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From Gare du Nord to Saint Michel (metro or taxi)
I am arriving from London by Eurostar and want to travel to the Saint Michel area (near Notre Dame). I am a single woman of an advanced age and my carry-on luggage and shoulder bag are quite heavy, at least for me. Does anyone know if there is an escalator (preferably elevator) in Gare du Nord to the RER platform. Also, to reverse the question, is there an escalator (or elevator) to the street level after getting off the train. And if no to both, what would be the approximate cost for a taxi from Gare du Nord. My street, Rue de la Huchette, is blocked off to vehicular traffic. Thanks for any help/iinfo.
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The stairs at St Michel/ND RER station are not for the faint of heart. I don't remember the situation at Gare du Nord, but given your situation (that your bags are quite heavy), I'd take a taxi. They'll be able to get you closer than the RER would anyway, to where you are going, depends which end of it you want.
Depends on time of day and traffic, I am guessing middle of day? maybe 20 euro |
We also arrived by Eurostar.
I think there may be escalators at Gare du Nord - but there are also lots of "vultures" ready to "help" people who look unsure of what they are doing or are having difficulties. In general, I would say that the Metro stations are best avoided with heavy luggage unless you are self sufficient to get up and down lots of stairs and can manage your bags in quite crowded trains - ie need to be able to get in and out of doors quickly, moving people aside as required. |
Thank you for replying. It will be taxi.
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St Michel has awful stairs, no escalators up to street level. As you come off the Eurostar platform turn sharp right: the taxis are at the side entrance.
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By all means take a taxi. It should run no more than than €20-25. As you exit the platform turn to the right to reach the taxi rank. Do not walk straight through to the front of the station and by all means do not accept offers from any of the gypsy cabs or touts who may approach you - only take a licensed taxi from the official taxi rank.
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I'm convinced. Thank you all for the replies. Taxi it is!
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Just want to add, I am really happy I found this site. I didn't just want advice on Metro/Taxi but some more details. For example, turn right from platform is very helpful. Thank you all again.
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Anne, once you get there, have a great time!
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20 euros?
I took a taxi from Gare du Nord to Rue Sommerard which is near Rue Huchette and it was 10 euros. It is as easy as pie to get a taxi at Gare du Nord but you MUST join the official taxi queue. You just can't hail a cab like you can from the 8th Ave side of Penn Station. Queue up, sweetie darling, queue up! Thin aka Linda Radlett |
And as Pepper points out certainly NOT 20E!! And Pepper has given the "drill". There will be a small charge for your luggage (1E maybe) and I think a small surcharge for the "gare", so don't think you're being scammed.
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Watch the video from The Man in Seat 61 and you'll get a feel for the trip and Gare du Nord:
http://www.seat61.com/London-to-Pari...m#.UWVhKh1HIxA (and have a fabulous trip!) |
Thanks again--great advice from everyone. Linda, there's a queue at Penn Station as well, but on 7th Avenue. Don't remember ever seeing a queue at Grand Central, however. More excited as time flies by.
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Yes, I know there is a queue at Penn station on 7th Ave. That is the official taxi stand.
However, you can exit Penn Station at other places and still hail a cab ie on 8th Ave. You CAN NOT do this at Gare du Nord. The taxis will not pick you up. I lived in Manhattan for many years. Thin |
If you take the Notre Dame exit at the back of the Saint Michel-Notre Dame RER station, there are ZERO steps to climb. A series of escalators take you right up to street level, right in front of the cathedral.
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Thanks Kerouac and Thin,
Kerouac, If I lightened my load I may do that. Notre Dame is a very short walk from my destination. But ten euros for taxi is not so bad. Does anyone know what direction I would give the cab driver to get as close as possible to 11 Rue de la Huchette? Thin--wasn't impugning your knowledge of Manhattan. I always avoid the queue on the few times I take a taxi from Penn Station by exiting in the mid-street area. I hail one going towards Madison on 34th. Not easy on cold/rainy days though. I've always relied on my husband in the past, particularly lifting heavy suitcases so this is new for me. Thanks all, again. |
That's interesting that there is an escalator as I've only encountered those stairs.
I have been to Paris many times and taken a lot of taxis and it can take 20 euro depending on traffic conditions and time of day, one can't say that is impossible. It has happened to me and I know why as I know the city, the traffic congestion was terrible and we were barely moving for a long time. I think once there was a demonstration, other times it was just really busy. I fail to understand why you think that person who said that (pepper whatever) is infallible or knows more about it than I do. I'm sure I've done it more than he has in all kinds of traffic. It could take 10 euro but a lot of people get bent out of shape when the unexpected happens, and I wanted to warn you so you could make your decisions properly. |
Thanks Christina. I'll be sure to have sufficient euros with me, either way. Do you know which direction I should give the driver to get as close to my stop as possible. Or should I assume if I tell the driver the number of the building he/she will know where to leave me. I'm doing the train as I thought it would be so much more convenient than flying from London. Hope this proves correct.
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annie, I believe you will be quite pleased with traveling London to Paris via train. It is much easier, no worry about schlepping to/from the airport, through potentially long security lines and trekking to the boarding gate. While there is a security checkpoint to clear at St. Pancras station it is far easier than airport security. Plus, the train is so much more comfortable than a plane.
About your hotel - that block is likely to be quite noisy. Are your booked at hotel les Argonautes? |
At the end of the day, you'll be very, very fortunate if the fare is 10€ and unlucky if it's 20€.
Very best regards, The Taxi Queen (p.s. As you get off Eurostar there are usually some luggage carts/trolleys available for 1€, possibly they will take a 1£ coin as well, can't remember. Try to have a euro coin with you.) |
Thank you both. The street is noisy but I'm in an apartment way in the back and it's very quiet, was anyway last time I stayed there. I live in Manhattan on a very noisy street but because my apartment is in the back I never hear anything, other than the occasional siren. Looking forward to taking the train.
Don't believe I'll need a luggage cart as my one suitcase is on wheels; lifting is my only problem. Getting close! |
I print out the address and a little map with our hotel name and area on it and give it to the driver.
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Ah, my apologies, annie, somehow thought you were in a hotel.
Sounds like you are all set for a great trip! |
Last September I arrived via Eurostar and took a taxi to my hotel (Hotel Diana). Lots of traffic and it cost me 30E....the return, however, was only 15E (much less traffic). So, you never know. I did note in my travel journal that the 30E were "well worth it!"
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Hi everyone. I have to go to Paris for conference and seminars, and i don't know a word of French. My hotel is close to san Michel rotre dame, and next to sorbona university (metro moubert-mutualite, hotel moderne saint germain) and the conference will be in front of metro saint germain de pres (so three stops away). I will be in Paris alone and i will have to go back and forth from hotel and conference venue, during the day and evening. In your opinion, the area where i booked the hotel is a safe area? Is it safe if i take the metro in the evening to go back to my hotel? Or that particular street or station is not safe in the. evening
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Very safe area. Very rich area. Louis Vuitton is on Rue Bonaparte@ Eglise St. Germain des Prés.
This area is very Bobos in Paradise. Don't wear cheap shoes in Cafe Flore! Coucou! Thin |
I returned from Paris Thursday night. We stayed very near the Maubert Mutualite stop. It is very safe and there is a police station right up the street by the Metro entrance. You are three stops away but you need to change lines for one stop at Odeon. Or if the weather is good it only about two or three blocks to where you need to be. Do you need to buy tickets or are they provided for you? A book of ten (carnet) for 13.70E is a better deal than single tickets. The Navigo pass is even better if the days work for you and you plan to use it a lot. http://parisbytrain.com/paris-train-...go-decouverte/
There is a nice market at Maubert open 7-1 on Tues, Thurs and Sat. Have a wonderful time in Paris!! You are staying in a great area! |
Tip: There is a "secret" elevator at the St Michel RER stop that takes you to/from street level (between 2 buildings a block or two east of St Michel blvd directly south of the main street on the south river bank). VERY hard to spot. Can't remember how many times I dealt with the broken escalators, long underground passages, and stairs before a local pointed this out. Looks like a glass door at street level (does have a tiny tiny sign as I recall). It also is broken on occasion. There are several threads on this site discussing this elusive elevator.
http://www.ratp.fr/fr/ratp/c_20618/a...e-des-reseaux/ http://vianavigo.com/en/routes-district-maps/ Hope this helps! Cheers, Paul |
https://community.ricksteves.com/tra...-station-steps has exact directions to the elevator:
Posted by tmnewtn 06/25/14 12:41 PM "Get on one of the middle cars of the train leaving Charles de Gaulle Airport to be closest to this exit. When you get off the train at Saint-Michel, walk to the center of the platform and follow the signs to "Sortie-6", an elevator that will take you directly to street level. There is a dedicated turnstile on the RER-B platform for the elevator, and you must use your ticket to exit here. The elevator has been in service since 2009. It surfaces at the corner of Quai St-Michel and rue Xavier Privas on the left bank with a nice welcoming view of the Notre Dame towers. You can also enter here for your return trip if you have your train tickets already. There are no ticket booths or kiosks at this entrance." |
If you decide to take a cab, be sure to get an official Taxi Parisien. Last month, my husband & I took a cab from Gare du Nord to our apartment on Rue Galande near Rue St Jacques, not far from where you are staying. It cost us under 20 euros.
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udsO, Wow! Thank you for posting this. I wish I knew this two weeks ago!
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I wish I'd known about that lift when we stayed just round the corner from the St Michel station a couple of years ago.
oh well, next time! |
We're leaving tomorrow morning from this station, great to know! I picked up RER tickets this afternoon, now just need to find it!
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