My wife and I are arriving in Paris at Gare Du Nord from Amterdam on Thalys and then will need to go to Saint Lazare Station. I know we could use the Metro but might not be real convenient with luggage. When we return from Normandy we will be staying in Paris for a couple of days. Do taxis charge by the Kilometer or by zones? We will be going from Saint Lazare Station to the Mecure Hotel Center Eiffel.
Posted by
Olympia, WA, USA
6713 posts
They charge by time and distance, using a meter, like most taxis in US cities. There's a basic fare when you start off, then it adds up as you go along. The taxis at Gare du Nord are on the right as you leave the tracks. Don't know about St-Lazare.
We took a taxi from Nord to our Marais apartment last fall, very convenient with luggage off the Thalys. But you might consider the RER trains, especially in non-peak times, because you can avoid stairs with them. The E train goes from Magenta (down a corridor from Nord) to St-L.
Edit -- Taxis also charge for each bag in the trunk, I think 1 euro per bag.
Posted by
Florida (previously California)
3984 posts
Actually, they are supposed to charge for each bag after the first one and it is one euro per bag.
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16895 posts
I would guess that the meter rate will come in under 10 euros and that this cost/convenience is worthwhile for two people with luggage. For instance, I paid 8 euros at night between Rue Cler and Jardin de Luxembourg.
Posted by
Chicago
8550 posts
one issue with taxis in central Paris is the traffic can be difficult. we had a pretty large tab from St. Lazarre to the Bastille area last year because we got totally hung up in traffic; I think it ended up being about 25 Euro. The trains don't have this problem. If you can take the RER I would. Metro is a hassle with bags if you can't carry them easily up and down stairs.