General
Overview
Gare du Nord is Europe’s busiest station, serving Eurostar high-speed trains to London, Brussels, and Amsterdam (Thalys merged into Eurostar in October 2023).
Download SNCF Connect to book your tickets and navigate France, but keep the Eurostar app installed to receive live gate alerts and handle your digital check-in if you are traveling to or from London.
Transfer Options
RATP operates the Metro, RER, bus, and tram in Paris. France has frequent planned strike actions that can reduce or suspend services with little warning. Before you travel, check the RATP real-time traffic page for any disruptions. If the Metro or RER is affected, a licensed taxi or Uber/Bolt is your fastest fallback.
Luggage Storage
Automatic lockers located on Level -1 (Niveau -1), near the Rue de Maubeuge exit and car rental area.
Most station lockers now only accept credit/debit cards. Be aware that if a “Security Alert” (Vigipirate) is active, storage facilities may close without notice.
Visitor Cards and Passes
Paris uses a unified flat-fare ticket system across all zones. Here are the main options for visitors in 2026.
Single Tickets (t+)
A t+ ticket costs €2.55 per journey and is valid on the Metro, RER (within Paris), buses, and trams. Load tickets on a reusable Navigo Easy card (€2.00) or use the Bonjour RATP app.
Paris Visite Pass
The Paris Visite pass covers all Île-de-France zones (1–5) — including CDG, Orly, Versailles, and Disneyland — with unlimited travel for consecutive days. 2026 adult prices:
| Duration | Adult Price |
|---|---|
| 1 day | €30.60 |
| 2 days | €45.40 |
| 3 days | €63.80 |
| 5 days | €78.00 |
Children aged 4–9 travel at half price. Validity is calendar-day based (expires at midnight), so start early.
Navigo Découverte (Weekly)
The Navigo Découverte weekly pass costs €32.40 (plus €5 for the card) and covers all zones Monday to Sunday. Requires a small ID photo. Buy at staffed ticket windows at major stations (Gare du Nord, CDG Airport).
Paris transport passes – Île-de-France MobilitésParis Museum Pass
Covers 50+ museums and monuments — including the Louvre, Musée d’Orsay, Palace of Versailles, Arc de Triomphe, Sainte-Chapelle, and Musée Rodin. Does not include the Eiffel Tower or public transport.
2026 prices (adults): 2 days €90, 4 days €109, 6 days €139. Days are consecutive calendar days — activate in the morning to get full value.
Children under 18 enter all national museums free (no pass needed). EU/EEA residents under 26 also enter French national museums free. Buy online at Paris Museum Pass official site for instant digital delivery, or at Paris tourist offices.
Paris Passlib’
The official Paris Tourist Office pass — pick a bundle of activities (museums, cruises, hop-on-hop-off buses, experiences) rather than unlimited days. Flexible: valid 1 year from first use.
Prices from €45 (3 activities) to €249 (7 activities). Culture bundles cover the Louvre, Orsay, Arc de Triomphe, Sainte-Chapelle and more. City and Explore tiers add the Eiffel Tower and Seine cruises.
Children’s Fares
Children under 4 travel free on all Metro, RER, bus, and tram services — no ticket required. Children aged 4–9 pay a reduced fare (approximately half the adult price) on single tickets and the Paris Visite pass. From age 10, the full adult fare applies. At ticket machines, select “Tarif Réduit” to load reduced-fare tickets onto a Navigo Easy card.
Use Citymapper for step-by-step navigation with best carriage guidance. Use Bonjour RATP to purchase and reload Navigo passes digitally.
Public Transit
Train and Metro
Connects to Metro lines 4 and 5, and RER B and D. Take Metro L4 towards Châtelet or L5 towards République. Taxi ranks are on Place Napoléon III.
The Metro is the fastest way to navigate the city. A single t+ ticket costs €2.55 (flat rate, all zones within Paris).
- Purchase: At any RATP ticket machine — select “Navigo Easy” for a reloadable card.
- Validation: Tap or insert your ticket at the turnstile before boarding.
You must keep your ticket until you have fully exited the station. Inspectors check tickets behind the gates, and fines are €35–€50. At Gare du Nord and Châtelet, transfers involve long walks and stairs. With heavy luggage, a Taxi or G7 is a better choice.
Bus
City Buses
A standard t+ ticket costs €2.55 and is valid on all city buses. Board through the front door and validate immediately. Newer buses have digital next-stop screens; on older routes, use Citymapper or Google Maps.
Give up blue-marked Priority seats for passengers with reduced mobility. On crowded buses, keep bags close and watch your stop — Paris does not always announce them verbally.
Accessibility & Safety
Paris-CDG and Paris-Orly airports provide free PRM assistance throughout all terminals. Book online or call at least 24 hours in advance.
PRM Assistance – Paris AéroportAt all Paris train stations (Gare du Nord, Gare de Lyon, Gare de l’Est, Gare Montparnasse, Gare Saint-Lazare), use Assist’enGare for wheelchair assistance. Book online or call 3635 at least 24 hours in advance.
Assist'enGare – SNCFParisian transport hubs are generally safe, but crowds attract pickpockets. Watch out for the “Petition” scam (signing a fake charity form) and the “Helpful Stranger” at ticket machines.
At ticket kiosks, be wary of anyone offering to “help” you buy a ticket. They may buy a child-fare ticket but charge you full price, or swap your cash. Only accept help from uniformed SNCF or RATP staff, or use the official “Vente” desks.
Essential Services
Lost & Found
The SNCF Lost & Found office is on Level −1, next to the car rental agencies. Open Monday–Saturday, 08:00–20:00. Also report online.
SNCF Gares – Lost & FoundFirst Aid
Pharmacy
Pharmacie de la Gare du Nord is on Level −2 (after the RATP ticket gates), at 18 Rue de Dunkerque, 75010 Paris.
Pharmacie Gare du NordArrival
Official Taxi
Price and Appearance
Look for the “Taxis Parisiens” sign on the roof.
From Train Stations: Rides are metered. Expect a minimum charge of roughly €8.00 and a typical ride to the city center costing €20–€40.
In Arrivals halls and train stations, men may approach you asking “Taxi?”. Ignore them. These are unlicensed drivers. Always follow the blue “Taxi” floor decals to the official outdoor rank where a dispatcher will assist you.
Rideshare
Pickup Points
Exit the station towards Rue de Maubeuge. Drivers typically wait along the curb or in the underground VTC zone.
For visitors with limited mobility, the G7 app allows you to book an “Access” vehicle with a lower step-in. You can also book a “Meet & Greet” service where the driver waits at the end of the train platform or arrivals hall with a sign to assist with luggage.
G7 is the most reliable app in Paris, offering professional drivers who can use bus lanes, often shaving 20 minutes off trips during traffic.
Uber and Bolt are available but use standard pricing and cannot use bus lanes.
ATMs and Currency
When a machine asks to charge you in “USD” or your “Home Currency,” choose “Charge in EUR.” This prevents the machine from applying a predatory exchange rate (DCC) that can cost you an extra 5–8%.
Departure
Arrival & Check-In
For Eurostar to London, arrive 75–90 minutes before departure (Standard/Plus). The gate closes 30 minutes before. Passport control, luggage screening, and UK Border Force checks all take place before boarding — once through, you wait in the departures lounge.
When to Arrive – Eurostar (Gare du Nord)Security Controls
Security & Screening
Eurostar requires full airport-style security for London-bound services: luggage X-ray, liquids bag, electronics removal, and body scanners. Other Eurostar routes (Brussels, Amsterdam) use minimal platform-access checks only.
Passport Control
Eurostar to London requires simultaneous UK and French border checks before boarding — both are co-located in the Eurostar terminal. UK Border Force checks your passport for UK entry; PAF checks your French exit. This juxtaposed control is unique to the Channel Tunnel route.
VAT Refunds
France uses the PABLO digital system.
VAT refunds are not available at train stations. To claim a refund, depart France via an international airport (CDG, ORY, or BVA) and use the PABLO kiosks before check-in.
VAT Refund for Tourists (PABLO) – Douane.gouv.fr