Photo by Paul Fleury on Unsplash
The 10th Arrondissement may be tucked away north of the obligatory Paris sights like the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre, but this district is an intriguing locale to base your trip around. “Living like a local” has enduring appeal as a travel principle. Call it Millennial wanderlust or contrarian, but there’s something to be said about partially immersing yourself into a city’s daily mechanics by residing where actual Parisians make their lives.
There’s no better place than the 10th to do this. You’ll find fewer crowds and, ahem, tourists. The unstuffy pace will allow for a little more relaxation between jaunts to the central districts filled with world-class museums and renowned bistros. These things are also on offer in the 10th, though they come with less fanfare and fewer, ahem, tourists.
One major factor for making the 10th your temporary home is Gare du Nord, which is one of the city’s major transportation hubs and the perfect means for exploring the City of Light. Considering its connections to other European cities and Charles de Gaulle Airport, there’s a chance you’ll end up here regardless, and if you need Paris luggage storage near here, Bounce has you covered.
Here’s a quick rundown of the 10th and Gare du Nord:
It’s slightly out of the way (in the best way possible)
The 10th arrondissement is situated on the North (or “right side”) of the Seine. It’s located near the 2nd, 9th, 11th, Montmartre/18th, and 19th arrondissements. The main stretches are Chateau d’Eau and Poissoniere on the West Side and the Canal Saint Martin on the East side. The epicenter of the district seems to be Gare du Nord.
If you’re visiting Paris for the first time, the 10th might be a little far from the sights you want to hit, but public transit makes it simple to reach the top attractions within a few minutes, especially if your accommodations are close to Gare du Nord.
Getting around Paris is as easy as it gets
Metro Connections
Gare du Nord is served by Lines 4 and 5 of the Paris Metro. Line 4 is particularly useful for sightseeing in the central districts.
- Line 4: Le Marais for shopping (10 minutes), Jardins du Luxembourg (22 minutes), The Louvre (22 minutes), Gare Montparnasse (29 minutes).
- Line 5: Jardins des Plantes (21 minutes), Place d’Italie (28 minutes), La Villette (20 minutes).