Paris Gare du Nord
Eurostar trains from Paris Gare du Nord station connect two of Europe’s most famous cities – Paris and London. The busiest railway station in all of Europe handles around 214 million passengers every year and is our central Paris Eurostar hub.
Here we’ll guide you through everything you need to know about the station, from when to arrive and the departure process to station facilities and onward connections, plus much more.
Eurostar Departures guide
When to arrive
To ensure you have enough time for all pre-departure steps, please come to the station at the recommended time and not just before the gates close. All of our border and luggage checks take place before you depart, which means you can simply hop off the train when you arrive.
Our trains can carry up to 894 passengers, so there may be times when you experience queues at the station. This can particularly happen on peak days or when checks take a bit longer. But don’t worry – our staff will be on hand to guide you through the departures process and ensure you board your train.
| Standard & Standard Premier | Business Premier | Special Assist | |
|---|---|---|---|
| How long before departure should I arrive? (mins) | 90-120 | 45-60 | 60-75 |
| How long before departure does the gate close? (mins) | 30 | 15 | 30 |
Special assistance at the station
If you’re travelling with a disability or reduced mobility, free special assistance is there to help you get to and from the train. You must pre-book at least 48 hours before you’re due to travel for guaranteed assistance.
You’ll find everything you need to know about Special Assistance such as how to book, help with your luggage, parking and station facilities and much more on our Special Assistance page.
When you arrive at the station, head to Eurostar departures on the first-floor balcony. There are lifts available on the main station concourse.
Ticket gates
Head to the Eurostar ticket gates on the first-floor balcony overlooking the main concourse – you should use the escalator opposite platform 17. Simply walk along the balcony to the Eurostar ticket gates.
Scan the barcode on your paper ticket or on your mobile. You need to scan each ticket individually. If you don’t scan your ticket, there’s a chance your seat will be given to someone else.
If a yellow slip is issued when you scan your ticket, it means that your seat has changed. Hold on to this as you’ll need it to find your seat when you board.
Tickets issued by other carriers may not have a barcode so you’ll need to speak to a member of our team.
Passport control
Your passport will be checked twice – first by French authorities and then by UK Border Force.
Have you got a biometric passport? You may be able to use the e-gates rather than the passport control booth. Our station team will direct you to the correct line on the day of travel.
Security
Next, there's a security check for you and your luggage. Please make sure that you don’t go over the luggage allowance and that you don’t bring anything which is prohibited. There are no weight restrictions, as long as you can safely lift and carry your luggage by yourself.
If you have a pacemaker, please inform the security team before going through the metal detector. You may be asked to show your medical device ID card.
Eurostar departure lounge
In the Eurostar departure lounge you will find the following facilities:
Free wi-fi for 20 minutes
Tax refund facility
Duty free shop
Newsagent
Costa coffee (coffee shop)
Exki (food outlet)
Le chocolat Alain Ducasse (chocolate shop)
Paul (food outlet)
L’Occitane
Toilets with baby-changing facilities
Business Premier Lounge
Business Premier travellers and Carte Blanche holders can access our dedicated Business Premier lounge where they’ll find:
Comfortable seating for working or relaxing
Free wi-fi
Spacious meeting areas
Cocktail and smoothie bars
A selection of snacks and drinks
A range of complimentary newspapers and magazines
Power sockets at your seat
The Business Premier lounge is located on level 1 in the departure lounge and can be accessed via the lift on the left after security checks.
Boarding
Our trains leave from platforms 3, 4, 5 and 6. The platform your train departs from will be shown on the screens in the departure lounge when boarding starts. Boarding will be announced around 30 minutes before departure.
Station details and facilities
Facilities at Paris Gare du Nord
Cafés, newsagents and a gift shop, as well as a range of restaurants including Brasserie Terminus Nord and Chez Casimir
A bureau de change
Cash machines
Eurostar self-service ticket machines on the first-floor balcony
Self-service ticket machines for public transport and connecting trains on the main concourse and underground level -1.
Toilets with baby changing facilities
Left luggage lockers
Lost property at Paris Gare du Nord
The SNCF lost property office in Gare du Nord is open Monday to Saturday from 08:00 to 20:00.
It is located on level -1, next to the car rental agencies.
You can find information in French here about lost luggage, including how to check if an item has been found.
How to get to Paris Gare du Nord
Paris Gare du Nord is one of Paris’ main train stations and is located at the heart of the city. The station is close to Gare de l’Est in the 10th arrondissement and connected with several urban transport lines.
By train: Paris Gare du Nord station serves the northern suburbs of Paris by train as well as connecting France’s northern cities such as Calais and Lille with the capital. For more information on how to get to Paris Gare du Nord by train, please visit sncf.com.
By Métro, bus and RER: Gare du Nord is served both by Métro and RER lines as well as several bus routes. Interchange with Métro lines 4 and 5 or RER lines B, D and E. For more information, visit ratp.fr.
By car: Whether you’ve hired a car during your time in Paris or you’re being dropped off by family or friends, please visit viamichelin.com for directions of how to arrive at Paris Gare du Nord by car.
Connections in Paris
If you need to reach different regions in France, the high-speed TGV train operates all over France and beyond. In this section, find out how you can get from Paris Gare du Nord to the main connecting stations in the city.
The information provided is for guidance only. As Métro lines may experience closure for maintenance, we strongly advise you check the RATP website to plan your journey.