Changing stations in Paris in 20 minutes

Like many people, you’ll be well aware that travelling by train is better for the environment, but there are also limitations that prevent you from taking the plunge. The price, for a start, and, most commonly, the length and logistics of the journey. The rest of the limitations (and there are some!) we’ll gladly leave to plane travel!
Regarding price, here’s an article that should explain why the train is more expensive than the plane. As for the logistics, this article aims to answer your questions. Look, we know how stressful it can be to cross France by train, especially when you’re not familiar with the city in which you need to transfer. In this case, Paris. We promise, it takes 20 minutes, tops, to get to absolutely any train station in Paris, so your transit really is nothing to worry about.

Get to know the Paris métro

The lines to take

Yes, the Paris métro is a scary prospect for a lot of people. And there’s no shame in you being one of them.

To get to another station in 20 minutes, here are the lines you need to focus on: 

  • For Gare Montparnasse (the West – Nantes, Bordeaux, etc.): take line 14, then line 4.
    Allow 15 to 20 minutes for the journey. 
    De la ligne 14 à la ligne 4
  • For Gare du Nord (London, Brussels, Amsterdam, etc.): take RER D.
    Should take less than 15 minutes. 
    RER D
  • For Gare de l’Est (Strasbourg, Colmar, etc.): take RER A or D, then line 4.
    Should take less than 15 minutes. 
    Du RER A ou RER D vers le métro 4
  • For Gare Saint-Lazare (Le Havre, Caen, etc.): take line 14.
    Should take less than 10 minutes. 
    Métro 14

How does it work?  

You’re in luck, as there are various options! 
 

  • First, buy a ticket on board your train. On Lyria services, you can buy your tickets directly on board, so you don’t waste time doing so when you arrive.
  • At an automatic ticket machine: these machines are located in the underground level of the station, just before the entrance to the métro. You can buy one-way tickets from these.
  • At the ticket window: if you don’t like using the machines, there will always be someone at the window who will sell you a ticket.
  • If you travel to Paris by train a lot, the easiest option is to get a Navigo Easy pass at the ticket window and top it up via your smartphone each time you arrive. 

⚠️ Warning: when buying tickets, don’t store them next to a mobile phone or bank card, as this can cause them to become demagnetised. Go to the ticket window if your ticket won’t go through the automatic gate and you haven’t already used it.

At the Gare de Lyon, the métro lines indicated above can be accessed on the underground level of the station. If you’ve exited the station, you’ve gone too far! Once on the métro platform, you only have to wait two to three minutes, sometimes less, for your train to arrive. All line interchanges are marked on the maps above the métro doors. The only thing left for you to do is remember the line numbers you need and take the train going in the right direction.

For example, if you’re travelling from Gare de Lyon to Gare Montparnasse, you can change at Châtelet and take line 4 in the direction of Bagneux-Lucie Aubrac, getting off at the Montparnasse Bienvenue stop.

These few pointers should help ensure your transfers are more serene, smooth and calm as you head towards the most beautiful destinations in France. 

Book your tickets
Paris, here we go