Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
RER. You also may see ticket windows identified as Ile de France . These are for Transilien
trains serving destinations outside Paris in the Ile de France region (usually no more than an
hour from Paris). When arriving by Métro, follow signs for Grandes Lignes-SNCF to find
the main tracks. Métro and RER trains, as well as buses and taxis, are well-marked at every
station.
Budget plenty of time before your departure to factor in ticket lines and making your
way through large, crowded stations. Paris train stations can be intimidating, but if you slow
down, take a deep breath, and ask for help, you'll find them manageable and efficient. Bring
a pad of paper for clear communication at ticket/info windows. All stations have helpful in-
formation booths (accueil) ; the bigger stations have roving helpers, usually wearing red or
blue vests. They're capable of answering rail questions more quickly than the staff at the
information desks or ticket windows. I make a habit of confirming my track number and de-
parture time with these helpers.
Gare du Nord
KeyDestinationsServedbyGareduNordGrandesLignes:Bruges (atleasthourly,2.5-3
hours, change in Brussels), Amsterdam (8-10/day, 3.5 hours direct), Berlin (4/day, 8.25
hours, 1-2 changes, via Belgium, non-Belgium-traversing trains leave from Gare de l'Est),
Copenhagen (7/day, 14-18 hours, 1 night train), and London via Eurostar Chunnel train
(12-15/day, 2.5-3 hours; for details, see “To Paris or Brussels via Eurostar Train” on here .
Routes via Brussels (e.g., to Amsterdam and Bruges) require taking the pricey Thalys train;
for details and tips, see “Amsterdam Connections” on here .
By Banlieue/RER Lines: Charles de Gaulle Airport (4/hour, 45 minutes, runs
5:00-24:00, track 4).
Gare Montparnasse
KeyDestinationsServedbyGareMontparnasse:Chartres (10/day,65minutes), Madrid
(3/day, 12-14 hours, expensive overnight trains from Gare d'Austerlitz), and Lisbon (2/day,
21-24 hours via Irun).
Gare de Lyon
Key Destinations Served by Gare de Lyon: Avignon (9/day in 2.5 hours to Avignon
TGV Station, 5/day in 3.5 hours to Avignon Centre-Ville station, more connections with
change—3-4 hours), Arles (11/day, 2 direct TGVs—4 hours, 9 with change in Avignon—5
hours), Nice (hourly, 5.75 hours, may require change, 11.5-hour night train possible out
of Gare d'Austerlitz), Venice (5/day, 10-12 hours with 1-3 changes; 1 direct overnight,
14 hours, operated by private company Thello—which doesn't accept railpasses, important
to reserve ahead at www.thello.com ; 4 more night trains with changes), Rome (3/day,
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