The main reason to stay in the 10th: Gare du Nord
Photo by Paul Fleury on Unsplash
The 10th Arrondissement may be tucked away north of the obligatory Paris sights like the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre, but this district is an intriguing locale to base your trip around. “Living like a local” has enduring appeal as a travel principle. Call it Millennial wanderlust or contrarian, but there’s something to be said about partially immersing yourself into a city’s daily mechanics by residing where actual Parisians make their lives.
There’s no better place than the 10th to do this. You’ll find fewer crowds and, ahem, tourists. The unstuffy pace will allow for a little more relaxation between jaunts to the central districts filled with world-class museums and renowned bistros. These things are also on offer in the 10th, though they come with less fanfare and fewer, ahem, tourists.
One major factor for making the 10th your temporary home is Gare du Nord, which is one of the city’s major transportation hubs and the perfect means for exploring the City of Light. Considering its connections to other European cities and Charles de Gaulle Airport, there’s a chance you’ll end up here regardless, and if you need luggage storage near Gare du Nord, Bounce has you covered.
Here’s a quick rundown of the 10th and Gare du Nord:
It’s slightly out of the way (in the best way possible)
The 10th arrondissement is situated on the North (or “right side”) of the Seine. It’s located near the 2nd, 9th, 11th, Montmartre/18th, and 19th arrondissements. The main stretches are Chateau d’Eau and Poissoniere on the West Side and the Canal Saint Martin on the East side. The epicenter of the district seems to be Gare du Nord.
If you’re visiting Paris for the first time, the 10th might be a little far from the sights you want to hit, but public transit makes it simple to reach the top attractions within a few minutes, especially if your accommodations are close to Gare du Nord.
Getting around Paris is as easy as it gets
Metro Connections
Gare du Nord is served by Lines 4 and 5 of the Paris Metro. Line 4 is particularly useful for sightseeing in the central districts.
- Line 4: Le Marais for shopping (10 minutes), Jardins du Luxembourg (22 minutes), The Louvre (22 minutes), Gare Montparnasse (29 minutes).
- Line 5: Jardins des Plantes (21 minutes), Place d’Italie (28 minutes), La Villette (20 minutes).
How to get from Gare du Nord to Jardin du Luxembourg
Jardin du Luxembourg is one of the most beautiful places in Paris (that’s really saying something) and can be reached directly from Gare du Nord via Metro Line 4. Board a Metro train heading for Mairie de Montrouge and ride for five stops before getting off at Saint-Michel – Notre-Dame. The gardens will be a short walk from there. The journey only takes about 30 minutes and costs less than $5.
How to get to the Louvre from Gare du Nord
If you’re willing to brave the long lines of the world’s most famous museum, you can take the metro Line 4 and get off at the Chătelet stop. The Louvre will be about five minutes on foot from there. The whole trip takes about 17 minutes and costs $4.
There’s plenty to do
Canal St-Martin
By far one of the prettiest stretches in Paris, the leafy and tranquil Canal St-Martin’s waterside walking path is the ideal place to stretch your legs after a long train ride. The lengthy canal was built in the early 18th century to link the Seine River and suburbs for shipping. It’s since been repurposed into a green space for cyclists, walkers, and joggers, and there are bars and cafés set up to make it the ideal afternoon stroll.
There’s gorgeous historic architecture to admire, such as the cast-iron bridge at Rue de la Grange aux Belles and one of the oldest draw bridges in the city at Quai de Jemmapes. There’s simply no better place to grab a coffee and croissant for a morning stroll.
See and be seen at Cour des Petites Écuries
Paris is fantastic at maintaining its historic infrastructure and spinning it for modern use. Originally a series of stables used to house the thousands of horses that made the city hum, the Cour des Petites Écuries (which literally translates to ‘the courtyard of the little stables’) is a pre-industrial relic repurposed into a cultural hub lined with trendy restaurants, cafés, and bars. It’s impossibly cool and a solid meeting spot.
Musée des Arts et Métiers
While the art museums get the lion’s share of the attention (hence 10-hour waits for the Louvre) in Paris, this underrated science museum is absolutely worth stopping in, especially considering it’s a 10-minute walk from Gare du Nord.
Europe’s oldest science and technology museum dates back to 1794 and looks the part. With over 2,000 unique scientific and medical instruments along with dozens of antique manufacturing machines, you can explore centuries of technology across three floors. While guided tours are only offered in French, international travelers will be able to admire the many artifacts and exhibits without needing additional context. There are also audio-guide headsets compatible with English and a variety of languages.
Porte Saint-Denis
Originally part of the Paris City Walls, this was one of four Triumphal Arches built in the 17th century and remains in its original condition, which is remarkable. The surrounding cityscape in the 10th is decidedly contemporary, adding to the mystique of this landmark.
Marché Saint-Quentin
Paris has dozens of outdoor markets worth hitting, but this covered market in the 10th runs every day in the morning and makes an easy stop for putting together a picnic or simply strolling and taking in the scenery. You’ll find fresh produce along with cheesemongers, wine sellers, bakers, and even butchers offering cured meats. There’s no better place to go if you’re planning a canalside picnic.
It’s easy to get to and from the airport
You’re most likely flying into Charles de Gaulle International Airport, and you can take the train directly into Gare du Nord.
RER B trains run frequently throughout the day from all terminals, including an express train leaving every 15 minutes. The ride costs about $13 each way and takes 30 minutes. Taxis can also be hailed at any terminal, but traffic makes it a less efficient way to get into the city center. The average cab ride takes between 45 minutes and an hour and costs at least $60. It can be useful for business travelers who can expense their rides, especially considering you’re dropped off directly at your accommodations.
You can easily store your luggage near Gare du Nord
There’s a Bounce location right at Gare du Nord, but you’ll also find storage spots throughout the district. There’s one right at Porte Saint-Martin along with a dozen others. Exploring Paris for a few days? You’ll find Bounce has over 200 unique locations in the French capital, many of which are situated near the city’s top landmarks and cultural hotspots. Locations are great, but our useful features like the mobile app and 24/7 customer service make the difference.
Citations
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gare_du_Nord
https://www.eurostar.com/us-en/travel-info/your-trip/stations/paris-gare-du-nord
https://www.parisinsidersguide.com/canal-saint-martin-paris.html
https://www.seat61.com/stations/paris-gare-du-nord.htm
https://www.arts-et-metiers.net/
https://parisjetaime.com/eng/culture/porte-de-saint-denis-p1798
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