Safety near Gare du Nord in Paris

[Quirkyme]

Hi everyone,

I'm heading to Paris soon and will be staying near Gare du Nord. I've received some advice that this area might not be the safest, especially for women travelling alone.

Has anyone stayed near Gare du Nord or have any insights into safety in this area? Should I be cautious or consider staying somewhere else? I'm open to any recommendations or advice.

Thanks in advance!

It’s fine. Just take normal big city precautions. Areas near big railway stations are not generally known for their chichi-ness.

I think if you can change it I probably would. I’ve heard it’s pretty ok during the day and to pass but just not the nicest place to hang about. Better to stay in a nicer part of the city if you have the option.

Thanks for the reassurance! I'll deffo keep standard big city precautions in mind. It's good to know that with the right precautions, it should be fine. I appreciate your insight!

You need to keep your wits about you there, in the same way as you need to keep your wits about you in many cities.

But of course there's also the 'why' to add into the mix. If you're staying there because there's a train you need to catch early in the morning, crack on. But if you've got a bit of time in Paris and want to waft around at peace with yourself and pop out for drinks and food before confidently striding to your hotel, then stay somewhere else - know what I mean?

It's obviously a big tourist hub, mixed with an edginess which means that people who look like nervous tourists with no street smarts may get the kind of attention you don't want.

Practice having an air of disinterest mixed with standoffish confidence. Know where you're going, and if you don't, look like you do whilst you walk to a shop or cafe where you can check Google maps on your phone or get directions.

Thanks for your input! It's helpful to know that while the area may be okay during the day, staying in a nicer part of the city may be a better option. I'll consider this when finalising my plans. Thanks again for the advice!

Thanks for the insight! I understand that staying near Gare du Nord requires vigilance, similar to other big cities. Your point about staying there primarily for convenience vs choosing a more peaceful area if I have time is helpful. I’ll definitely weigh this when finalising my plans. Thanks again for the advice!

I often stay near there because it’s easy to get your luggage to get back on the train, at the wonderful hotel Deux Gares.

However, yes there’s definitely a lot of people hanging out on the street and it’s very busy, so you need to know where you’re going and not stand around with your wallet or phone out

Thanks for the advice! I appreciate the tips on maintaining confidence and avoiding drawing unwanted attention. I'll make sure to stay aware of my surroundings and plan my routes carefully. Your suggestions will definitely help me feel more prepared. Thanks again!

its grotty and stinks of piss.

Plenty of nicer places to stay within walking distance

How soon? There is currently a strong armed police/army presence for the Olympics. We saw relatively few homeless in the area(maybe they got moved on) certainly less than in London and on the whole it felt cleaner and less dodgy than we recalled.

No, I'm very much a real person who has been commenting here for years and I'm genuinely going to Paris. I appreciate all the suggestions honestly, they're all really helpful

@User364837

There really isn't a need for sarcasm here. I'm grateful for all the comments, and I wouldn't have replied as such to the piss comment when I got round to it

I'm going at the end of the month and will be there for the first week of September, so I'll be there for the Paralympics

Because I'm going to Paris that is why I've made two threads, clearly.

One about hidden gems in Paris and another about safety due to the advice I received about where I'm staying.

The convenience of staying near the train station is what appealed to me too. I’ll deffo make sure to stay aware of my surroundings and keep my belongings secure. Appreciate the advice!

i lived in Paris and Gare du Nord is the only place I’ve ever been mugged. It’s not a very nice area so I’d change it if you can. There are plenty of much safer and nicer areas.

I hadn’t noticed that during my previous visits, but I appreciate the heads up. I’ll definitely keep that in mind and explore other nearby areas too. Thanks for the advice!