If you’re thinking of visiting other cities like London, Brussels, or Amsterdam before or after you Paris visit, then traveling by Eurostar train could be an excellent option. Originally traveling only between London and Paris, the Eurostar now also goes to other European destinations.
Personally – I LOVE the Eurostar. It’s fast (Paris to London in just over 2 hours) as well as VERY convenient because you depart and arrive right in the city centers, instead of faraway airports. Traveling by train is also a more eco-friendly way of traveling, as its carbon footprint is much less than flying.
If you’re considering this option, there are some VERY important things to know before taking the Eurostar from Paris. Keep reading to find out what these are and how you can have a stress-free trip by Eurostar.
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Image Courtesy of Eurostar
Eurostar Basics
Eurostar is a high-speed train company that first operated only between Paris and London, traveling via the Chunnel, the tunnel beneath the English Channel.
Eurostar has since merged with a company called Thalys and now connects Paris and London to other cities in northwestern Europe, including Lille, Brussels, Rotterdam, Amsterdam (and Schiphol airport), Cologne, and a few other smaller cities along the way, and through connections at these stations.
The most popular Eurostar destinations for tourists like you travelling from Paris are London and Amsterdam.
Tips for booking your Eurostar train tickets
You have to book your tickets before you travel
Unlike taking local trains, you can’t just show up at the train station and hop onto a Eurostar. You need to book your ticket in advance. You can do this on the official Eurostar website, SNCF Connect (the website of the French national train company), or a travel booking platform like OMIO, which allows you to easily compare your different transport options.
The price will be the same on all of these websites, so you don’t have to worry about being overcharged by using one or another.
How to get good deals on Eurostar tickets
Tickets come up for sale six to eight months in advance. I recommend you book your ticket as soon as you can because that’s when you can get the best deals. For some more tips, keep reading. In addition to booking your tickets far in advance, there are a few other ways to get amazing discounts.
First, you should sign up for Eurostar’s email newsletter, where you’ll be the first to find out their latest deals and discounts on train journeys. If you have a flexible schedule, Eurostar also has a special website for discounted last-minute tickets. Called Eurostar Snap, you have to go on the website two weeks before the date you’d like to travel, you book for your requested date and departure time range, but you actually don’t have a fixed time yet. Then, 48 hours before the date, you’ll receive the time of your train and your ticket.
These tickets are up to 50% cheaper than regular tickets, but there are a few downsides. Not all dates will always be available, especially in high season. Tickets are also non-refundable, and you’re often put on the first or last trains of the day.
In addition to having to get up at the crack of dawn, this might also involve you having to pay for a taxi to the station, depending on the time and where you’re staying, which means you might not actually be saving tons.
So you might want to double-check how to get to the station from where you’re staying BEFORE booking. Overall, this option is a better fit if you’re on a budget and traveling outside of major vacation times (like summertime, Easter, and Christmas).
There are three Eurostar ticket classes to choose from
When you’re ready to book, it’s good to know that there are three classes to choose from:
- Eurostar Standard – This is the basic fare, and doesn’t include food and drinks, with the smallest seating arrangements
- Eurostar Plus – A step above standard, this category has larger seats with added space for working, and your ticket comes with a meal and drinks.
- Eurostar Premier – This is the most expensive option, but you can change your travel dates, even last minute (there’s an all-day boarding guarantee). You also have a priority boarding lane, access to an exclusive lounge, and a premium meal and drinks onboard.
The price difference isn’t always all that much between the standard and higher classes, so you might want to evaluate this while you’re booking. A meal and beverages are worth at least €15, so with the other perks of these classes, these could be a better choice for just a bit extra.
Children under 12 can travel at a discount or for free
If you’re traveling with children aged three and under, they can travel for free on the Eurostar – but there’s a catch. Just like on airplanes, the infant will need to sit on your lap. If you’d prefer for them to have their own seat, Eurostar offers discounted rates of 30% to 50% off for children between 4 and 11 years old.
Travel requirements when taking the Eurostar from Paris
You have to travel with your passport
This is definitely one of the most important things to know before taking the Eurostar from Paris. Unlike local trains in France, you’ll need to carry your passport with you to travel on the Eurostar. Even if you’re doing a day trip from Paris to Brussels, which are both in the Schengen zone, you’ll want to have your passport with you.
If you’re entering the UK, you’ll need a UK ETA
The UK now requires all visitors to apply for an ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation). This is all done online and is pretty easy to do. It costs £16 and is valid for 2 years, so you have an extra reason to plan another trip to the UK.
On the official site, it says it can take up to three business days to get it back, but you might have it earlier than that, too. We recommend that you don’t apply for it too far in advance since it lasts for two years and you might be able to get multiple trips out of it.
You should ONLY do the application through the official UK government website. There are some scam websites out there that’ll charge you extra fees. I’d hate for you to spend money on things you don’t need to – save it for a nice meal in London!
What you can bring onboard the Eurostar
The luggage allowance is more generous than flying
These days, so many airlines are charging extra fees for luggage, the cost of your travel comes out to be much more than you first expect, but not if you take the Eurostar.
Passengers in Standard or Standard Premier are allowed two pieces of luggage and one personal item (handbag, laptop case, or small backpack), and passengers in Business Premier can bring three pieces of luggage and one personal item. If you’re traveling with kids, strollers don’t count within your luggage allowance.
In addition to the quantity, there are a few size and weight restrictions. Each suitcase can’t be bigger than 30x21x12 inches (75x53x30 cm) or weigh more than 70 pounds (32 kg). You also need to be able to carry and lift your own bags unless you have requested assistance.
You can bring liquids on board
Another advantage of the Eurostar compared to flying is that you can bring liquids on board. There are actually no limits to the volume of liquids you can bring. Yes, that means you can pack some beer or wine to have on the train or to bring back home with you.
Image Courtesy of Eurostar
What to expect at the Eurostar station in Paris
Where does the Eurostar depart from in Paris?
All Eurostar trains leave from Gare du Nord station. It’s in northern Paris and easily accessible by métro (lines 4 and 5) as well as the suburban RER train (lines B and D).
Once inside the station, if you’re traveling to London, there’s a special boarding area because you’ll need to go through Border Control for both countries. This is on an upper floor, there are lots of signs showing you where it is, so it’s really easy to find. There’s an escalator and elevator to reach it if you have any mobility issues or a lot of luggage.
You board the trains to other destinations like you would any normal train, on the ground level and from the beginning of the designated train platform. Check the large departure boards for the platform, and you’ll be able to board 15-20 minutes prior.
How early do you have to be at the station to take the Eurostar from Paris?
If you’re heading to England, you’ll have to arrive earlier than if you’re going to other destinations. This is because, as I mentioned, you have two border controls, one for the French Customs and another for the UK. This means that you don’t have to go through Customs when you arrive in London and can simply zip out of St. Pancras station after you get off the train and let your UK adventure begin.
Eurostar recommends arriving at least 1 hour and 15 minutes in advance if you have a Eurostar Standard or Eurostar Plus ticket (although in my experience, you don’t usually need to be THAT early).
If you’ve booked a Premier ticket, then you have a special boarding line and only need to arrive 45 minutes before your scheduled departure.
If you’re travelling to anywhere that’s NOT the UK, arriving to your platform 20 minutes before departure works well.
Here’s what to expect when you’re “checking in” for the Eurostar in Paris
If you’re going to the UK
Once you’re on the UK-Eurostar boarding level, you’ll need to choose between a few lines, depending on your train time and the class of ticket you have. Once you get to the front of the line, you’ll have to scan your ticket at the automatic gate. Then you’ll go through French Customs, then UK Customs, where you’ll have to show your passport.
The French customs likely won’t ask you any questions, however, the UK custom’s agent might ask you a few things, such as how long you’re staying in the UK, where you’re staying and proof of these. So it’s a good idea to have your accommodation booking and your departure flight or train info in case they ask to see it.
You’ll then have to go through a security check similar to the airport, where you’ll have to put all your luggage through an X-ray machine.
If you’re going anywhere else
The process is pretty easy. All you’ll need to do is show your ticket at the beginning of the platform, where a ticket agent will scan it, or you’ll scan the barcode at an automatic gate. Then you can proceed to your train carriage and seat, and voila! You’ll be in Belgium, Germany, or the Netherlands in no time.
You can pick up food at the station before and after going through to the UK departures lounge
On the ground level of Gare de Nord station, there are a few different stands selling sandwiches and snacks. There’s also a little supermarket where you’ll have more options that are likely more affordable too. After you go through Customs, there are a couple of stands selling food and a few shops selling drinks, snacks, and souvenirs too.
Image Courtesy of Eurostar
What you’ll find on board the Eurostar
There’s a cafe aboard, but it’s basic and a little pricey
If you aren’t able to pick up some snacks beforehand, or feel thirsty or peckish once on board, AND you haven’t booked a plus or premium ticket, there is a café carriage. It’s nothing fancy, and the price will be a tad higher than the places within the station, but it can come in handy.
There’s WIFI onboard, but not the best
There’s WIFI on the Eurostar, but since you’re going really fast and through the countryside for most of the journey, the connection isn’t the greatest. I wouldn’t rely on it to do any serious work or to watch TV shows or movies. Instead, it’s a good idea to download any documents or media files while you have good WIFI at your hotel, so you won’t have any issues accessing them while on board.
If you miss your train, you can rebook, but there’s a fee
I hope you won’t have to use this option, but the Eurostar is actually fairly reasonable when it comes to missing your train. If you have a Premium ticket, you can go on the next available train with seats without paying a fee. For the other categories, you’ll have to pay a €50 rebooking fee – but that’s much less than booking a ticket from scratch!
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