gourmondo

Can someone comment on the safety of having to switch trains in Paris from one gare to another? My family and I will arrive at Gare du Nord around 10 PM on a Sunday night and has to walk to Gare de l'Est to catch the night train to Munich. Is this a safe walk at that hour? Train info says it's < 200 meters, but I know nothing about that part of town at night. Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

Graziella5b

I am guessing a little but as I recall it ,it was so,so.
A little seedy. I am anxious to know from someone that really knows. A good question.

ira

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Louie_LI

The walk is not a long one, and you will be fine. It's just as safe as taking the metro for one stop and much less hassle.

PalenQ

200 metres! though the stations almost touch you can walk 200 metres before getting out of the Gare du Nord - and if you know how to navigate the back stairs it could be 200 metres but i would not take that way at night - rather seedy types - go down to the Blvd Magenta and then over and up to Est - a bit farther, perhaps 1 km or so but well lit and i think totally safe.

kerouac

Actually, the seedy types at the top of the stairs on rue d'Alsace are gone. The Yugoslav dive that used to be there has been converted to a trendy restaurant. Things are changing VERY fast in the neighborhood. Looks like it might become the next "Oberkampf".

PalenQ

Maybe the wonrous rehab of Gare de l'Est - to me one of Europe's grandest classical train sheds has extended to a much needed renewal of this once-seemingly seedy area. Thanks for the update.

gourmondo

Thanks all, those are helpful posts. We'll have a 12 yo in tow so was a bit nervous.

PalenQ

surely no reason to be nervous anywhere in Paris about personal safety - pickpockets yes but not attacks - at least i've never heard of any on tourists.

gourmondo

Just to give you all a follow-up, we did walk the path at the appointed hour. Left out the front of the Nord station, 1 1/2 blocks to Rue Alsace, then right. You should know you have to go down a stairway on this route, maybe 30 steps, so if you have a heavy bag you may wish to re-route. There were many, many people on the street at that hour so we had plenty of company. The route is a bit seedy, but with the others around it was no problem.

Actually the major problem we had only occurred once we were in the station. The one sleeper car of the train we were booked on to Munich was taken out of service and because the train was otherwise full, we had to stay in Paris overnight and lost 2/3 of a day because of this. That has never happened to me before and was very annoying. At least SNCF picked up the tab for the room.

alanRow

A day in Paris for free is not to be sniffed at