Paris train stations: which station for which destination?
Seven major stations, very different destinations: the guide to picking the right one and arriving on time.
Updated 4 November 2026 · 2 min read
Paris does not have one main station but seven, each facing a different part of France or Europe. Going to the wrong station is a more common mistake than you might think.
Which station for which destination?
| Station | Main destinations |
|---|---|
| Gare du Nord | Eurostar (London, Brussels, Amsterdam), Lille, northern France |
| Gare de l'Est | Reims, Strasbourg, Lorraine, Germany |
| Gare de Lyon | Lyon, Marseille, the Alps, the Riviera, Switzerland, Italy |
| Gare de Bercy | Burgundy, Auvergne, Ouigo and Intercités trains |
| Gare Montparnasse | Brittany, Bordeaux, the south-west |
| Gare d'Austerlitz | Central France, Limousin, night trains |
| Gare Saint-Lazare | Normandy (Rouen, Caen, Deauville, Le Havre) |
Two TGV stations lie outside Paris: Marne-la-Vallée – Chessy, next to Disneyland, and Massy TGV to the south.
How much time to allow?
- For a TGV, be on the platform 20 to 30 minutes before departure.
- For Eurostar, you go through security and passport checks: arrive much earlier and check the operator's recommendation.
- Add a margin for rush-hour traffic, especially towards Montparnasse and Gare de Lyon.
Why a taxi van to the station?
The metro with five suitcases and two children takes a while. A 7-seater van drops you at the entrance, and on arrival the driver tracks your train and waits for you on the platform or in the concourse, even if it is late.
See all our airport and station transfers.
