MaisonPlague

Hi there. I'm visiting Paris this month and I want to take the metro from the Gard du Nord to the Rue du Temple where I am staying. I thought about taking a cab but I am wondering if it is doable on the metro. I will have a largish wheelie suitcase and a small backpack. I am not sure how much my case will weigh by the time I've stuffed it full so I'd like to know if I am likely to run into lots of stairs on my journey to my accommodation. I think the closest metro stations to my flat will be Temple and Republique. I'll probably be travelling during the rush hour which might make suitcase hauling a pretty stressful experience. Any thoughts anyone? Thank you!

cferrb

Take a cab, especially if it's rush hour. Stress and sore, strained backs are bad, peace and a healthy back are good. You'll probably be on the metro plenty while you are there.

Michael

A taxi from the gare du Nord might be a better option. But if you decide to take public transportation, the métro stop Temple is preferable to République (assuming that getting to it does not require still another transfer) because the République station is large, with multiple exits.

StCirq

If I were lugging a heavy suitcase (which I do not), I'd take a taxi. There are plenty of stairs in métro stations, and elevators and escalators are sometimes out of order. But since you're likely going to need to use public transportation while in Paris anyway, you should familiarize yourself with it in advance: www.ratp.fr

MaisonPlague

Thank you very much for your help Cferrb, Michael and St Cirq. Looks like taking the metro would be false economy. I tend to think of Paris taxis as being like London ones i.e. expensive but I guess I should stop being such meanie and pay up

Christina

I don't think too many taxis are exactly cheap, although it depends on your reference point. You aren't going very far, so the fare can't be that high, anyway.

I wouldn't take a metro in your case due to your use of the words "large" for your suitcase. To me, that is clearly 25 inches or more, and probably more. And you say you don't know what it will weigh which sounds like you have never done this before, and maybe have never used that suitcase on a trip. So I don't think the metro is good in your case. Every metro station has stairs, you can't avoid them. Some have more than others, that's all. And some will have more going down than going up and others it seems the other way (ie, going down into Montparnasse isn't difficult, as there aren't many stairs going down). And if your destination really is closest to the Temple metro stop, that isn't even on a line that goes to Nord, you'd have to transfer. But it wouldn't be worth the trouble given the short distance from Repubique. Which means you are going to then have to walk a ways from the metro to your destination, I imagine.

And sometimes the metro cars are so full during rush hour, you can barely get on. Now I actually do take the metro (or bus) sometimes with a 25 inch suitcase I travel with, but it is a lightweight model and I know what it weighs (I don't stuff my bags completely full), and I don't also have a backpack. But I only do that when I don't have to transfer, pretty much, and never during rush hour.

MaisonPlague

Thanks Christina. My suitcase usually ends up weighing around 20 kilos which is fine when you're pulling it along on its wheels but not so great when you have to humph up a crowded flight of stairs. I've really got to learn how to travel light. The ratp site site says I can take line 5 to Republique which I think will be my alternative station to Temple. I think they are both about the same distance from the flat. However, I think it going to be a taxi this time.