We've found that we enjoy staying close to the central transporstation station when we travel (Victoria Station in London, Hauptbahnhof in Munich) and would like to know what and where that is in Paris.

Thanks

There is nothing like Hauptbahnhof in Munich, which is essentially the only MAJOR rail station there and all local lines and other forms of transportation radiates from there.

Paris is somewhat like London. Victoria is only one station, and others would argue that Charing Cross, King's Cross, or even Waterloo would offer even more "central" opportunities.

In Paris, the biggest stations are Gare de Nord and Gare de Lyon, but neither are really that convenient in terms of what I think you are looking for. And there is no station that would really be called "the center" or "the hub" like in Munich. The metro serves the whole city well. There is no point in looking to stay near a particular train station there.

As Patrick says, there is no such animal as a central train station in Paris. There are four major stations, one to send trains off in each of the four major directions, basically.

Hi judy,

Although no longer a working train station, staying near the former Gare d'Orsay (now a museum)would be close to what you want. 62, rue de Lille in the 7th.

Paris has these train stations, all of them major: Gare Montparnasse for trains south and southwest, Gare St. Lazare for trains west to Rouen and environs, Gare de Lyon for trains east and southeast, Gare de l'Est for trains east, Gare du Nord for trains to the northeast - England and the Netherlands, and Gare d'Austerlitz for southwest France, Spain and Portugal.
There is also Gare Bercy which is used for night trains to Italy and the south of France. Bercy is smaller than the others but active. So take your pick.
Where do you want to go?

I appear to need to more clear about what we're looking for. We want to be able to take public transportation from the airport and be near our hotel without having to change from train or subway in order to be near our lodging (yet to be determined). We would also like it to be like Victoria Station and the Hauptbahnhof in that all trolleys, trams, underground, and trains leave from a central location. The only traveling outside the main city that we would probably do is to Versailles (sp??). Thanks, JKD

I am not as familiar with Victoria Station as Paris transportation, but didn't think all trams and underground lines leave from it. Well, I know they don't, there are lines that don't go through it--you can't get directly to Picadilly Circus from it, for example, you have to transfer.

It's the same way in Paris. There are several train stations which have trains to different places. All train stations have a metro stop at them and you can thus take the metro from there to other points, but you may have to transfer. If you mainly want a metro stop that is on the direct RER B line from the airport and that you can walk to a nearby hotel -- I'd suggest either St-Michel or Luxembourg. I'd really suggest Luxembourg as I like the area much better. However, Luxembourg only has one line going through it, whereas St-Michel does have a couple metro lines, plus two RER lines (suburban light rail)--the one from the airport and then the RER C line (which goes to Versailles). So, that might be more what you want.

Christina is right on the money. Actually w/luggage & all you might be better served to take the Air France bus or other means to get into & out of town. Once there, you are always close to a Metro stop & it is very easy to get around. In taking the RER from CDG you actually have to board a bus to get to the terminal so you will still have to transport luggage a couple of times.

If you come into CDG-Terminal 2 (some US airlines do), then do you have to take a shuttle to get to the RER station? (or only if you come into T-1?)
Thanks for any clarification.

You need to take a shuttle no matter which terminal you come into.

Frankly, until you DECIDE where you might want to stay there seems little use in continuing this. As has been stated above, there is no ONE "central" station in Paris and since there are six stations (St. Lazare, Nord, Est, Montparnasse, Austerlitz, and Lyon..as well as Bercy which is basically a night tyrain satellite of yon) each one of these may be "central" for that particular area.
I'd worry less about the station and more about how close your chosen hotel is to the Metro or RER stations since if you are using public rail-oriented transport to get around the city those stations would be of greater imprtance. to you.
Paris is BIG and some transferring between lines is almost inevitable unless you use taxis instead.

That's what we want to do. Decide which main station we want to be closest to and then book a hotel close to that station. It looks like Christina's reply re St. Michel is what we may be looking for. Thanks for all the info. JKD

Something that may be helpful, if you go to Paris.org there is a Metro map. However, that is not necessarily a good way to decide where to stay in Paris. The Metro is easy to use & transfers are inevitable as JonJon states. You are never far from a stop & there is no advantage to staying near a larger station in my opinion. Stay where you like, there is always a Metro close by.

judydoll:

The areas near the train stations in Paris are not terribly appealing for the most part. And since I hope you understand now that Paris doesn't have anything even remotely like a "central" station, staying near one of the main stations would be pretty useless.
Whatever logic has worked for you in finding accommodations in other cities isn't going to work in Paris. I suggest you listen to the posters who are saying you should just do some research about the various neighborhoods of Paris and decide where you want to be that way.

I see no advantage to your strategy.
I stay close to Gare Montparnasse, which is a huge station, but that coincidental to the quality of the hotel.
The Paris Metro is extensive and serves all the train stations.
If you want to go to Versailles, the RER to Versailles Rive Gauche orginates at Gare d'Austerlitz, but it stops at other places like Invalides, St. Michel-Notre Dame, Musee d'Orsay, and Champ-des Mars-Tour Eiffel.
Invalides is fairly near several good hotels in the 7th Arr. The RER from CDG airport stops at Gare du Nord, but I see no particular reason for taking a hotel based on Gare du Nord.

I fail to see an advantage to the criterion you cite for hotel selection, even for Munich where I have been many times.
I have no trouble getting out of the city regardless of where I stay.
In fact, the hotel I normally use is two or three U-Bahn stops away from the Lufthansa bus stop to Strauss airport. It is therefore convenient for leaving from the airport and traveling to the hotel from the airport. Unless the hotel is less than 450 meters away, I am probably going to take a taxi to the train station anyhow.

Hi judy,

These previous threads might be helpful for deciding where to stay

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34457479

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34449553

I just can't keep my mouth shut on this one . I know both Victoria and the Hauptbahnhof. You won't find the same thing in Paris as others have said. Christina's answer came the closest and knowing the other two stations you mention in comparison, St. Michel won't come close to your expectations. The other main train stations in London such as King's Cross or Waterloo are not areas I would stay in when in London. Victoria station is a fairly good neighborhood though and again there really isn't a comparison for Paris. I am going to get on board w/ the others who are encouraging you to let go of the "...near a train station..." route. The Metro is everywhere and will get you where you need to go. If you take the Air France bus you would be dropped off within easy walking distance of a hotel either on or near the Champs Elysee or near the Invalides, both central, close to the metro and very nice areas. (Invalides would be my choice.)The bus is at least as close and convenient to use as the RER train from CDG airport.

Judy has got so much advice that if she is not confused it's because she isn't
paying attention.

I have a question. I have read that the reason the London doesn't have a central station is because of an act of Parliament.

Was there something comparable in Paris??:-B

OK,I don't know how long you intend to be in Paris for, but choosing your hotel on the sole criterion of not changing on the RER line seems a bit trivial. OK, you'll save yourself 20 mn and one metro change, but you'll be stuck with the same hotel for so many nights. Plus, as I keep banging it on this forum, you're on vacation, for God's sake, the two (minimum, judging by "we" in your post) RER fares vs the taxi fare will at most save you 20-30 euros. Is it worth spoiling your first day after a long transatlantic flight? By taking a cab, your mind and your arms will be freer and more relaxed, and you would be able to choose your hotel with other criteria in mind than being on the RER B line!

I am a big time fan of Victoria Station. In fact, I refuse to stay anywhere else when in London. Fly into Gatwick and take the Gatwick express for £10 straight into Victoria Station and into the Thistle Hotel which opens out into the station itself. Come back out of the hotel into the station and hop on the Tube. Yep, know exactly what you mean by the convenience of it.

But like all the others are saying here, there's nothing even remotely similar in Paris. And as much as I love London and the Tube, it can't compare to the wonderful Métro! It's a much more convenient system with many more stops placed much closer together. You are never more than a few blocks from a Métro stop, no matter where you stay.

If you are not loaded down with luggage, the bus or the RER is the way to go. I usually wait and spend money for a taxi on the way back out to the airport to leave as by then I am usually worn to a frazzle from all my heavy-duty vacationing!