7 Popular Railway Station in Paris

Bonjour! Paris, fondly known as the city of love, is one of the most visited cities in the world. The French capital is rich in art, culture, design, beauty and history. You can munch on croissants, take a picture of the Eiffel Tower, visit the Louvre Museum, and look at the Mona Lisa.

When you learn about Paris’s beautiful historic railway stations, you will surely board a train and travel places. Here is the ultimate guide to the famous railway stations in Paris.

1. Seven Railway Station in Paris

Below, we have mentioned the top 7 railway stations in the city of Light.

1.1. Gare du Nord

Gare du Nord, translated to Northern station, is the busiest station in Europe. It is located in the 10th arrondissement of the city. This bustling railway station of Paris has 32 platforms and ultimately reports 1500 journeys every day.

1.1.1. Route:

Gare du Nord serves northern France, Belgium, the UK, Germany, and the Netherlands. The major trains are TGV (Trains a Grande Vitesse), Eurostar, Thalys Intercity trains, Transilien, and RER (Reseau Express Regional) trains. It also has bus and metro connections. 

The TGVs are high-speed intercity trains that span over France. Eurostar is a high-speed train that connects Great Britain to Mainland Europe. It runs via the Grand Tunnel connecting London to Brussels, Amsterdam, or Paris in just a few hours.

1.1.2. Major Highlights of Gare du Nord

• Beaux-arts (Neoclassical style) type of architecture.
• Undoubtedly, Gare du Nord is the International Gateway. It offers transportation services to London, connecting France to the United Kingdom.
• In addition, there are automatic lockers for luggage,  kiosks, and escalators.
• It also offers wireless internet, currency exchange, gift shops, and departure lounges.
• Furthermore, the station provides easy access to the city’s famous tourist attractions. Some of them are the Eiffel Tower, Louvre, River Seine, Wall of Love (Le Mur des Je T’aime), and many more.
• Featuring various literature, films, and artworks, Gare du Nord is, without a doubt, the busiest train station in Europe.

1.2. Gare de I ‘Est

Gare de I ‘Est, translated into the East station, is near the Gare du Nord. The building was established in 1847 and was again modified in 1854 due to increased train traffic.

It offers trains to major cities in Central Europe like Zurich, Switzerland, Germany, Munich, Vienna, and Austria.

1.2.1. Route:

Gare du I ‘est serves Eastern France and Germany. The trains that use this station are the City Night Line, TGV, and TGV Lyria. In addition, the station also offers trains to Strasbourg, Reims, Munich, Hamburg, and Stuttgart.

1.2.2. Major Highlights of Gare du I ‘est:

• The historic building has an amazing rooftop view.
• Incidentally, there’s a pop-up bar called Le Perchoir de I’Est on the rooftop. It opens from June to October where you can enjoy night light shows.
• The station also houses a World War II bunker from 1941 on European heritage days.
• Reports by passengers claim Gare du I ‘est as the cleanest railway station in Paris.
• In particular, kiosks and restaurants are available.
• Gare du I ‘est serves as the Gateway to the East.

1.3. Gare de Lyon

Gare de Lyon was built in 1849 and was later modernized to fit the high-speed TGV trains. Named after the city – Lyon, Gare de Lyon is France’s second busiest railway station after Gare du Nord. However, the station is also known for its architecture, which is of Belle Époque era style.

1.3.1. Route:

Gare de Lyon serves Southern France, Switzerland, and Italy. It only serves a few places but moves to and for many times. 

1.3.2. Major Highlights of Gare de Lyon:

• Rococo architecture and the massive building.
• In particular, there is availability of automatic lockers for luggage, self-service ticket kiosks, car rental service, escalators, gift shops, and restaurants.
• The station also has a celebrated restaurant – Le Train Bleu. It oozes exquisite cuisine and Belle Époque decor.
• Gare de Lyon offers intermodal connectivity as it is well-connected to the metro and RER networks.

1.4. Gare Saint-Lazare

Gare Saint-Lazare is translated to St. Lazarus station and is the first station built in Paris around 1837. In the 8th arrondissement, Gare Saint-Lazare is the third busiest station after Gare du Nord and Gare de Lyon.

1.4.1. Route:

Gare Saint-Lazare serves North Western France and Normandy. In particular, the station’s major trains are the TER Normandie and the Transilien.

1.4.2. Major Highlights of Gare Saint-Lazare:

• The station has a three-level shopping mall in the passenger hall.
• Moreover, the station is also situated amidst a major shopping area in Paris.
• Throughout the years, Gare Saint-Lazare has inspired art and literary works.
• The station has a famous oil painting series to its name by the contemporary artist, Claude Monet.

1.5. Gare Austerlitz

Gare Austerlitz is located in the 13th arrondissement on the banks of the Seine. The station was originally called Gare d’Orleans, but it was later named Gare Austerlitz after the battle won by Napoléon Bonaparte’s victory over Austerlitz.

1.5.1. Route:

Gare Austerlitz serves Central and Southwestern France, Spain, and Portugal. It is also one of the busiest stations in Paris. 

1.5.2. Major Highlights of Gare Austerlitz:

• The station is along the banks of the Seine River. Ultimately, it adds charm to the station along with the picturesque views of the river.
• The station is a historical monument, especially for its facades and roof.
• Availability of luggage lockers, restaurants, mini-markets, and shops.
• The station also offers services to Toulouse, Limoges and Bordeaux.
• It offers accessibility to the Orly airport which clearly makes it the best option for passengers heading to the airport.

1.6. Gare de Montparnasse

Gare de Montparnasse is located in the 14th and 15th arrondissements and is one of Paris’s six major railway stations. In particular, the station serves intercity TGV trains to the west and southwest of France.

The area includes Tours, Bordeaux, Rennes and Nantes. The station also serves suburban and regional trains. A metro station is also available.

1.6.1. Route:

Gare de Montparnasse serves Western France and Northwestern France.

1.6.2. Major Highlights of Gare de Montparnasse:

• Gare de Montparnasse is indeed famous for its modern glass and steel architecture.
• In addition, it features a rooftop garden filled with greenery and an open-air terrace.
• The station also gained international attention due to an accident that happened in 1895. It was caused when a train overshot the platform and crashed.
• Without a doubt, it serves as the “Gateway to Western France.” Clearly, it is a major transportation hub for passengers travelling to destinations like Bordeaux, Brittany, Nantes, and Rennes.

1.7. Gare de Bercy

Gare de Bercy is a modern railway station used relatively less than its counterparts. In particular, it handles intercity trains and Local trains.

They start from Paris and go to cities like Nevers, Clermont-Ferrand, and Lyon through Djon. It is also closer to Gare de Lyon.

1.7.1. Route

Gare de Bercy serves France’s Central, Eastern, and Southeastern parts.

1.7.2. Major Highlights of Gare de Bercy:

• It serves as a gateway to Southeastern France as it connects to destinations like Lyon, Clermont-Ferrand, and Dijon.
• The station is usually less crowded making it a comfortable boarding point for passengers.

Conclusion

This guide might be your cue to visit all these lovely stations in Paris. In addition, a reminder to prefer train transportation. The historical stations will surely leave you in awe and take you to famous landmarks in France.

All these stations have their historical significance. Even if you don’t want to go somewhere, you can just visit these places to have an idea about the old Paris.