I am traveling from Gare du Nord to near the Metro stop Maubert-Mutualite in the 5th arrondissement. An online taxi fare calculator suggests this takes 22 minutes and will cost just over 12 Euros. Can anyone say if this is accurate?

I think it might be a lot easier to do this than to take the Metro and have to change at Odeon with bags in tow, etc.

Thank you!

According to RATP.fr you can take the RER B toward Robinson, get off at the St. Michel station and it is a 7 minute walk to the Maubert-Mutualité station. That is the most direct.

<i>An online taxi fare calculator suggests this takes 22 minutes and will cost just over 12 Euros. Can anyone say if this is accurate?</i>
The time sounds right. I don't know about the cost but it looks reasonable.

<i>I think it might be a lot easier to do this than to take the Metro and have to change at Odeon with bags in tow, etc.</i>
It will probally take about 10 minutes to walk from Metro Odeon to Place Maubert. Metro St. Michel is a little bit closer.

<i>with bags in tow, etc.</i>
Pack light and take the Metro to Maubert-Mutualtie. But if you are traveling with too much luggage I suggest the taxi from Gare du Nord. Sluff off the gypsies who will be on your heels at the Gare du Nord taxi rank. The pickpockets also love the St. Michel Metro stop.

Maubert-Mutualtie is a good neighborhood. I lived there.

yes, that estimate sounds accurate. You do understand that is just an estimate, don't you, fares are not fixed in taxis, they depend on the actual time, as well as time of day. I just took a taxi from Montparnasse to the Marais a few weeks ago and it cost 12 euro, weekday mid-day, and that's probably around the same distance. There is a charge to get a taxi at a train station, but they might have added that in to the estimate.

Thank you all, for your help. We will be in Europe for two weeks, starting in London. We tried to pack light, but it didn't work. So the best option seems to be the taxi.

Thank you spaarne for the warning about gypsies. I will watch out for them. And its good to know we will be in a good neighborhood while we are there.

Christina, I do understand its an estimate. I live in Manhattan and the fare can vary quite a bit, especially if a street fair closes a major avenue.

I will add a post once we return from Paris to let you know how it actually went.

There is a good farmers market a couple of days a week at Place Maubert. Also there are a number of small stores there - cheese, meat, fish, wine, fruit, bread, flowers, etc. They are good for a picnic in your room.

The 38 bus goes directly from the Gare du Nord to the Boulevard St. Michel. From the Blvd. St. Germain stop it is a 5 minute walk to Maubert-Mutualité.

we happily paid 17 euros from Gard Nord to Rue Mouffetard area with suitcases in tow...

no muss, no fuss...

I've never seen gypsies at the Gare du NOrd taxi ramp, but have waited an inordinate amount of time for a taxi. I still think it;' the best way! 12 euro is about right but I think the time may be a bit long.

Thank you all for the comments and suggestions.

We waited about 15 minutes for the taxi and the ride took about 15 minutes too. The cost was 13 Euros.

The waiting area was outside, but covered by several awnings linked together. It was pouring rain and where the awnings joined, there were leaks. But overall the wait was fine.

There were two people helping load luggage into the taxis and telling the cabbies where the people were going. We thought they were employed by the station until the police chased them off. They made some money in tips and they actually were helpul, especially to older people with large, hard to hande, bags.

Thanks for the follow-up.

I still pack light enough to be able to take the metro.