First-time traveler guide
Paris, France
The facts people look for first, pulled from this guide.
From the Airport
Download the SNCF Connect app: This is essential for booking and managing your tickets. You can store your electronic ticket directly in the app, which avoids the stress of finding a machine or dealing with language barriers.
If you need to store bags, automatic luggage lockers are available in the Espace Services area (near tracks 1-7). You can pay for these with a credit card.
Toilets and Showers: Restrooms are located facing tracks 1 and 2. There are also showers available in the "Espace Services" area near tracks 1 and 2; these are free for 1st-class couchette passengers arriving on overnight trains, but not for 2nd-class.
WiFi: Free WiFi is available throughout the station.
Type the number from your ticket or the departure board to see what this guide says about it.
Gare d’Austerlitz is located in the 13th arrondissement. As a central station, it is well-connected to Paris's public transport network.
From the Airport Most international travelers arrive at Charles de Gaulle (CDG).
If arriving at Paris-Orly (ORY):
From City Center
By Taxi
Gare d’Austerlitz is a straightforward terminus station. Think of it as a massive, single-level dead-end hall where all 21 platforms are lined up side-by-side, ending at a central cross-platform concourse. Because all tracks terminate here, you do not need to worry about confusing upper or lower levels for your departure; you simply walk from the main concourse to the platform number indicated on your ticket.
The station primarily serves the south and southwest of France. Regional trains to the Loire Valley and the long-distance Intercités de Nuit (night trains) utilize this main hall. While the station is currently undergoing renovations, the platform numbering remains consistent: platforms 1 through 21 are arranged sequentially from the north side (closest to the Seine) to the south. If you are arriving by taxi or from the riverbank, you will likely enter near the lower-numbered platforms (1–7), where the luggage lockers and service areas are also conveniently located.
As a large station with 21 platforms, it can be a 10-minute walk from the main entrance to the furthest tracks (such as platform 21). If you are traveling with heavy luggage, allow yourself at least 15 minutes to navigate from the station entrance to your specific platform, especially if you need to stop at the ticket office or a kiosk. The main information desk is centrally located on the cross-platform concourse, directly facing platform 16, making it an easy landmark if you feel disoriented.
First-time visitors often find the station’s historical, open-hall design helpful for orientation, as you can see the entire platform row from the concourse. However, do not be confused by the ongoing construction; simply follow the clear overhead signage toward your platform number. Because it is a dead-end station, you cannot "miss" your train by ending up on the wrong side of the tracks—if you are at the correct platform number, you are in the right place. Just look for the digital departure boards in the main hall to confirm your platform, as these can occasionally change due to operational needs.
Planning a trip to Paris can be overwhelming, but Gare d’Austerlitz doesn’t have to be a source of stress. I wish someone had told me these specifics before my first visit!
Train information is available Monday to Saturday from 7:30 am to 7:45 pm in the station. The luggage service is open from 7:00 am to 11:00 pm daily and is located in the arrival zone at Gate 27. The phone number for luggage and lost and found is 0153601284.
The lost and found office is accessible via the Musée de la Cour side of the station. Its hours are from 9:15 am to 12:00 pm and from 12:30 pm to 4:40 pm. You can also contact them by phone at 0153601284.
The toilets and showers at Gare d'Austerlitz are open from 6:00 am to midnight. The currency exchange is located in the main hall near the ticket counters and operates from 6:30 am to 11:00 pm.
The station houses several places to eat, including Café Ritazza, Café d’Austerlitz, a Croissanterie, and Malongo. Their specific hours are not listed in the provided content.
You can take the RER Line C train from the station to Orly Airport. Departures are every 15 minutes. The RER Line C platform is located on Level -1 of the station.
The station is served by Metro Line 10 and Line 5, and RER Line C (platform on Level -1). Connecting bus lines include the 57 to Gare de Lyon, the 91 to Montparnasse and Bastille, and the 63 to Gare de Lyon and Porte la Muette.
Terminus station serving Paris, France. Originally opened in 1840, the station underwent a significant reconstruction between 1862 and 1867, resulting in the iconic iron train shed that remains a designated historical monument today. While it historically served as a major hub, the station currently functions primarily as a terminus for Intercités regional lines—including routes to the Loire Valley and Toulouse—as well as sleeper train services and the RER C commuter rail. It does not host high-speed TGV trains.
Is this station huge and confusing? You may find it more manageable than the larger Parisian hubs. With 25 platforms, the layout is relatively straightforward for travelers. While the station has undergone extensive modernizations, it remains an active, functional space. As a first-time visitor, you will find the signage clear and the station well-connected to the Paris Métro (Lines 5 and 10). To ensure a stress-free experience, allow extra time for navigation, especially since platform assignments for trains are typically confirmed on departure boards only 30 to 60 minutes before the scheduled time. Remain attentive to these digital displays, as they are your most reliable source for real-time updates.
