Gare du Nord Late Arrival

You might see some homeless people camping out. Sketchy in Paris is different than sketchy in Lexington.

I am an old lady and I have taken the metro at midnight from one end of Paris to another and often walked at night. Personal safety is not an issue in Paris. I would have no concerns about the walk you are talking about and the station will be full of other travelers at this hour. Train stations do attract pickpockets (although this is a lower risk late at night as they like to go home too) and homeless people but they don't pose a safety risk.

Always be pickpocket proof in any public transport including the train and metro and any crowded area particularly museums and lines for attractions. This is not a personal safety risk but a wallet in the pocket can be gone without you noticing a thing, including a front pocket. I use a money belt in transit under my clothes when I am carrying all our money, passports and cards. That gets stowed in the hotel safe and then I only carry walking around money and one card and a copy of my passport and use either a cross body purse or garments with inside zipped pockets. We have been near people who lost valuables on trains several times. Last time was the train from Vienna to Prague where the two Britons across the aisle from us each had their wallets stolen in the line boarding the train. Earlier a woman in Italy had her purse taken from her seat in front of her as she reached to put her bag in the overhead rack. We have an acquaintance who had his wallet taken at the Musee d'Orsay and there was 20 K on it by the time he phoned the company 2 hours later. Pickpockets are part of organized crime in Europe; mostly Eastern European crime families which train the thieves well. My husband has been targeted by young girls, young men, middle aged men and an old man. Only lost something once because he doesn't carry a wallet in his pocket anymore, although the old guy did get his one credit card and transport pass in St. Petersburg.

Thanks for the response. This is our first time in Paris. I was trying to book something close to Gare du Nord so we can easily get to London and back to the airport (CDG) on our final day. Just wanted to make sure it is safe after reading some of the reviews.

How long do you plan to be in Paris? The area around the Gare du Nord is difficult now because of all the construction at the station. Buses are rerouted, traffic is congested. It's a mess. If you're only using the station for the Eurostar and access to CDG, being out of the Gare du Nord area might more pleasant for the rest of your trip.

We will be there 5 nights and are planning to use public transit to see the major attractions.

Considering the state of confusion at the Gare du Nord because of all the construction around it, I would recommend that you search for a hotel in another location. Janet's response above did not address specifically the situation at the Gare du Nord.. I don't take the metro but the buses I take to the GnN and the transfers I make there have been completely fouled up causing me to avoid the area completely if I can.

You could get a hotel near the Luxembourg RER B station. Trains between there and Gare du Nord until 45 past midnight. If you are using the RER to arrive from CDG airport, that is a station on that line.

There is nothing unsafe about Gare du Nord area but it is unlovely and particularly annoying now with construction. With 5 nights, pick a charming part of town. Since you are new -- Marais, Latin quarter or St Germain would all be good and central. AS noted the RER B also stops at St Michel Notre Dame and Luxembourg Gardens, both good areas and that will get you to the airport and. is an easy hop to the Eurostar. Don't shape your entire trip around making one train. And with luggage I'd take a cab to the airport myself.

I always stay at Gare du Nord, it is sketchy in a way but certainly not dangerous. If you know exactly the way to the hotel, you'll be fine.

If you are 5 mins from the station, which street is the hotel? My hotel is located right across from the station.

Fred, the hotel I'm looking at is on Rue De Saint-Quentin. It appears to be very close, maybe less than 5 min from train station.

What a coincidence! I stay on that street, (super convenient being at Nord), several hotels are one that street. That street is perpendicular to Gare du Nord. What's the name? You may just be one block away once you cross the street.

Fred, it's Hotel Whistler

Sorry, I am not familiar with that one, Jeff.

I thought your hotel on Rue de St. Quentin was the Ibis at the end of the block next to the Chinese restaurant, Le Jumbo at 35 Rue de St. Quentin, which means basically you are walking one block from the station to the hotel.

Well I've lived in the 10th and now often stay in an apartment within walking distance in the 9th, so I've been familiar with the area for forty years and have walked by the station dozens and dozens of times, day and night. I agree with the others that I would go somewhere else on the RER B line: Luxembourg Garden, St. Michel, Port Royal, any of these would be more agreeable to build a five-night trip.

Of all the train stations in Paris, this is the grittiest. I hate walking there at night. Not only will there be homeless camped across the street, but I've also seen punks hanging outside at that hour. I have to disagree that it's perfectly safe. So, I'd book elsewhere and when the train arrives, walk to the taxi stand, which is inside the station, and take a cab to your hotel.

Many of us have been answering questions for years, so we know some of each others likes, dislikes, flukes, and strong points. Fred has been in favor of the Gare du Nord area for a long time, and sometimes it does make sense to stay there for a night, but in your case, I have to agree with everyone else that you should stay elsewhere.

Thanks Bets, it's good to get different points of view. I appreciate the feedback.

That's correct I have been staying in Gare du Nord since 1987 when coin lockers were available at Gare de l'Est. I've witnessed the changes, positive, negative, whatever ever since then. I have no problem staying there as it is so convenient regarding the EuroStar, grocery stores, restaurants, (French, Buffalo Gill, if you want that, Chinese, Japanese, Indian, Italian, Tunisian, etc, the bus lines, Metro, RER, proximity to Est, post office, coin laundry facility.

True, you don't see (or hardly ever) Americans at Nord or Est, you see Germans, Asians, esp. the Mandarin Chinese, Indians, and locals at Nord...lots of Sri Lankans, Africans, if you want to be ethnic here.

But, then I don't walk around late at night very much either, except to return to the hotel from the internet cafe or buying mineral water for the next few days in the hotel.

Probably Nord is the most gritty of all the stations as to its immediate area, but I prefer Nord to Est. Of course, one can stay directly opposite of Nord at the Mercure, if it's not too pricey for the budget and avoid the gritty scene.

There are 2 hostels in Nord also, one on Rue de Dunkerque very close to the line between the 9th and 10th districts. The other at the opposite end towards Est.

I wouldn't worry about your safety at all in this area at night. (Use common sense, of course.) I stayed at a hotel near Nord for one night a few years ago and was out and about at night.

But I would still choose another area for your first trip to Paris, if you are going to be there five nights. Choose an area with more atmosphere. Last time I was in Paris I stayed in the 5th - albeit, a very touristy area, but still charming and fun. I stayed close to the Seine and the Notre Dame - that part of town is fun to walk around at night and very pretty. The beautiful Jardin du Luxembourg is in the area. And you can take the RER B train to/from CDG and Nord - it runs pretty late I'm sure.

I agree with everyone here that urges you to stay in a nicer area of Paris. Please.

I am basing my experiences and observations on Nord as of last June, ie the first few days, ie 10 months ago.

Everything is still in flux here right now that I won't make it back to Paris until early or mid-June, (instead of mid-May), at which time I'll be staying at Nord again.

I really think you should consider another area of Paris for your first trip if you are planning to be there between now and 2024. It's not the prettiest part of Paris but the area has its appeal for lower cost hotels, ease of transit connections, some good nearby French restaurants, and easy access to Indian cuisine but I am sort of ruling it out for a while because of the construction in the area, which is part of a project to expand Gare du Nord. I don't love the area but have stayed there but would not for five days just because it is convenient for two of the five days, especially given Paris' excellent mass transit system and the availability of taxis at the station for the night you return from London.
By the way, if you do stay in the area, the hotel is very nice. I have not stayed there but in the summer of 2017, I popped in for a look about. The place had been renovated in 2016 and the front desk person was proud to show it off. I walked past it while walking from Nick's Pizza to Terminus Nord to Canal Saint Martin. As is my way, I stopped in and looked around and thought it was quite nicely done with a well-executed train theme. Have you taken a Google map walk around the neighborhood?

The Whistler Hotel is a pretty pricey place; the site used to be the Ibis Gare du Nord, adjacent to the Chinese restaurant, " Le Jumbo" The bus stop is literally a few steps from the hotel's main door, where 3-4 lines converge.

No need to rely solely on the Metro to reach sights as the Opera House, Petite Palais, Place de la Republique, etc. You can take the bus instead.