Laurie

Please tell me the best way to get from Ecole Militiare Metro stop to Gare du Nord.

We are a family of 3, 2 adults and a 15 year old. We will each have a 22" suitcase and a backpack. We will need to be at Gare du Nord on a Friday in March in time to take a 10:30 train to Bruge.

How much time should we allow to get to the station and what is the best route to take?

Thank you for your help. Laurie

francophile03

Are you all not staying at a hotel in Paris because if you are they can reserve a taxi for you and it's not expensive.
I think from Ecole Militare you can take the RER unless you have to transfer elsewhere to get it. That I'm not familiar with, sorry.

LarryJ

This is a very easy Metro trip that I often take. It will cost 1.30 euros each for the Metro ticket. Take line 8 from Ecole Militaire in the direction of Creteil to the Strasbourg-St.Denis stop. Transfer to line 4 in the direction of Porte de Clignancourt to Gare Nord (3 stops). Trip will take about 20 minutes. Enjoy Bruge, it's a great city.

Larry J

Patrick

Your post is confusing to me. In the title you say "least expensive" which is clearly the Metro. But in the actual post you say "the best" indicating you will all have suitcases and backpacks and need to transfer and deal with steps twice plus connections during the morning "rush hour". The "best" is clearly a taxi, but not the least expensive.

StCirq

The "best" way would be to take a taxi, which wouldn't cost you much at all, maybe 20 euros tops.

Have your hotel call a Taxi Bleu the night before for 8:30. YOu'll have plenty of time at the train station to buy sandwiches and drinks for the train ride.

LaurenSKahn

My experience with taxis from central Paris to CDG are that the price is generally more like 40 or 50 euros rather than the 20 StCirq suggests.

Given the number of people in your party, however, I would suggest that you spring for one. It will save a lot of wear and tear on you after an exhausting night over.

Grasshopper

They aren't going to CDG, they are only going to Gare du Nord. I would be surprised if it cost 20 Euro. Definitely worth it for this trip.

Laurie

Sorry my question was confusing. We would like to take the metro to Gare du Nord.
We have a minimal amount of luggage and we won't be traveling during rush hour.

Thanks LarryJ. That was the information I was looking for. I wanted to make sure we were making the right transfers on the metro.

Thanks again for your help! Laurie

Patrick

No offense, but now I'm even more confused. So your train to Brussels ISN'T at 10:30? (I call 9:30 to 10:00 still part of the morning rush hour in Paris). And you won't each have a 22" suitcase?

Laurie

Yes, Patrick, our train does leave at 10:30 and we will each have a small suitcase.

I thought we could begin on the metro around 9:15 for our trip to Gare du Nord.
Is the metro still very busy at this hour?
We were in Paris last summer and I don't remember the metro trains being packed at this time.

In your opinion, is the Metro not going to be manageable with small suitcases at this hour?

39Steps

Patrick, I feel your pain
Laurie, I would give myself an hour to be on the safe side. Luggage and a busy metro fall into the minor hassle category; usually not a big deal, but if that's not your style this would be a good time to spring for a cab.

BTilke

Laurie, have you thought about taking a bus? From Ecole Militaire/Champ de Mars area there are direct buses to Gare du Nord. No steps or transfers to deal with, same price as metro. And you get to see Paris as you go!

BearCat

just came back and took metro from ecole militiare to gare du nord..only need 1 change of train and reached gare du nord around 1/2hr!!
Its convenient and even if the train is packed, just wait for another 1.
U will sure able to board the next train.

ira

Hi Laurie,

The official website of the Paris transit system is http://www.ratp.fr/index_eng.htm

You can find metro and bus directions from anywhere to everywhere.

Gretchen

Was going to say what Btilke said. It is bus #42--stops in front of the Gare du Nord. I think changing on the metro is a pain with luggage.

Vincent

Don't sweat it, for God's sake: a taxi will cost you between 15 and 20 euros. So go for it! Do you really think all that baggage dragging, up and down the stairs, the crowds, the possible pickpocketing on the way, are worth saving 10 euros ? (Do the maths vs the total cost of the trip)

BTilke

I would take a cab as well, but the fare can be higher than 15 to 20 euros. The last time I took a cab from Gare du Nord to the Ecole Militaire area, it was about 9:30 in the morning and it took surprisingly long and cost me 30 euros (I had some heavy luggage and it was a business trip so I could expense it). If you go for a cab, plan on having at *least* 30 euros in pocket just in case.

moxie

THere are at least 2 flights of stairs at the change at Strausboug St Denis and yes Rush hour goes until at least 9.30

PS in the summer everyone is on holiday so the subway is great =)

Laurie

Thank you for all your tips and ideas.

After we have had some experience with the metro, buses and carrying our luggage, we will decide which way we will go.

The bus does sound like a pretty good option, though.

Thanks again! Laurie

Laurie

We are back from our trip to Paris.
We ended up taking the Metro from the Ecole Militaire Metro stop to Gare du Nord. It was quick! It only took us about 15-20 minutes. The metro was not crowded and we had no problems with our small luggage.

We had time to spare at the train station.
We found it to be a little eery with military people walking around with machine guns.

Thanks again for your advice! Laurie