How can I most quickly get Metro tickets from Gare du Nord to Gare de Lyons to catch a rail connection between London and Avignon? I last made this Metro journey 40 years ago and have no idea about current ticket-buying arrangements. I’m worried about delays if queueing at a ticket office. Do Gare du Nord ticket machines take banknotes, coins, British debit cards or what? Are there any ways of buying tickets in advance?
Posted by
3195 posts
The ticket you will need is a métro/train/RER ticket at 2.55€ Take the RER B from Gare du Nord to Châtelet, walk across the platform to RER A to Gare de Lyon. All tickets are electronic and may be loaded onto either a Navigo Easy card (2€) or a configured smartphone using either the IDF Mobilités app or the Bonjour RATP app.
These tickets, already loaded onto an Easy card, are typically sold on the Eurostar.
Posted by
London, UK
602 posts
I believe you will need to take the RER D line from Gare du Nord to Gare de Lyon, and that you can buy the ticket online beforehand, as well as at ticket machines or the ticket kiosk at the station. I’m pretty sure you would be able to use a UK debit cards but it would probably be easier if your card is loaded onto your phone.
Posted by
San Francisco
16038 posts
I have to go from Nord to Gare de Lyon because of day trips, etc. No need to take the Metro or RER from Nord. I take the bus # 91, a direct shot to Gare de Lyon , it's a lot less crowded and jammed as to be expected in a Metro coach or RER train. One of the marked advantages of staying in Nord
Yes, Nord has ticket machines accepting credit cards and cash, don't know abouyt debit cards. I use my US credit cards for machine purchase, tap function or insert.
Posted by
Alsenborn, Germany
2618 posts
I 'd probably take the bus unless I already had a ticket. The lines around the ticket machines at the Gare's are often blocks long, and that's usually tourists trying to figure out what to buy and how. With the bus you can pay cash and get on. Also, the closer you are to the main stations the more crowded the cars are. It can be hard to find even room for you and your luggage at times between 0700 & 2000.
Posted by
Paris
7856 posts
If you arrive by Eurostar, you can buy tickets (loaded on Navigo Easy cards) at the bar car. There is a premium for this, but it saves the queue at Gare du Nord.
The best way from Nord to Lyon is by RER D nowadays, by the way (which did not exist in the late 80s).