Paris Gare d'Austerlitz (Train Station): Departures and guide

Travel to train station Paris Gare d'Austerlitz from the Paris city center

One of the six major train stations of Paris, the historic train station Gare d'Austerlitz (officially known as Paris-Austerlitz) is easy to reach thanks to its central location in the city's 13th Arrondissement. Train station Paris Gare d'Austerlitz was completed in 1840 when it was known as Gare d'Orléans​, but was later renamed after the Czech town which was the site of the Battle of Austerlitz, one of Napoleon's major military wins. Between 1865 and 1868 the station was expanded, and today, commuters and visitors alike make good use of its intercity trains traveling to the center and south of France as well as to Spain. It is also a hub for travel within Paris itself.

The best way to get to train station Paris Gare d'Austerlitz from the city center

Travel to the train station from the Paris city center is quite easy via the efficient Paris metro, as both the 5 and 10 lines make stops at Gare d'Austerlitz. Ample city buses also stop at the station, including lines 24, 57, 61, 63, 89, 91, and 215, as well as several of the night buses that run on more limited routes during later hours. For bus travel from various points around the Paris city center to Gare d'Austerlitz, it's best to consult the Paris bus map directly. A particularly quick way to reach the station is on the RER C line. Paris's RER trains serve the outlying suburbs as above-ground commuter rail lines, but taken only within the city, they also act as de facto express trains. Conveniently, Gare d'Austerlitz is walkable from major points of interest like the Bastille and the botanical garden Jardin des Plantes. And from the iconic Louvre museum, for example, the journey is less than 20 minutes via a combination of the 1 and 5 metro lines, or the 7 and then the 10.

How far is it to the Paris Gare d'Austerlitz train station from the city center

To travel to the train station from the Paris city center naturally depends where one begins. From the Eiffel Tower, 3.7 miles (six kilometers) away in the 15th Arrondissement, it takes just over 20 minutes via the incredibly convenient RER C. The RER C runs directly from the Champ de metro - Tour Eiffel station to Gare d'Austerlitz. For travelers strolling the scenic Jardin du Luxembourg, it's possible to walk the distance, which is just under 1.5 miles (2.2 kilometers) between the gardens and the station. However, for a speedier journey, catch the metro at the Odéon stop and take line 10 a quick, seven-minute ride to Gare d'Austerlitz. Paris's other major train stations vary in distance from Gare d'Austerlitz. The Gare de Lyon is a short walk right over the Pont d'Austerlitz bridge, while Gare du Nord, at the top of the city, is a 17-minute ride away on metro line number 5. 

How accessible is the train station for those with limited mobility?

Gare d'Austerlitz, like all six of Paris's major railway stations, offers accessible parking spots, accessible bathrooms, elevators, and boarding and access ramps. For travel to the train station from central Paris, do keep in mind that the Paris metro lines do not offer great wheelchair accessibility, with limited ramps and elevator access. That said, the city's bus lines are far more fully accessible, equipped with ramps and seating for limited-mobility passengers. Passengers with limited mobility can also contact Access Plus, a free accessibility service run by SNCF, France's national railway company, 48 hours before travel, to plan for assistance within Gare d'Austerlitz itself.

Local tips: the train station's points of interest

When it comes to what to do near train station Paris Gare d'Austerlitz, travelers have plenty of options thanks to the station's fantastic location. Simply take in views of the River Seine, which flows right next door, or walk across the Pont d'Austerlitz to the hip area surrounding Place de la Bastille, which offers ample shopping and cafés in addition to the Opéra Bastille. Adjacent to the station is the Jardin des Plantes, which is home to a small zoo and the city's Natural History Museum, all housed in historic 19th-century buildings. If time isn't of the essence, take a half-hour walk down to Butte-aux-Cailles, one of Paris's most quaint, charming neighborhoods, in a city known for lovely districts.