Gare du Nord to central Paris: metro, RER, walk, taxi
Most people arriving on Eurostar from London, Brussels or Amsterdam head for Châtelet and the Louvre, and the choice is between two cheap rail rides and a short taxi. Metro line 4 and the RER B and D all run to Châtelet for a 2.55 euro ticket. A taxi at about 11 to 16 euros is only a few euros more per person for a group with bags.
- Cheapest
- FreeWalk to Châtelet · 45 min
- Fastest
- 20 minRER B or D · €2.55
- Taxi
- €11–€16Taxi Parisien · 20 min
RER B or D: €5.10 for the group, about 20 min. No booking needed.
Train
RER B or D
20 min
For the group€5.10
RER B or D
SNCF / RATP · one stop to Châtelet-Les Halles
- Per person
- €2.55
- Door to door
- 20 min
- Runs
- 05:00–00:00
- Frequency
- every 3 to 8 min (B and D combined)
- Board at
- RER platforms underground, signposted from the main hall
- Suitcases
- Awkward
Taxi
Taxi Parisien
20 min
For the group€11–€16estimate
Taxi Parisien
Metered · rank in front of the station
- Per person
- €11–€16 per vehicle
- Door to door
- 20 min
- Runs
- 24 hours
- Frequency
- Rank outside the station
- Board at
- Taxi rank on the station forecourt, signposted from the main hall
- Suitcases
- Carried for you
Metro
Metro line 4
25 min
For the group€5.10
Metro line 4
RATP · direct to Châtelet, 7 stops
- Per person
- €2.55
- Door to door
- 25 min
- Runs
- 05:30–00:47
- Frequency
- every 3 to 5 min
- Board at
- Metro entrance inside the station, signposted from the main hall; line 4 platforms are below ground
- Suitcases
- Awkward
On foot
Walk to Châtelet
45 min
For the groupFree
Walk to Châtelet
About 3 km on pavements, mostly straight
- Per person
- Free
- Door to door
- 45 min
- Runs
- 24 hours
- Frequency
- Any time
- Board at
- Station forecourt, then south along Boulevard de Magenta
- Suitcases
- Awkward
Every option in detail
MetroMetro line 4
- €2.55
- 25 min
- 05:30–00:47
- → Châtelet (change for the Louvre on line 1), Les Halles, Cité
Take line 4 toward Mairie de Montrouge. The ride to Châtelet is about 12 minutes and the ticket is the 2.55 euro Metro-Train-RER ticket, sold at machines in the station or on a phone. RATP lists the first train at 05:30 and the last at about 00:47, a little later on Friday and Saturday nights. Expect stairs and crowded trains at rush hour, and keep a hand on your bags.
TrainRER B or D
- €2.55
- 20 min
- 05:00–00:00
- → Châtelet-Les Halles
Any RER B or D train heading south stops at Châtelet-Les Halles after about 4 minutes, and the same 2.55 euro ticket works. It is the fastest rail option, but the platforms are deep and the Châtelet-Les Halles station is a long walk from the street, with several escalators. Do not board an RER B marked for the airport by mistake: check that the train goes south. The lines normally run from about 05:00 to midnight.
On footWalk to Châtelet
- €0
- 45 min
- 24 hours
- → Châtelet / Louvre
The walk is mostly flat and straightforward, about 3 km down Boulevard de Magenta, Boulevard de Strasbourg and Boulevard de Sébastopol. With a suitcase allow 45 minutes, and more in the rain or with a heavy bag. It saves the fare and you see the streets, but only choose it with light luggage and good weather.
TaxiTaxi Parisien
- €11–€16 per vehicle (estimate)
- 20 min
- 24 hours
- → Door to door, your hotel
Within Paris there is no fixed fare, so the meter runs. The pick-up charge is up to 4.48 euros, the minimum fare is 8 euros, and we estimate 11 to 16 euros to Châtelet, depending on traffic. A bulky bag adds 2 euros. The ride takes 15 to 25 minutes. Queue at the official rank, which has staff at busy times, and ignore anyone offering a ride on the concourse.
The same trip in a different situation
Arriving late at night
The last metro 4 leaves Gare du Nord at about 00:47 on a weekday, with later trains on Friday and Saturday nights, and the RER B and D stop at about midnight. A train that arrives after that leaves you with a taxi from the rank in front of the station, which works all night at the same meter rates. Night buses cover the area too, so ask at the information desk, but with bags the taxi is simpler.
See the comparison →4 people, 4 suitcasesTravelling as a group of four
Four people on the metro or RER pay 10.20 euros in all. A taxi at 11 to 16 euros costs about the same as the tickets, and takes you to the door with the bags in the boot. For four with luggage the taxi is the better choice. For one or two people the metro at 2.55 euros each is much cheaper, and line 4 is quick enough that you lose little time.
See the comparison →Practical tips
- The taxi rank is on the forecourt in front of the main hall. Follow the Taxis signs rather than taking a car offered inside the station.
- The metro entrance is inside the station. Lines 4 and 5 are signposted below the main hall, and the RER platforms are on a separate underground level.
- A left-luggage office (consigne) is opposite platform 3 beside the taxi exit, and it is usually open from about 06:15 to 23:15. Check the price and hours at the desk.
- Eurostar passengers come out through the main hall after border control, so you can walk straight to the taxi exit or the metro.
- The 2.55 euro ticket is sold as an electronic ticket on a Navigo Easy card or in the Île-de-France Mobilités app. Keep it until you exit.
- Bus 38 also runs from the area toward Châtelet at 2.05 euros, but the metro is faster and simpler with luggage.
Questions travellers ask
How do I get from Gare du Nord to the Louvre?
Take metro line 4 to Châtelet, a ride of about 12 minutes, then line 1 or a 10 minute walk to the Louvre. The ticket is 2.55 euros. A taxi to the Louvre costs about 11 to 16 euros.
How much is a taxi from Gare du Nord to central Paris?
The fare is metered. We estimate 11 to 16 euros to Châtelet, with a 4.48 euro pick-up charge and an 8 euro minimum. The fixed airport fares do not apply to a city journey.
Which is better from Gare du Nord, the metro or the RER?
The RER B or D is faster to Châtelet-Les Halles, about 4 minutes against 12 on line 4. The metro is easier to find and has more trains, and both cost 2.55 euros.
Can I walk from Gare du Nord to central Paris?
Yes, but it is about 3 km and takes around 45 minutes with a suitcase. It suits light luggage and dry weather. Otherwise use the metro or a taxi.
Is there left luggage at Gare du Nord?
Yes, there is a left-luggage office opposite platform 3, beside the taxi exit. It is usually open from about 06:15 to 23:15, so check the hours at the desk before you rely on it.
