There is also a reasonable seating area by the gates which allow you to sit down whilst waiting for the train to board. If you are travelling back by Eurostar then there is a couple of food outlets in the departure lounge, such as a Paul, a convenience store and also a Costa however this was closed for some unknown reason when I was there and they have a vast selection of baguettes and coffees and snacks. The hotel staff also said upon me leaving that I should watch my bags and personal items around the station, which filled me with confidence. I’m not sure why but they all seem to just gather around the station. The station itself does have various food outlets and other places, such as a busy high street outside however it just seems to attract the most unlikeliest of people such as persons who clearly use drugs among others. You will be surrounded by numerous unlikely people offering you Taxis, stand your ground and say no as these are there to scam you. When we arrived at Paris there is a clear and obvious sign which says “Taxis” and a person stood there wearing a yellow hi visibility vest, this person you should go to and stay with. This is one of many stations situated throughout Paris and the one thing I will say is be careful. If travelling to Paris via Eurostar it is highly likely you will finish the journey here. After waiting for 10 minutes without the queue moving I looked through the door to see two members of staff on their phones! I pushed through and tackled them about the fact that the queue wasn’t moving and nobody knew what was happening so a member of staff then came out to say the office was actually full with no room left for large cases, in French which nobody in the queue understood, what a debacle! We were lucky that we had only small cases but again, inside no signage in English and if it hadn’t been for a very helpful French family explaining the system to us I dare say we might still be in there! Customer service non-existent I’m afraid. No staff in sight or supervising/helping at all. We eventually found the department and joined a queue of about 15 people at the head of which was a large Chinese family with many cases who were putting their luggage through the scanner very slowly. Gate du Nord is a huge station and signage and instructions could be better, we wanted to leave our cases in the left luggage department which was a nightmare. ![]() Unlike other travellers our Eurostar check in was smooth and straightforward, our train left at 19.15 ish so that may have been a factor. This should be enough to deter them, at least that was the case for me. They want to find people who are distracted or look like they will startle. Make it clear you see them because I don't think they are looking for a fight. Keep your eyes open and don't be afraid to give these guys nasty looks. There are a lot of people around so stay close to people that clearly also were traveling. ![]() I'm not sure what they were planning, probably wanted to snag my purse, but who knows. You could see one man say something to another and shake his head as if to say "no, not her". I was never fully approached, I assume because I let them know, with my body language, that I was watching them. I made sure to stare them all down and kept a hand on my purse. Immediately I saw several groups of men (each group had 2-3 men) scoping me out (within 5 minutes waiting for an Uber). ![]() The only time I felt unsafe in Paris that day was when I exited the train station. I had a free day so decided to take the Eurostar to Paris for a day. I am an American and was in London for a week. The nerve centre of the French and European rail networks, the stations have also become lively urban spaces with sprawling shopping centres frequented by ever-increasing numbers of people.The train station itself is ok, but it is what is going on outside that you should be aware of. Each one has undergone major renovation work in recent years to cater for increased train traffic, especially high-speed trains, as well as the constant growth in the number of rail travellers. While they are worth visiting for historical interest, the main Paris stations are not frozen in time. ![]() All the stations boast exceptional and unique architecture, like the Gare du Nord with its neoclassical façade and 23 sculptures by famous artists. Saint-Lazare was the first station to be built, in 1837, soon followed by the Gare du Nord, the Gare de l’Est and the Gare de Lyon. Dating from the origins of the railways in the 19th century, they have modified entire sections of the city. Paris’s imposing train stations serve as landmarks for tourists and residents alike, and have influenced the city’s layout and development.
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