were closed and had been closed for over a week. Be aware that you do have to pay to use the restrooms here read more

I took the Eurostar from Paris to London from this station twice in the summer of 2017. I found it to be fairly easy to navigate after getting off the metro and following the signs to the Eurostar area. I believe it is recommended that you arrive at least 30 minutes before your train departs, but I usually got there an hour ahead. The queues for ID check, security, and customs look pretty intimidating, but they went through pretty quickly. Note that when leaving France to enter the U.K., you go through 2 consecutive customs checks, 1 to exit France and 1 to enter the U.K. Once in the waiting area, there's not too much to do and it's not very organized; since they have 2 separate queues for the front cars and the back cars, the queues sort of crowd together and it's hard to tell who's in which queue, who's just sitting next to a queue but not actually in it, etc. There are a few places to buy some overpriced food, but the selection after security is sparse. I only really interacted with train station staff once, to ask a question about if I was on the correct train. The gentleman was kind and helpful. read more

Gare du Nord - Inside the station - Train Stations Near Me - Paris, 75

It is pretty straightforward, and despite being an English speaker I was easily able to navigate the station. It has pay bathrooms, so if you think will have use them, make sure you have euro coins handy. read more

Super sketchy train station. So many homeless people coming up to you and harassing you. We saw LITTLE KIDS getting hauled away by the cops for I'm guessing pick-pocketing. It was, however, very easy to navigate inside. I didn't feel too unsafe as there were lots of security and police around. read more

Gare du Nord is the railway station in Paris for international trains. I come here several times a year by Thalys. The station is well structured with tv screens everywhere, easy access to the metro, bus or taxi services. Gare du Nord is just a five minute walk from Gare de l'Est which is easy if you want to make a connection. One thing that the railway station lacks, is enough seating space. If you need to wait for your train you must be really lucky to find a seat. Also beware of pickpockets and scammers. read more

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

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On time- On time- on time! Nuff said! I so appreciate a timely schedule when I don't have much time in a place. Nothing too special about this place but the bullet train we were on but even that wasn't so impressive. Easy access from Paris to Brussels but NO PASSPORT STAMP!...such a let down. A little confusing as to where we were departing but I chalk it up to the language barrier. Not so humbly submitted, Michael C. read more

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Update September 2009 A recent trip to France just confirmed my view that the Gare du Nord needs a serious makeover inside. The queues for the Eurostar home were incredible, and incredibly badly organised (not really organised at all, actually), and signage is still poor. The contrast with St Pancras is painfully acute. In the Eurostar terminal, there were long queues for the women's toilets, and only two of the three urinals in the gents' toilet was in service, and only one of the three washbasins. Not great when you have 800+ passengers waiting. The metro station has been spruced up a little but, with only two ticket machines, queues for metro tickets after a Eurostar has arrived can be very long, not helped by the beggars working the queues. ****************** After the other reviews, I'm a bit torn by the Gare du Nord. I've experienced some of the practical problems others have, but it's also undeniably impressive as a building. Including the RER tracks below, it is claimed to be Europe's busiest station, with 180 million passengers a year going through its 44 platforms. It has all the facilities you'd expect for such a large station. The station was originally opened in 1846, and served the Chemin de Fer du Nord railway, to Amiens and Lille. It rapidly became too small for the growth of traffic, and so was rebuilt to the present design 1861-65. The architect was J I Hittorff, better known for the fountains he designed in the Place de la Concord, and the houses in the Place d'Etoile around the Arc de Triomphe. The classically-inspired main façade is one of the best railway stations in Europe, in my book, with a large central pavilion flanked by a matching pair of pavilions, connected by long wings. Long rows of Doric pillars are set off by larger Ionic pilasters, although the overall effect is rather spoiled by the iron canopy running the length of the building, which cuts through the lower tier of pillars. The whole thing is set off by such copious statuary that we could only be in France. The design is not quite as attractive inside in my view - I prefer arched glass roofs to pitched ones, but it's still impressive enough. Unfortunately, I too have encountered the haphazard service and long queues in the Eurostar terminal, which really does seem to have been designed as an afterthought. It's OK once you are past check-in, but the facilities are not spectacular, and the food is mediocre - a poor advert for the one of the world's gastronomic capitals. I've always found the toilets in the main station slightly seedy too - lots of shifty looking types hanging around. It felt like that when I was Inter-Railing in 1984 and still feels like it now. Signage is also poor, and it's not easy to find your way around. The cavernous RER station below can have the same slightly intimidating feel too - for a modern construction it's quite dark and, although it is undoubtedly spacious (the UK could take notes on that), it's not that easy to navigate. It has always felt distinctly unpleasant late at night, although security has improved of late. As well as the Eurostar to the UK, it is the terminus of Thalys services to Brussels, Cologne and Amsterdam, and domestic services to Lille, Amiens, Arras, Calais and Boulogne. The RER (lines B and D) serves the northern suburbs, the Stade de France and the airport at Roissy-Charles de Gaulle. read more

Big fan of thalys, high speed trains. I'd suggest the 10th is a good area to stay in Paris. This train station can quickly get u to London, Brussels.. Amsterdam. Be aware of surroundings, lots of trash wandering around and be cautious. read more

Although this train station makes it very easy to travel from Paris to London, we had an experience where every single person in the station had to evacuate due to a suspicious item found on the train. The reason I am writing this review is because, as a medical professional, Gare Du Nord, has NO evacuation plan. They have no way to communicate with people, and just leave everyone wondering around about what's going on. There's only 1 escalator, 2 elevators, and a stair case. None of the employees at the station had control over the people or at least give people directions to evacuate. The employees just state, to exit "that way". I started to wonder, if this was actually a real threat, how can people know where the emergency exits are!? Gare Du Nord must do better. Have a plan and direct people. Don't just leave your passengers unattended wondering what's happening. read more