Paris is served by several major stations, each connected to the rest of the city by bus and metro. Train fares can climb quickly the closer you get to your travel date: booking several months ahead usually gets better prices on many routes, and non-resident visitors can also buy certain discounted rail passes before arriving in France. The official SNCF website remains the best source for timetables, current fares, and disruption updates during a strike.
Before you book Chartres from Paris: Train or Day Tour?
Gare Montparnasse
In the south of the city, it serves western and southwestern France. Allow around 10 minutes on foot between the main hall and the metro platforms.
Gare Saint-Lazare
Right in central Paris near Boulevard Haussmann, it's France's second-busiest station with over 100 million passengers a year, and serves Normandy.
Gare de Lyon
In the 12th arrondissement, it connects Paris to the Rhône-Alpes region and the south of France, with close to 95 million passengers a year.
Gare de Bercy
A smaller station in the Bercy district, geared toward Burgundy.
Gare du Nord
Europe's busiest railway station, with over 200 million passengers a year. It connects Paris to London, Belgium, the Netherlands, and northern France.
Gare de l'Est
Right next to Gare du Nord, it serves Germany, Switzerland, Luxembourg, and eastern France.
Tips
- Always double-check which station your train leaves from before booking: several Paris stations serve completely different directions, and getting it wrong can mean an extra metro or taxi ride to reach the right one in time. Going further by train: Amsterdam from Gare du Nord, Berlin from Gare de l'Est and Rome from Gare de Lyon, with our guides to the journey.
