Paris metro during rush hour or taxi

Métro 12 goes from St Lazare directly to rue du Bac station, or Sèvres/Babylone station. Which one you use for exit is dependent upon your rue du Bac destination. Either station has some escalator access.

Cars on métro 12 usually empty a bit at St Lazare and refill will new passengers. This make getting on a bit easier but if you have a good deal of luggage, you should take a taxi from St Lazare.

My preference would be the Metro, as it won't be affected by rush hour traffic. As I recall, Gare St. Lazare is at the "end-of-the-line" so will only have passengers that originated there.

Of course, as the previous reply mentioned a taxi may be an easier method if you have a lot of luggage. You'd just have to take your chances with traffic. With four people plus luggage, you'd need a Van or larger vehicle.

4.30 isn't rush hour, and 5.30 isn't the worst of it yet. A taxi will be OK, they can use the bus lanes too which are plentiful on that route. Uber can't use them, so it's a worse choice.

Of the 5 métro lines going through Gare St Lazare, only one, métro 14 terminates there. Later this year the Gare St Lazare to Mairie St Ouen addition opens and there will be no métro lines terminating at Gare St Lazare.

I would take neither. When I am on vacation, I am more interested in the experience rather than simply getting to and from the fastest possible way. Personally, I'd take the #94 Bus. It leaves every 15 minutes from Gare Saint-Lazare, goes directly to your location, doesn't require schlepping up and down stairs, and allows you to see the city en route rather than simply tunneling underground. You're on vacation, and Paris buses are wonderful. Enjoy the ride!

Thanks all for the suggestions. We booked our arrival for 17:30 as it sounds like all 3 options (train, bus, metro) are viable at that time of day and St Lazare without cramming in like sardines. If we take a taxi and need a van to accommodate 4 people plus luggage, is that something that I need to arrange ahead of time or are the larger taxis readily available to hail?

+1 for Metro. Taxis in Paris can be unreliable and expensive. But if you go with a taxi, make sure to find a lineup. Else some drivers have the gualle 😀 to tell you that you are not on their route.

I just discovered this France travel podcast based in Toulouse. Here is her podcast about getting from the airport to city center:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/join-us-in-france-travel-podcast/id827972274?i=1000418329964

I much prefer the metro but it definitely depends on whether you have a lot of luggage. With more than one carry-on each, I'd go with a taxi - especially during rush hour when the trains and stations are more crowded.

I would like to second the notion of taking a bus, especially if it goes directly from the train station to your destination. Whatever time you gain on the metro you will lose schlepping to and from the subway, up and down escalators etc. When I was a student studying in London I was very impressed with the efficiency of the underground subway and took that for many weeks until another American recommended I start taking buses. I did and that was when I really got to know the city of London well, Instead of just the areas adjacent to the subway stops.

I have applied this principle many times since when I have visited Paris. It does take a little bit of effort to learn the bus routes but it is the best low-cost way to see the city. By all means if you’re in a hurry to get to your hotel do take a taxi. And you may be tired from all the travel anyway. But once you get out and about take the buses!