Gare du Nord / Gare de l'Est

As the terminus for Eurostar, Gare du Nord has more than its fair share of people hanging around waiting for their train to London. But why watch Brits checking their watches and huffing when there's a city outside?

Gare du Nord is next to Gare de l'Est so any suggestions here work for both.

I've set out three strolls which are also on the interactive map below.

Interactive Map

Luggage storage

If you want to pop your bags into storage for a few hours while you go for a wander, there is an office on the lower ground floor: more info

Strolls

Whistle-stop nourishment tour (1 K blue)

If can't travel far, why not grab some grab and get some spiritual nourishment on the way? First, walk down Rue de Compiègne and cross the Boulevard de Magenta and go down Rue de Belzunce. Saint-Vincent de Paul Church, named after the larger than life Saint-Vincent de Paul, has some pretty impressive interiors - who knows, maybe you'll get some interior design tips...

When you've had your fill of that, go back to the Boulevard de Magenta and walk down it to the market (Marché Couvert Saint-Quentin) where you can say au revoir to the artichokes or take your last deep lungful of ripe cheese. But before getting too mournful, why not grab some goodies and have a picnic at the Canal St Martin?

...or if you don't fancy the walk, you could have a plat du jour at one of the delis?

https://www.labahianaise.net/

https://www.restaurant-pardi.fr/

Canal Saint-Martin (3K red)

Initially created to provide clean water to Parisians who were sick of the cholera-friendly Seine, the Canal Saint-Martin has become a place for strolling, or flânerie, and is backdrop to a heap of films.

Go down the Boulevard de Denain and then turn left down the bustling Boulevard de Magenta before forking left along Rue du 8 Mai 1945 which takes you to the Jardin Villemin. Have a stroll through the park. At the far end you come out onto the Quai de Valmy. Turn right and stroll along the canal until you come to the Passerelle Richerand (or further if you have time). Cross the canal and go left to take you to the Passerelle Bichat and back to the Jardin Villemin. On the way back to Gare du Nord, you can take a sight detour past the Gare de L'Est and up Rue d'Alsace to use the film-friendly (e.g. Amelie) split staircase. If you have time you can also pop into the Gare de L'Est and take your own snaps in the photo booth (NB. the ticket hall has had a bit of a refurb since the film was shot).

Montmartre (3K green)

Iconic Montmartre is just 1 km (2⁄3rds mile) away and by walking there you can see a different side of Paris fashion.

Leave the station and turn left. Walk the short distance to the Boulevard de Magenta and turn right. It has an array of shops selling wedding suits, shoes and all that's needed for the special day. It's more down-to-earth than Parisian haute couture and whether it's your kind of thing or not, it is a genuine side of Paris that's often overlooked.

As you come to an overhead railway line, turn left down Boulevard Marguerite de Rochechouart and you will be traversing from the 10th to the 18th arrondissement. Use one of the crossings to get to the far side of the road (under the railway line). The streets on this side are a series of haberdashers. Again, it might not be what comes to mind when thinking of Paris fashion, but it's where Parisians, who want to take charge of their own couture, come.

Take the second turn on the right (Rue de Clignancourt) and then immediately left along Rue d'Orsel. Continue straight on and then turn right along Rue Ronsard when you get to the park of Square Louise Michel. Enter the square which features in so many films of Sacré Cœur and is our entrance to Montmartre.

Make your way up to Sacré Cœur and go down the road the the left (Rue due Cardinal Guibert) for a nice little stroll around the cobbled streets. Take the first left down Rue du Chevalier de la Barre then left again along Rue du Mont-Cenis. At the end bear right and then take a tour around the cafe lined Place du Tertre before continuing further along Rue du Monte-Cenis and taking a left turn along Rue Azais. Take the steps on your right and continue down several flights of steps running next to the funicular railway. At the bottom turn left and then take the next right along Rue de Steinkerque until you get to Place d'Anvers. Cross and take Rue de Dunkerque which is diagonally to your left. Follow this road back to the station.