Paris Montparnasse (Paris)

The following train services depart from and and arrive at the Gare Montparnasse:

• TGV InOui trains to / from Agen, Angers, Bayonne, Biarritz, Bordeaux, Brest, Hendaye, La Rochelle, Lorient, Le Mans, Lourdes, Morlaix, Nantes, Poitiers, Quimper, Rennes, St Malo, St Nazarre, Tarbes, Toulouse and Tours
• Ouigo Grande Vitesse trains to / from Angers, Bordeaux, La Rochelle, Le Mans, Lorient, Nantes, Poitiers, Quimper, Rennes and Toulouse
• TER trains to / from Chartres, Granville, Le Mans and Versaille-Chantiers
• Transilien trains to / from Versaille-Chantiers

Detailed journey guides for travel to many of these destinations can be accessed from the 'Contents Menu'.

There’s no doubting that taking a train from Paris Montparnasse station can be an unexpected experience.
In contrast to the other mainline stations in Paris, that have all preserved their 19th century character, Paris Montparnasse train station is a fine example of 1970’s brutalist architecture.
So depending on your point of view it’s either monumentally ugly, or admirable in its own way.

What first time users will find particularly odd is that trains depart from an upper concourse, which is above street level AND two storeys above the Metro station.
But don’t be alarmed, impressive banks of escalators give access to/from the trains, and lifts are also available which connect all the levels - though not as many as might be expected in a station of this size.

The Gare Montparnasse is very large station, it has 28 voies (platforms / tracks) all encased within a massive development of offices - from the street there is no sense that it houses a railway.

Due to its size the station has four concourses which provide the access to and from the trains.
At face value the fact that Gare Montarpansse has four concourses seems confusing, but I have used the station on multiple occasions without even realizing that Halls 2, 3 and 4 exist.
That's because each of the four concourses / halls have different functions, as described below - and I have only ever transferred between the Metro and TGV InOui trains, so the only part of the station I have used is Hall 1.

Hall 1 is the main concourse and it is at the front of the building - where there is a pedestrian square dominated by the Tour Montaparnasse skyscraper.
The Metro station, which is named Montparnasse - Bienvenüe, is below this Hall 1; And most of the bus stops in the area are also located on one side of the square.
This area of the station which houses Hall 1 also houses a small shopping mall with numerous cafes and fast food outlets.

However this Hall 1 is above street level, so it is located on Level 2 of the building which houses the front of the station

Hall 2 is in the middle of the office complex which houses the Gare Montparnasse so it located above the midway point of voies (platforms / tracks) 1 - 22.
Though it gives access to all of the trains, as there is a route from Hall 2 to Hall 3, which is the primary access point for voies (platforms / tracks) 25 - 28.

The primary function of Hall 2 is to provide access between the trains and those who will be heading to and from the station by car - hence it being the location of the taxi rank and drop off area.
It has hard to spot pedestrian access on the the street named Pl. des Cinq Martyrs du Lycée Buffon - note that on Google Maps the pin for the location of Hall 2 has been dropped in the wrong place.

Though because Hall 2 is inevitably quieter, it can be used as the departure area for the Ouigo services - because passengers taking these trains are in effect checked prior to boarding.

Hall 1, which is the main concourse, is linked to Hall 2 by a travellator, which as you face the trains in Hall 1 is on the right-hand side, by voie 24.
So if you arrive at Montparnasse to take a Ouigo service by Metro, you can follow the signs to Hall 1 - and then head over to Hall 2.
Though the transfer from Metro lines 4 and 12 to the Hall 2 will take a minimum of 8 minutes.

Voies (platforms/tracks) 25 - 28 are on the western side of the station, but they are shorter, which is why they are further away from Hall 1.
They in effect begin half way down the length of the building, hence they have their own concourse and entrance hall which is accessed from Rue du Cotentin.
This is Hall 3 and it is also know as Gare Montparnasse Hall 3 and Montparnasse 3 Vaugirard - The idea being that if a train is shown on timetables as departing from Montparnasse 3 Vaugirard, travellers will know that they they can enter directly into this part of Gare Montaparnasse.
It's entrance is in a distinct neighbourhood more than a five minute walk from the Tour Montparnasse.

It is linked to Hall 1 by a travellator and is a short walk from Hall 2, so all of the trains which depart from the Gare Montparnasse can be accessed from Hall 3.

Transilien is the brand name given to the network of local / commuter railways which link central Paris to the city's more distant suburbs and surrounding towns, beyond the reach of the Metro and RER trains.
The Transilien lines / routes which use Montparnasse are the N network and these trains typically depart from voies (platforms / tracks) 11 - 16.
So that the passengers taking these shorter distance trains don't get in the way of those departing on the longer-distance, TGV-InOui, TER and Ouigo services, these Transilien trains are accessed through the departure Hall 4.
It is on level 0 in the building at the front of the station, so it is below Hall 1.

Though these voies (platforms / tracks) 11 - 16, which the Transilien trains typically depart from, can also be accessed from Hall 2.

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ShowMeTheJourney has anticipated what questions are most often asked about taking trains to and from Paris-Montparnasse and answered them below.

If you can't find the information you are seeking, you can ask a question by using the Travel Planning Service.

Yes, though there is seemingly only one elevator which links the Level 0 at street level and Level 2, which houses Hall 1 in the main station building - It provides the the access to and from the main line trains, including the TGV InOui, Ouigo Vitesse and TER trains.
So this elevator is for use by travellers who require mobility assistance.
A seperate elevator links the Metro station entrance hall on level -1 with level 0 - and this avoids the short flight of stairs which provide the dominant access between level -1 and level 0.

Two sets of escalators provide the primary access between level 0 and level 2 (Hall 1) in the main station building.
They provide the link for the majority of travellers between the trains and both the street in front of the station - and the Metro station.
However, the escalators can be switched so that both sets convey people up or down within the building - and when that is the situation the only viable alternative can be taking the four flights of stairs!
An elevator is available for travellers who cannot manage the escalators.

Access to / from the trains in Hall 2

The Hall 2 is in an entirely separate building and it's concourse is above the voies (platforms / tracks) which most of the long-distance trains depart from.
If you take a taxi or bus to the Gare Montparnasse you may be deposited by its entrance.
Each pair of voies / platforms in the main part of the station is linked to the Hall 2 by escalators - and some, but not all of them, also have elevators to provide a link between the trains and Hall 2.

The Montparnasse is served by four Metro lines;

• the line 4
• the line 6
• the line 12
• the line 13

Though in effect there are two Metro stations which share the name of Montparnasse - Bienvenüe
(1) The platforms used by lines 6 and 13 are beneath the main building at the front of Gare Montparnasse, the same building which houses the departure Halls 1 and 4 - see above
(2) A long travellator, pictured above, links the entrance hall to lines 6 and 13, to the entrance hall from which gives the access to lines 4 and 12 - it has its own street entrance around 200 metres from the rail station.
So the transfer between train and Metro is much easier if you can take lines 6 or 13 to or from the Gare Montparnasse - though inevitably some parts of the city centre can be more easily accessed on lines 4 and 12.

To the most popular tourist attractions

By line 4

• to Notre Dame at Cité station
• to the Pompidou Centre from Étienne Marcel station

By line 6

• to the Eiffel Tower at Bir-Hakeim station
• to the Arc De Triomphe and the western end of the Champs-Élysées at Charles de Gaulle – Étoile station

By line 12

• to the Musée D'Orsay from Solférino station
• to the Sacre Coeur and Montmartre from Abbesses station

By line 13

• to Champs-Élysées and the Place de la Concorde at Champs-Élysées - Clemenceau station
  Connect at Champs-Élysées - Clemenceau for line 1 to Palais Royal - Musée du Louvre station.

The events of the Paris Olympics 2024 are being staged at 23 separate venues across the French capital.
Hence a decision to focus on how to travel by train to the venues not in the heart of Paris from the Gare Montparnasse.

To the Stade De France

The Stade de France is located more than 3km from the city centre

Three railway stations serve the stadium:
1 - Stade De France – Saint Denis station
2 - La Plaine Stade de France station
3 - Saint Denis-Porte De Paris station

Though which of them will be the most convenient will depend on the starting point of your journey and where you will be sitting.

If your seats are in blocks are on the south and east sides of the stadium = Blocks A, R, S, T, U, X, Y and Z, the station named La Plaine Stade de France on RER line B has the shortest walking distance of around 10 to 15 minutes.
Take Metro line 6 to Denfert Rocherau and transfer there to a Line B train to La Plaine Stade de France station.

If you will be sitting on the western side of the stadium = Blocks, K, L and N, the shortest and easiest walking route is from the station named Stade De France – Saint Denis on RER line D, despite it being the farthest of the three stations from the stadium.
Though bus line/route 353 is a five stop ride to the stadium and its stop is by blocks U, X and Y.
Take Metro line 6 to Denfert Rocherau and transfer there to a Line B train to the Gare Du Nord and make another transfer there to a Line D train.

On the northern side of the stadium = blocks C, D, E. G, H and J, the Metro stop named Saint Denis-Porte De Paris is closest - it is actually the nearest of the three stations to the stadium.
Take Metro Line 13 direct to Saint Denis-Porte De Paris.

To the Aquatics Centre

The Aquatics Centre is within a 15 - 20 min walk Saint Denis-Porte De Paris.
Take Metro Line 13 direct to Saint Denis-Porte De Paris station.

To the Bercy Arena

The Bercy Arena is located within a 20 minute walk of the Gare de Lyon,
Take Metro Line 6 direct to Bercy metro station.

To Château de Versailles

The equestrian arena for the Paris Olympics is located towards the western edge of the château grounds.
It is a two step journey:

1. take Transilien Line N trains to St Cyr (board any Line N train)
2. take Tram line / route T13 to its stop named Allée Royale

To Le Bourget

The sport climbing venue is north-east of the city centre.
Take Metro line 6 to Denfert Rocherau and transfer there to a Line B train to Le Bourget station

To the North Paris Arena

The North Paris Arena is located in the Villepinte Exhibition Centre on the northern edge of Paris by CDG Airport.
Take Metro line 6 to Denfert Rocherau and transfer there to a Line B train to Parc des Expositions station

To the La Défense Swimming Arena in Nanterre

The venue for the indoor swimming races is located to the west of the La Défense business and shopping area, within a relatively easy walking distance from La Défense station.
It is a two step journey:

1. take Metro line 13 to Champs-Élysées - Clemenceau
2. take Metro line 1 to to La Défense station.
   Or if your train heading to or from Montparnasse calls at Versailles-Chantiers, connect there for a line U train to La Défense.

To the Porte de la Chapelle Arena

The venue for badminton and rhythmic gymmastics, aka The Adidas Arena, is located within easy distance of the metro station, from which it takes its name.
Go direct on Metro line 12 to Port de la Chapelle station

To the Stade Garros

The iconic tennis venue will also used for some of the boxing tournament at the Paris Olympics.
It is a two step journey:

1. take Metro line 6 to La Motte - Picquet Grenelle station
2. Transfer to Metro line 10 and leave it at Porte d’Auteuil station

To the Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines Velodrome

The track cycling venue for the Paris Olympics is located in a town on the outskirts of Paris.
Take Transilien Line N trains to Saint-Quentin en Yvelines station (board any Line N train).

To the South Paris Arena

This venue is located at the Paris Expo Exhibition centre in the south west corner of the city.
Go direct on Metro line 12 to Porte de Versaille station

To the Yves-du-Manoir Stadium

The hockey venue is the original sports stadium for the Paris area, but it is located in the suburb of Colombes.
The closest station, Le Stade, takes its name from the stadium, but it is a 15 - 20 min walk.
It is a two step journey:

1. take Metro line 13 to St Lazare
2. Take a train to Le Stade station, which will be heading to Ermont - Eaubonne

Both Charles-De-Gaulle airport and Orly airport are served by line B of the RER.
Though the link to and from Orly is indirect, as a people mover system named Orlyval links the airport terminals with Antony station.

The Line B also calls at a station named Denfert-Rochereau, which is linked to the Gare Montparnasse by the line 6 of the Paris Metro.

More info is available on the guide to airport rail links in France.

All of the info you will need is available on the Paris By Train website.

There are two restaurants at the station, the Dépôt Légal (though it makes no mention of its Gare Montparnasse location on its website?) and a branch of the Italian restaurant chain, IT Trattoria.
There are also numerous snack, sandwich and fast-food outlets.

The left luggage office the 'Consignes', is by the Hall 1 concourse -when facing the trains it is on the far right by the entrance to voie (platform / track) 24.
Thee access to the lockers is staffed, so you can only deposit and collect luggage when it is open - and its typical opening hours are 07:00 to 22:00 daily.

Yes, the station has a Grand Voyageur lounge, which can be accessed by those who will be travelling with Business Premiere tickets, on the TGV InOui services.

If you are taking a TGV (InOui or Ouigo) service from Montparnase then when you enter the station building follow the signs pointing the way to the ‘Grandes Lignes’.

If you have entered the station at street level at the front of the building, or have arrived by Metro, you will need to ascend to the levels above, up to the area of Montparnasse train station used by the TGVs and other long distance trains - which is in effect on level 2.

If you arrive by taxi you will likely be dropped off by the entrance to a separate part of the station, Hall 2, which is above the trains.

The Metro station at Montparnasse is named 'Montparnasse – Bienvenüe' - but it is very much a station of two parts.

The part of the Metro station used by lines 4 and 12 is much further from the mainline station, Gare Montparnasse, than the part of the Metro station used by lines 6 and 13.

Line 4 links the Gare Du Nord to Montparnasse and or guide to making this transfer between the stations is HERE.
Allow 10-15 mins between stepping off a Metro Line 4 and 12 train to boarding a TGV, or a minimum of 5 - 7 mins if you arrive on Metro Lines 6 or 13.

If you're ascending from the Metro, you will initially see access to trains on the first level that you will come to - but the TGVs and other long distance trains depart from two levels above.
This access to the trains on level 0, which is where the exit from the Metro is located, leads into Hall 4, which only gives access to the local 'Transilien' trains.

When you have reached the top of the escalators which lead up to the part of the station used by TGV trains, you may assume that you have reached the main departure hall - the signs will tell you that you are in Hall 1.
You’ll be able to glimpse trains ahead of you and people will be waiting around, checking the electronic departure screens etc.

However, this area isn’t the main concourse.
To access the departure concourse, with its range of shops and food/drink outlets etc - you need to walk ahead towards the trains, passed the banks of ticket machines.
But this main concourse can become crowded, so if you don't need to use the shops etc, then hanging back in this Hall 1 can be a better option.

The specific voie (platform/track) that a train will depart from, isn’t usually confirmed until 10–20 mins before departure.
So keep an eye on the departure monitors or the departure board, which dominates the main concourse.
Announcements re: departures are only made in French.

If you can’t see the station that you’re travelling to on the departure screens - find your train using the train number.
This will be a 4 digit number, which will be printed on your ticket - so match the number to the train number that will be on the departure screens.

Despite the fact that everyone who will be taking a TGV has a reserved seat, the confirmation of the voie (platform/track) number usually prompts a stampede towards the train.
Join the throng if you have luggage - space on TGV luggage racks can be limited.

But if you don’t have luggage there's no need to rush, the less stressful option is to hang back and wait until those that do have luggage etc, have stowed their bags and taken their seats.

Though TGV Atlantique trains - which for the time being form many of the long distance (Grandes Lignes) departures from Montparnasse, can be 20 carriages/coaches long.
Two 10 coach trains can be joined together, so be prepared to trek down the platform to the carriage/coach in which your seat is located - and give yourself time to do so.

Something to watch out for is that a condition of French train tickets, is that you must be on the platform to board your train a minimum of 2 minutes before the train departs.
Barriers are being installed at Montparnasse to enforce this rule, they’re closed around 2 minutes before departure!

There is a separate part of the station, often named ‘Montparnasse 3 Vaugirard’, which is where voies (platforms/tracks) 25 - 28 are located;

The access to them from the main station is by travellator to the side of voie 24, which is on the far right of the concourse when facing the trains,
You need to keep going until you come to the entrance to what looks like a separate station, named Gare Montparnasse Hall 3.
From this entrance on voie 24 you need to take an escalator or elevator up to the trains.
Your efforts will be rewarded as this Hall 3 is smart and modern.

When initially entering from the front station, or arriving by Metro, follow the signs up pointing the way to the 'Grandes Lignes' departures until you come to the main concourse, then head along the travelator
At a leisurely pace, from stepping off a line 4 or 12 train to being on the concourse in Hall 3 will take around 10 minutes.

Montparnasse 3 Vaugirard also has a street level entrance, which has step-free access to the trains by escalator and elevator, so if you will be taking a train from here, an option is to take a taxi to this entrance.
This entrance is entirely separate to the main station so the name shown above its doors is 'Gare Vaugirard Montparnasse 3'; it's on Rue du Contentin.

Our guide to arriving by train at Gare Montparnasse focuses on how to transfer to the Metro - and then how to use the Metro to reach the other mainline stations.
If you're not used to using Paris Montparnasse then this can be confusing.

Many TGV trains that arrive at Montparnasse can be 20 coaches long, so if your reserved seat is towards the rear of such a train, it can take around 5 mins before you step on to the main concourse at the station.
Though one plus is that the main concourse is on the same level as the voies (platforms/tracks) which the trains will arrive at.

Once you're on the main concourse keep going ahead of you until you are in the Hall 1 area of the station, when arriving by train this Hall 1 is behind the main concourse.

At the rear of Hall 1 you will see two banks of escalators, both of which connect this Hall 1 to the street level exits and the entrance to the Metro station.
Although the escalators can be switched so that they only ascend up into the station.

The entrance to the Metro station is located three levels below the area of Montparnasse train station that the long distance express trains arrive at (Hall 1).
There are banks of escalators, which usually are an alternative to taking the stairs - However, when SMTJ was last at Montparnasse in the middle of the afternoon, we were astonished to discover that both sets of escalators were only leading upwards!

Though be aware that if you do use the lift, which is intended for use by those who require mobility assistance, from Hall 1 to access the Metro, you will need take the lift down to Level 0 and and then a separate lift down to the Metro ticket hall on level -1.
The main access from level 0 to the Metro ticket hall is by a short flight of stairs.

The Metro station is named 'Montparnasse – Bienvenüe' - and it is very much a station of two parts.
Line 6 and Line 13 use the part of the Metro station closest to its entrance hall.
However, Line 4 and Line 12 are some distance away at the end of an exceptionally long travellator - that can be accessed from the Metro entrance hall

At the mid-point of the voies (platforms/ tracks) 1 - 24, which are the voies at which most of the TGV InOui, TER and Ouigo trains arrive at, you will see signs pointing upwards, directing travellers to the taxi rank.
This is because the taxi rank can be accessed from Hall 2, which is above the trains.
You can access it by escalator and most of the voies also have an elevator link up to it
Note that this access to Hall 2 may be behind you when stepping off a train, so if you want to take a taxi, don't follow the crowd on to the main concourse.

See the guide below.

This is a transfer that looks straightforward - as Metro Line 4 provides a direct link between Montparnasse and the Gare de l'Est - direction Porte de Clignancourt.
However, if you have luggage it’s far from convenient – and even if you don’t, it can be energy sapping.
Also line 4 is the 2nd busiest Paris Metro line - so at peak times the crowds can seem overwhelming.

Stage One:
The line 4 platforms/voies at Montparnasse – Bienvenüe metro station, are connected from the Metro entrance hall by long passage ways.
So long, that despite the travellators, it takes 8 - 10 minutes to make the transfer to the Metro platform, from stepping off a main line train at Montparnasse.
You will experience a ‘will I ever get there’ feeling and between the travellator and the Metro platform you'll also have to negotiate stairs - so it's awkward if you have luggage.

Stage Two:
It’s then 13 stops from Montparnasse – Bienvenüe metro to the Gare de l'Est, so the train journey takes 20–25mins.

Stage Three:
When you eventually arrive at Gare de l'Est, follow the signs to ‘Grande Lignes', if you will be taking a TGV, Thalys, Eurostar or Intercités train.

The alternative bus link

In the summer, making the transfer can be particularly uncomfortable, temperatures can soar at both main line stations, on the train and in the passage ways.
So if time is on your side, it can be a good idea to take the bus.
Line 91 goes to the Gare de l'Est from two stops at Montparnasse:

• From this stop accessible via Hall 2 - which exits on to the Place de Cinq Martyrs du Lycée Buffon
• And from this stop to the left of the small bus station on Boulevard de Vaugirard, over to the left of the main street level exit at the front of the station.

This is an awkward transfer- as there are no direct Metro or RER lines between Montparnasse and the Gare De Lyon.

The easiest of many metro journey options is:

(Stage 1) Take a line 6 train to Bercy station - direction Nation.

(Stage 2) At Bercy transfer to a Line 14 train (direction St Lazare) for the one stop hop from there to the Gare De Lyon.

Two reasons why we recommend this routing.
(1) The Line 6 platforms are the nearest to the entrance to the Montparnasse – Bienvenüe metro station
(2) From the Line 14 platforms there are lifts up to the Metro station concourse at the Gare De Lyon.

Or to take the bus.
Line 91 goes to the Gare De Lyon from two stops at Montparnasse; see above.

Direct Metro trains on two lines connect Montparnasse to St Lazare.
However, the recommendation is to use Line 13 and take trains heading towards Saint Denis or Asineres and NOT line 12.

The line 13 trains are much easier to access from the Metro station entrance at Gare Montparnasse than the Line 12 trains.
Then at St Lazare, the part of the station complex used by the line 13 trains, also has easier access to the main part of the station than the Line 12 trains.

This is an awkward transfer - as there are no direct Metro or RER lines between Montparnasse and Austerlitz.

The easiest of many options is

(Stage 1) Take a line 6 train to Place d’Italie - direction Nation

(Stage 2) Transfer at Place D'Italie station to a Line 5 train - direction Bobigny

A plus is that the Line 6 platforms are the nearest to the entrance at Montparnasse – Bienvenüe metro station.
A negative is that multiple staircases need to be used when making the transfer between the Metro Lines at Place d’Italie.
Another negative is that Austerlitz Metro station is above ground; and there are no escalators/lifts down to ground level where the mainline trains depart from, you have no choice but to use the stairs.

So taking the bus can be a good alternative
Line 91 goes to Austerlitz from two locations at Montparnasse; see above for the locations.

Though if you have luggage or the weather is hot, a taxi can be worth every cent