Transferring from the Gare Du Nord to the Gare de l'Est

There are three options from making the transfer from the Gare Du Nord in Paris to the Gare De L’Est.

The fastest route:
In future this will be easier, as a dedicated pedestrian route between the two stations is being constructed, but for the time being it’s not as straightforward as it seems when looking at a map.
The journey on foot will take 5 – 10 minutes.

Stage One:
Inside the Gare Du Nord there are no signs pointing the way.
When you step off a train, you will walk ahead on to the main concourse which spans the station, but head to the left hand side of it (you'll be walking towards the atrium which leads to the parts of the station which are below street level).

When you're on the far side of the station, with the atrium behind you, use an exit located across the front of the station (don't use a side exit) and then when you are outside the station, look to the left - a couple of blocks away you will see The Albert Hotel.

Stage Two:
Head towards The Albert Hotel and walk passed it on the Rue De Dunkerque, keeping the hotel on your left.

Stage Three;
At the end of the street, turn right on to Rue D’Alsace and at the end of this street will be a flight of stairs leading DOWN to the Gare De L’Est – you can’t miss the station, which will be over to the left

However, think twice about making this journey on foot if you have heavy luggage, the stairs are steep and narrow; hence the suggestion of the alternative route below.
Also think twice about taking this route outside of daylight hours, this is not the smartest area of Paris.

The alternative route:

This route is less obvious and a couple of mins longer, but it has two ticks in its box

1. It avoids the staircase
2. It goes through a busier area, which makes it feel a tad safer.

Take these steps:

(1) When you reach the Gare Du Nord concourse when exiting from the Eurostar, turn to the left.
You want to head to the far side of the concourse, where the atrium which leads down to the RER trains is located.
Go right when you reach it and exit through the street doors, so that you step outside the front of the station.

(2) You're looking for the 'Rue de Saint Quentin' it's a street that leads ahead away from the station, the 'New Hotel' is on the street corner on the left hand side.
Head down the Rue de Saint Quentin', at the third intersection, you'll come to a tree lined street, the 'Boulevard Du Magenta.

(3) Turn left when you reach the 'Boulevard Du Magenta, and then an then at the next intersection, go left on to the 'Rue du 8 Mai 1945' - you'll see a McDonalds on the street corner

(4) The Gare de l'Est is on the the 'Rue du 8 Mai 1945, it's one block over on the left.

It may seem an indulgence to use the Metro, as it’s only a one stop journey on Metro Line 5 (direction Place d'Italie).
However, the access to/from Line 5 at both the Gare Du Nord and Gare De L’est is easier than at most other Metro stations, escalators will help you to manage luggage down and up from the trains.

So it won’t take any longer than walking and if you can manage this one station hop, there's less of a risk of getting lost.
If you don’t normally mind taking busy Metro trains and are considering walking to save on the cost of a Metro ticket, then our advice is to take the Metro, particularly if you will be making the transfer in the late evenings, or after darkness has fallen.

If you’re travelling in a group that’s managing a lot of luggage, then taking a taxi isn’t such an extravagance.
If there’s three of you the taxi won’t be much more expensive than buying three metro tickets; and the taxi is by far the least stressful option for getting heavy bags from the Gare Du Nord to the Gare de l’Est.