Paris travel times

I agree metro is fast and cheap,, but with luggage,, I would take a taxi. It shouldn't cost more then about 15 euros and could cost a tad less, depends on traffic at time of day you arrive( rush hour?)

Here's a way that's almost as easy as a cab but loads cheaper. There is a bus terminus behind the Gare du Nord, so just walk around to the back of the Gare and look for Bus No. 42. It is the beginning of the route so you'll get a seat and find room for your baggage. Get off the bus at Champs de Mars and walk to your hotel, which should not be far since you say it is near Ecole Militaire. ( No doubt you have or will get a Paris street map before arriving.) One bus/metro ticket will get you to your hotel, which you can buy at Gare du Nord. Journey will be about 20 minutes or so and a very pretty one it is, too.

Steve has given you the best metro route, but he didn't name the lines you would need to take. Take Metro line 4 (direction: Porte d'Orleans) from Gare du Nord to Strasbourg-St Denis. Transfer to Metro line 8 (direction: Balard) and take it to Ecole Militaire.

I agree with Norma that riding bus #42 would be a good above-ground introduction to Paris. However, the Journey Planner on the RATP site says that the ride from Gare du Nord to Champ de Mars takes 40 minutes, not 20.

But, Tim, the time just flies by when you are looking out the window at all the sights of Paris.

Norma,

I agree. One cannot spend enough time getting an above-ground look at the sights of Paris!

Thanks for the answers! We will be arriving on the 26th of December either on the 12:45 or 13:50 train and will be staying at the Hotel Duquesne. Looks like the taxi may be the best (and easiest) way for us on this day.

I spent most of April in Paris and rode the buses extensively. I bought a bus guide, "Guide des Autobus Parisiens" for 7 EU at a newsstand. It's in French, but that doesn't matter much. The book is full of maps and details for all the buses that run in Paris. For instance, bus #80 will take you from the Ecole Militaire intersection thru several areas of Paris to the back side of Montmartre. From there you can catch the Montmartrobus that circles that area. Sometimes the buses are crowded, and they almost always take longer than Metro travel, but you get to see Paris.

The Metro is fabulous as are the buses. Above the ground great views and ambiance.

One quick warning if you choose to us the Metro and transport luggage. THERE MAY BE STAIRS, SOME TIMES LOTS OF THEM!

Hi Jillian, my wife and I made your exact trip upon arrival in Paris last July. We had one small roll-on bag each plus a single day bag. We chose the Metro which had a few steps, but not many, on the two lines described above. The travel to our hotel was easy, fast and cost 1.6 Euros each. If you choose the Metro I would suggest that you purchase one "Carnet" of tickets at the Eurostar info desk prior to your departure. It will cost a few cents more but will save you lots of time standing in a Metro ticket line in Paris.