The main Paris stations
Seven terminus stations, each facing one part of France
Paris has no single central station but seven terminus stations. Each one faces a part of the country. Going to the wrong station is a common mistake: the ticket always shows the departure station, and that is the one that counts.
The main directions below are given to help you find your way. The times and exact station of each train are on the ticket and with the operator.
Gare du Nord
Northern France (Lille, Amiens), Belgium, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom through the Channel Tunnel. Also very busy with RER B and D and northern suburban trains.
Gare de l'Est
Eastern France (Reims, Metz, Nancy, Strasbourg) and Germany.
Gare de Lyon
The south-east: Lyon, Marseille, the Riviera, the Alps, and also Switzerland and Italy.
Gare d'Austerlitz
The centre and south-west on the classic lines: Orléans, Limoges, Toulouse. It handles night trains.
Gare Montparnasse
High-speed trains to the west and south-west: Brittany, Pays de la Loire, Bordeaux and beyond.
Gare Saint-Lazare
Normandy (Rouen, Le Havre, Caen, Cherbourg) and the western suburbs.
Gare de Bercy
Some trains to Burgundy and Auvergne, next to Gare de Lyon.
See live departures
Each station has its page with recorded passings, reported delays and a summary in figures: find it in the list of stations.
Official sources
- SNCF Gares & Connexions: information and services for each station
- SNCF Connect: times and tickets
How many main stations does Paris have?
Seven main-line terminus stations: Nord, Est, Lyon, Austerlitz, Montparnasse, Saint-Lazare and Bercy. They are managed by SNCF Gares & Connexions.
Which station do trains to Marseille or Lyon leave from?
Gare de Lyon, the gateway to the south-east. Always check the station on your ticket: the same trip can leave from another station depending on the train.
Which station do trains to Bordeaux or Rennes leave from?
Gare Montparnasse, the gateway to the west and south-west.
How can I see live departures from a Paris station?
Each station has its page on this site, with departures and arrivals recorded in open data and a summary of recent delays.