Gare du Nord to Gare de L'est

The Blvd Magenta route is faster but really it's about a 10 minute walk either way. Maybe 8 to 10 going on Magenta and 10 going via Rue d'Alsace. I find Rue d'Alsace less attractive than Blvd Magenta -- not that Magenta is all that great. Actually you could split the difference and walk down Rue de San Quentin or Rue du Faubourg Saint Denis to Rue du Mai 1945 instead of Rue d'Alsace. But of those routes, I like Magenta the best because it is busiest.

Hi,

I don't know the 1st option by the street names, only where to turn off. I would think going from Nord to Est you turn up the street where you see the Mac Donalds, hang a left. You'll see the Est in the distance. That route I would say is longer. I use it when I want to avoid the stairs, dragging up the roller suitcase and carrying it down.

Option two is shorter, takes ca 6-7 mins. When exiting Nord, turn left, cross the street (the Albert I hotel is at the opposite corner, then take a left where you see the auto repair shop. There are signs pointing to Est. Then turn right right until you see the big spiral staircase. When you get to the bottom (this is where you could run into the petition signers types blocking your way at the foot of the stairs. ), Est is on the left. That is Rue d'Alsace entrance. On the left is the waiting room, on the right as you cross the entrance are mail boxes. That's where I drop off the last minute postcards.

The trains going from Est towards Metz, Lux. and Germany are only a few feet from the waiting room on your left. Basically, you are right there once you enter Est at Rue d'Alsace. If the EuroStar is on time (every time I took it, it was), once you're off the train, the whole walk to Est should be no more than 10 mins. That's the advantage of Est: train platforms for Germany are right there.

I think that the first route in the second post leads to Boulevard Magenta. It sounds the poster is heading down Rue Compiegne and yes that will take a bit longer because you are actually heading away from Gare de l'Est for one block. If you look at it on a map, you will see what I mean. I think that the second route described is the Rue de Dunkerque/Rue d'Alsace route. If you go the Boulevard Magenta route, Rue du 8 Mai 1945 is the first left after you pass the Marché couvert Saint-Quentin, which should be on the opposite side of the street from the side that you should be walking on. If you go via Rue d'Alsace, there is no way to miss Gare de l'Est because Rue d'Alsace is bordered on one side by the train tracks and then you will go down a flight of stairs and be right by the side entrance to Gare de l'Est.

If you have light luggage and no mobility difficulties use the one which has the stairs. If you have heavy luggage or any unsteadiness on your feet use the more circuitous way, as the stairs are quite steep.

Thanks everyone. I think I'll play it by ear depending on weather and whether or not my arriving train is on time.

Frank II,

There's a chance that you walk a lot faster than I do, especially with a piece of luggage. But there's no way I'd plan it that close.

Those Eurostar trains are L-O-N-G. Maybe you'll be at the front? I rarely am, and there are crowds, and I need to pick up a sandwich at Est before I hop on, and there's always somebody in front of me, and i'll probably hit at least one of the lights, and what if it is raining and I'm trying to fly down the stairs with the luggage.....

I'd rather wait an hour. YMMV

If I miss that train, the next one isn't for two more hours so my connection time would be 2 1/2 hours.

I don't need to stop for a sandwich. I'm going to go train to train--unless I change my mind and change trains in Brussels. Probably more convenient but I'm going to Amsterdam after Luxembourg and didn't want to back track since I would have to change trains in Brussels again. (In Brussels, there's a train every hour to Luxembourg.)

If you aren't near the front of the train, consider walking through it to the front at some point in the journey - but do it before you get too close to Paris and everyone is getting up and moving toward the doors.